JP2010226381A - Display control apparatus, and printer with the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for shortening a period of time from start of image processing to image data to display of processed image data on a display means, in spite of simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: Image data periodically read from a VRAM are outputted to a display section for screen display and simultaneously outputted to an image processing section (step S2). Therefore, it is not necessary to read image data from the VRAM for image processing in different timing from reading of image data form the VRAM for screen display, and even without configuring the image processing section to perform parallel processing as conventional, a processing time for reading image data from the VRAM for image processing can be shortened. Thus, in spite of simple configuration, and the period of time from start of image processing to image data to display of processed image data on the display section can be shortened (steps S5-S7). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying image data read from an image memory on a display means.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a display control apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on image data read from an image memory and displays the image data on a display unit such as an LCD. In such a display control device, image data is read from the image memory for display on the display means, and an image based on the image data is displayed on the display means, while the display means for performing predetermined image processing. The same image data as the image data displayed on the screen is read from the image memory at a timing different from the reading of the image data for display on the display means. When predetermined image processing is completed on the image data read for image processing, the image based on the image data subjected to the image processing is used instead of the image based on the image data before the image processing is performed. Is displayed on the display means. At this time, for example, by speeding up the image processing by the technique described in Patent Document 1, the time from the start of the image processing to the image data until the image data after the image processing is displayed on the display unit is shortened. Has been tried. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the image data is divided into a plurality of pieces, and each of the divided pieces of image data is processed in parallel, thereby speeding up the image processing.

JP 11-331576 A (paragraph 0005, FIG. 12, etc.)

  By the way, in order to increase the speed of image processing by dividing image data into a plurality of pieces and processing each of the divided pieces of image data in parallel, it is necessary to provide a plurality of image processing means for processing a plurality of pieces of image data in parallel. As a result, the device configuration is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a technique capable of shortening the time from the start of image processing to image data until the image data after the image processing is displayed on the display means with a simple configuration. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a display control apparatus according to the present invention displays an image based on image data read from an image memory on a display means. In the display control apparatus, the image data is written to the image memory, and the image Memory control means for controlling reading of image data from the memory, image data output means for outputting image data read from the image memory by the memory control means to the display means, and the image by the memory control means Image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on the image data read from the memory, and the memory control means responds to an image data read request synchronized with the screen display of the display means from the image data output means. The image data is periodically read from the image memory and output to the image data output means, and the image processing is performed. And outputs to the means, the image processing means is characterized in applying a predetermined image processing on the image data outputted by said memory control means in accordance with the image data read request.

  Normally, when image processing is performed on image data, an image based on the image data before being subjected to image processing is displayed on the display means, and according to an instruction from the user who viewed the displayed image, Image processing is performed on the image data of the displayed image. However, conventionally, image data is read from the image memory for display on the display means, while image data identical to the image data displayed on the display means is subjected to predetermined image processing. The image data is read from the image memory at a timing different from the reading of the image data for display on the display means.

  In the invention configured as described above, the image data is periodically read from the image memory in response to the image data read request synchronized with the screen display of the display means from the image data output means by the memory control means, and the image data It is output to the output means and output to the image processing means. Then, predetermined image processing is performed by the image processing means on the image data output by the memory control means in response to the image data read request. Therefore, since image processing by the image processing means is performed on the image data read from the image memory for display on the display means, an image at a timing different from the reading of the image data from the image memory for display. It is not necessary to read out the image data from the image memory for processing, and the processing time for reading out the image data from the image memory in the image processing can be shortened. Further, even if a plurality of image processing means are not provided as in the conventional parallel processing, the processing time for reading the image data from the image memory for image processing is shortened, so that an image corresponding to the image data can be obtained with a simple configuration. The time from the start of processing until the image based on the image data after image processing is displayed on the display means can be shortened.

  The memory control unit may control writing of the image data on which the predetermined image processing has been performed by the image processing unit to the image memory.

  Such a configuration is practical because image data that has undergone predetermined image processing by the image processing means can be written into the image memory by the memory control means.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes the display control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 and display means whose display is controlled by the display control apparatus. .

