JP3033188B2 - Printer built-in camera - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a built-in printer capable of recording photographed image data on an external recording medium and printing out a photographed image on a recording sheet. , An external recording medium and a printer unit.

[Conventional technology]

In a still video camera, a photographed image is converted into an electric signal and recorded on an electric or magnetic recording medium, so that the structure of a film winding unit in a silver halide camera is not required, and the degree of freedom in designing the internal structure is small. Is getting bigger.
Therefore, conventionally, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-186069, a mounting portion for an external recording medium is provided between an imaging unit provided with an optical system of a camera and a release unit provided with operation buttons and the like of the camera. There is shown a still video camera provided to reduce the size of the camera and to make effective use of space.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-189785 proposes a still video camera with a printer in which a thermal transfer printer is built in the camera so that a photographed image can be printed out on recording paper on the spot.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, when a thermal transfer type or thermal type printer is built in a still video camera, heat generated by a printer head during printing adversely affects the image pickup unit. Therefore, the printer and the image pickup unit including the photoelectric conversion element are arranged as far apart as possible. It is desirable to set up.

However, in the still video camera with a printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-189785, the printer section is provided below the imaging section, and the imaging section is adversely affected by the heat generated by the printer section, so that the captured image may be affected. There is a risk of deterioration.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-186069, it is disclosed that the image pickup unit and the release unit are disposed apart from each other by a mounting unit for an external recording medium, but this aims at effective use of space. However, an arrangement method for solving the above-described problem in the case where the printer unit is provided is not disclosed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a built-in printer in which an imaging unit and a printer unit are arranged as far apart as possible, and deterioration of the imaging unit due to heat generated by the printer unit is small.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an imaging unit including an imaging lens and a photoelectric conversion element, a detachable external recording medium mounting unit that records an imaging signal captured by the imaging unit, and the external recording medium. And a printer unit for printing out an image recorded on the recording paper on a recording sheet, wherein a mounting unit for the external recording medium is interposed between the imaging unit and the printer unit.

It is preferable that the photographed image can be printed on both the internal recording paper and the external recording paper.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the captured image captured by the imaging unit is temporarily recorded on the external recording medium. The recorded captured image is printed out on an external recording paper or a built-in recording paper by the printer unit. At the time of printing, heat is generated in the printer head of the printer unit, and this heat is diffused through an external recording medium mounting unit provided between the printer unit and the imaging unit. As a result, the adverse effect on the photographic lens and the photoelectric conversion element of the imaging unit due to the heat generated in the printer unit is reduced.

〔Example〕

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the camera with a built-in printer according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera main body, and 2 denotes a printer case which is detachable from the camera main body 1 and has a built-in structure necessary for a printing operation as described later. On the front surface of the camera body 1, a photographic lens 3, a finder window 4, an AF light emitting unit 5 for automatic focus detection (hereinafter, referred to as AF), a flash 6, and a release / print start button 7 are provided.

Various operation members described below are disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 1. That is, the mode change switch 8
Is used to switch between "OFF", "record", "play", and "print" modes. The protect switch 9 prevents the recorded image once recorded from being deleted by an inadvertent operation. The multi-switch 10 outputs a recorded image as a multi-image. The flash mode switch 11 switches the flash 6 to the "non-flash (OF
F) "," Auto flash (AUTO) "," Forced flash (ON) "
Mode. Date setting switch
Reference numeral 12 designates a state in which the shooting date and time can be set. Each time the photographing mode changeover switch 13 is turned on, it is possible to change single photographing / self photographing / continuous photographing.
The access buttons 14 and 15 are for accessing the recorded image, and the recorded image is sequentially forwarded (UP) or backwardly forwarded (DOWN) every time the access is performed. The macro / binarization mode changeover switch 16 switches between a macro photographing mode and a binarization mode by a slide set in the left-right direction. The display 17 is composed of, for example, an LED or the like, and displays the date, the frame number at the time of photographing or printing, and other setting mode contents. The memory card insertion slot 18 is a slot-shaped insertion slot for inserting an external recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a memory card) into the camera body 1. The TV output terminal 19 is a terminal provided at an appropriate position on the front of the camera body 1 to enable connection to a TV. Detachable button 20
Is operated when the print case 2 is attached and detached. The recording paper insertion slot 21 guides the cut sheet type recording paper to the printer in the printer case 2.

FIG. 4 shows an image pickup unit 202 including the photographing lens 3 and the solid-state image pickup element 101 in the camera body 1, a thermal head 410, a platen roller 421, a printer unit 111 including a supply roller 431 and a take-up roller 432, and a memory card 112. It is a figure showing arrangement relation of a mounting part. As shown in the figure, the imaging unit 202 and the printer unit 111 are disposed apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the camera body 1, and a mounting unit for the memory card 112 is provided between the imaging unit 202 and the printer unit 111. By adopting such a configuration, the space can be effectively used, and the heat generated at the time of printing by the printer unit 111 can be reduced.
The light is diffused in the twelve mounting parts and adversely affects the imaging unit 202. In addition, as long as the camera has the above-described arrangement, the imaging lens 3 of the imaging unit 202 may be provided on the side surface or the upper surface of the camera body 1 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example.

 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the entire camera.

A system controller (hereinafter, referred to as CPU) 100 controls the operation of the entire camera including the printing operation. A subject image formed through the photographing lens 3 is taken into a solid-state imaging device (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 101,
The output image signal of D101 is processed by the signal processing unit 102. Details of the signal processing unit 102 will be described later. The driving of the photographing lens 3 is controlled by the lens driving unit 103 so as to be in focus based on the distance measurement result. Distance measuring unit 1
04 is for obtaining the distance to the subject by using, for example, a phase difference detection method. The driving amount of the photographing lens 3 by the lens driving unit 103 is calculated from the distance measurement data. The photometric unit 105 measures the luminance of the subject and outputs photometric data to the CPU 100. Exposure control unit 106
The camera performs exposure control of the camera in response to data of an exposure time (shutter speed) Tv and an aperture value Av from the CPU 100, which are obtained based on the results of distance measurement and photometry. The display unit 107 includes the display 17 and a part for driving the display 17. The flash unit 108 is controlled by a boosting control and a light emission control signal for charging from the CPU 100.
It emits light. The power supply unit 109 supplies power to the CCD 101 at a predetermined high voltage, and supplies power to the CPU 100 and other circuit units at a predetermined voltage level. Details of the power supply unit 109 will be described later. A battery check circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a BC circuit) 110 is connected to a main power supply battery EB in the power supply unit 109 and detects a capacity of the main power supply EB. This detection result is output to the CPU 100. The printer unit 111 is driven and controlled by the CPU 100, and the signal processing unit 102
Is printed out on a recording sheet, and will be described later in detail. The memory card 112 is the camera body 1
It is a recording medium that can be detachably attached to and that can record a plurality of screens, such as an SRAM. V _OUT is the TV output terminal
It is equivalent to 19.

Next, the switches S _{OFF to} S _MODE will be described.

S _OFF : Turns on when the mode changeover switch 8 is at the “OFF” position, and disables the camera.

S _REC : _{Turns on when the} mode changeover switch 8 is at the “record” position to enable the camera to take a picture.

S _REP : _{Turns on when the} mode changeover switch 8 is at the "reproduction" position to enable reproduction on a TV or the like.

S _PRI : _{Turns on when the} mode changeover switch 8 is at the "print" position, and enables printout of a recorded image.

S ₁ : Turns on by pressing the release / print start button 7 one step, and performs a shooting preparation operation.

S _2: turned on at the two-stage depression of the release / print start button 7, the recording mode performs the exposure operation.

The switches S ₁ and S ₂ perform a printing operation in the print mode.

S _UP : Turns on every time the access button 14 is pressed, and performs the sequential playback of the recorded image.

S _DOWN : Turns on every time the access button 15 is pressed, and performs reverse playback of the recorded image.

S _PRO : Each time the protect switch 9 is pressed, protection of the recorded image and protection cancellation are alternately performed.

S _MAL : Equivalent to multi-switch 10, enabling multi-output when turned on S _MAC : Macro switch, turns on when macro / binary mode changeover switch 16 is pressed, macro lens (not shown) on the optical axis To enable macro photography.

S _MONO : Binary mode switch, turns on when the macro / binary mode switch 16 is pressed and slid,
S _CARD : _Turns on when a memory card is inserted.

