JP2006231840A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder which can form a digital photograph with a memorandum column added by arbitrary size, shape and transmittance, without depending on synthesization of a template image. <P>SOLUTION: "Memorandum region information" includes information on position, shape, size, transmittance and color of the "memorandum column" set by a user. Among the information, information on the position, shape, size and transmittance of the "memorandum column" is outputted to a synthesization judging part 11. Information on the color of the "memorandum column" is outputted to a synthesizing part 15. The synthesization judging part 11 as a "region setting means" designates an arbitrary region in an image development region IMF as a memorandum region MF in units of pixels on the basis of the "memorandum region information", and outputs the arbitrary region to the synthesizing part 15 as a "memorandum column formation processing means" (region start coordinates (X1, Y1), size (breadth S_X and length S_Y), transmittance, etc.). The synthesizing part 15 generates and synthesizes color data of the designated color and transmittance with the memorandum region MF of the image development region IMF on the basis of the "memorandum region information". <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides an operation unit for inputting a user operation, a recording execution unit for executing recording on a recording material, and developing digital image data in an image development area according to a user operation input from the operation unit. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus including a recording control apparatus that executes recording control of an image development area.

  In a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a template image is overlaid when a digital image taken by a digital image processing apparatus such as a DSC (digital still camera) is recorded (printed) on a recording material such as photo paper. Those capable of combining images are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). There is an advantage that an original New Year's card or the like can be easily created by adding (synthesizing) a frame frame, an illustration, or the like to a digital image photographed by DSC or the like according to preference.

  As an example of synthesizing template images and recording a digital image, there is an aspect in which a memo field is added to the digital image. For example, you can write the date of shooting, event name, shooting target, shooting status, etc. by hand, and use it to remind you of the classification and organization of digital photos and the memories of shooting. The number of users who create digital photographs with the addition of is increasing.

  Conventionally, such a template image is synthesized with a digital image on an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. However, in recent years, a DSC is directly connected to a recording device, and recording is performed on a recording material based on a digital image file transmitted from the DSC, or a digital image in a memory card is recorded from a memory card slot of the recording device. Applications for directly reading a file and executing recording on a recording material are increasing. In such applications, a recording apparatus that can create a digital photograph by adding a memo field to a digital image is desired.

JP 2003-92715 A

  However, if all the template image data in the various memo fields are stored and held in the nonvolatile storage medium inside the recording apparatus, a large-capacity nonvolatile storage medium is required, resulting in a significant increase in cost. Not realistic. In addition, if the number of memo field image data to be stored is limited in order to reduce the storage capacity, there are problems that options such as the size, shape, and transmittance of the memo field are reduced and the degree of freedom is reduced. Furthermore, if the memo field image data is compressed and stored in order to reduce the storage capacity, the developed memo field image becomes a rough image, and the composite portion of the digital image and the memo field image is not generated neatly. Arise.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that a recording apparatus capable of creating a digital photograph to which a memo field is added with an arbitrary size, shape, and transmittance without combining template images. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation unit that inputs a user operation, a recording execution unit that performs recording on a recording material, and a user operation input from the operation unit. And a recording control device that develops digital image data in an image development area and executes recording control of the image development area, wherein the recording control apparatus is configured to perform arbitrary recording in the image development area. The area setting means for designating the area in units of pixels based on the operation input from the operation section, and the memo field forming process based on the operation input from the operation section only for the area designated by the area setting means And a memo field forming processing unit to be executed.

  As described above, when recording on a recording material based on desired digital image data, by executing a process of forming a memo field in an area designated by an operation input from the operation unit of the recording apparatus. A digital photograph in which a desired memo field is added to a digital image can be created. That is, instead of adding a memo field to a digital image by synthesizing a template image captured from the outside with the digital image, a process for forming a memo field is executed by an internal process of the recording device, so that a desired digital image is obtained. Create a digital photo with a memo field.

  This eliminates the need to store and hold various types of memo field image data in a nonvolatile storage medium inside the recording apparatus, and can prevent the cost of the recording apparatus from increasing significantly. In addition, because the memo field is formed by specifying the area in pixels, regardless of the template image, the shape and size of the memo field can be arbitrarily set, and the combined portion of the digital image and the memo field image is clean. There is no problem that it is not generated.

