JP2006076186A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer in which a user can select an image to be printed easily from a large capacity memory card by adding printer information to image data in the memory card or reading out image information in the image data. <P>SOLUTION: Print date is provided as management information so that printed images can be distinguished. Categorization is carried out by print day when there is a print record otherwise it is carried out by photography day, and a file of image data group is made by arranging the date and the image name at a lower layer and stored in an RAM 3003. The print record identifies presence thereof by searching User Comment field in the ExifIFD of APP1. An image title field and a file alteration date field exist in so-called "other tags" in the IFD0 of an Exif format file, and the image name and the image formation day or photography day can be recognized by searching these fields. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus that can directly input an imaging result of a digital camera or image data stored in a non-volatile storage medium to a printer and obtain an output image.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) have been widely used in general households. With the spread of PCs, high-resolution digital cameras as image input devices and printers such as inkjet printers as image output devices have become widespread. A user inputs image data from a digital camera to a PC, displays the image on a PC monitor, selects a desired image, and prints it with a printer.

  On the other hand, there are many cases where a general household does not have a PC, but has a digital camera. In such a case, the user directly uses a memory card or the like as an image output device without going through the PC. By purchasing a sublimation or ink jet printer that can print (hereinafter referred to as a direct printer), the memory card to which image data is input from the digital camera is taken out, and the memory card is inserted into the direct printer. However, printing is performed by the method of each direct printer.

Some display so that a printed image can be seen (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-45339 A

  By the way, the memory capacity of memory cards for recording image data taken with a digital camera has increased recently, and the user needs to save or erase previously taken image data on a PC or the like and take another picture. It is possible to shoot continuously without feeling sex. Under such circumstances, when printing with the direct printer, the user must select an image he / she wants to print from a large amount of image data. As the image selection means, for example, index printing is performed, and after browsing all image data in the memory card, image data selection is performed and desired printing is performed. However, since index printing only prints the image data in the memory card in order from the beginning, it is not clear which image was printed last time, and it takes a considerable amount of time to select an image. Currently.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. A user can add printer information to image data in a memory card or read out image information in image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device that makes it easy to select an image to be printed.

  The printer apparatus according to the present invention is configured to input a print setting operated by a user, a mounting unit that mounts a storage medium that stores image data, a processing unit that processes image data input via the mounting unit. And an output means for printing based on the setting by the operation section, and an image data management means for operating the storage medium.

  Specifically, the image data management means has a function of writing printer information in the image data and a function of performing printer control based on the printer information in the image data. After that, the image data management means writes a print history mark, for example, “88 00 88 00 88 00 88 00” to the Exif format image data in the memory card that has been subjected to direct memory card printing, and then the user newly When the image data is taken by the DSC and the memory card direct print is performed, the image data management means of the direct printer apparatus reads the print history mark for the image data in the Exif format, and whether or not the print history of the image data ( If it is “88 00 88 00 88 00 88 00”, it is printed Can be determined). Next, the user can easily select an image to be printed by prompting the user to determine whether or not the image data with history is to be printed.

  The image data management means has a function of reading out image information of image data in a memory card, a function of creating a file based on image information and printer information in the image data, and a function of performing printer control based on the file After reading the print history, image name, and image shooting date for Exif format image data in the memory card, if there is a print history based on these information, a category with a print history If there is no print history, create a file that organizes images by dividing the shooting date category. Next, when the user issues an index printing instruction, index printing is performed based on the file, so that the user can easily select an image to be printed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a direct printer device capable of validating the previous print information when printing image data, and the user can easily select an image to be printed. Become.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a direct printer apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The direct printer apparatus 1000 has a function as an ordinary PC printer that receives and prints data from a PC, and a function that directly reads and prints image data stored in a storage medium such as a memory card. .