S _FL : The flash is turned on each time the flash mode switch 11 is pressed, and the non-flash mode, automatic flash mode, and forced flash mode are switched cyclically.

S _ADJ : Equivalent to the date setting switch 12.

S _MODE : Each time the shooting mode changeover switch 13 is pressed, the mode is turned on, and each mode of single shooting, self shooting, and continuous shooting is cyclically switched.

2 (A), 2 (B) and 2 (C) are diagrams showing the power supply relationship of the camera with a built-in printer, and FIG.
FIG. 10B shows the configuration of 109 and its power supply relationship, FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control line between the CPU 100 and the DC / DC converter 200, and FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a power supply relationship in the camera unit 203.

2A and 2B, EB is a main power supply battery, EC is a camera unit 203, a memory 204 in the camera body 1 (corresponding to the memories 311 and 312 in FIG. 4B), and a memory card 1
Battery for backing up 12. Reference numeral 200 denotes a DC / DC converter, which is driven by a control signal D _CON from the CPU 100 to drive a high voltage E1 (for example, 24
v), a voltage E2 (for example, 15v) for driving the CCD 101 in the imaging unit 202 and a voltage E3 for driving the photographing lens 3 and the like in the camera unit 203 are generated and supplied. The control signal D _CON is composed of a two-bit signal, and is sent from the CPU 101 to the DC / DC converter 202 through two control lines as shown in FIG. Table 1 shows the contents of the command of the control signal _DCON , where “00” stops the operation of the DC / DC converter 202 and drives the DC / DC converter 202 to any of the printer unit 111, the imaging unit 202, and the camera unit 203. No voltage is supplied. In addition, "0
1 '' generates the voltage E3 and supplies it only to the camera unit 203,
“10” generates voltages E2 and E3 and supplies them to the imaging unit 202 and the camera unit 203, respectively, and “11” generates voltages E1 and E3 and supplies them to the printer unit 111 and the camera unit 203, respectively. .

Referring back to FIG. 2A, reference numeral 201 denotes a 5V regulator, for example, which supplies a drive voltage to the CPU 100, the display unit 107, and the like in the camera unit 203 and a memory in the camera body 1.
A voltage is supplied to the memory card 204 and the memory card 112. The flash unit 108 is directly supplied with power from the main power supply battery EB,
The charging of the main capacitor C is performed.

Each part of the camera unit 203 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, power is supplied from the regulator 201 to the liquid crystal display unit and the CPU 100 of the display unit 107 capable of low voltage driving and capable of driving at a low voltage, and a part of the CPU 100 having relatively large power consumption, the distance measuring unit 104, Photometry unit 105, exposure control unit 106, and display unit 1
Power is supplied from DC / DC converter 200 to part of 07,
Power is directly supplied from the power supply battery EB to the lens driving unit 103 having a large load current.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are block diagrams showing details of the signal processing unit 102. FIG.

In FIG. 1A, a CCD 101 is a color image sensor having R, G, B stripe filters, and a CCD driver 301.
Driven by A CCD-TG 302 is a timing generator that supplies a control signal and a control pulse to each circuit in this block based on a control signal from the CPU 100. The CCD driver 301 supplies an image signal reading drive clock φ _V ,
and it outputs the φ _H. The CCD driver 301 applies the clock φ _V , φ _H
The amount of charge stored in the CCD 101 is controlled by controlling the start of charge storage of the CCD 101 and the reading of the stored charge based on the. Further, the CCD-TG 302 outputs a timing pulse to the CDS 303 described later and a clock pulse CK to other circuits. CD
In step S303, the output image signal from the CCD 101 is sampled for double correlation. The GC304 is a gain controller.
The analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the D converter 305. The WB processing circuit 306 performs data conversion on an image signal using a predetermined conversion table based on color temperature information from a white balance (WB) sensor (not shown).
The γ correction circuit 307 further performs data conversion for gradation correction on the color-converted image signal using a predetermined conversion table. The process circuit 308 and the matrix circuit 309 are for creating an image signal for each of R, G, and B colors from the image signal.

Subsequently, in FIG.
Reference numeral 12 stores R, G, and B image signals from the matrix circuit 309, and has a storage capacity for at least one screen. The address generation circuit 310 fetches an image signal from the CCD 101 to the memories 311 and 312, reads an image signal from the memories 311 and 312, writes an image signal to the memory card 112, a chip select signal at the time of reading, and a write / read operation. It outputs a control signal necessary for an operation of writing and reading an address and the like.

The data selector and compression / decompression unit 313 is a memory card 1
It performs data compression when writing an image signal to the memory card 12 and data expansion processing when reading an image signal from the memory card 112, and selects write or read data. Further, the CPU 100 and the address generation circuit 31
0 and the data input / output between the data selector / compression / decompression unit 313 and the memory card 112 is performed by an interface (hereinafter, referred to as
This is performed via a card I / F 314. The TV output signal processing circuit 315 performs image processing for TV reproduction on an image signal captured by the reproduction / writing clock from the address generation circuit 310. The processed video signal is stored in an internal video memory (not shown). It is memorized. This TV output signal processor
Reference numeral 315 is for generating a low-frequency luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C from each of the R, G, and B image signals. D / A converters 316 and 317 are above
The digital low-frequency luminance signal Y and color difference signal C read from the video memory in the TV output signal processing unit 315 are converted into analog low-frequency luminance signal Y _OUT and color difference signal C _{OUT respectively} , and the TV output terminal 19 is output. The data is output to a TV (not shown) via the TV. The oscillator 318 generates a read address for reproduction and sends an output clock signal to the D / A converters 316 and 317. The multi-playback controller 319 generates a playback image for multi-playback, and the generated multi-image is temporarily stored in the multi-use video memory 320.

Next, the operation of the above blocks will be described separately for photographing recording, recording on a memory card, TV reproduction, printout, and multi-processing.

(1) Shooting / Recording When the release / print start button 7 is pressed while the mode switch 8 is set to the recording mode, the CPU 101 outputs a control signal to the CCD-TG 302.
Controls the accumulation time of the CCD 101. That is, the CPU 100 drives the photometric unit 105 to perform photometry, controls the aperture based on the aperture value Av obtained from the photometric result, and further sets the exposure time Tv
, And outputs a shutter control signal to the CCD-TG 302. In order to increase the light utilization rate and obtain high resolution
In the case where the CCD 101 is swung to perform two continuous exposures with the electronic shutter and the mechanical shutter, the CPU 100 controls each exposure time.

During the above-described exposure, the CPU 100 outputs a memory select signal to the address generation circuit 310 to select a memory for capturing the image signal. The address generation circuit 310 receives the memory select signal from the CPU 100 and sends out the chip select signals CS1 and CS2 to the memories 311 and 312. CPU100 is CCD101
Address generation circuit to enable writing of image signals from
The R / W signal is output from 310 to the memories 311 and 312. After this,
When the exposure is completed, reading of an image signal from the CCD 101 is started, and the read image signal is sequentially written to a selected memory by a write address generated based on a capture start signal and a write clock WCK. It is. When the writing of the image signal is completed, the address generation circuit 310
Outputs a capture end signal to the CPU 100, and the CPU 100 receives this capture end signal and stops the writing operation to the selected memory.

When the image signal stored in the memory card 112 is taken into one of the memories 311 and 312, the CPU 100 sends the chip select signal CS from the address generation circuit 310 to the memories 311 and 312 in order to select a memory to take the image signal.
1, CS2 is sent. Thus, the memory card 112
The image signal is taken into the memory selected from. When the image signal capture is completed, the CPU 1
00 stops the write operation to the selected memory upon receiving the fetch end signal from the address generation circuit 310.

If manual instructions are given after the completion of image signal capture, the captured image signals can be output to an output destination based on the instruction content, as described later.

(2) Recording on Memory Card The image signal written in the memory as described above can be transferred and stored on the memory card 112 as necessary. CPU
When 100 confirms that the memory card 112 is selected as the output destination of the image signal, it reads data management / search information such as the number of used frames from the memory card 112 and writes the information to the memory card 112 from the contents. Determine the starting address. Then, in response to the output start signal, the image signal is read from one of the memories 311 and 312, and the data selector and the compression /
It leads to the extension part 313. Data selector and compression / decompression unit 313
Converts an input image signal into a low-frequency luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C, and then converts the converted signal into, for example, an ADC (Adaptive Descrete Cosine).
The compression process is performed using a method such as Toransform. The compressed image signal is transferred to the memory card 1 based on the write address from the address generation circuit 310 via the card I / F 314.
Written to 12. When the writing is completed, an output end signal is input from the address generation circuit 310 to the CPU 100. CPU10
0 updates the data management / search information of the memory card 112 every time the output end signal is received.

