JP2009010698A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system capable of obtaining a desired printing result by enabling a user to easily edit and shape an image in accordance with the shape of a recording medium even when printing the image on a recording medium other than a fixed type. <P>SOLUTION: An image processor transmits information about the shape of a recording medium to an imaging device from a printer, and generates a printing auxiliary image for enabling the user to easily and intuitively edit and generate an image by generating and displaying a frame of a shape based on the information. In addition, the imaging device can be configured so as to edit an image corresponding to a shape other than a fixed type and generate and display a frame for shaping on the basis of a recordable recording medium so that the user can easily obtain a desired printing result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus or an electronic camera used in a printing system for printing image data on the surface of a disc-shaped recording medium such as a CD-R or a DVD-R.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image processing systems in which a printer and a digital video camera / digital still camera or the like are directly connected and an image taken by a simple procedure can be printed without using a personal computer as an intermediary have become widespread.
JP 2003-061034 A

  In recent years, recording media that can be handled by an imaging apparatus such as a digital video camera have been diversified, and an imaging apparatus configured to be able to record captured image data on an optical disk or a large-capacity nonvolatile memory is becoming common. In addition, an environment in which data is written to an optical disk by a personal computer or the like is generalized, and music / video edited by the user can be easily stored on the optical disk. In response to this situation, an increasing number of printers are configured to be able to directly print an image or date suggesting the recording contents on the label surface of an optical disk.

  In a conventional image processing system, it can be said that editing for printing on a standard paper size that the system supports in advance, such as A4, B4, and L sizes, can be easily performed. However, when printing on a recording medium other than standard paper, such as the label surface of an optical disk or the index surface of a memory card, it is necessary to import the image into a personal computer and perform detailed shaping and editing operations. It was a situation that forced labor.

  The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and even when printing on a recording medium other than a fixed form, the user can easily perform image editing / shaping according to the shape of the recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system that can obtain the print result.

  In order to solve such a problem, data recording means for recording data on a recording medium, receiving means for communicating with an external printer and receiving information indicating the type of recording medium that can be label-printed by the printer, Provided is an image processing apparatus having display means for displaying whether or not label printing is possible according to the type of recording medium for recording data by the data recording means and the type of recording medium received by the receiving means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to instruct execution of label printing on a recording medium that can be used for recording image data in an image processing apparatus such as a digital camera and the same type of recording medium.

  Conversely, it is possible to prevent label printing from being performed on a recording medium that cannot be used for image data recording by the image processing apparatus.

  This helps to reduce the risk of discrepancies between the data recording content and the label printing content.

(Example)
The image processing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The upper apparatus in FIG. 1 is a printer, and the lower apparatus represents a digital camera.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an optical system including a lens, a diaphragm, an ND filter, and the like. Part. Reference numeral 103 denotes a control microcomputer for controlling the entire imaging apparatus, and reference numeral 104 denotes a communication means for performing data transmission / reception with an external apparatus. The communication unit 112 of the printer and the communication unit 104 of the imaging apparatus can directly communicate with each other by connecting a cable (not shown) or wirelessly, and can exchange data with each other. Reference numeral 105 denotes a signal processing unit, and reference numeral 106 denotes a signal recording unit. Reference numeral 107 denotes a recording medium, which is composed of any one of a tape, a writable optical disk, a nonvolatile memory, and the like. However, there is also an imaging device configured to be able to record on a plurality of media, and at this time, it may be designed to be compatible with a plurality of different types of media. Reference numeral 108 denotes an image output interface, and reference numeral 109 denotes display means constituted by a liquid crystal panel or the like. Reference numeral 110 denotes a printer recording medium, which is configured to be able to print on various media as the user replaces it as desired. Reference numeral 111 denotes a recording medium shape acquisition unit, which is configured to be able to refer to position detection by a switch or a sensor and information embedded in the recording medium. The size of the currently set recording medium, Shape, material, etc. can be acquired. If the user installs the recording medium in the printer, the printer acquires the response of the position sensor and the information embedded in the recording medium by the recording medium shape acquisition unit 111, and acquires the shape of the recording medium.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes communication means for performing data transmission / reception with the external device as described above.

  The operation unit 100 may receive a user's operation and give an instruction to start an imaging process, or issue an instruction to display an image on the display unit 109 by reproducing an image recorded on a recording medium. I can do it. It also manages user operations on the digital camera, such as label printing settings and start instructions to be described later.