  In FIG. 1, the main body forming the outer shell of the direct printer apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment has a lower case 1001, an upper case 1002, an access cover 1003, and an exterior member for a discharge tray 1004. The lower case 1001 forms a substantially lower half portion of the apparatus 1000, and the upper case 1002 forms a substantially upper half portion of the main body. A combination of both cases provides a storage space for storing each mechanism described below. A hollow body structure is formed, and openings are formed on the upper surface portion and the front surface portion, respectively. Further, one end of the discharge tray 1004 is rotatably held by the lower case 1001, and an opening formed on the front surface of the lower case 1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation. For this reason, when executing the recording operation, the discharge tray 1004 is rotated to the front side to open the opening, so that the recording sheets can be discharged from here and the discharged recording sheets are sequentially stacked. It has come to be able to do.

  The paper discharge tray 1004 stores two auxiliary trays 1004a and 1004b. By pulling out the respective trays to the front as needed, the sheet support area can be expanded and reduced in three stages. It has become.

  One end of the access cover 1003 is rotatably held by the upper case 1002 so that an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. By opening the access cover 1003, the access cover 1003 is accommodated inside the main body. It is possible to replace the recording head cartridge (not shown) or the ink tank (not shown). Although not particularly shown here, when the access cover 1003 is opened and closed, the protrusion formed on the back surface rotates the cover opening and closing lever, and the rotation position of the lever is detected by a micro switch or the like. Thus, the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected.

  A power key 1005 is provided on the upper surface of the upper case 1002 so that it can be pressed.

  An operation panel 1010 including a liquid crystal display unit 1006 and various key switches is provided on the right side of the upper case 1002. The structure of the operation panel 1010 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. An automatic feeding unit 1007 automatically feeds the recording sheet into the apparatus main body. Reference numeral 1008 denotes a paper interval selection lever, which is a lever for adjusting the interval between the print head and the recording sheet. Reference numeral 1009 denotes a card slot in which a memory card is inserted, and image data stored in the memory card can be directly captured and printed. Examples of the memory card include a compact flash (registered trademark) memory, smart media, and a memory stick. Reference numeral 1011 denotes a viewer (liquid crystal display unit) that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. When searching for an image to be printed from images stored in a memory card, an image for each frame, an index image, and the like are displayed. Used to display. Further, it has a PC connection terminal 1012 that is an I / F with a PC, and the connected PC can directly perform printing by exchanging data and signals with the direct printer 1000 ( It functions as a general PC printer).

  FIG. 2 is an overview of operation panel 1010 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display unit 1006 displays menu items for setting various data relating to items printed on the left and right sides thereof. The items displayed here are the first photo number of the range to be printed to the designated frame number (start / -designate) to the last photo number (end) of the range where printing is finished, the number of copies (number of copies), and used for printing. Type of paper (recording sheet) to be printed (paper type), setting of the number of photos to be printed on one sheet (layout), specification of print quality (quality), and whether to print the date of shooting (date printing) ), Designation of whether or not to print a photograph (image correction), display of the number of sheets necessary for printing (number of sheets), and the like. These items are selected or designated using the cursor keys 2001. 2002 is a mode key, and each time this key is pressed, the type of printing (index printing, full-frame printing, single-frame printing, etc.) can be switched, and the corresponding LED of the LED 2003 is lit accordingly. A maintenance key 2004 is a key for performing maintenance of the printer such as cleaning of the print head. Reference numeral 2005 denotes a print start key which is pressed when instructing the start of printing or when establishing maintenance settings. Reference numeral 2006 denotes a print cancel key which is pressed when printing is stopped or when maintenance is instructed. Reference numeral 2007 denotes a history confirmation key. When there is image data that has been printed before in the image data in the memory card, the user can determine whether to omit the image data.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the configuration of the main part related to the control of the direct printer according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to portions common to the above-described drawings, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 3000 denotes a controller unit of the direct printer apparatus 1000. Reference numeral 3001 denotes a system controller, which is configured by a CPU and dedicated hardware, and controls the entire printer device and converts the luminance signal (RGB) to the density signal (CMYK), scaling, gamma conversion, error diffusion, and other images. Processing and so on. A ROM 3002 stores a program for storing a control program. Reference numeral 3003 denotes a RAM which has a memory area for storing a program for executing the direct printer apparatus and a memory area functioning as a work memory for storing image data and the like. Reference numeral 3004 denotes a motor for mechanically driving the direct printer apparatus. Reference numeral 3005 denotes a head, which ejects ink based on print data transferred from the system controller 3001.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system controller 3001. In FIG. 4 as well, portions common to the above-mentioned drawings are given the same symbols, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  Reference numeral 4001 denotes a CPU. There may be one or more. Reference numeral 4002 denotes a main system bus. Reference numeral 4003 denotes a memory card interface unit that reads image data stored in the memory card 3006 attached or writes data to the memory card 3006. Reference numeral 4004 denotes an operation panel / interface unit which inputs various operation signals from the operation panel 1010 and outputs display data to the display unit 1006. A USB control unit 4005 exchanges data with the PC 3007. A viewer interface unit 4006 controls display of image data on the viewer 1011. Reference numeral 4007 denotes a motor control unit that controls motor driving, and 4008 denotes a head control unit that controls data transfer and the like to the head. Reference numeral 4009 denotes an interface unit that performs interface control with various switches and LEDs. Reference numeral 4010 denotes an image processing unit that converts image data in the memory card 3006 from luminance signals (RGB) to density signals (CMYK), scaling, gamma conversion, error diffusion, and the like to convert them into head data.