(3) When the release / print start button 7 is pressed while the TV playback mode changeover switch 8 is set to the playback mode, the CPU 100 selects the TV output signal processing unit 315 as an image signal output destination. , Memory 311, 312 or memory card
The image signal stored in the memory 112 is read and written into a video memory (not shown) in the TV output signal processing unit 315 in accordance with a reproduction / write clock from the address generation circuit 310. TV
The output signal processing unit 315 converts the written R, G, B image signals into a reduced luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C, and converts the low-frequency luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C into a burst signal, a horizontal / vertical synchronization signal. And the like, and converted into a standard television signal such as an NTSC signal, and written into the video memory in the TV output signal processing unit 315 again. When this writing is completed, the oscillator 318
The image signal in the video memory is repeatedly read at a predetermined cycle based on the reproduced clock from the D / A converter 31.
At 6,317, it is converted to an analog video signal and output to a TV (not shown) via the TV output terminal 19. Therefore, the photographed image is displayed on the TV as a still image.

(4) Printout The printout of the stored image signal is performed by the printer unit 111 shown in FIG.

When the release / print start button 7 is pressed while the mode change switch 8 is set to the print mode, the CPU 100 causes the memory 311 or 312 or the memory card 112 to operate.
Is read by the read clock from the address generation circuit 310 and output to the printer data conversion circuit 321. At this time, the CPU 100 confirms the state of the printer unit 111 shown in FIG. 8 by receiving the control data input via the system bus SB, and
Control. Thereafter, the image signal is subjected to data conversion according to a desired printing method as described later, and is guided to the thermal head 410 to be printed out. The detailed operation will be described later.

(5) Multi-processing In addition, the CPU 100 stores the memory 311, 312 or the memory card
The image signal stored in the memory 12 is programmed so as to be able to perform a multi-process capable of reproducing a multi-screen TV and printing out a multi-image.

In multi-screen TV playback, first, the number of screens to be multi-displayed is set by the multi-playback controller 319. Then, the images to be multi-displayed are stored in the memories 311, 31
2 or are sequentially selected from the memory card 312 in the order of the display positions, and are sequentially written to the corresponding storage areas in the multi-purpose video memory 320. At this time, the selected image signal is decimated and filtered according to the display size, and can be appropriately taken into the predetermined storage area.

When the image signals of the set number of screens are written into the multi-use video memory 320, the CPU 100 is connected to the reproduction circuit unit (the TV output terminal 19) as an output destination of the multi-use image signal.
TV), and the multi-image signal is written into the video memory in the TV output signal processing unit 315 by the read clock from the multi-playback controller 319. After the multi-image signal is written into the video memory, the R, G, and B image signals are converted from the R, G, and B image signals into the low-frequency luminance signal Y and the color-difference signal C by the reproduction / write clock as described above, and the NTSC signal is output. And written into the video memory in the TV output signal processing unit 315 again. When the writing is completed, the contents stored in the video memory are repeatedly read at a predetermined cycle based on the reproduction clock from the oscillator 318, and the D /
Converted to analog signals by A converters 316 and 317
Output to TV. In this way, the multi image is displayed on the TV as a still image.

In the multi-image printout, the multi-image signal written in the multi-video memory 320 as described above is converted into the printer data conversion circuit 321 shown in FIG.
Is output to the thermal head 410 after data conversion.
And printed out.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the printer unit 111.

In the figure, a thermal head control circuit 400 controls the operation of a thermal head block 403. The thermal head block 403 includes a thermal head 410 for printing one or several lines at a time, and a thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 for switching the thermal head 410 between a printing position and a rest position.

The solenoid / motor drive circuit 401 controls the driving of the solenoid 411 for contacting the thermal head and the DC servomotor 420. The DC servo motor 420 has a platen roller 421 provided opposite to the thermal head 410.
And a grip roller 425 (see FIG. 9) provided at both ends of the platen roller 421.

The paper feed block 404 is a block that feeds recording paper, and a pair of nip rollers 412 that are rotatably provided in contact with the grip rollers 425, a rotation detection sensor 413 that detects rotation of the nip rollers 412, and a type of rotation sensor. Recording paper detection sensor A4 for detecting different recording paper
It has 14, B415.

The ink ribbon feed block 405 is a block for winding the ink ribbon, and includes an ink ribbon 416, ribbon cueing sensors A417 and B418, and a ribbon set detecting sensor 4.
19 are equipped. In addition, the rotation of the nip roller 412 is transmitted to a winding shaft of the ink ribbon via a clutch or a gear (not shown) so that the nip roller 412 rotates.
It is adapted to be wound in synchronization with the rotation operation of.

The sensor input circuit 402 includes a paper feed block 404
The detection signals of various sensors such as a rotation detection sensor 413 provided in the printer 100, recording paper detection sensors A414 and B415, a ribbon cueing sensor A417 and B418 provided in the ink ribbon feed block 405, and a ribbon set detection sensor 419 are transmitted to the CPU 100. This is a circuit for inputting to.

 Next, an internal mechanism of the printer unit 111 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of the printer unit 111, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 11, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

In FIG. 9, a platen roller 421 and a DC servomotor 410 for driving the platen roller 421 are provided in the printer case 2. The platen roller 421 is disposed at a position facing the thermal head 410 when mounted on the camera body 1. The platen roller 421
At the upper and lower ends, grip rollers 425, 425 each having a large number of minute projections formed on the outer peripheral surface are fixed, and are configured to rotate integrally with the platen roller 421. Also,
A gear 422 is attached to the lowermost end of the platen roller 421, and the gear 422 is connected to the DC servo motor 42 via a gear 424.
It is connected to the zero gear 423. The platen roller 421
Is rotationally driven by the DC servo motor 420 via the gears 422 to 424.

On the other hand, other mechanisms necessary for printing are arranged in the case of the camera body 1.

The thermal head 410 has the same dimension as the axial dimension of the platen roller 421, and is slidably held in the storage case 426 in the direction of arrow a so as to face the platen roller 421. A thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 is fixed to the storage case 426, and a plunger 427 of the thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 is connected to a lever.
It is connected to a thermal head 410 via a shaft 428 and a shaft 429. The thermal head 410 is slidable in the direction a by a spring coil (not shown) attached around a fulcrum 430 of a thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 and a lever 427. (Rest position). That is, the thermal head 410 is held at the above-described pressure contact position when the thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 is on, and is held at the separated position when it is off. A bearing structure is formed at the upper right and lower ends of the right side of the storage case 426, and the nip rollers 412, 412 are rotatably mounted so as to sandwich the thermal head 410. The nip roller 412 is pressed against the grip roller 425 so that the recording paper can be accurately fed by the rotational force between the grip roller 425 and the nip roller 412.

The ink ribbon 416 is connected to the supply roller 4 as shown in FIG.
Stretched between the take-up roller 31 and the take-up roller 432, it is mounted so as to pass between the thermal head 410 and the platen roller 421 on the way, and the presence or absence of the mounting is determined by the ribbon set detection sensor 419. .

Returning to FIG. 9, a gear C is attached to the lower end of the take-up roller 432 on which the ink ribbon 416 is mounted via a slip clutch 433, and the gear C is further connected to the nip roller 412 on the lower end side via the gear B. It is connected to the mounted gear A. The slip clutch 433 always rotates the winding roller 432 at an appropriate speed regardless of the rotation speed of the nip roller 412, and performs a stable winding operation of the ink ribbon 416. The gear B is configured to mesh with the gear C when rotating in the direction f in FIG. 11 and not mesh with the gear C when rotating in the direction e in FIG.
The rotation force is transmitted to the winding roller 432 only when the 412 rotates in the g direction. That is, when the recording paper is conveyed in the direction b by the nip rollers 412, 412 in order to set the recording paper at a predetermined position, since the printing is not performed, the rotational force of the nip roller 412 is taken up so that the ink ribbon 416 is not taken up. When the recording paper Pa is conveyed by the nip rollers 412, 412 in the direction opposite to the direction b without being transmitted to the take-up roller 432, and printing is performed, the link ribbon is used.
The rotational force of the nip roller 412 is transmitted to the winding roller 432 so that the 416 is wound.