  Thus, according to the invention described in the first aspect of the present invention, a digital photograph in which a desired memo field is added to a digital image is created by executing a process for forming a memo field by an internal process of the recording apparatus. As a result, a digital photograph in which a memo field is added with an arbitrary size, shape, and transmittance can be created without the template image being combined.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the memo field formation processing unit has an arbitrary color and transmittance generated based on an operation input from the operation unit in the image development area. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus that synthesizes color data with an area designated by the area setting means of digital image data.

  Thus, by combining color data of an arbitrary color and transmittance with the area specified by the area setting means of the digital image data developed in the image development area, an arbitrary size, shape, and transmittance can be obtained. Thus, it is possible to obtain an operational effect that a digital photograph with a memo field added can be created without combining template images.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect described above, the memo field forming processing unit can set different colors and transmittances for each of the plurality of regions designated by the region setting unit. The recording apparatus is characterized by having a simple structure.

  Since a digital photograph can be created with a plurality of memo fields with different sizes, shapes, colors, and transmittances, it is possible to flexibly respond to more diverse needs. For example, when two or more digital images are recorded on one recording material, a digital photograph can be created by adding memo columns of different sizes, shapes, colors, and transmittances to the respective digital images.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the memo field formation processing unit is configured to change the digital image data expanded in the image expansion region into recording data by the region setting unit. The recording apparatus is characterized in that the recording data in the designated area is replaced with NULL data.

  In this way, the recording data in the area designated by the area setting means in the process of converting the digital image data developed in the image development area into the recording data, that is, the recording data in the area forming the memo column is replaced with NULL data. Thus, the recording of that portion is not executed, so that a memo field of the ground color of the recording material can be formed in the designated area. Therefore, a digital photograph to which a memo field is added with an arbitrary size, shape, and transmittance can be created without combining template images.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus as an example of a “recording apparatus” according to the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a recording system including the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention and an “information processing apparatus”.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 50 includes a “main scanning drive unit” that scans the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X by ejecting ink onto the recording paper P as a “recording material”. As shown, a carriage 61 supported by a carriage guide shaft 51 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction X is provided. A recording head 62 and a PW sensor 34 described later are mounted on the carriage 61, and the rotational driving force of the CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) is transmitted by a belt transmission mechanism (not shown) to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X. Move. A platen 52 that defines a gap between the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording paper P is provided at a position facing the head surface of the recording head 62.

  A known capping device 59 is provided outside the one end side of the reciprocating region of the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X. In a standby state in which recording is not performed, the carriage 61 moves over the capping device 59 and stops, and the head surface of the recording head 62 is sealed by the cap CP provided in the capping device 59. The stop position of the carriage 61 is defined as a home position HP.

  Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 50, a conveyance driving roller 53 that conveys the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y is used as “sub-scanning driving means” that causes the recording head 62 to scan the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. And a conveyance driven roller 54 are provided. The conveyance driving roller 53 rotates when the rotation driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) is transmitted to the gear, and the recording paper P is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the conveyance driving roller 53. A plurality of transport driven rollers 54 are provided and are individually urged by the transport driving roller 53, and the recording paper P is in contact with the recording paper P when the recording paper P is transported by the rotation of the transport driving roller 53. Rotates following the transport of A coating having a high frictional resistance is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53. The recording paper P pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 by the transport driven roller 54 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 by the frictional resistance of the outer peripheral surface, and rotates in the sub scanning direction by the transport driving roller 53. To be transported. The “recording execution unit” of the inkjet recording apparatus 50 includes the above-described “main scanning driving unit” and “sub-scanning driving unit”, and the recording paper P is placed between the carriage 61 and the platen 52 in the sub-scanning direction Y. Recording is performed on the recording paper P by alternately repeating the operation of transporting the recording head 62 with the transport amount and the operation of ejecting ink from the recording head 62 onto the recording paper P while the recording head 62 is reciprocated once in the main scanning direction X. Is called.

