JP2006101220A - Image formation system and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation system and an imaging apparatus by which large capacity images of high picture quality can be output even when the imaging apparatus is directly connected to an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image formation system mutually communicatably connects the imaging apparatus for compressing and storing image data generated by photographing a field and the image forming apparatus for forming a visible image on a sheet of recording paper, based on the image data received from the imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus receives (C2, C3) information concerned with image formation from the image forming apparatus, selects (C5) outputting image data to be output, re-compresses (C9) the outputting image data on the basis of the received information concerned with image formation (C4, C8), and transmits the re-compressed outputting image data to the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an image forming system, and more particularly to an image forming system and an imaging apparatus that can be directly connected to an image forming apparatus without using a computer or the like.

  In recent years, with the advance of image input devices such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, and scanners, thermal transfer printers have attracted attention as image input means for printing out the input images. As a thermal transfer type printer, for example, a heat-sensitive paper is used as a printing paper, and the paper is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction while selectively driving a plurality of heating elements (thermal heads) arranged in the main scanning direction. Thus, there is a line thermal transfer system that performs dot-line printing on the paper.

  In general inkjet printers that are currently in widespread use, it is possible to make small droplets land on the paper only by binary selection of whether or not to eject the droplets, and to make apparent resolution and gradation using a technique such as error diffusion. On the other hand, in the case of a thermal transfer type printer, the heat value that can be controlled in one pixel can be easily changed. Compared to the above, a smooth high-quality image can be obtained.

  In addition, the performance of the thermal head and the quality of the paper material are remarkably improved, and it is becoming possible to obtain an image quality that is not inferior to a silver salt photograph in the finished quality of the printed image. As described above, in order to keep pace with recent advances in digital cameras, thermal transfer printers are attracting attention as printers for natural images.

  Therefore, such a printer is directly connected to a photographing device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera, or the photographed image information is printed out without going through an information processing device such as a computer as an integral configuration. A system that prints out image data from an imaging device by transferring wirelessly to a printer via a wireless communication has also appeared. Here, a camera direct print system in which a digital camera and a printer are directly connected will be described in detail.

  An image taken by a digital camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera) is temporarily stored in a recording medium in the camera. In order to print out this image with a printer, the user directly connects the camera and the printer with a dedicated cable. Next, the image stored in the recording medium in the camera is displayed on the camera display, and the user selects the image to be printed. At this time, it goes without saying that an operation member of the camera is used to select an image. When the image to be printed is selected, the selected image data is transferred to the printer by the user pressing a print instruction key assigned to the operation member of the camera. In the printer device, the received image data is subjected to data processing so as to be in a printable format, and then printed out on paper.

  As described above, in the conventional camera direct print system, the user can perform high-quality printing of a captured image only by operating the operation member of the digital camera several times, and is very excellent in operability (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  In general, an image taken by a digital camera is compressed by the JPEG method and stored as a JPEG file. Therefore, in the conventional camera direct print system, by limiting the transfer file format to a JPEG file, it is possible to construct a system with devices from different manufacturers. For example, even in a system in which a digital camera manufactured by company A and a printer manufactured by company B are connected by a USB cable, high-quality printing can be performed by sending a JPEG file from the digital camera manufactured by company A to the printer manufactured by company B.

A standard called “PictBridge” based on the idea described above was published in July 2003 (see Non-Patent Document 1). With a digital camera or printer that complies with the PictBridge standard, it is possible to construct a camera direct print system by transferring JPEG files even between devices from different manufacturers.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-243327 `` White Paper of CIPA DC-001-2003 Digital Photo Solutions for Imaging Devices '', Camera & Imaging Products Association, 2003 / Feb / 03, p.4

  In a system compliant with the above-mentioned conventional "PictBridge" standard, when JPEG image data shot and stored with a digital camera is transferred to a printer for printing, the JPEG image data needs to be decoded and expanded on the printer side. . However, for example, image data captured by a camera capable of capturing a high-quality image generally has a large number of pixels and may be too large to be resized due to a lack of work memory on the printer side. When trying to transfer such a large JPEG image data to the printer side, the file size threshold set in the camera is compared with the JPEG image data size on the camera side, and if the image data is larger than the threshold It is determined that the printing process cannot be performed, and a message such as “Cannot be played” is displayed on the camera side.

  In a conventional camera direct print system, if you want to print a large-capacity image that is determined to be unreproducible, capture the image data to a computer, then resize, trim, or recompress it. It was necessary to process until it became a printable size by performing the above process. In this case, the original function as a direct print system is lost and the usability is poor.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an image forming system and an imaging apparatus that enable high-quality output of a large-capacity image even when the imaging apparatus and the image forming apparatus are directly connected. The purpose is to provide.