Further, a gear E of a slit plate 434 is connected to the gear A via a gear D, and the slit plate 434 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the nip roller 412.
Accordingly, the rotation operation of the slit plate 434, that is, the rotation operation of the nip roller 412, is detected by the rotation detection sensor 413, and based on the detection signal, in addition to the transport amount of the recording paper, printing of the thermal head 410 and ink ribbon according to the transport speed. 416
Winding is performed properly.

The ink ribbon 416 having the same width as the thermal head 410 is used. FIG. 12 shows an example of a sublimation ink ribbon, and FIG. 13 shows an example of a melting ink ribbon.

The ink ribbon for sublimation and the ink ribbon for fusing have three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, each having a predetermined length, which are repeatedly arranged in this order from the winding roller 432 side. A transparent portion 416a indicating the head of the ribbon is provided. Further, the transparent portion 416a is provided with a black marker m indicating the type of the ink ribbon. For example, the sublimation ink ribbon has a marker m at the right end in the winding direction (FIG. 12), and the melting ink ribbon has a marker m at the left end in the winding direction. (Fig. 13). The marker m on the left end side with respect to the winding direction of the ink ribbon 416 is detected by the ribbon cueing sensor A417, and the marker m on the right end side with respect to the winding direction of the ink ribbon 416 is detected by the ribbon cueing sensor B418. These ribbon cue sensors
Ink ribbon attached by detection signal of A417 and B418
The type of the ink ribbon 416 is determined, and cueing of the ink ribbon 416 during printing is performed. That is, the ink ribbon 416 is determined to be a melting ink ribbon when the marker m is detected only by the ribbon cue sensor A417, and is determined to be a sublimation ink ribbon when detected by only the ribbon cue sensor B418. .

Note that the position of the marker m is not limited to both ends of the transparent portion 416a, and may be provided so as to be shifted left and right with respect to the center line of the ink ribbon 416. Further, the correspondence between the position of the marker m and the type of the ink ribbon 416 is not limited to the above, and can be arbitrarily associated. The ink ribbon in FIG. 16 will be described later.

On the other hand, the recording paper is also provided with a square marker M for determining the type of the recording paper. FIG. 14 shows an example of the sublimation recording paper, and FIG. 15 shows an example of the gradation thermal recording paper. The markers M are provided on the back surface of the recording paper Pa, provided on the diagonal opposite corners of the recording paper for sublimation, and provided on the gradation thermal recording paper one marker inside the both corners. Have been. In this embodiment, the marker M is not provided on the fusing recording paper. The recording paper Pa may be of a paper type, or may have a glue on the back surface.

Markers M provided at both diagonally opposite corners are detected by the recording paper detection sensor A414, and the markers M are positioned at one corner from the two corners.
The marker M provided inside the marker is detected by a recording paper detection sensor B415, and the recording paper detection sensor A4
The type of the recording paper Pa is determined based on the detection signals of 14 and B415.

Note that the position of the marker M is not limited to the above position, and may be provided at an arbitrary position on the back surface of the recording paper Pa. The correspondence between the position of the marker M and the type of the recording paper Pa is not limited to the above, and can be arbitrarily associated.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the internal mechanism of the printer unit when performing monochrome printing on cut sheet type recording paper,
FIG. 11 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG.

The monochrome type printer unit is configured by removing the ink ribbon 416 from the color type printer unit 111 (see FIG. 10). That is, in the monochrome type,
Printing can be performed by directly pressing the thermal head 410 against the gradation thermal recording paper. Therefore, printing can be performed only by removing the ink ribbon 416. In monochrome printing, a roll-type recording paper for gradation thermal printing can be used. In this case, instead of the ink ribbon 416, a recording paper for gradation thermal printing is used as shown in FIG. Can be printed by attaching.

FIG. 18 is a view showing the internal mechanism of the printer unit 111 of the hand scan type, and is a sectional view corresponding to FIG.

Since the hand scan type does not require a drive source (DC servo motor) for the nip roller 412, the printer unit 111 is configured by detaching the printer case 2 from the camera body 1. In the hand scan, since monochrome printing is performed, a black ink ribbon 416 shown in FIG. 16 is used as the ink ribbon. Since the melting ink ribbon 416 is entirely black, a detection signal of the marker M is output from the ribbon cueing sensors A417 and B418, whereby it is determined that the melting ink ribbon 416 is black.

Next, regarding the printing operation of the printer unit 111,
The case of color printing on cut sheet type recording paper, the case of monochrome printing on cut sheet type recording paper, and the case of printing by hand scanning will be described separately.

(1) Color printing on cut sheet type recording paper In FIG. 11, when the recording paper Pa is inserted from the recording paper insertion port 21 in the direction b (from the front side to the rear side of the camera body 1), the recording paper is detected. The insertion and the type of the recording paper Pa are detected by the sensors A414 and B415.
The servomotor 420 is driven to rotate in the i direction. As a result, the grip roller 425 rotates in the direction c, and the inserted recording paper Pa is nipped between the grip roller 425 and the nip roller 412, and further conveyed in the direction b. On the other hand, at this time, the thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 is in the off state,
The thermal head 410 is held at a position separated from the platen roller 421. Also, the grip roller 425 is c
When rotating in the direction, the nip roller 412 rotates in the h direction, and this rotational force is transmitted to the gear B via the gear A,
The gear B rotates in the direction e. However, gear B is gear C
The winding roller 432 does not rotate, and the ink ribbon 416 is not wound.

When the rotation detecting sensor 413 detects that the recording paper Pa has been conveyed to a predetermined position, the DC servo motor 420 is stopped, and then the thermal head pressure contact solenoid 41 is turned off.
1 is turned on, and the thermal head 410 is pressed against the platen roller 421 via the ink ribbon 416 and the recording paper Pa.
Thereafter, the DC servo motor 420 is rotationally driven in the j direction,
As a result, the platen roller 421 rotates in the direction d to feed the recording paper Pa, and the thermal head 410 prints yellow image data one line at a time in synchronization with the paper feeding speed. At the time of printing, the rotational force of the nip roller 412 is transmitted to the gear B, and the gear B rotates in the f direction. Thus, the gear B is connected to the gear C, and the take-up roller 432 rotates to take up the ink ribbon 416.

When the yellow printing is completed, the thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 is turned off, and the thermal head 410 is switched to a position separated from the platen roller 421.
Thereafter, when the DC servo motor 420 is driven to rotate again in the i direction and the recording paper Pa is fed to the predetermined position in the b direction, printing of magenta image data is performed by the same operation as described above. Then, printing of magenta and cyan is sequentially performed, and when these printings are completed, the thermal head pressure contact solenoid 411 is turned off, and the thermal head 410 is switched to the separated position with respect to the platen roller 421. Thereafter, the DC servomotor 420 is driven to rotate in the j direction, and the printed recording paper Pa is conveyed in the direction of the recording paper insertion slot 21 and discharged.

(2) Monochrome printing on cut sheet type recording paper Monochrome printing on cut sheet type recording paper is performed by the same operation as color printing on the cut sheet type recording paper, and black printing is performed only once. Then, the recording paper Pa is discharged from the recording paper insertion port 21.

(3) Printing by Hand Scan In printing by hand scan, the printer case 2 is detached from the camera body 1 and the thermal head 410 is moved to the recording paper Pa.
This is performed by moving the camera body 1 in the direction k in FIG. 18 in a state where the hand-scan print switch (not shown) is turned on. When the camera body 1 is moved in the k direction, the nip roller 412 rotates in the g direction. This rotation is detected by the rotation detection sensor 413, the printing timing and printing speed of the thermal head 410 are controlled based on this detection signal, and the image data for one line on the recording paper Pa is the rotation speed of the nip roller 412, that is, Printing is performed in synchronization with the paper feed speed.

In addition, when printing using the ink ribbon for fusion,
Plain paper can be used as the recording paper Pa. In this case, if the shape of the recording paper insertion slot 21 is formed in a groove shape as shown in FIG. 20 (a front view of a main part of the camera), a photographed image can be printed out on ordinary recording paper Pa of an arbitrary size. it can. This makes it possible to easily confirm a photographed image, perform simple recording, and the like, and reduce the cost of the recording paper Pa. The groove-shaped recording paper insertion opening 21 is not limited to the upper surface of the camera body 1 but may be provided at appropriate positions on the lower surface and the front and rear surfaces.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the thermal head 410.