  In the optical system 101, the amount of light from the subject received from the lens is adjusted by the diaphragm / ND filter. In the imaging unit 102, light from the subject is imaged on the surface of an image sensor such as a CCD, photoelectrically converted, and stored as an image signal. An image signal output from an image pickup device such as a CCD is sample-held by a sample-hold circuit, and then supplied to a pre-process circuit where AGC processing, black balance processing, white balance processing, gamma correction processing, etc. are performed. It is supplied to the processing unit 105.

  The signal processing unit 105 performs processing / correction on the image signal based on an instruction from the control microcomputer 103 to generate a recording image signal. Further, the display image signal is generated by superimposing character information or the like corresponding to various situations on the recording image signal.

  The signal recording unit 106 processes and converts the recording image signal into a data format corresponding to the recording medium 107, and saves it in the recording medium.

  The image output interface 108 outputs the display image signal to the connection terminal and display means 109.

  When the user connects the printer and the imaging apparatus via communication means, the control microcomputer 103 instructs the signal processing unit 105 to display a print navigation screen. The signal processing unit 105 reads image data from the recording medium 107 via the signal recording unit 106, generates a print navigation screen, and outputs it to the display unit 109 via the image output interface 108.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a print navigation screen.

  The user selects a desired image while referring to the print navigation screen, makes settings such as the number of printed sheets and the presence / absence of a border, and instructs execution of printing.

  At this time, there is a configuration in which a trimming frame is displayed on the image data, and image processing such as unnecessary image cutting and enlargement is performed at the same time.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a print navigation screen displaying a trimming frame.

  At this time, image data reproduced from the recording medium 107 is displayed at the upper left of the screen.

  When a printable paper size is detected by the recording medium shape acquisition unit 111, such a trimming frame is transmitted from the printer to the imaging device through the communication unit 104, and intuitively performs scaling processing and image layout in the paper size. Used to determine automatically.

  The control microcomputer 103 transmits image processing parameters to the signal processing unit 105 in accordance with the print settings set by the user. The signal processing unit 105 processes and edits the image data based on the signal processing parameters, and prints the image for printing. Generate data. When the generation of the printing image data is completed in the signal processing unit 105, the control microcomputer 103 instructs the signal processing unit 105 and the communication unit 104 to start data transfer, and the printing image data is transferred from the imaging apparatus to the printer. . When the transfer of the printing image data is completed, the printer prints and outputs the received printing image data.

  An example of the shape of the recording medium (recording medium) is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4A shows the printable range when the optical disc is installed as a recording medium, and FIG. 4B shows the printable range when the title index paper of the memory card is installed as the recording medium. The shape of these recording media is digitized as coordinate information and stored in the printer.

  4A is stored as numerical values of the inner diameter and outer diameter of the printable range.

  When the printer and the imaging device are connected via the communication means 104, the control microcomputer 103 detects that the printer has been connected, and shifts the system to the print standby mode. When the system enters the print standby mode, the printer transmits the shape information of the recording medium to the imaging device. When the shape information of the recording medium is acquired from the printer, the imaging apparatus instructs the signal processing unit 105 to display a print navigation screen.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a print navigation screen in the present invention.

  In response to an instruction from the control microcomputer 103, the signal processing unit 105 generates a print navigation screen and outputs it to the display unit 109 via the image output interface 108.

  When the user instructs execution of label printing, the control microcomputer 103 instructs the signal processing unit 105 to display the label printing screen, and the coordinate information of the label frame is obtained based on the recording medium shape information received from the printer. 105. Upon receiving an instruction from the control microcomputer 103, the signal processing unit 105 generates a label print screen and outputs it to the display unit 109 via the image output interface 108.

  At this time, image data read from the recording medium 107 of the digital camera is displayed at the upper left of the screen. This is useful for confirming the correspondence between the recording medium on which image data used for label printing is recorded and the type of the recording medium actually installed in the printer.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a label printing screen in the present invention.

  6A is a label printing screen when an optical disk is installed as a recording medium for printing, and FIG. 6B is a label printing screen when an index title of a memory card is installed as a recording medium. The user can enlarge / reduce the image, delete unnecessary portions, etc. while referring to the label print screen, and can intuitively and easily obtain a print result corresponding to the recording medium.

  When the user instructs printing execution, the control microcomputer 103 transmits the set printing parameters to the signal processing unit 105, processes and edits the image data, and transmits the image data to the printer via the communication unit 104. The printer prints the acquired image data on the installed recording medium and outputs the print result.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a warning display screen when the recording medium in which the imaging apparatus can record data and the recording medium set in the printer are not appropriate.