  Reference numeral 4011 denotes an image data management means, which will be described in detail later, and has a function of writing printer information to the image data in the memory card 3006 and a function of performing printer control based on the printer information in the image data. This means can be realized by software or hardware.

  An outline of the operation based on the above configuration will be described below.

<Normal PC printer mode>
This is a print mode in which an image is printed based on print data sent from the PC 3007. In this mode, when data from the PC 3007 is input via the PC connection terminal 1012, printing is performed by the system controller 3001 based on the data from the PC 3007.

<Direct print mode from memory card>
When the memory card 3006 is inserted into or removed from the card slot 1009, an interrupt is generated, and the system controller 3001 detects whether the memory card 3009 is inserted or removed (removed) by the memory card interface unit 4003. As a result, the system controller 3001 reads the compressed (for example, JPEG compressed) image data stored in the memory card 3006 and stores it in the RAM 3003. Thereafter, the image processing unit 4010 decompresses the compressed image data and stores it again in the RAM 3003.

  Next, when an operation panel 1010 is used to instruct a print range of the stored image data to be printed, the number of copies, the type of paper used for printing, and the like, the image processing unit 4010 receives the YMCK from the RGB signals. Printing is performed by executing conversion to a signal, gamma correction, error diffusion, and the like, and converting the print data into printable print data, which is output to the head controller 4008.

  Hereinafter, processing relating to the direct printer apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment based on these configurations will be described with reference to FIG.

  Generally, an image of a digital still camera (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC) is stored in an Exif format established by JEIDA (Japan Electronics Industry Promotion Association). This Exif format image is basically the JPEG image format itself, and each image such as a thumbnail image and shooting information is embedded in the image in a form compliant with the JPEG rules.

  FIG. 5 shows the structure of Exif format data. The data structure always starts with SOI (Start of Image) and ends with EOI (End of Image), and APP1 (Application segment 1) is a marker for Exif. The marker is a delimiter of JPEG data, and the basic marker format is [0xFF + marker number (1 byte) + data size (2 bytes) + data (n bytes)]. APP2 and later are used in normal JPEG images, APP2 (Application segment 2) is an Exif extension data marker, DQT (Define Quantization Table) is a marker code that defines a quantization table, and DHT (Define Huffman Table). Is a marker code that defines the Huffman table. Subsequently, DRI (Define Restart Interval) is a marker that defines a restart marker insertion interval, SOF (Start of Frame) is a marker code that is located at the beginning of a frame segment and indicates various parameters related to the frame, and SOS (Start of Scan) is a marker code representing various parameters relating to scanning.