  On the upstream side of the conveyance drive roller 53 in the sub-scanning direction Y, a paper feed tray 57 as a “recording material stacking unit” capable of stacking a large number of recording sheets P is disposed. The paper feed tray 57 is configured to feed (feed) recording paper P such as plain paper or photo paper. In the vicinity of the paper feed tray 57, an ASF (automatic feeding means) that automatically feeds the uppermost recording paper P stacked on the paper feeding tray 57 to the "recording execution means" Auto sheet feeder) is provided. The ASF is an automatic paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roller 57b provided on the paper feed tray 57 and a separation pad (not shown). The paper feed roller 57 b is disposed on one side of the paper feed tray 57. The recording paper guide 57a is provided on the paper feed tray 57 so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the width of the recording paper P. Then, the recording paper P placed on the paper feeding tray 57 is fed by the rotational driving force of the paper feed roller 57b rotated by the transmission of the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) and the frictional resistance of the separation pad. At the time of paper feeding, a plurality of recording papers P are not fed at a time, but only the topmost recording paper P is accurately separated and automatically fed one by one. A paper detector 33 according to a known technique is disposed between the paper feed roller 57b and the conveyance drive roller 53.

  On the other hand, as means for discharging the recording paper P after execution of recording, a paper discharge driving roller 55 and a paper discharge driven roller 56 as “discharge driving rollers” are provided. The paper discharge driving roller 55 is rotated by transmission of the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3), and the recording paper P after recording is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. Is done. The paper discharge driven roller 56 has a plurality of teeth around it, and is a toothed roller sharply sharpened so that the tip of each tooth makes point contact with the recording surface of the recording paper P. The plurality of paper discharge driven rollers 56 are individually urged by the paper discharge driving roller 55, and come into contact with the recording paper P when the recording paper P is discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. The paper rotates as the paper is discharged.

  A PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) that rotationally drives the paper feed roller 57b, the conveyance drive roller 53, and the paper discharge drive roller 55, and a CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) that drives the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction will be described later. The recording control unit 100 controls the driving. Similarly, the recording head 62 is driven and controlled by the recording control unit 100 to eject ink onto the surface of the recording paper P. In the ink jet recording apparatus 50, the recording control unit 100 causes the carriage 61 to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X while ejecting ink from the recording head 62 to the recording paper P, and the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. Recording on the recording paper P is executed while alternately repeating the operation of transporting with the transport amount of.

  The recording system 10 including the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and the “information processing apparatus” and the recording control unit 100 as the “recording control apparatus” will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The recording control unit 100 includes a ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) 103, an MPU 104, a nonvolatile memory 105 as a “nonvolatile storage medium”, a PF motor driver 106, a CR motor driver 107, and a head driver 108. ing. The MPU 104 includes a rotary encoder 31 as a “rotation amount detection unit” that detects the rotation amount of the transport driving roller 53 via the ASIC 103, and a linear encoder 32 as a “carriage movement amount detection unit” that detects the movement amount of the carriage 61. The paper detector 33 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the conveyed recording paper P, the PW sensor 34 for detecting the edge of the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X, and the ink jet recording apparatus 50 are turned on / off. A power switch 35 for turning off, a recording operation switch 36 for performing a recording start operation on the recording paper P by the “recording execution means”, and an output signal of the operation panel 39 as “setting input means” are input.

  The known rotary encoder 31 has a rotary scale 311 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance drive roller 53, and a rotary scale sensor 312 that detects slits formed at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the rotary scale 311. (FIG. 2). An output signal of the rotary scale sensor 312 that changes with the rotation of the transport driving roller 53 is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.

  A known linear encoder 32 detects a linear scale 321 disposed in the vicinity of the carriage 61 substantially in parallel with the main scanning direction X and a linear scale that detects slits formed at equal intervals in the linear scale 321 mounted on the carriage 61. And a scale sensor 322 (FIG. 2). An output signal of the linear scale sensor 322 in which the period of the pulse corresponding to the amount of movement of the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X changes with the moving speed is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.

  The known paper detector 33 is given a self-returning behavior to a standing posture and protrudes into the conveyance path of the recording paper P so as to be able to rotate only in the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the recording paper P. This detector has a lever that is pivotally supported in the state, and the lever rotates when the tip of the lever is pushed by the recording paper P, whereby the recording paper P is detected (FIG. 2). . The paper detector 33 detects the start end position and the end position of the recording paper P fed from the paper feed roller 57 b, and the detection signal is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103. The PW sensor 34 is configured by a non-contact optical sensor, and detects the end position of the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X (side end position of the recording paper P), and the detection signal is transmitted via the ASIC 103. And output to the MPU 104. Based on the output signals of the paper detector 33 and the PW sensor 34, the MPU 104 calculates the transport position of the recording paper P, the size of the recording paper P, and the like.