The thermal head 410 includes an output control unit 500 that controls serial output of print data, a head driver 504 that controls print timing, and a heating resistor R corresponding to each print head.
It comprises a heating section 505 provided with 1 to R496 and a thermistor 506 for detecting a heating temperature.

The output control unit 500 includes shift registers 501 and 502 to which 248 D flip-flops (hereinafter, referred to as DFFs) are cascaded, and a latch circuit 503 for latching 496 pieces of print data. Print data is serially input to the D input of the first DFF of the shift registers 501 and 502,
The Q output of each DFF of the shift register 501 is sequentially input to the odd-numbered latch circuit in the latch circuit 503, and the Q output of each DFF of the shift register 502 is sequentially input to the even-numbered latch circuit in the latch circuit 503. Has been entered. The CLOCK signal is input to the CK input of the shift register 501, and the CLOCK signal is input to the CK input of the shift register 502 by the inverter.
The inverted CLOCK signal inverted at 507 is input.

496 print data are serially input to the first DFF of the shift registers 501 and 502, and each DFF of the shift register 501 is input.
From the rising edge of the CLOCK signal, the odd-numbered print data is sequentially output to the corresponding latch circuit in the latch circuit 503.Each of the DFFFs of the shift register 502 has the even-numbered print data sequentially at the rising edge of the inverted CLOCK signal. Latch circuit 503
Is output to the corresponding latch circuit. Then, when all print data is output to the latch circuit 503, a latch signal is input to the latch circuit 503, and print data for one line is determined.

FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 are time charts showing the operation of the output control unit 500. FIG. 22 shows the case of the melting type or the hand scan mode, and FIG. 23 shows the case of the sublimation type or the gradation thermal mode.

4 (2 × 2) in the fusion type or hand scan mode
Area) is performed using the dot data of
The print data for one line is composed of 496 pieces, and the 496 pieces of print data are output to the latch circuit 503 in synchronization with the CLOCK signal and the inverted CLOCK signal. On the other hand, in the sublimation type or gradation thermal mode, the density gradation is performed by modulating the printing energy using four (2 × 2) dot data as one surface element. , The second, third, fourth,... 495,496th adjacent data are the same data. Therefore, the same print data is input to both DFFs in the same arrangement position of the shift registers 501 and 502, and in the time chart, as shown in FIG.
Eight print data are synchronized with the CLOCK signal and the latch circuit 502
Will be output.

Table 2 shows the relationship between the number of pixels, dot density, and image size in the sublimation mode and the fusion mode.

The difference between the sublimation mode and the fusion mode is that the dot density of the sublimation mode is half that of the fusion mode, and this is based on the above-described difference in the gradation method. The number of pixels and the image size are the same, the number of pixels is about 370,000 pixels, and the image size is almost the size of a business card.

While the thermal head 410 is composed of 496 dots, the print data of one line of the photographed image is composed of 494 from Table 2, and the data for two lines is insufficient. In the input of print data in the output control unit 500, data without printing, for example, “00” is input for two data.

Referring back to FIG. 21, the head driver 504 is composed of 496 NAND circuits, and print data output from each latch circuit of the latch circuit 503 is input to each NAND circuit. Also,
The 496 NAND circuits are divided into eight blocks each of 62, and the 1st to 62nd NAND circuit groups are divided into the first block, 63 to 125.
The second NAND circuit group is the second block, 435th to 496th NA
Assuming that the ND circuit group is an eighth block, control signals STB1 to STB8 are input to the NAND circuits in the first to eighth blocks, respectively. The output terminal of each NAND circuit is connected to one end of a heating resistor Ri (1, 2,..., 496) of the corresponding dot, and the other end of the heating resistor Ri is always connected to a drive voltage (eg,
24v) is connected to the applied common terminal.

In the above configuration, for example, when a high control signal STB1 is input, an output terminal of each NAND circuit in the first block outputs a NAND signal of the control signal STB1 and print data,
The 62nd print data is printed. In this case, only the output terminal of the NAND circuit to which the high print data is input is at the low level, the heating resistor Ri connected to the output terminal generates heat, and the dot is printed on the recording paper Pa. Similarly, when the control signals STB2 to STB8 are input, the NAND circuits in the second to eighth blocks operate, and printing of print data is performed in block units.

FIG. 24 shows a time chart of the control signals STB1 to STB8. The control signals STB1 to STB8 are input in a time-division manner, and 62 print data are printed. In this case, the heating time of each heating resistor Ri of the heating unit 505 is controlled by the control signals STB1 to STB.
8 are controlled by the respective pulse widths T1 to T8.
8 determines the printing energy. Since the magnitude of the printing energy is proportional to the heat generation temperature of the thermal head 410, the temperature of the thermal head 410 is monitored by the thermistor 506, and the pulse width is controlled in accordance with a change in the temperature, whereby the printing energy is appropriately held. You. That is, the pulse widths T1 to T8 of the control signals STB1 to STB8 are shortened when the temperature rises, and lengthened when the temperature falls.

In the melting mode or the hand scan mode,
The gradation control is not performed depending on the magnitude of the printing energy, but in the sublimation type or gradation thermal mode, the gradation control is performed according to the magnitude of the printing energy.

The n-gradation control in the sublimation type or gradation thermal mode is performed by converting the image data of each dot into a gradation level and printing with a predetermined pulse width the number of times corresponding to the gradation level. That is, the image data of one line is converted into print data of n lines based on the gradation level data of each dot. For example, a dot having image data of k gradation levels is converted so that data with print is output for 1 to k lines and data without print is output for k + 1 to n lines. Then, on the same line, each of these print data is printed by control signals STB1 to STB8 having a pulse width corresponding to the print energy for one gradation. Therefore, the printing operation is performed n times in the same line. However, the image data of each dot is printed the number of times corresponding to the gradation level, for example, the dot having the image data of the k gradation level is printed only k times. Printing of image data according to the tone level is performed.

Next, the operation of the camera will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the main flow will be described with reference to FIG.

When the main power supply battery EB is mounted, the contents of various flags and registers are reset to initial values (# 5), and the main routine of the camera operation is executed.

First, a control signal _DCON of “00” is transmitted from the CPU 100 to the DC / DC converter 200, and the driving of the DC / DC converter 200 is stopped (# 10). Subsequently, if the main capacitor C of the flash unit 108 is boosting (charging), the boosting is stopped (# 15). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch S _REC is on (# 20). If the switch S _REC is off (a mode other than the recording mode) (NO in # 20), the switch S _OFF is further _turned on. Is determined (#
25) If the switch S _OFF is in the off state (the camera is in the operating state) (NO in # 25), the process proceeds to a “playback” routine described later. If the switch S _OFF is on (YE at # 25)
S), the type of the photographing lens 3 of the camera is determined (# 3)
0), if set to standard lens (NO in # 30) # 5
And if the macro lens is set (#
30), switch to the standard lens and return to # 5.
The camera becomes inactive.