  As a means for achieving the above object, an image forming system of the present invention comprises the following arrangement.

  That is, an imaging device that compresses and holds image data generated by imaging an object scene, and an image forming device that forms a visible image on a recording sheet based on image data received from the imaging device. An image forming system connected to be communicable with each other, wherein the imaging device receives information related to image formation from the image forming device, selects output image data to be output, and receives the received image The output image data is recompressed based on information relating to formation, and the recompressed output image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the imaging apparatus and the image forming apparatus are directly connected by performing image processing on the imaging apparatus side according to the image forming information on the image forming apparatus side, High quality image output is possible.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the camera direct print system in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a JPEG compressed image captured by a digital camera (hereinafter simply referred to as “camera”) 1 and a JPEG compressed image stored in a memory medium after shooting are stored as JPEG files via an exclusive cable 2 (hereinafter referred to as a JPEG file). Simply “printer”) 3, image processing such as JPEG file decompression, resizing, print data creation, etc. is performed in the printer 3, and color output is performed on paper.

  4 is an operation member provided in the camera 1, and the user uses this to select a print pattern, an image to be printed, a print designation frame, a paper size, and the like, and the liquid crystal screen 5 also provided in the camera 1 The operation content can be confirmed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for creating print data in the camera 1. In the figure, 20 is a CCD for converting an image formed through a lens into an electrical signal, 21 is a CPU for system control and arithmetic processing of the camera 1, and 22 is an image for processing an electrical signal sent from the CCD 20. An image processing unit including a processing engine or the like. In the image processing unit 22, various image processing such as compression is performed on the captured image data. 23 is a Flash ROM for storing the system control program for the camera 1, 24 is an SDRAM used for temporarily storing image data or data processing work, and 25 is a record for storing image data files. CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory) as a medium, 26 is a CF connector for mounting the CF25 to the camera 1, 27 is an LCD for displaying images and operation menus taken by the camera 1, and 28 drives the LCD 27 LCD driver. A communication control unit 29 controls communication between connected printers. An operation unit 30 is used to input instructions from the user.

Hereinafter, the operation of the camera direct print system in the present embodiment will be described in detail. As shown in Non-Patent Document 1 described above, there is “PictBridge” as a standard for constructing a camera direct print system that connects devices of different manufacturers and transfers JPEG files. The system configuration of this embodiment is as follows. Since it conforms to the standard, even if it is not the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the present invention can be realized as long as it is a print system configured according to the “PictBridge” standard.
General Camera Direct Print FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a standard processing sequence until the first printing is performed in a general camera direct print system in which general PictBridge compatible devices are connected to each other. Hereinafter, in order to facilitate understanding of the features of the present embodiment, the operation of the system by connecting a general PictBridge-compatible device will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that a plurality of captured image data is stored as JPEG files in the storage medium in the camera.

  When a photographed image of a camera is transferred to a printer for printing, the communication is first negotiated with each other after connection between the camera and the printer (A1). In this negotiation, function confirmation is first performed, and it is confirmed whether or not each other device is compatible with PictBridge, that is, whether or not the device has a direct print system (DPS) function.

  Thereafter, the service function confirmation (A2) on the printer side is performed on the camera side, and the service function of each device such as the version information of the direct print system is confirmed. Next, printer capability confirmation (A3) is performed on the camera side, and printer capability information that can be set, such as paper type, paper size, and print quality, is acquired. On the camera side, the acquired information can be appropriately reflected on the own liquid crystal screen, and the user uses the liquid crystal screen and the operation member to select settings for the printer as necessary. As a result, the camera can perform actual print control as a PictBridge-compatible device.

  Next, on the operation member on the camera side, the user selects an image desired to be printed with a print instruction button (not shown) or the like (A4), sets various printing conditions (A5), and instructs the start of the printing operation. (A6). Then, the camera requests the printer to start printing together with the various print settings that have been set (A7).

  Then, the printer side requests information such as the size of the image file necessary for printing from the camera side (A8), and accordingly, the file information is transmitted from the camera side to the printer side (A9). The printer side requests actual image data based on the file information sent (A10), and the camera side transmits image data in response to the request (A11). Then, the printer generates print data based on the transmitted image data (A12), and performs actual print processing (A13).

  When printing ends on the printer side, a print end notification is sent to the camera side (A14). Then, on the camera side, a print end message is displayed in response to the reception of the notification (A15).