1 is a perspective view showing a photo printer that is an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. The enlarged view of the principal part of a photo printer. The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a controller. The flowchart which shows an example of a screen display process. The figure which shows an example of an image processing timing. The figure which shows the other example of image processing timing. The figure which shows the other example of image processing timing. The figure which shows the other example of image processing timing.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a photo printer 10 which is an embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the photo printer 10. In the photo printer 10, a print mechanism 50 (see FIG. 2) is built in the printer body 12, and according to an operation command from a controller 70 (see FIG. 2) that controls the entire photo printer 10. Printing on the paper P is executed. Then, the printed paper is discharged to the front surface of the printer main body 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a front door 14 is attached to the front surface of the printer main body 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. The front door 14 is a lid for opening and closing the front surface of the printer main body 12. In the open state, it functions as a paper discharge tray for receiving the paper P discharged from the print mechanism 50. In addition, various memory card slots 16 provided on the front surface of the printer main body 12 can be used by the user. That is, in this state, the user can insert the memory card M storing the image file to be printed into the memory card slot 16. The external storage medium for storing the image file data is not limited to the memory card, but may be another one such as a USB memory or a disk medium. In addition, an electronic device such as a digital camera or a mobile phone that stores images may be connected to the photo printer 10 by communication using a cable or infrared rays so as to function as an external storage medium.

  Further, on the side of the memory card slot 16, there is a light receiving sensor 17 that receives infrared rays as an operation signal transmitted from the infrared remote controller 18 and outputs the received infrared rays as an operation signal to a remote control signal receiving unit 771 described later. Provided (see FIG. 3). In the vicinity of the light receiving sensor 17, as described above, for example, an IrDA standard light receiving sensor that enables infrared communication with an electronic device such as a digital camera or a mobile phone is provided.

  An operation panel 20 is provided on the upper surface of the printer main body 12, and a cover 30 is attached to an inner side of the upper surface of the printer main body 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. The cover 30 is a resin plate formed in a size that can cover the upper surface of the printer main body 12, and exposes the surface of the operation panel 20 to the outside in the open state (see FIG. 1). On the other hand, when the cover 30 is closed, the entire operation panel 20 is covered.

  The operation panel 20 includes a display unit 22 (equivalent to “display means” of the present invention) 22 configured to display characters, graphics, symbols, and the like, and buttons arranged around the display unit 22. And a group 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the button group 24 includes a power button 24a for turning on / off the power, a menu button 24b for calling the main menu screen, canceling the operation in the middle, and interrupting the printing on the paper P in the middle. A cancel button 24c for performing printing, a print button 24d for instructing execution of printing on the paper P, a save button 24e for saving an edited image in the memory card M inserted in the memory card slot 16, a display unit Each of the up / down / left / right arrow buttons 24f to 24i operated when selecting a desired option from the plurality of options displayed on the screen 22 or moving the cursor, and the up / down / left / right arrow buttons 24f to 24i. In order to indicate that the option selected by the arrow buttons 24f to 24i arranged in the center has been determined. K button 24j, display switching button 24k for switching the screen display on the display unit 22, left guide selection button 24l for selecting the left guide displayed on the display unit 22, and the right guide displayed on the display unit 22 are selected. It includes a right guide selection button 24m, a paper discharge tray open button 24n for opening the front door 14 having a function as a paper discharge tray, and the like.

  Further, in order to confirm the display content of the display unit 22, the cover 30 is provided with a window 32 having the same size as the display unit 22. That is, when the cover 30 is in the closed state, the user can check the display content of the display unit 22 through the window 32. On the other hand, when the cover 30 is in the open state, the display unit 22 can be adjusted to a desired angle as shown in FIG.

  Thus, when the cover 30 is in the open state, the cover 30 is held while being inclined obliquely rearward with respect to the operation panel 20 and can be used as a tray for supplying the paper P to the print mechanism 50. . Further, at the back of the operation panel 20, a paper feed port 58 of the print mechanism 50 is provided, and a pair of paper guides 59 that are slid in the left-right direction so that the guide width matches the paper width are provided. .