If the switch S _REC is on (recording mode) at # 20 (YES at # 20), it is determined whether the switch S _REC has been switched on from the switch S _OFF and turned on (# 4).
0) If the switch has been switched from the switch S _OFF to the switch S _REC (YES in # 40), the flag FCHG is set to 1 to indicate the boosting of the main capacitor C, and the process proceeds to # 50 (# 45). ). If the ON state of the switch S _REC continues (NO in # 40), the process jumps to # 50. Subsequently, it is determined whether the switch S _CARD is on (# 50),
Switch S _CARD is off (memory card 112 not installed)
(NO in # 50), the flag FIC is reset to 0, and the process proceeds to # 85 (# 55). The flag FIC is a flag indicating a mounted state of the memory card 112, and if reset to “0”, indicates that the memory card 112 is not mounted.
If it is set to "1", it indicates that it is mounted. If the switch S _CARD is ON (YE at # 50)
S) Further, it is determined whether or not the switch S _CARD has been switched from OFF to ON (# 60). If it has been switched from OFF to ON (YES in # 60), the flag FIC is reset to 0. If the ON state of the switch S _CARD continues (NO in # 60), jump to # 70. In # 70, the flag FIC is determined. If FIC = 1 (NO in # 70), #
85, and if FIC = 0 (YES in # 70), the flag
Set 1 to FIC (# 75) and then from memory card 112
After the management information of the recording data is read to the CPU 100 (#
80), proceed to # 85. Subsequently, in # 85, whether all the image data in the memory card 112 is protected is determined (# 85). If it is not protected (NO in # 85), as can be photographed, more switches S ₁ It is determined whether the switch is on (# 90). If switch S ₁ is turned on (YES at # 90), further the switch S ₁ is OFF
It is determined whether or not it has been switched to ON (# 95),
If the OFF was switched to ON (at # 95 YES), the process proceeds to "S _1" routine to be described later to perform the shooting preparation.
On the other hand, (YES at # 85) when all the image data in # 85 is protected, (NO at # 90) when in an off state of the switch S ₁ in # 90, or ON state of the switch S ₁ at # 95 Is continued (NO in # 95), the process proceeds to # 100 to # 125, and whether the switches S _MODE , S _FL , S _MONO , S _MAC , S _PRO and S _ADJ are turned on in this order. Is determined, and if any one of the switches is on, switching to the mode or set value selected by that switch is performed.
That is, if the switch S _MODE is ON (YE at # 100)
S), the shooting mode is switched to the set mode (# 1
30), if the switch _SFL is on (YES in # 105),
The flash mode is switched to the set mode (#
135), if switch S _MONO is on (YE at # 110)
S) Switch to binary mode (# 140), switch S
_{If the MAC} is on (YES in # 115), the taking lens 3 is switched to the macro lens (# 145), and the switch S _PRO
Is ON (YES in # 120), the protection state of the recorded image is switched to the set state (protection or unprotection state) (# 150), and if the switch S _ADJ is ON (# (YES at 125), the date is changed to the set value (# 155), and the process returns to # 10. # 100 to # 125
If both switches are off, it is determined whether the flag FCHG is set to 1 (# 160).
If CHG = 0 (NO in # 160), the process immediately returns to # 10 because the flash is not fired. If FCHG = 1 in # 160 (YES in # 160), it is further determined whether the boosting (charging) of the main capacitor C is completed (# 16).
5) If charging is completed (YES in # 165), the process returns to # 10, and if charging is not completed (NO in # 165),
When the boosting of the main capacitor C is started (# 175), # 1
Returns to 0.

Next, the “S ₁ ” routine will be described with reference to FIG.

When the switch S ₁ is turned on, if in the main capacitor C is boosted, the booster is stopped (# 180), the battery check of the main power supply battery EB is performed (# 185). As a result of battery check, main power battery EB is defective (insufficient capacity)
If it is (NO in # 190), a warning is displayed on the display 17,
The photographing operation ends (# 195). If the main power supply battery EB is good (YES in # 190), the CPU / DC converter 2
After the control signal _DCON of “00” is transmitted at 00 and the driving of the DC / DC converter 200 is stopped (# 200), the distance is measured by the distance measuring unit 104 (# 205), and the light measuring unit is further measured. Photometry is performed by 105 (# 210). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the subject luminance is low based on the photometric data (# 215).
If the brightness is low (YES in # 215), it is further determined whether the flash mode is the non-emission mode (# 22).
Five). If the flash mode is the non-emission mode (# 225
If the flash mode is the light emission mode (NO in # 225), it is determined whether or not the charging of the main capacitor C to emit the flash 6 has been completed (# 230). , If charging is completed (YE at # 230
S), the boost operation is stopped, and the flow shifts to # 260. If charging is not completed in # 230 (NO in # 230), switch S
While _REC and S ₁ is to determine whether changes to the OFF state, the boost of the main capacitor C is carried out (# 230, # 24
Loop from 0 to # 250). When the charging without any of switches S _REC and S ₁ turns off is completed (# 23
(YES at 0), the boosting operation is stopped, and the routine proceeds to # 260.
On the other hand, if either of the switches S _REC or S ₁ changes to the off state during this boost period (NO in # 245 or NO in # 250),
The shooting preparation operation is stopped, and the process returns to # 10.

If the subject brightness is not low at # 215 (N at # 215
O) Further, it is determined whether or not the flash mode is the forced light emission mode (# 220). If the flash mode is not the forced light emission mode (NO in # 220), the process proceeds to # 260,
If the mode is the forced light emission mode (YES in # 220), the process proceeds to # 230 and the above-described boosting operation (loop of # 230, # 240 to # 250)
Is performed.

In # 260, whether the switch S ₂ is on is determined, if turned on, is discriminated whether there are more shooting mode is self-mode (# 265), if the photographing mode is a self mode ( If YES in # 265), a known self-photographing control is performed (# 267). If the shooting mode is not the self mode (NO in # 265), a control signal D _CON of “10” is sent from the CPU 100 to the DC / DC converter 200, and the DC / DC converter 200 sends the control signal D _CON to the imaging unit 202 and the camera unit 203. Power is supplied (# 270). Thereby, the imaging unit 202 and the camera unit
203 starts. Then, move to the "exposure" routine,
Exposure control is performed (# 280).

Exposure control is performed according to the "exposure" routine of FIG. 27. First, it is determined whether or not 1 is set in the flag FIC (# 281). If FIC = 1 (YE in # 281)
S), the memory card 112 is selected as a recording medium (# 28)
2) If FIC = 0, the internal memory 31 as a recording medium
After 1 and 312 are selected (# 283), exposure control (imaging by the CCD 101) is performed (# 284). Then, after the above-mentioned predetermined signal processing is performed, the image pickup signal is recorded on the selected recording medium (# 285), the frame number displayed on the display 17 is updated, and the process returns (# 286).

Returning to FIG. 26, when the exposure control is completed, the DC
The control signal D _CON of “00” is sent to the DC / DC converter 200, and the driving of the DC / DC converter 200 is stopped (# 29).
0). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the shooting mode is the continuous shooting mode (# 310). If the shooting mode is not the continuous shooting mode (NO in # 310), the process returns to # 10, and if the shooting mode is the continuous shooting mode (# 310). YES), and returns to # 185 to perform the next photographing.

If the switch S ₂ is in the OFF state at # 260 (and # 260 N
O), it is determined whether the shooting mode is the continuous shooting mode (# 2)
95) If the shooting mode is continuous shooting mode (YE in # 295)
S), returns to # 10, if not in continuous shooting mode (# 295
NO), it is determined whether the switches S _REC and S ₁ change to the off state (# 300, # 305), and the switch S _REC or S _{1 is determined.}
Is turned off (NO in # 300 or NO in # 305
NO), the cancel shooting preparation operation returns to # 10, if none of the switches S _REC and S ₁ in the ON state (YES at # 300 and # 305), the process returns to # 260.

Next, the "reproduction" routine will be described with reference to FIG.

In the reproduction mode, if the main capacitor C is boosting, the boosting is stopped (# 400), and the flag F
The IC and FRBN are reset to 0 and the process proceeds to the SMAIN routine (# 405). The flag FRBN is a flag indicating whether or not the ink ribbon is in a printable state. If FRBN = 0, it indicates a printable state, and if NRBN = 1, it indicates a print disabled state, that is, the end of winding.

In the SMIN routine, it is determined whether or not the switch S _REP or S _PRI is on (# 410). If both are off (TV playback and printout are prohibited) (# 41)
If it is 0 (NO), the process returns to # 10, and if any switch is on (YES in # 410), it is further determined whether or not the switch S _CARD is on (# 415). Switch S
_{If the CARD} is in the off state (the memory card 112 is not mounted) (NO in # 415), the flag FIC is reset to 0 and # 450
(# 420). If the switch S _CARD is turned on at # 415 (YES at # 415), the switch S _CARD is further turned off.
It is determined whether it has been switched to ON (# 425), and it is OFF.
If the flag FIC is switched to ON from # (YES in # 425), the flag FIC is reset to 0 (# 430), and if the switch S _CARD remains on (NO in # 425), # Four
Jump to 35. In # 435, the flag FIC is determined, and
If C = 1 (NO in # 435), the flow shifts to # 450 and FIC = 0
If (YES in # 435), the flag FIC is set to 1 (# 440), and after the management information of the recording data is read from the memory card 112 to the CPU 100 (# 445), the flag FIC is set to # 450. Transition. At # 450, the presence or absence of a recorded image is determined. If there is no recorded image (NO at # 450), a message "No recorded image" is displayed on the display 17, and the process returns to # 410.