  A ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC 103, an MPU 104, and a nonvolatile memory 105 are connected to the system bus of the recording control unit 100. The MPU 104 performs arithmetic processing for executing recording control of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and other necessary arithmetic processing. The ROM 101 stores a recording control program (firmware) necessary for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 50 by the MPU 104, and various data necessary for processing the recording control program is stored in the nonvolatile memory 105. . The RAM 102 is used as a work area for the MPU 104 and a storage area for recording data.

  The ASIC 103 has a control circuit for performing speed control of the PF motor 58 and the CR motor 63 which are DC motors and driving control of the recording head 62. Based on the control command sent from the MPU 104, the output signal of the rotary encoder 31, and the output signal of the linear encoder 32, various calculations for controlling the speed of the PF motor 58 and the CR motor 63 are performed. The motor control signal based on this is sent to the PF motor driver 106 and the CR motor driver 107. Further, based on the recording data sent from the MPU 104, a control signal for the recording head 62 is calculated and generated and sent to the head driver 108 to drive-control the recording head 62.

The ASIC 103 includes a card IF 111, a host IF 112, and a device IF 113 as “information transmission means” that realizes information transmission with a personal computer 301, a digital camera 302, a mobile phone terminal 303, or the like as an “information processing apparatus”.
The card IF 111 realizes a card interface such as a nonvolatile memory card or a PC card inserted into the card slot 200 as “digital image data reading means”. When a memory card is inserted into the card slot 200, it is possible to read / write data from / to the memory card, and when an infrared communication interface card is inserted into the card slot 200, an infrared communication function such as the mobile phone terminal 303 is provided. An infrared communication interface with an electronic device is realized.

The host IF 112 implements a USB interface with a host device such as a personal computer (PC) 301 connected to the USB connector 37 for connecting the host device. The USB connector 37 is disposed on the back side of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 (FIG. 2).
The device IF 113 implements a USB interface with a USB device such as a digital camera (DSC) 302 connected to the USB connector 38 for device connection. The USB connector 38 is disposed on the front side of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 so that a USB device such as the digital camera 302 can be easily attached and detached (FIG. 2).

  Subsequently, the digital camera 302 is directly connected to the ink jet recording apparatus 50, and the recording paper P is based on the digital image file transmitted from the digital camera 302 or the digital image file read from the memory card in the memory card slot 200. A description will be given of the control of the recording control unit 100 when recording is performed.

FIG. 4 is a first embodiment of a functional block diagram of recording control in the recording control unit 100 as the “recording control apparatus” according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a recording paper area and an image development area based on the layout information.

  The layout information input to the resizing unit 14 and the combining unit (layout unit) 15 includes the size and position of the recording paper region PF (FIG. 5) as the “recording material region based on the layout information” and the recording paper P. It includes information that fixedly defines the size and position of the image development area IMF (FIG. 5) at the time of recording execution. The size and position of the recording paper area PF are specified by the specified size and fixed protrusion amount of the recording paper P, and the size and position of the image development area IMF are specified by area start coordinates and area end coordinates on the plane coordinates. . The image development area IMF is an area where digital image data to be recorded is developed and recording is performed. In the case of bordered recording, the image development area IMF is set inside the recording paper area PF in an area smaller than the recording paper area PF. As a result, a margin is formed on the recording surface of the recording paper P outside the digital image. On the other hand, in the case of borderless recording, the image development area IMF is set so as to protrude beyond the recording paper area PF in an area larger than the recording paper area PF. Thereby, a digital image is formed on the recording surface of the recording paper P without a blank space.

  Note that the layout information here is stored in the non-volatile memory 105 of the recording control unit 100 and held in the ink jet recording apparatus 50 from the digital camera 302, the personal computer 301, and the like together with the layout information and digital image data. Includes both layout information to be transmitted.