  Then, the paper P is sent to the print mechanism 50 through the paper supply port 58 and printing is executed. As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 53 is driven by a timing belt 51 spanned in a loop shape in the left-right direction and reciprocates left and right along the guide 52. The carriage 53 is provided with a paper edge detection sensor 57 that detects the left and right edges and the upper and lower edges of the paper P. In other words, the paper edge detection sensor 57 detects the left and right edges of the paper when the carriage 53 scans in the left and right directions before printing on the paper set in the paper feed port 58, thereby enabling recognition of the paper width. Or detecting the trailing edge of the paper during printing to enable recognition of the paper length.

  The carriage 53 is mounted with an ink cartridge 54 that individually accommodates ink of each color such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Each of these ink cartridges 54 is connected to a print head 55. The print head 55 applies pressure to the ink from the ink cartridge 54 and ejects the ink from the nozzle (not shown) toward the paper P. In this embodiment, the print head 55 employs a method in which a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element to deform the piezoelectric element and pressurize the ink. However, a voltage is applied to the heating resistor (for example, a heater) to apply the ink. You may employ | adopt the system which pressurizes ink with the bubble generated by heating. The printed paper P is sent out to the opened front door (paper discharge tray) 14 by the transport roller 56.

  Although not shown, a battery pack can be attached to the back of the printer main body 12 so that the printer 10 can be operated by a battery without being connected to a commercial power source. Because of this point and the fact that the printer 10 is a stand-alone printer that can be used without being connected to a host computer, the printer 10 is easy to carry and can be used anywhere.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the controller 70. As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 70 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 71, and includes a ROM 72 that stores various processing programs and various data, various programs and various tables, and a RAM 73 that temporarily stores data. An interface (I / F) 74 that enables communication with the print mechanism 50, the memory card slot 16, and the like, and an rewritable image data stored on the display unit 22 via the LCD controller 76 described later. VRAM (corresponding to “image memory” of the present invention) 766 and the like are provided. Further, the controller 70 saves an edited image or the like in the memory card M, and outputs a control signal to the print head 55 of the print mechanism 50 and a control signal to the display unit 22 of the operation panel.

  In addition, the controller 70 displays image processing for performing necessary image processing on the image data in order to display an image based on image data given from an external storage medium such as the memory card M through the interface 74 on the display unit 22. A module 75 is provided. The image processing module 75 is also inserted by replacing a part of the base image displayed on the display unit 22 such as image data corresponding to a printer-specific image such as a menu screen to be displayed on the display unit 22 or an icon. A function of generating partial write data corresponding to the partial image to be generated.

  The RGB image data output from the image processing module 75 is given to the LCD controller 76 for controlling the display of the display unit 22. In the following, the number of pixels of the display unit 22 constituted by the LCD display is 800 dots × 480 dots in WVGA (Wide Video Graphics Array) format, and one line of image data is constituted by pixel data for 800 dots. One image is composed of 480 line data. Accordingly, RGB image data of an image corresponding to one screen of the display unit 22 having a size of 800 dots × 480 dots is input from the image processing module 75 to the LCD controller 76. Note that the color resolution of the image data of each pixel is configured to be capable of full color display with a data size of 8 bits for each color and a total of 24 bits (3 bytes).

  The LCD controller (corresponding to the “display control device” of the present invention) 76 displays an image based on the image data read from the VRAM 766 on the display unit 22, and includes a synchronization signal generation unit 769. Various synchronization signals such as horizontal / vertical synchronization signals for controlling image display timing can be generated. Also, the serial data input from the image processing module 75 is converted into parallel data, and the input data conversion unit 761 for inputting the image data, and one line of image data converted into the parallel data by the input data conversion unit 761. A buffer 762 capable of temporarily holding data. Then, the image data input by the input data conversion unit 761 and temporarily stored in the buffer 762 is written into the VRAM 766.

  The LCD controller 76 performs data conversion for outputting image data periodically read from the VRAM 766 to the display unit 22 in synchronization with the horizontal / vertical synchronization signal of the screen display on the display unit 22. 22 is provided with an output data conversion unit 768 (corresponding to “image data output means” of the present invention). Therefore, the image data stored in the VRAM 766 is output to the display unit 22 via the output data conversion unit 768 and displayed. As will be described later, the image data periodically read from the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765 in response to the image data read request synchronized with the screen display of the display unit 22 from the output data conversion unit 768 is temporarily stored in the buffer 767. The data is converted to be output to the display unit 22 and then output to the display unit 22.