If there is a recorded image in # 450 (YES in # 450), switch S
_It is determined whether _UP or S _DOWN has been turned on (# 460),
If both are off (NO in # 460), the process proceeds to # 485, and if any switch is on (YE in # 460)
S), it is further determined whether or not the switch has been switched from OFF to ON (# 465). Switch S _UP or S _DOWN
Is not switched from OFF to ON (N in # 465
O), shift to # 485, switch S _UP or S _DOWN from OFF to O
If the switch has been switched to N (YES in # 465), it is determined which switch has been turned on (# 470). If the switch S _UP has been turned on (YES in # 470), the next recorded image Is accessed (# 475), and if the switch S _DOWN is turned on (NO in # 470), the previous recorded image is accessed (# 475), and the process returns to # 410. In # 485, it is determined whether the switch S _MAL is on (# 48
5) If switch S _MAL is on (YES in # 485),
"Multi display" is lit on the display 17 (# 490), and if the switch S _MAL is off (NO in # 485), the display 17
Is turned off (# 495), and then display 1
The frame number is displayed in 7 (# 500). Then switch S
It is determined whether the _PRO is on (# 505), and if the switch _SPRO is on (YES in # 505), the recording image is protected (# 510), and the process proceeds to # 515. And
If the switch S _PRO is off (NO in # 505), # 515
Jump to In # 515, whether the switch S _REP is on is determined, if the switch S _REP is turned on (YES at # 515), TV playback process of a recorded image is performed (#
520), if the switch S _REP is in the OFF state (N in # 515)
O) The recorded image is printed out (# 525),
Return to 410.

Next, the "print" routine will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 (A), (B), (C) and (D).

In the print mode, first, it is determined whether or not the ink ribbon 416 is set (# 530). If the ink ribbon 416 is not set (NO in # 530),
The mode is determined as the gradation thermal mode, and the mode is stored (# 53).
5) Go to # 600.

If the ink ribbon 416 is set (YE at # 530)
S) Then, it is determined whether black is detected by the ribbon head sensors A417 and B418 (# 540). If black is not detected by both ribbon head sensors A417 and B418 (YES in # 540), the hand It is determined that the mode is the scan mode, and the printing process by the hand scan described later is performed. # 54
If black is not detected by both ribbon cueing sensors A417 and B418 at 0 (NO at # 540), it is determined whether or not flag FRBN is reset to 0 (# 545). If NO in 545), it is determined that the winding of the ink ribbon 416 has been completed, and the flow shifts to # 580, where the winding operation of the ink ribbon 416 is stopped. If FRBN = 0 at # 545 (YES at # 545),
When it is determined that the ink ribbon 416 has a remaining amount, the DC servo motor 420 is driven to rotate in the j direction (see FIG. 11), and winding of the ink ribbon 416, that is, cueing is started (# 550). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the black marker m is detected only by the ribbon cue sensor A417 (# 555).
If the black marker m is not detected only by the ribbon head sensor A417 (NO in # 555), it is further determined whether the black marker m is detected only by the ribbon head sensor B418 (# 56).
5) If the black marker m is not detected only by the cueing sensor B418 (NO in # 565), that is, the ribbon cueing sensor A
If the black marker m is not detected by any of the sensors 417 and B418, the detection operation of the black marker m is performed for a predetermined time by a timer (not shown) (# 555, # 565, # 58).
In the loop (5), the DC servomotor 420 is stopped, the winding of the ink ribbon 416 is stopped (# 590), and an error is displayed on the display 17 (# 595). On the other hand, if the black marker m is detected only by the ribbon cue sensor A # 417 (YE in # 555)
S), it is determined that the mode is the melting type mode, and the mode is stored (# 560).
Is detected (YES in # 565), the mode is determined to be the sublimation mode, the mode is stored (# 570), and the flow shifts to # 575. In # 575, the flag FRBN is set to 1 (# 57
5) Subsequently, the winding operation of the ink ribbon 416 is stopped, and the cueing ends (# 580). Subsequently, whether the switch S ₂ is turned on is determined (# 600), if the switch S ₂ is in the OFF state (NO at # 600), the process returns to # 410, if switch S ₂ is turned on (YES in # 600), the type of the recording paper Pa is detected by the recording paper detection sensors A414 and B415. That is, it is determined whether the black marker M has been detected by the recording paper detection sensor A414 or B415 (# 60).
5) If the black marker M is not detected by any of the sensors A414 and B415 (NO in # 605), the flow returns to # 410. If the black marker M is detected by the recording paper detection sensors A414 and B415 (YES in # 605), the recording paper detection sensor
It is determined whether or not the black marker M is detected only by the A414 (# 610), and the black marker M is detected only by the recording paper detection sensor A414.
Is detected (YES in # 610), it is further determined whether the print mode is the sublimation mode (# 615). If the print mode is the sublimation mode (YES in # 615), # 650
And the print mode is not the sublimation mode (# 61
(NO in 5), since the ink ribbon 416 does not match the recording paper Pa, a medium mismatch error is displayed on the display 17 (# 635). Then, both recording paper detection sensors A41
Until the black is detected by both the B415 and B415, that is, until the mismatched recording paper Pa is extracted, the mismatch error display of the medium is performed (# 635, # 640 loop), and the recording paper Pa is extracted. At this point, the mismatch error display is turned off (# 645), and the process returns to # 410.

If the black marker M is not detected only by the recording paper detection sensor A414 in # 610 (NO in # 610), it is further determined whether the black marker M is detected only by the recording paper detection sensor B415 (# 620). If the black marker M is detected only by the recording paper detection sensor B415 (YES in # 620), it is further determined whether the printing mode is the gradation thermal mode (# 62).
0). If the print mode is the gradation thermal mode (YE at # 625)
S), proceeding to # 650, if the printing mode is not the gradation thermal mode (NO in # 625), proceed to # 635- # 645, and the above-mentioned mismatch error display is performed.

If the black marker M is not detected only by the recording paper detection sensor B415 in # 620, that is, the recording paper detection sensor A414
If the black marker M is not detected by any of the sensors B415 and B415 (NO in # 620), it is further determined whether the printing mode is the fusion mode (# 630). If the printing mode is the fusion mode (YES in # 630), the process proceeds to # 650, and if the printing mode is not the fusion mode (# 630)
NO), the process proceeds to steps # 635 to # 645, and the above-described mismatch error display is performed.

In # 650, the battery check of the main power supply battery EB is performed, and if the main power supply battery EB is defective (insufficient capacity) (# 655
NO), a warning is displayed on the display 17, and the operation is terminated (# 660). As a result of the battery check, if the main power supply battery EB is good (YES in # 655), the recording paper Pa is transported by the DC servo motor 420 by a predetermined amount in the insertion direction (b direction in FIG. 10) (# 665). . Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the printing mode is the gradation thermal mode (# 670). If the printing mode is not the gradation thermal mode (NO in # 670), the number of times of printing 3 is set in the color counter (# 670). 675), if the printing mode is the gradation thermal mode (YES in # 670), the number of printings 1 is set in the color counter (# 680), and then the thermal head 410 prints on the recording paper Pa via the ink ribbon 416. It is pressed (# 685). Subsequently, the recording paper Pa is moved by the DC servo motor 420 to set the printing start position.
A predetermined amount is conveyed to one side (# 690), and the total number of lines of one screen (for example, 768 lines) is set (# 695).
Subsequently, a control signal _DCON of “11” is transmitted from the CPU 100 to the DC / DC converter 200, and power is supplied from the DC / DC converter 200 to the printer unit 111 and the camera unit 203 (# 70).
0). This activates the printer unit 111 and the camera unit 203. Subsequently, printing of one line for yellow and paper feeding of the recording paper Pa to the recording paper insertion port 21 side are alternately repeated (loop of # 705, # 710), and when printing for one screen is completed ( # 710: YES), CPU 100 to DC / DC converter 200
Then, the control signal _DCON of “00” is transmitted, and the drive of the DC / DC converter 200 is stopped (# 715). Subsequently, the color counter value is decremented by 1 (# 720), and it is determined whether the color counter value is 0 (# 725). If the color counter value is not 0 (# 725
NO), after the thermal head 410 is switched to the rest position (# 730), the recording paper Pa is inserted again in the insertion direction (b direction in FIG. 10).
Is transported by a predetermined amount (the amount of approach + 1 the total number of lines of one screen) (# 735), and printing of one screen for the next color is performed in # 685 to # 725. Then, printing for one screen is completed for each of the colors magenta and cyan, and when the color counter value becomes 0 in # 725 (YES in # 725), printing is completed, and the recording paper Pa is inserted into the recording paper insertion port 21. Is discharged to the side (# 74
0) After the thermal head 410 is switched to the rest position (# 730), the flag FRBN is reset to 0 and the process returns to # 410 (# 750).