  The digital image file to be recorded is output to the decoding unit 13 via the digital image file input unit 12 and decoded (decompressed compressed file) by the decoding unit 13. The decoding unit 13 outputs the decompressed digital image data to the resize 14. The resizing unit 14 performs resizing (enlargement or reduction) of the digital image data in accordance with the image development area IMF, and outputs the resized digital image data to the combining unit (layout unit) 15. The synthesizing unit 15 outputs the image development area IMF from the resizing unit 14 to the image development area IMF based on the coordinate information (area start coordinates (Xd1, Yd1), area end coordinates (Xd2, Yd2)) of the image development area IMF included in the layout information. The resized digital image data is expanded to generate final output image data, which is output to the recording processing unit 16. The recording processing unit 16 performs recording on the recording paper P based on the final output image data.

  The development area F (FIG. 5) is a plane coordinate area designated by the start point (0, 0) and the end point (XE, YE), and the recording paper area PF and the image development area IMF are set in this development area. . The combining unit (layout unit) 15 calculates the area start coordinates (Xp1, Yp1) and the area end coordinates (Xp2, Yp2) from the specified size of the recording paper P specified by the layout information and the fixed protrusion amount, and the recording paper The area PF is set on the development area F (FIG. 5). The upper end fixed protruding amount T1, the lower end fixed protruding amount B1, the left end fixed protruding amount L1, and the right end fixed protruding amount R1 are fixed protruding amounts that are fixedly defined by the layout information. The synthesizing unit (layout unit) 15 generates the image development region IMF from the coordinate information (region start coordinates (Xd1, Yd1), region end coordinates (Xd2, Yd2)) of the image development region IMF specified by the layout information. It is set on the development area F (FIG. 5).

  “Memo area information” as information of the “memo field” set by the user operation on the operation panel 39 (FIG. 3) is information on the position, shape, size, transmittance, and color of the “memo field” set by the user. Is included. Among these, information on the position, shape, size, and transmittance of the “memo field” is output to the composition determination unit 11, and information on the color of the “memo field” is output to the composition unit (layout unit) 15. The composition determination unit 11 as the “area setting unit” designates an arbitrary area in the image development area IMF in units of pixels as the memo area MF based on the “memo area information” (position, shape, size, transmittance). The data is output to the synthesis unit 15 as “memo field formation processing means” (region start coordinates (X1, Y1), size (horizontal width S_X, vertical width S_Y), transmittance, etc.). Based on the “memo area information”, the synthesizing unit 15 generates and synthesizes color data of the designated color and transmittance in the memo area MF of the image development area IMF.

  Hereinafter, specific procedures will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 and also with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for designating the memo area MF in the composition determination unit 11.
First, the current synthesis position (development position of digital image data) of the image development area IMF is acquired from the synthesis unit (layout unit) 15 (step S1). Development of digital image data in the image development area IMF and generation of final output image data are performed during one main scanning operation (while the recording head 62 scans the recording surface of the recording paper P once in the main scanning direction X). ) In units of ink ejection data. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the current synthesis position of the image development area IMF acquired from the synthesis unit 15 is within the memo area MF (step S2). If within the memo area MF (Yes in step S2), the transmittance is set to the transmittance set by the user on the operation panel 39 (step S3). If not within the memo area MF (No in step S2), The transmittance is set to 100% (step S4).

  Thus, by changing the transmittance only in the memo area MF, a “memo field” is formed in a portion corresponding to the memo area on the recording surface of the recording paper P. For example, if the transmittance in the memo area MF is set to 0%, a “memo field” in which the digital image is white (ground color of the recording paper P) is formed. If the user specifies a color other than white together with the transmittance, the color data of that color is synthesized to form a “memo field” for that color. The shape of the memo area MF in which the “memo field” is formed is not particularly limited to the quadrangle shown in the embodiment, and various shapes such as a circle and an ellipse are possible.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific determination procedure for determining whether or not it is within the memo area MF (step S2 in the flowchart of FIG. 6).
When the memo area MF is a quadrangle (rectangle), the procedure is based on the comparison between the area start coordinates (X1, Y1) and size (horizontal width S_X, vertical width S_Y) of the memo area MF and the current composite position. This is a procedure for determining whether or not the synthesis position is within the memo area MF.