  The VRAM 766 is provided with an area capable of storing a plurality of image data for 480 lines (one image) input by the input data converter 761. Of the plurality of image data stored in the VRAM 766, necessary image data is selectively read out by the RAM control unit 765.

  Further, the LCD controller 76 writes image data into the VRAM 766 and receives data from the VRAM 766 in response to the image data write request signal from the input data conversion unit 761 and the image data read request signal from the output data conversion unit 768. A RAM control unit (corresponding to the “memory control means” of the present invention) 765 for controlling the reading of the image data. The RAM control unit 765 periodically reads out image data from the VRAM 766 in response to an image data read request synchronized with the display unit 22 from the output data conversion unit 768, outputs the image data to the output data conversion unit 768, and an image processing unit described later. Output to 772.

The LCD controller 76 includes an image processing unit (corresponding to “image processing means” of the present invention) 772 that performs predetermined image processing on the image data read from the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765. The image processing unit 772 performs predetermined image processing as
a) a process of replacing one image data with another image data;
b) Processing for converting one image data into black image data on the entire surface,
c) A process for converting the entire black image data into one image data;
d) a process of combining one image data with another image data;
And so on. In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 772 performs predetermined image processing on the image data output by the RAM control unit 765 in response to an image data read request from the output data conversion unit 768. Further, the image data subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing unit 772 is written into the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765.

  Note that these image processes are selectively executed by a switching signal from a switching unit 773 described later. Further, the image processing performed by the image processing unit 772 is not limited to the above-described example, and the image processing unit 772 is configured to execute various image processing according to the purpose of use of the device on which the LCD controller 76 is mounted. do it.

  The LCD controller 76 is executed by the image processing unit 772 based on a control signal output from the CPU 71 based on an operation of the button group 24 by a user and a control signal (operation signal) output from a communication unit 770 described later. The image processing unit 772 is controlled so as to switch the type of image processing to be performed, and the RAM control unit 765 is controlled so that the image data subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit 772 is written in a predetermined storage area of the VRAM 766. And a switching unit 773 that outputs a switching signal to be transmitted.

  The LCD controller 76 is received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771 and the remote control signal receiving unit 771 that receives the operation signal transmitted from the infrared remote controller 18 by infrared rays, received by the light receiving sensor 17 and output as an operation signal. And a communication unit 770 that outputs the operation signal to the CPU 71 and the switching unit 773. When receiving the operation signal, the remote control signal receiving unit 771 decodes the received operation signal to determine whether or not the received operation signal is an appropriate operation signal. Remote control signal receiver 771 outputs the received operation signal to communication unit 770 if the received operation signal is appropriate. The communication unit 770 outputs the operation signal input from the remote control signal receiving unit 771 to the CPU 71 or the switching unit 773 in accordance with a control command for the photo printer 10 included in the operation signal. The CPU 71 controls each unit of the photo printer 10 based on the operation signal output from the communication unit 770. In addition, the switching unit 773 performs predetermined image processing on the image data in accordance with the operation signal output from the communication unit 770 and displays the image data on the display unit 22 and the RAM control unit 765 and the image processing unit 772. A switching signal for controlling is output. As will be described later, when an operation signal is input from the remote control signal receiving unit 771 when the CPU 71 is in the inactive state, the communication unit 770 generates an activation signal for starting the inactive CPU 71 in accordance with the input operation signal. Output.

  Further, the CPU 71 shifts to a pause state when a predetermined pause condition is established, for example, when a user does not perform an input operation of the button group 24 of the photo printer 10 or a print operation of the photo printer 10 for a predetermined time. It is configured as follows. Then, when the CPU 71 is activated from the sleep state by the activation signal from the communication unit 770 and enters the activated state, the CPU 71 executes processing based on the operation signal received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771 and input via the communication unit 770. The predetermined time as the above-described pause condition can be set, for example, to 5 minutes, and if set in this way, the CPU 71 shifts to a pause state if no processing is performed in the photo printer 10 for 5 minutes. . The predetermined time is not limited to 5 minutes, and can be arbitrarily set according to the apparatus configuration and the purpose of use of the photo printer 10.