  In the above-described image processing system, even when a printable recording medium is installed on the printer side, the imaging apparatus may not support data recording on a recording medium corresponding to this. For example, in an imaging apparatus that supports only recording on a tape-shaped medium, the printer side may include an optical disk installed as a recording medium. In such a case, a warning display as shown in FIG. 7 can be performed so that a printing operation not intended by the user is not executed.

  Instead of displaying a warning indicating that label printing cannot be performed, it may be possible to indicate that label printing is possible, or a display indicating both of them may be used.

  In this way, any display that can recognize whether or not label printing is possible may be used in accordance with the type of recording medium on which data is recorded by the data recording unit and the type of recording medium received from the printer.

  FIG. 8 shows a flowchart in the first embodiment.

  In Step 1, when the control microcomputer 103 detects that the printer is connected to the imaging device, the control microcomputer 103 instructs the signal processing unit 105 to display a print navigation screen. Based on this instruction, the signal processing unit 105 generates a print navigation screen and outputs it to the display unit 110.

  In Step 2, it is determined whether or not the user selects execution of label printing. When label printing is not executed, control is transferred to Step 7 where normal trimming / magnification processing and the like can be performed.

  In Step 3, in response to the user selecting the label printing execution, the printer transmits the recording medium shape information to the imaging apparatus.

  In Step 4, the control microcomputer 103 determines the correspondence between the received recording medium shape information and the recording medium that can be recorded by the imaging apparatus. If appropriate, the control microcomputer 103 shifts the control to Step 7.

  In Step 5, when the recording medium that can be recorded by the imaging apparatus and the recording medium shape information do not match, a warning as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and the control is shifted to Step 6.

  In Step 6, the user selects whether or not to continue the printing as it is. If the printing is not continued, the control is shifted to Step 1, and the user's desired operation is executed on the normal print navigation screen.

  In Step 7, when label printing is not executed, a print navigation screen as shown in FIG. 2 or a trimming screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, and the user performs a desired operation. When label printing is performed, a label printing screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and the user can perform image processing and editing while referring to a screen specialized for label printing.

  In Step 8, the user is prompted to determine whether or not to finally print, and when printing is continued, the image data is transferred to the printer and printing is executed. If the user does not continue printing, control is transferred to Step 7 to continue the processing / editing of the image data.

  The present invention can also be configured as follows.

  When the printer and the imaging device are connected via the communication means 104, the control microcomputer 103 detects that the printer has been connected, and shifts the system to the print standby mode. When the system enters the print standby mode, the imaging apparatus instructs the signal processing unit 105 to display a print navigation screen. In response to an instruction from the control microcomputer 103, the signal processing unit 105 generates a print navigation screen and outputs it to the display unit 109 via the image output interface 108.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 shows an example of a label print selection screen in the second embodiment.

  When the user instructs execution of label printing, the control microcomputer 103 instructs the signal processing unit 105 to display a label printing selection screen, and the signal processing unit 105 displays a label printing selection screen as shown in FIG. At this time, the imaging device displays options based on the recording medium on which data can be recorded, and can be easily printed when a label or an index is added to the recording medium storing the images taken by the user. can do.

  When the user selects a desired recording medium, the control microcomputer 103 transmits the coordinate information of the label frame to the signal processing unit 105 based on the printing range information of the medium stored in the imaging device. Upon receiving an instruction from the control microcomputer 103, the signal processing unit 105 generates a label print screen and outputs it to the display unit 109 via the image output interface 108.

  The user can enlarge / reduce the image, delete unnecessary portions, etc. while referring to the label printing screen. When the user instructs printing execution, the control microcomputer 103 transmits the set printing parameters to the signal processing unit 105, processes and edits the image data, and transmits the image data to the printer via the communication unit 104. The printer prints the acquired image data on the installed recording medium and outputs the print result.

  With the configuration described above, the user can give a label or index to the recording medium he / she has taken with a simple operation.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a warning display screen when the recording medium of the imaging apparatus and the recording medium of the printer are not appropriate.

  In the image processing system described above, the printer may not be able to print on a recording medium that can be recorded by the imaging apparatus. For example, even when the imaging apparatus supports recording on an optical disk, the printer side does not support printing on the label surface of the optical disk.

  In such a case, a warning display as shown in FIG. 9 can be performed so that a printing operation not intended by the user is not executed.

  Instead of displaying a warning indicating that label printing cannot be performed, it may be possible to indicate that label printing is possible, or a display indicating both of them may be used.

  In this way, any display that can recognize whether or not label printing is possible may be used in accordance with the type of recording medium on which data is recorded by the data recording unit and the type of recording medium received from the printer.

  FIG. 11 shows a flowchart in the second embodiment.