  First, it is determined whether or not the Y-direction coordinate value of the current composite position coordinate (X, Y) is greater than or equal to the region start coordinate value Y1 of the memo region MF and less than Y1 + S_Y (step S11). If the Y direction coordinate value is not greater than or equal to the region start coordinate value Y1 of the memo region MF and less than Y1 + S_Y (No in step S11), the Y direction coordinate value is a coordinate value outside the memo region MF. It is determined that it is outside (step S14). On the other hand, if the Y-direction coordinate value is not less than Y1 of the area start coordinate of the memo area MF and less than Y1 + S_Y (Yes in step S11), the Y-direction coordinate value is determined to be a coordinate value inside the memo area MF.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the X direction coordinate value of the current composite position coordinate (X, Y) is not less than the region start coordinate value X1 of the memo region MF and less than X1 + S_X (step S12). If the X direction coordinate value is not greater than or equal to the region start coordinate value X1 of the memo region MF and less than X1 + S_X (No in step S12), the X direction coordinate value is a coordinate value outside the memo region MF. It is determined that it is outside (step S14). On the other hand, if the X-direction coordinate value is not less than X1 of the area start coordinate of the memo area MF and less than X1 + S_X (Yes in step S12), the X-direction coordinate value is a coordinate value inside the memo area MF. Are determined to be within the memo region MF (step S13).

  In this way, when recording on the recording paper P based on the desired digital image data, a process for forming a “memo field” in an area designated by an operation input from the operation panel 39 (FIG. 3). By executing the above, it is possible to create a digital photograph in which a desired “memo field” is added to the digital image. That is, instead of adding a “memo field” to the digital image by combining the template image captured from the outside with the digital image, the process of forming the “memo field” is executed by the internal processing of the ink jet recording apparatus 50. Thus, a digital photograph in which a desired “memo field” is added to the digital image can be created.

  Therefore, it is possible to create a digital photograph with a “memo field” having an arbitrary size and shape without combining template images. In addition, because the “memo field” is formed by specifying the area in pixels, regardless of the template image, the shape and size of the “memo field” can be arbitrarily set, and the digital image and the “memo field” The synthetic part is formed cleanly. A memory capacity for storing the template image data in the “memo field” is not required, and limited memory resources (nonvolatile memory 105 and the like) can be effectively used. Therefore, the cost performance of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 can be improved.

  It should be noted that a plurality of “memo fields” can be set with different colors and transmittances on the operation panel 39, which makes it possible to flexibly respond to more diverse needs. For example, when two or more digital images are recorded on one recording paper P, a digital photograph can be created by adding “memo fields” of different sizes, shapes, colors, and transmittances to the respective digital images. it can.

FIG. 8 is a second embodiment of a functional block diagram of recording control in the recording control unit 100 as the “recording control apparatus” according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, the recording data in the memo area MF is replaced with NULL data in the process of converting the digital image data developed in the image development area IMF (FIG. 5) into the recording data by the recording processing unit 16. The final output image data output from the combining unit 15 is first color-converted (binarized) from RGB data to data for each ink color (CMYK) by the color conversion processing unit 161 in the recording processing unit 16. . Subsequently, the data is converted into color gradation data that can be recorded by the halftone processing unit 162. Subsequently, the area determination unit 163 serving as the “area setting unit” and “memo field formation processing unit” is based on the memo area information (area start coordinates (X1, Y1), size (horizontal width S_X, vertical width S_Y)). The data in the memo area MF is replaced with NULL data.