  Further, the LCD controller 76 displays an image based on the image data stored in the VRAM 766 on the display unit 22 when the CPU 71 is in a resting state. Then, when the CPU 71 is in an activated state, the LCD controller 76 is input if image data is input from the image processing module 75 via the CPU 71 that performs processing according to the operation signal received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771. An image based on the image data thus displayed is displayed on the display unit 22.

  The LCD controller 76 performs image processing on the image displayed on the display unit 22 when the user operates the infrared remote controller 18 when the CPU 71 is in a dormant state, that is, stored in the VRAM 766. If the remote control signal receiving unit 771 receives an operation signal instructing to perform image processing on the image data, the RAM control unit 765 and the image processing unit 772 are controlled via the communication unit 770 and the switching unit 773. Thus, the predetermined image processing can be performed on the image data displayed on the display unit 22 without activating the CPU 71.

  The LCD controller 76 is integrally formed as an integrated circuit (ASIC) together with a remote control signal receiving unit 771, a communication unit 770, an image processing unit 772, and a switching unit 773. The LCD controller 76 includes a write line counter (not shown), a read line counter (not shown), a write pixel counter (not shown), and a read pixel counter (not shown), each of which includes a memory or the like. ). The value of the readout pixel counter is added based on the clock generated by the synchronization signal generator 769 in order to define the readout timing of image data for one pixel from the VRAM 766. Further, the value of the write pixel counter is added based on the clock generated by the synchronization signal generator 769 in order to define the write timing of the image data for one pixel from the VRAM 766. Further, the readout pixel counter is reset to “0” when the horizontal synchronization signal is output, and is added at every clock that defines the readout timing of image data for one pixel generated by the synchronization signal generator 769. ing. Therefore, the horizontal synchronization signal is output and addition of the readout pixel counter from “0” is started. Next, an example of remote control signal standby processing will be described.

  As described above, the CPU 71 shifts to a pause state when a predetermined pause condition is established, and the photo printer 10 waits for an operation signal (remote control signal) output by the user's operation of the infrared remote controller 18. It becomes a receiving state. And it waits until the operation signal output from the infrared remote control 18 is received by the remote control signal receiver 771 via the light receiving sensor 17.

  Subsequently, when the operation signal is received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771, the operation signal received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771 is decoded. Then, it is determined whether or not the operation signal decoded by the remote control signal receiving unit 771 is an appropriate operation signal. If the decoded operation signal is an appropriate operation signal, the remote control signal receiving unit 771 has received it. The operation signal is output to the communication unit 770. Communication unit 770 outputs an activation signal for activating CPU 71 to CPU 71 in accordance with the operation signal input from remote control signal receiving unit 771, or outputs an operation signal to switching unit 773 and ends the process. . Next, an example of the screen display process will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the screen display process. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the timing at which image data is read from the VRAM 766 and the timing at which the image processed image data is written to the VRAM 766 when image processing is performed. The screen display process shown in FIG. 4 is a process that is executed every time a vertical synchronization signal is output, for example, every 1/60 seconds by the synchronization signal generator 769. As shown in FIG. 4, control for instructing image processing from the CPU 71 or the remote control signal receiving unit 771 to the switching unit 773 via the communication unit 770 is instructed by the user for the image data displayed on the display unit 22. A signal (operation signal) is output, and it is determined whether a switching signal for instructing image processing is output from the switching unit 773 to the RAM control unit 765 and the image processing unit 772 (step S1). If NO is determined in step S1, image data is periodically read from the VRAM 766, an image based on the read image data is displayed on the display unit 22, and the process ends (steps S3 and S4).

  On the other hand, if YES is determined in step S1, image data is read from the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765 (step S2), and the read image data is output and displayed on the display unit 22 (step S5). In parallel with this, the image data is output to the image processing unit 772 and subjected to image processing (step S6). Then, the image data subjected to the image processing in step S6 is written into the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765, and the processing is ended (step S7).