The first print is completed by sequentially performing the sequence of A1 to A15, and the sequence of A4 to A15 is repeatedly executed for the second and subsequent prints.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing sequence in the camera direct print system of the present embodiment having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Also in the system of the present embodiment, PictBridge compatible devices, that is, the camera 1 and the printer 3 are connected by the dedicated cable 2 as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of the system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The processing sequence shown in the figure is controlled by the CPU 21 based on a control program stored in the Flash ROM 23. Further, it is assumed that a plurality of captured image data is stored in the CF 25 in the camera 1 as JPEG files.

  In the figure, the sequence of B1 and B2 is the same as A1 and A2 of FIG. 3 showing the general camera direct print sequence described above, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  The camera 1 performs the capability check (B3) of the printer 2 via the communication control unit 29. At this time, in addition to the capability information such as the paper type, the paper size, and the print quality, the work memory usable in the printer 2 is used. Get the size. Here, the working memory size of the printer 2 is used. However, when image data is temporarily stored in a buffer memory (not shown) and then stored in the work memory, the buffer memory capacity that can be received at one time is set. You may get it. Based on the acquired capability information, the camera 1 calculates the file size of the transferable image (B4) and sets it as the target data size at the time of recompression. The file size calculated here is set on the camera side as the image data size that can be processed by the image forming apparatus. Note that the camera 1 may acquire, as one piece of capability information, a print size indicating the size (size) of an actually printed image in addition to the print paper size in the B3 sequence. It is desirable that the print size can be arbitrarily set by an operation member of the printer 2 or the like.

  Next, while referring to the image display on the LCD 27 on the camera 1, the user selects an image desired to be printed by a print instruction button (not shown) provided on the operation unit 30 (B5), and sets various printing conditions. Set (B6) and instruct the start of the printing operation (B7). At this time, the camera 1 compares the file size of the image file designated as the transfer target with the transferable file size calculated in the sequence B4, and if it is determined that the file size exceeds the file size, printing is not performed as it is. The image processing unit 22 performs JPEG recompression processing and (B9), and performs trimming processing (B10) as necessary, as a virtual file. (B11). Thereafter, the camera 1 requests the printer 2 to start printing together with the various print settings that have been set (B12).

  Note that the sequences B12 to B20 are the same as the sequences A7 to A15 shown in FIG.

  The first print is completed by sequentially performing the sequence of B1 to B20, and the sequence of B5 to B20 is repeatedly executed for the second and subsequent prints. Hereinafter, the sequence B3 to B11 of FIG. 4, that is, the processing from the printer capability confirmation on the camera 1 side to the image file storage will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the printer 1 confirms the capability of the printer 2 via the communication control unit 29 in the camera 1 (C1), the capability information from the printer 2 side indicates the printable print size and the effective work memory size on the printer 2 side. Get information (C2, C3). In general, in the camera direct print system, the capability information from the printer side is transmitted as a parameter table. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the parameter table includes information on the print size and the work memory size. Will be sent. The print size is preferably described by the number of vertical and horizontal pixels, and the work memory size is preferably described in bytes.

  On the camera 1 side, the transferable file size is calculated based on the acquired file size and work memory size information (C4). In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the calculated file size is described as “A”.

  Thereafter, the user selects a desired image using the LCD 27 and the operation unit 30 (C5), sets printing conditions (C6), and issues a printing instruction (C7).

  After the print instruction, the size of the image data selected in step C5 is compared with the file size calculated in step C4 (C8) .If the data size of the selected image is larger, the image processing unit 22 Perform JPEG recompression (C9). Here, JPEG recompression processing with Q value control is performed. In general, image quality control in JPEG compression is performed by multiplying a quantization table by a constant multiplier. This constant multiplier is called the Q value, and specifically refers to the JPEG compression quality factor. In many cases, the Q value is expressed as a percentage, and the default value of the Q value in a normal digital camera is about 100 to 95. FIG. 6 shows the concept of JPEG recompression processing with Q value control. That is, it can be seen that, in the present embodiment, compression using a Q value that reduces the file size after compression is performed among several types of Q value compression.

  After JPEG recompression, the file size is determined again (C10). If the file size of the selected image recompressed in step C9 is still larger than the file size calculated in step C4, the image processing unit 22 performs image trimming and enlarges the remaining image portion. (C11) (In this way, in this embodiment, in order to reduce the file size, by performing processing in the order of recompression (C9) and trimming (C11), the print quality in the image formation in the printer 2 Can be maintained as much as possible.