If black is detected by both the ribbon leading sensors A417 and B418 in # 540 (YES in # 540), it is determined that the hand scan mode is set, and the mode is stored (# 755).
Subsequently, whether the switch S ₂ is turned on is determined (# 760), if the switch S ₂ is in the OFF state (at # 760 N
O), the process returns to # 410, if switch S ₂ is turned on (YES at # 760), the battery check of the main power supply battery EB is performed (# 765). As a result of the battery check, if the main power supply battery EB is defective (insufficient capacity) (NO in # 770), a warning is displayed on the display 17 and the operation is terminated (# 775). On the other hand, if the main power supply battery EB is good (YES in # 770), the rotation of the nip roller 412 is started by the detection signal of the rotation detection sensor 413 (YES in 780), and the thermal head 410 is pressed against the recording paper Pa. (# 785). Subsequently, the total number of lines on one screen (for example, after 768 lines are set (# 790),
The control signal D _CON of "11" is sent from the CPU 100 to the DC / DC converter 200.
Is transmitted from the DC / DC converter 200 to the printer unit 111.
Then, power is supplied to the camera unit 203 (# 795). Subsequently, in synchronization with the rotation speed of the nip roller 412, that is, in synchronization with the paper feed speed of the recording paper Pa to the recording paper insertion port 21 side with respect to the thermal head 410, printing for one line and paper of the recording paper Pa are performed. Is alternately repeated (# 800, # 805,
(Loop of # 810) Printing for one screen is performed. When printing of one screen is completed (YES in # 805), the CPU 1
From 00, a control signal D _CON of “00” is sent to the DC / DC converter 200, and the driving of the DC / DC converter 200 is stopped (#
815). Subsequently, after the thermal head 410 is switched to the rest position (# 820), the process returns to # 410.

FIG. 30 shows a second embodiment of the camera with a built-in printer according to the present invention. The same members as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, a step is provided in a connection portion between the camera body 1 and the printer case 2 and a recording paper insertion guide 21 is provided on a side surface of the camera body 1 forming the step.
a is provided. The recording sheet insertion guide 21a allows the cut sheet type recording paper Pa to be easily and accurately inserted into the printer head 410, thereby further improving the operability of printout. In the above embodiment, the recording paper insertion port
21 was provided on the front of the camera (the surface on the subject side),
It may be provided on the rear surface.

In this embodiment, a memory card for recording digital data is used as an external recording medium. However, a floppy disk for recording analog data, an optical disk, or an optical card may be used.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the mounting unit for the external recording medium is provided between the imaging unit and the printer unit, the heat generated in the printer unit is diffused while transmitting the mounting unit, The heat does not damage the photoelectric conversion element of the imaging unit.

Further, the space can be effectively used, and the camera can be downsized.

Further, the same effect can be obtained even if the printing unit is configured to be able to print on both external recording paper and internal recording paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a block diagram of a camera with a built-in printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 (A) is a diagram showing a power supply relationship of a power supply unit of the camera, and FIG. 1 (B) is a control line between a CPU and a DC / DC converter. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the relationship between power supplies supplied to the camera unit, FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the camera with a built-in printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a memory card mounting unit and an imaging unit. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing another embodiment of the arrangement relationship between the memory card mounting unit, the image pickup unit and the printer unit, and FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B). ) Is a detailed block diagram of the signal processing unit, FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the printer unit, FIG. 9 is a front view of the printer unit, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 9, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 9, FIG.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a melting ink ribbon, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a marker of a sublimation recording paper, FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a marker of a gradation thermal recording paper, and FIG. FIG. 17 shows a hand scan type ink ribbon, FIG. 17 shows a configuration of a printer unit for cut sheet type recording paper, FIG. 18 shows a configuration of a hand scan type printer unit,
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer unit for a roll type gradation thermal recording sheet, FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a recording paper insertion port, and FIG. 21 is a circuit configuration of a thermal head. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an input timing chart of print data in a fusion type or hand scan mode, and FIG.
The figure shows a timing chart for inputting print data in the sublimation type or gradation thermal mode. FIG. 24 is a time chart showing divisional driving of the thermal head.
(B) is a main flowchart for explaining the camera operation, FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the “S ₁ ” subroutine,
FIG. 27 is a flowchart of the “exposure” subroutine, and FIG.
Fig. 29 is a flowchart of a "reproduction" subroutine, Figs. 29 (A), (B), (C), and (D) are flowcharts of a "print" subroutine. It is a figure showing an example. 1 ... camera body, 2 ... printer case, 3 ... photographing lens, 4 ... finder window, 5 ... AF light emitting section, 6 ...
Flash, 7 ... Release / Print start button, 8
...... Mode switch 9 Protect switch
10: Multi switch, 11: Flash emission switching mode switch, 12: Date setting switch, 13: Shooting mode switching switch, 14, 15 ... Access button, 16 ...
Macro / 2-value mode changeover switch, 17 …… Display unit, 18…
... Memory card insertion slot, 19 ... TV output terminal, 20 ... Removable button, 21 ... Recording paper insertion slot, 21a ... Recording paper insertion guide, 100 ... CPU (system controller), 101 ...
Solid-state imaging device (CCD), 102: signal processing unit, 103: lens driving unit, 104: distance measuring unit, 105: photometric unit, 106:
Exposure control unit, 107: Display unit, 108: Flash unit, 10
9 Power supply unit, 110 BC (battery check) circuit, 11
1 ... Printer section, 112 ... Memory card, 200 ... DC / DC
Converter, 201: Regulator, 202: Imaging unit, 20
3 Camera section, 204 Internal memory, 301 CCD driver, 302 CCD-TG, 303 CDS, 304 GC (gain controller), 305 A / D converter, 306 WB processing circuit, 307: γ correction circuit, 308: Process circuit, 30
9 ... Matrix circuit, 310 ... Address generation circuit, 311,
312: Memory, 313: Data selector and compression / decompression unit, 314: Interface (card I / F), 315: T
Signal processing circuit for V output, 316, 317 D / A converter, 318
…… Resonator, 319 …… Multi-playback controller, 320…
… Multi-purpose video memory, 321… Printer data conversion circuit, 400… Thermal head control circuit, 401… Solenoid / motor drive circuit, 402… Sensor input circuit, 403
…… Thermal head block, 404 …… Paper feed block, 405 …… Ink ribbon feed block, 4
10: Thermal head, 411: Solenoid for thermal head pressure contact, 412: Nip roller, 413: Rotation detection sensor, A414, B415: Recording paper detection sensor, 416: Ink ribbon, 416a: Transparent part , A417, B418 …… Ribbon cue sensor, 419 …… Ribbon set detection sensor, 420…
… DC servo motor, 421 …… Platen roller, 422,423,4
24, A, B, C, D, E ... gear, 425 ... grip roller, 426 ...
… Storage case, 427 …… Plunger, 428 …… Lever, 42
9 ... shaft, 430 ... fulcrum, 431 ... supply roller, 432 ... take-up roller, 433 ... sliding clutch, 434 ... slit plate,
500 ... output control unit, 501, 502 ... shift register, 503
…… Latch circuit, 504… Head driver, 505… Heat generation part, 506… Thermistor, 507 …… Inverter, S ₁ , S ₂ , S
_OFF , S _REC , S _REP , S _PRI , S _UP , S _DOWN , S _PRO , S _MAC , S _MONO ,
S _CARD , S _FL , S _ADJ , S _MODE ... Switch, m, M ... Marker, P
a ... Recording paper.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/225 B41J 2/00 H04N 5/76 H04N 5/907

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An image pickup section comprising a photographic lens and a photoelectric conversion element, a detachable external recording medium mounting section for recording an image pickup signal picked up by the image pickup section, and an image recorded on the external recording medium. What is claimed is: 1. A camera with a built-in printer, comprising: a printer section for printing out on a recording sheet; wherein a mounting section for the external recording medium is interposed between the imaging section and the printer section. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer section includes a recording sheet feeding section for guiding a built-in recording sheet to a printer head, and an insertion section for guiding an external recording sheet to the printer head. Camera with built-in printer.