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, for each clock (see the upward thin arrow in FIG. 5) generated by the synchronization signal generation unit 769 in order to define the readout timing of image data for one pixel from the VRAM 766. Pixel data is read from the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765, and the read pixel data is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 772. The pixel data subjected to the image processing is read out of the storage area of the VRAM 766, that is, the area where image data for display is stored, that is, before the next clock is generated by the synchronization signal generation unit 769. The RAM control unit 765 stores the pixel data in an area different from the area where the pixel data is stored (see the thick arrow in FIG. 5). When the image processing on the image data is completed, the RAM control unit 765 switches reading of the image data from the VRAM 766 from reading of the image data before performing the image processing to reading of the image data subjected to the image processing. As a result, an image based on the image data subjected to the image processing is displayed on the display unit 22. Note that the capital letter “R” in the drawing indicates pixel data read from the VRAM 766, and the capital letter “W” in the drawing indicates pixel data written to the VRAM 766. Next, another example of image processing timing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the timing at which image data is read from the VRAM 766 and the timing at which image data subjected to image processing is written to the VRAM 766 when image processing is performed. The difference between the timing for reading and writing the image data shown in FIG. 6 from the timing shown in FIG. 5 is that the writing speed of the image data to the VRAM 766 is high, and other configurations and operations are the same as those shown in FIG. Therefore, description of the configuration and operation is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the timing at which image data is read from VRAM 766 and the timing at which image data subjected to image processing is written to VRAM 766 when image processing is performed. The timing of reading and writing the image data shown in FIG. 7 is different from the timing shown in FIG. 5 in that the image data (see the capital letter “R”) displayed on the display unit 22 and the image data for display are displayed from the VRAM 766. Two image data of the image data to be combined (refer to lower case “r”) is read out and combined, and the combined image data is written in the VRAM 766. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those shown in FIG. 5, description of the configurations and operations will be omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the timing at which image data is read from VRAM 766 and the timing at which image data subjected to image processing is written to VRAM 766 when image processing is performed. The timing of reading and writing the image data shown in FIG. 8 is different from the timing shown in FIG. 5 in that the image data displayed on the display unit 22 (see uppercase “R”) and the image data for display are displayed from the VRAM 766. Two image data of the image data to be combined (refer to lower case “r”) is read out and combined, and the combined image data is written in the VRAM 766. 8 differs from the timing shown in FIG. 7 in that the image data is read out for the first time when the synchronizing signal generator 769 outputs a vertical synchronizing signal. The odd-numbered pixel data is synthesized (see FIG. 8A), and the even-numbered pixel data is synthesized when the image data is read for the second time (see FIG. 8B). . Since other configurations and operations are the same as those shown in FIG. 5, description of the configurations and operations will be omitted. 5 to 8, the example of the timing at which the image data is read from the VRAM 766 and the timing at which the image data subjected to the image processing is written to the VRAM 766 has been described. However, the timing at which the image data is read and written Is not limited to these examples, and can be appropriately changed according to the apparatus configuration.

  As described above, in this embodiment, image data is periodically read from the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765 in response to an image data read request synchronized with the screen display of the display unit 22 from the output data conversion unit 768. The data is output to the output data conversion unit 768 and output to the image processing unit 772. The image processing unit 772 performs predetermined image processing on the image data output by the RAM control unit 765 in response to the image data read request. Therefore, since image processing by the image processing unit 772 is performed on the image data read from the VRAM 766 for display on the display unit 22, an image at a timing different from the reading of the image data from the VRAM 766 for display. It is not necessary to read out the image data from the VRAM 766 for processing, and the processing time for reading out the image data from the VRAM 766 in the image processing can be shortened. Further, even if the image processing unit 772 is not configured to be capable of parallel processing as in the prior art, the processing time for reading image data from the VRAM 766 for image processing is reduced, so that the image data can be processed with a simple configuration. The time from the start of image processing to the display of image data after image processing on the display unit 22 can be shortened.

  Further, it is practical because image data that has been subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing unit 772 can be written into the VRAM 766 by the RAM control unit 765.