  Thereafter, the file size is determined again (C12) .If it is determined that the file size of the selected image trimmed in step C11 is equal to or smaller than the transferable file size A calculated in step C4, the selected image is displayed. The file is saved as a virtual file in the SDRAM 24 (C14), and a print request is made to the printer 2 (C15). In this way, by saving the image file to be transferred as a virtual file in the SDRAM 24, the writing time can be shortened compared to writing to an external storage medium, so the processing speed of the entire JPEG recompression process Can speed up.

  In the file size determination process in step C12, if the file size of the selected image trimmed in step C11 is still larger than the transferable file size A calculated in step C4, the image file cannot be transferred ( Error processing is performed such as displaying a message indicating that playback is not possible on the LCD 27 or canceling the print processing (C13).

  In the present embodiment, the case where the file size has increased due to the large number of pixels as a result of shooting with a high-functional digital camera has been described as an example. It does not correspond only to the increase of. For example, due to the characteristics of the JPEG compression algorithm, when an image with high frequency characteristics is compressed, the JPEG file size increases, so when shooting a subject with a dense pattern, or when multiple subjects are clustered According to the present invention, it is possible to perform an appropriate print output after trimming an image captured in a state to an appropriate size.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by performing image processing on the camera side in accordance with the performance on the printer side, the captured image is a JPEG image having a size that exceeds the built-in memory on the printer side. However, it is possible to print out while maintaining the print quality as much as possible without using an information processing device such as a PC.
[Other embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a scanner, a printer, etc.) or an apparatus composed of a single device (for example, a multifunction device). May be.

  Also, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) on which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU of the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera direct print system in one Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process sequence of the camera direct print system which consists of common PictBridge apparatuses. It is a figure which shows the processing sequence of the camera direct print system which consists of PictBridge apparatuses in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process by the side of the camera in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows notionally the JPEG recompression process accompanying Q value control. It is a figure which shows notionally an image trimming and expansion process. It is a figure which shows an example of the parameter table which the camera side receives in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital camera
2 Dedicated cable
3 Inkjet printer
4 Camera operation parts
5 LCD screen
20 CCD
21 CPU
22 Image processor
23 Flash ROM
24 SDRAM
25 Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory
26 CF connector
27 LCD
28 LCD driver
29 Communication controller
30 Operation unit

Claims (14)

An image capturing apparatus that compresses and holds image data generated by capturing an object scene and an image forming apparatus that forms a visible image on recording paper based on image data received from the image capturing apparatus communicate with each other. An image forming system connected in such a manner that the imaging apparatus can
Receiving information relating to image formation from the image forming apparatus;
Select the output image data to be output,
Based on the received information relating to image formation, the output image data is recompressed,
An image forming system, wherein the recompressed output image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the recompression of the output image data is performed so that the output image data has an image size that can be processed by the image forming apparatus.   3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the information relating to image formation includes information on a working memory size in the image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the information relating to image formation includes information on an output image size in the image forming apparatus.   5. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the output image data is trimmed so as to have an image size that can be processed by the image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the trimming is performed on the output image data recompressed by the image compression unit.   7. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the compression of the image data and the recompression of the output image data are performed according to a JPEG standard.   8. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the recompression of the output image data is performed by selecting a Q value in the JPEG standard.   9. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: storing the output image data as a virtual file and transmitting the virtual file to the image forming apparatus. An image capturing apparatus that compresses and holds image data generated by capturing an object scene and an image forming apparatus that forms a visible image on recording paper based on image data received from the image capturing apparatus communicate with each other. An image processing method in an image forming system connected so as to be possible, in the imaging apparatus,
Receiving information relating to image formation from the image forming apparatus;
Select the output image data to be output,
Based on the received information relating to image formation, the output image data is recompressed,
An image processing method comprising transmitting the recompressed output image data to the image forming apparatus. An imaging apparatus connectable to an image forming apparatus that forms a visible image on recording paper based on image data,
Imaging means for imaging the object scene and generating image data;
Image compression means for compressing the image data;
Image holding means for holding the compressed image data;
Image selecting means for selecting image data for output from a plurality of image data held in the image holding means;
Communication means for transmitting the output image data to a connected image forming apparatus,
The communication means receives information relating to image formation from the image forming apparatus, and based on the received information relating to image formation, the image compression means recompresses the output image data, and the recompressed output data An image pickup apparatus that transmits image data to the image forming apparatus by the communication unit. An image forming apparatus connectable to the imaging apparatus according to claim 11,
In response to a request from the imaging device, information related to image formation including the working memory size is returned,
An image forming apparatus, wherein a visible image is formed on a recording sheet based on image data transmitted from the imaging apparatus.   A program for controlling an imaging apparatus to cause the imaging apparatus to operate as an imaging apparatus constituting the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 13 is recorded.

Images