  In Step 11, when the control microcomputer 103 detects that the printer is connected to the imaging apparatus, the control microcomputer 103 instructs the signal processing unit 105 to display a print navigation screen. In response to this instruction, the signal processing unit 105 generates a print navigation screen and outputs it to the display unit 110.

  In Step 12, it is determined whether or not the user selects execution of label printing. If label printing is not executed, control is transferred to Step 18 so as to perform normal trimming / magnification processing and the like.

  In step 13, the signal processing unit 105 generates a label print selection screen and outputs it to the display unit 110 in response to the user selecting to execute label printing. The user selects a desired label printing mode, and in response to this, Step 14 shifts control.

  In Step 14, information about a printable recording medium is transmitted from the printer to the imaging device.

  In Step 15, the control microcomputer 103 determines the correspondence between the received information relating to the printable recording medium and the label printing mode selected by the user, and if appropriate, shifts the control to Step 18.

  In Step 16, when the label printing mode selected by the user and the shape information of the recording medium do not match, a warning as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, and the control is shifted to Step 17.

  In Step 17, the user selects whether or not to continue printing, and if the printing is not continued, the control is shifted to Step 11, and the user's desired operation is executed on the normal print navigation screen.

  In Step 18, when label printing is not executed, a print navigation screen as shown in FIG. 2 or a trimming screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, and the user performs a desired operation. When label printing is performed, a label printing screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and the user can perform image processing and editing while referring to a screen specialized for label printing.

  In Step 19, the user is prompted to determine whether or not to finally print, and when printing is continued, the image data is transferred to the printer and printing is executed. If the user does not continue printing, control is transferred to Step 18 to continue processing / editing of the image data.

  By configuring the image processing system as described so far, even when printing on a recording medium other than a fixed form, the user can easily perform image editing / shaping according to the shape of the recording medium, An image processing system capable of obtaining a desired print result can be provided.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, in the image processing apparatus such as a digital camera, it is possible to instruct execution of label printing on the same type of recording medium that can be used for recording image data.

  On the contrary, in the image processing apparatus, it is possible to prevent label printing from being performed on a recording medium that cannot be used for image data recording.

  This helps to reduce the risk of discrepancies between the data recording content and the label printing content.

[Other embodiments]
An object of the present invention is to provide a system or apparatus with a storage medium storing program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments, and an arithmetic unit of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program codes stored in the storage medium. Is also achieved. 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. As a storage medium for supplying such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM Etc. can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the arithmetic device, the functions of the above-described embodiments are not limited to being realized only by the operation of the program. For example, when the operating system or other program running on the arithmetic unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

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

Processing block diagram of conventional imaging device Example of print navigation screen An example of a print navigation screen displaying a trimming frame Example of shape of recording medium Example of print navigation screen in the present invention Example of label printing screen in the present invention An example of a warning display screen when the recording medium of the imaging device and the recording medium of the printer are not appropriate Flowchart in the first embodiment An example of a label print selection screen in the second embodiment An example of a warning display screen when the recording medium of the imaging device and the recording medium of the printer are not appropriate Flowchart in the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Optical system 102 Image | photographing part 103 Control microcomputer 104 Communication means 105 Signal processing part 106 Signal recording part 107 Recording medium 108 Image output interface 109 Display means 110 Recording medium 111 Recording medium shape acquisition means

Claims (6)

Data recording means for recording data on a recording medium;
Receiving means for communicating with an external printer and receiving information indicating the type of recording medium capable of label printing by the printer;
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a display unit configured to display whether or not label printing is possible according to a type of a recording medium on which data is recorded by the data recording unit and a type of the recording medium received by the receiving unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the label printing instruction is issued, the display unit displays an image recorded on a recording medium to be labeled. Furthermore, it has an instruction means for instructing execution of label printing, and an imaging means,
The instructing unit can instruct execution of label printing when the type of recording medium that records the image data obtained by the imaging unit matches the type of recording medium that can be printed by the printer. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A data recording process for recording data on a recording medium;
A receiving step of communicating with an external printer and receiving information indicating a type of recording medium capable of label printing by the printer;
An image processing method comprising: a display step for displaying whether or not label printing is possible according to a type of a recording medium for recording data in the data recording step and a type of the recording medium received in the receiving step.   5. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein when the label printing instruction is given, the display process displays an image recorded on a recording medium to be labeled. Furthermore, it has an instruction process for instructing execution of label printing,
In the instructing step, it is possible to instruct execution of label printing when the type of recording medium that records image data obtained by the imaging apparatus matches the type of recording medium that can be label-printed by the printer. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein:

Images