  Then, the head data generation unit 164 generates head data according to the physical characteristics (nozzle arrangement) of the recording head 62 (FIG. 3), the ejection time interval, and the like, and outputs the head data to the recording control processing unit 165. The recording control processing unit 165 includes a head driver 108, a CR motor driver 107, a PF motor driver 106 (FIG. 3), etc., and the head data is sent from the ASIC 103 (FIG. 3) to the head driver 108. Paper feed control and conveyance control (driven by the PF motor 58) and carriage drive control (driven by the CR motor 63) according to the above are executed, and a digital image is recorded on the recording paper P.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for replacing data in the memo region MF with NULL data in the region determination unit 163.
First, memo area information (area start coordinates (X1, Y1), size (horizontal width S_X, vertical width S_Y)) is acquired (step S21). Subsequently, the current data processing position coordinates (X, Y) and the recording data of the data processing position are acquired (step S22). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the Y-direction coordinate value of the current data processing position is greater than or equal to the region start coordinate value Y1 of the memo region MF and less than Y1 + S_Y (step S23). If the Y-direction coordinate value is not greater than the region start coordinate value Y1 of the memo region MF and less than Y1 + S_Y (No in step S23), the Y-direction coordinate value is a coordinate value outside the memo region MF. It is determined that the recording data is out of place, and the recording data is not replaced. On the other hand, if the Y-direction coordinate value is greater than or equal to Y1 of the area start coordinates of the memo area MF and less than Y1 + S_Y (Yes in step S23), the Y-direction coordinate value is determined to be a coordinate value inside the memo area MF.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the X-direction coordinate value of the current data processing position coordinate (X, Y) is not less than the region start coordinate value X1 of the memo region MF and less than X1 + S_X (step S24). If the X direction coordinate value is not greater than or equal to the region start coordinate value X1 of the memo region MF and less than X1 + S_X (No in step S24), the X direction coordinate value is a coordinate value outside the memo region MF. It is determined that the recording data is out of the recording data, and the recording data is not replaced. On the other hand, if the X-direction coordinate value is not less than X1 of the area start coordinate of the memo area MF and less than X1 + S_X (Yes in step S24), the X-direction coordinate value is a coordinate value inside the memo area MF. The data processing position (X, Y) is determined to be within the memo area MF, and the recording data at the current data processing position (X, Y) is replaced with NULL data (step S25).

  In this way, the recording data in the memo area is replaced with NULL data and recording on the recording paper P is executed, so that the recording is executed without ejecting ink in the memo area. Digital images are not formed. As a result, a “memo field” is formed on the recording surface of the recording paper P after execution of recording, in which a part of the digital image is white (ground color of the recording paper P). Therefore, it is possible to create a digital photograph with an arbitrary size and shape and added with a “memo field” of the ground color of the recording paper P without combining template images.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is a schematic plan view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic side view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a recording system according to the present invention. It is 1st Example of the functional block diagram of the recording control which concerns on this invention. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a recording paper area and an image development area. FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure which designates a memo area | region. It is the flowchart which showed the determination procedure whether it is in a memo area | region. It is 2nd Example of the functional block diagram of the recording control which concerns on this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure which replaces the data of the memo area.

Explanation of symbols

50 Inkjet recording apparatus, 51 Carriage guide shaft, 52 Platen, 53 Conveyance drive roller, 54 Conveyance driven roller, 55 Discharge drive roller, 56 Discharge driven roller, 57 Feed tray, 57b Feed roller, 58 PF motor, 59 Capping device, 61 Carriage, 62 Recording head, 63 CR motor, 100 Recording control unit, 101 ROM, 102 RAM, 103 ASIC, 104 MPU, 105 Non-volatile memory, 106 PF motor driver, 107 CR motor driver, 108 Head driver , 200 card slot, 301 personal computer, 302 digital camera, 303 mobile phone terminal, P recording paper, X main scanning direction, Y sub-scanning direction

Claims (4)

An operation unit for inputting a user's operation; a recording execution unit for executing recording on a recording material;
A recording apparatus comprising: a recording control device that develops digital image data in an image development area and executes recording control in the image development area in response to a user operation input from the operation unit;
The recording control device includes an area setting unit that designates an arbitrary area in the image development area in units of pixels based on an operation input from the operation unit;
A recording apparatus comprising: a memo field forming process unit that executes a memo field forming process based on an operation input from the operation unit only for an area designated by the area setting unit. 2. The memo field formation processing unit according to claim 1, wherein in the image development area, color data of an arbitrary color and transmittance generated based on an operation input from the operation unit is input to the area setting unit of the digital image data. A recording device characterized in that it is combined with the area specified by the user. 3. The memo field formation processing unit according to claim 2, wherein the memo field forming processing unit has a configuration capable of setting different colors and transmittances for each of the plurality of regions designated by the region setting unit. Recording device. 2. The memo field forming processing means according to claim 1, wherein the recording data in the area designated by the area setting means is converted to NULL data in the process of converting the digital image data expanded in the image expansion area into recording data. A recording apparatus characterized by replacing.

Images