  In addition, if a predetermined predetermined pause condition is satisfied, for example, if a user does not perform an input operation on the button group 24 of the photo printer 10 or a printing operation of the photo printer 10 for a predetermined time, the CPU 71 shifts to a pause state. When the operation signal transmitted from the infrared remote controller 18 is received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771, the activation signal is output by the communication unit 770 to activate the CPU 71 in the dormant state and received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771. Processing based on the operation signal is executed by the CPU 71. Therefore, after a predetermined predetermined pause condition is established, until the operation signal by the user's remote control operation is received by the remote control signal receiving unit 771, that is, when waiting for the remote control operation by the user, the CPU 71 is in the sleep state. As a result, the power consumed by the CPU 71 is suppressed, so that energy saving can be achieved.

  In addition, when the CPU 71 is in the dormant state, an image based on the image data stored in the VRAM 766 is displayed on the display unit 22 by the LCD controller 76. For example, when waiting for a remote control operation by the user, the CPU 71 enters the dormant state. This is practical because a standby image for remote control operation can be displayed on the display unit 22 while suppressing power consumption. When the CPU 71 is in an activated state, if image data is input to the LCD controller 76 via the CPU 71 that performs processing according to the operation signal of the infrared remote controller 18, an image based on the input image data is displayed on the LCD controller 76. 76 can be displayed on the display unit 22.

  Further, since the remote control signal receiving unit 771, the communication unit 770, the image processing unit 772, and the switching unit 773 are integrally formed as an integrated circuit (ASIC) with the LCD controller 76, only this integrated circuit formed integrally. By forming a circuit that can be energized, it is possible to easily realize a circuit in which only the CPU 71 is in a dormant state. Further, by forming the remote control signal receiving unit 771, the communication unit 770, the image processing unit 772, and the switching unit 773 as an integrated circuit (ASIC) integrally with the LCD controller 76, the wiring of the circuits constituting the controller 70 can be simplified. Can be achieved.

  Since the CPU 71 is configured to perform image processing based on the image data stored in the VRAM 766 when the CPU 71 is in the hibernation state, the CPU 71 is displayed on the display unit 22 while suppressing power consumption in the hibernation state. Since image processing can be performed on the image data, further energy saving can be achieved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the VRAM 766 may be integrated with the LCD controller 76. Although the infrared remote controller 18 has been described as an example, the remote controller is not limited to this, and various remote controllers such as a wireless remote controller can be employed. Even with such a configuration, the same effects as described above can be obtained. In addition, the pause condition for putting the CPU 71 in the pause state is not limited to the above-described condition, and various pause conditions can be set according to the usage mode of the printing apparatus.

  In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge type photo printer 10 has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to other printing apparatuses such as an ink jet printer and a laser printer. That is, the present invention can be applied to a printing apparatus including a display control device that displays an image based on image data read from an image memory on a display unit. Further, the present invention can be widely applied to techniques for displaying an image on a screen display device such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or an organic EL display. In addition, the present invention can be widely applied to devices capable of displaying images such as a photo viewer, a digital still camera, a projector, a photo display of a mobile phone, and a personal computer.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Photo printer (printing apparatus), 22 ... Display part (display means), 76 ... LCD controller (display control apparatus), 765 ... RAM control part (memory control means), 766 ... VRAM (image memory), 768 ... Output Data conversion unit (image data output means), 772... Image processing unit (image processing means)

Claims (3)

In a display control apparatus for displaying an image based on image data read from an image memory on a display means,
Memory control means for controlling writing of image data to the image memory and reading of image data from the image memory;
Image data output means for outputting image data read from the image memory by the memory control means to the display means;
Image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on the image data read from the image memory by the memory control means,
The memory control means includes
In response to an image data read request synchronized with the screen display of the display means from the image data output means, the image data is periodically read out and output to the image data output means and also output to the image processing means. And
The image processing means includes
A display control apparatus, wherein the predetermined image processing is performed on the image data output by the memory control means in response to the image data read request.   The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory control unit controls writing of image data on which the predetermined image processing has been performed by the image processing unit to the image memory. A display control device according to claim 1 or 2,
And a display unit whose display is controlled by the display control device.

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