  APP1 is a length indicating the data size of APP1, a TIFF Header that defines a byte arrangement format, IFD0 that stores information attached to the main image, ExifIFD that stores information attached to Exif, IFD1 that can store thumbnail images, and the like. It is composed of

  Here, the present embodiment pays attention to the UserComment field in the Exif IFD of this APP1. Exif IFD includes a “tag related to version” composed of an Exif version field, a “tag related to image data characteristics” composed of a color space information field, a “tag related to date / time” composed of an image data generation date / time field, an exposure time field, white Various information associated with the DSC such as “tags relating to photographing conditions” including a balance field can be stored. Among them, there is a tag called “tag related to user information”, and there is an 8-byte UserComment field that the user can freely read and write.

  The present invention is characterized in that the image data management means 4011 has a function of writing printer information printed by the direct printer apparatus 1000 in the UserComment field.

  In the present embodiment, a print history mark, for example, “880 0”, which proves that the image data management means 4011 has printed via the memory card interface unit 4003 for the UserComment field of the image data on which the user has performed direct memory card printing. Write "88 00 88 00 88 00".

  Next, when the user newly performs shooting with the DSC and performs direct printing from the memory card, the image data management unit 4011 of the direct printer apparatus 1000 sets the UserComment field of all image data in the memory card 3006. Reading through the memory card interface unit 4003, it is determined whether or not the image data has a print history (if it is “88 00 88 00 88 00 88 00”, it can be determined that printing has been completed). Next, by prompting the user to determine whether or not to save image data with history, the user can select the necessity of reprinting image data printed in the past.

  The present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the memory card 3006 is inserted into the card slot 1009 (S601), the memory card insertion flag is turned ON and the system controller 3001 detects that the memory card 3006 has been inserted (S602). Next, the image data in the memory card 3006 is read by the memory card interface unit 4003. The image data management unit 4011 reads the UserComment field in the Exif IFD of the read image data APP1 (S604), and determines whether there is a print history (S605).

  When there is no history: The user performs print settings on the operation panel 1010 (S611), and presses the print start key 2005 (S612). Next, as described above, the image processing unit 4010 performs conversion from RGB signals to YMCK signals, gamma correction, error diffusion, and the like to convert them into printable print data, which is output to the head control unit 4008 for printing. In addition, the image data management means 4010 writes a print history marker (for example, “88 00 88 00 88 00 88 00”) to each image data in the printed memory card 3006 via the memory card interface unit 4003. Print history information is added to the image data (S612).

  When there is a history: The user is notified of the presence / absence of the printing history, such as displaying the history on the display panel 1006 (S607). When the user does not press the history confirmation key 2007 on the operation panel 1010, the same processing as when there is no history is performed. When the user presses the history confirmation key 2007 on the operation panel 1010, the image data management unit 4011 sets only the image data number (for example, the 120th to 218th images) without history information as the target of the printing process, and the display panel 1006. The image data number without history (120th to 218th images) is displayed in (S609). As long as the history confirmation key 2007 is pressed, even if the user performs index printing, even if all printing is performed, only the 120th to 218th image data is targeted for the direct printer 1000. The user can print only image data with no print history. Thereafter, when the user performs print settings on the operation panel 1010 (S611) and presses the print start key 2005 (S612), the user performs desired printing and each image in the memory card 3006 printed by the image data management unit 4011. Print history information is added to the image data by writing a print history marker (for example, “88 00 88 00 88 00 88 00”) to the data via the memory card interface unit 4003 (S613).

  Accordingly, it is possible to provide a direct printer device that can validate the previous print information when printing the image data, and the user can easily select an image to be printed.

  In this embodiment, the print history information is only added. However, for example, by recording the print quality or print paper set at the time of memory direct printing, it is necessary to perform print setting again when performing extra printing. It goes without saying that applications such as disappearing are useful.

  In the first embodiment, the printer information is input into the image data in the Exif format, so that the user can easily select the image by selecting whether or not to reprint the image data printed in the past. However, in the second embodiment, in addition to the functions described in the first embodiment, the image data management unit 4011 has a function of reading the image information of the image data in the memory card 3006, the image information in the image data, and the printer in the first embodiment. It is a means possessing a function for creating a file based on information and a function for performing printer control based on the file. This means can be realized by software or hardware.

  FIG. 7 is an image diagram in which the image data management means 4011 in the present embodiment converts the image data in the memory card 3006 into a file. If there is a print history, the print date is classified. If there is no print history, the image is grouped according to the shooting date, and the date and the image name are arranged in the lower layer to create a file of the image data group and store it in the RAM 3003. . As described in the first embodiment, the print history is identified by checking the UserComment field in the Exif IFD of APP1. The image name and the shooting date include an image title field and a file change date / time field in tags called “other tags” in the IFD0 in the Exif format file. Generation date = shooting date can be recognized.

  When the user instructs index printing during direct printing of the memory card, the image data management unit 4011 instructs the image processing unit 4010 to perform index printing as shown in FIG. 8 based on information in the RAM 3003. As a result, the user can easily select an image to be printed from the indexed printed matter classified into categories.

  This embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the memory card 3006 is inserted into the card slot 1009 (S901), the memory card insertion flag is turned ON, and the system controller 3001 detects that the memory card 3006 has been inserted (S902). Next, the image data in the memory card 3006 is read by the memory card interface unit 4003, and the print history / image name / image generation date is read from the UserComm field, image title field, and file change date / time field of the image data (S904).

  Next, based on the read print history, image name, and shooting date, the image data management means 4011 displays the image in the printing history category when there is a printing history as shown in FIG. 7 and in the shooting date category when there is no printing history. A file in which data is divided is created (S905), and the file is stored in the RAM 3002 (S906).

  Next, when the user instructs index printing (S907), the image data management unit 4011 instructs the image processing unit 4010 to perform index printing as shown in FIG. 8 based on information in the RAM 3003. The image processing unit 4010 performs index printing classified into categories as shown in FIG. 8 based on the files in the RAM 3003 (S908). Thereafter, when the user performs print settings on the operation panel 1010 (S909) and presses the print start key 2005 (S910), the user performs desired printing and the image data management unit 4011 passes through the memory card interface unit 4003. Print history information is added to the printed image data in the memory card 3006 (S911). Accordingly, it is possible to provide a direct printer device that can validate the previous print information when printing the image data, and the user can easily select an image to be printed.

1 is an overview perspective view of a direct printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a general-view figure of the operation panel of the direct printer apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part which concerns on control of the direct printer apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system controller of the direct printer apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the Exif file format which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the direct printer apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is an image figure of the file directory structure concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is the schematic of the index printing which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the direct printer apparatus operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1000 Direct printer apparatus 1001 Lower case 1002 Upper case 1003 Access cover 1004 Discharge trays 1004a, 1004b Auxiliary tray 1005 Power key 1006 Liquid crystal display unit 1007 Automatic feeding unit 1008 Paper gap selection lever 1009 Card slot 1010 Operation panel 1011 Viewer 1012 PC connection terminal 2001 Cursor key 2002 Mode key 2003 LED
2004 maintenance key 2005 print start key 2006 print stop key 2007 history confirmation key 3000 controller unit 3001 system controller 3002 ROM
3003 RAM
3004 Motor 3005 Head 3006 Memory card 3007 PC
4001 CPU
4002 Main system bus 4003 Memory card interface unit 4004 Operation panel interface unit 4005 USB control unit 4006 Viewer interface unit 4007 Motor control unit 4008 Head control unit 4009 Various switch interface unit 4010 Image processing unit 4011 Image data management means

Claims (6)

  A mounting unit that mounts a storage medium that stores image data, a processing unit that processes image data input via the mounting unit, an operation unit that is operated by a user to input print settings, and the operation A printer apparatus comprising: output means for printing based on setting by a unit; and image data management means for operating image data in the storage medium.   2. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data management means has a function of writing printer information to the image data in the storage medium.   2. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data management means has a function of reading image information in the image data of the storage medium.   3. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data management means has a function of performing printer control based on printer information in the image data in the storage medium.   The image data management means according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3 has a function of converting image data in the storage medium into a file based on printer information and image information in the image data in the storage medium. Printer device.   6. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data management means has a function of performing printer control based on printer information and image information in the image data in the storage medium.

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