JP3618041B2 - Digital camera that can be combined with printer and printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera system that can be integrated with a printer, and more particularly to improvement in operability thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a digital camera and a printer are generally connected via a connection cord or connected to a printer connected to a personal computer via a personal computer.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the former method, the connection of the cord is complicated and troublesome, and the structure is not suitable for space saving. Further, there is a problem that the power must be turned on separately. In the latter method, it is necessary to operate a personal computer, and the operation is complicated, and the system becomes large, which is not easy and simple.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to detachably couple a digital camera and a printer without using a connection cord, and use a liquid crystal screen of the camera at the time of printing, so that the printer has excellent visibility and operability. To provide a system.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a digital camera used in a system having an automatic transfer mode comprising a printer and a digital camera that can be combined with the printer,
The digital camera includes a memory on the digital camera side that records captured image data, a liquid crystal display unit that displays the image data, and sequentially reproduces and displays the image data stored in the memory on the liquid crystal display unit. A digital camera side operation unit for selecting image data to be printed by a printer,
In the automatic transfer mode, the digital camera transfers all the image data recorded in the digital camera-side memory to the printer-side memory, and after the transfer, the digital camera transfers the image data to the digital camera. Automatically erase from the side memory,
When not in the automatic transfer mode, the image data stored in the memory is sequentially reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit according to an instruction from the operation unit on the digital camera side, and image data to be printed by the printer is selected. The present invention relates to a characteristic digital camera.
In the digital camera, when the image data is automatically deleted from the digital camera side memory, a confirmation message as to whether or not to delete the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the digital camera. The present invention relates to a digital camera.
The printer is used in a system having an automatic transfer mode including a printer and a digital camera that can be combined with the printer. The printer is a detachable printer side that stores image data transferred from the digital camera. A memory and a printer operation unit that selects the automatic transfer mode and instructs the start of printing. When the automatic transfer mode is selected by the printer-side operation unit, the printer transfers data from the digital camera. The recorded image data is automatically recorded in the removable printer-side memory, and when the automatic transfer mode is not selected by the printer-side operation unit, the printer responds to a print start instruction from the printer-side operation unit. Printing an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the digital camera. That relates to a printer.
According to the above configuration, since the printer and the digital camera are integrally coupled, a simple coupling structure is achieved without taking up space, and a system for printing a captured image with good visibility and operability can be realized.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. The digital camera 1 has a liquid crystal screen 6 in the center of the back surface, and an operation unit 13 including a plurality of buttons for photographing, adjustment, and the like is disposed on the left side of the liquid crystal screen 6. An image advance selection button 10 is provided on the upper right side of the liquid crystal screen 6.
[0007]
This image advance selection button 10 is used for sequentially reproducing each shot frame and selecting a desired image, and is similarly used for printout. A release button 14 is disposed near the upper right end of the digital camera 1. In the center of the upper surface of the printer 2, a coupling groove 18 having an opening 18a on the right side surface is provided. The coupling groove 18 serves as a guide for fitting the digital camera 1 and a holding function after the fitting. A connector support 17 (see FIG. 3) is provided at the left end portion of the coupling groove 18. A grip 3 for holding down the printer 2 when the digital camera 1 is attached and detached is provided near the upper left end of the printer 2. A power button 9 is provided near the lower end of the upper surface of the printer 2, a print button 11 is provided at the right end, and a mode switching button 19 is provided at the center.
[0008]
An eject operation knob 7 and a printout unit 8 for removing the mounted digital camera 1 are provided on the front surface (front surface) of the printer 2. A printer tray 4 that accommodates photographic paper 12 is mounted on the back of the printer 2.
[0009]
When the digital camera 1 is mounted, the digital camera 1 is inserted with the grip 3 held down and the liquid crystal screen 6 facing upward from the opening 18 a side of the coupling groove 18. The digital camera 1 is guided by the coupling groove 18 so that the connector female 15 at the bottom of the digital camera is fitted to the connector male 16 of the connector support base 17 to be coupled together, and the camera is detached from the connector by the locking mechanism (see FIG. 4). Locked so that there is no.
[0010]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the fitting mechanism.
The connector female 15 of the digital camera 1 is provided on the camera lens side, and its connection surface is at a position separated by L from the camera end. Note that the value of L may be set to 0 so that the connection surface becomes the camera side surface position. The connector support 17 has a U shape, and a connector male 16 is provided at the center thereof. The female connector 15 is fitted to the male connector 16, the connector peripheral surface 1 a on the camera lens side is in contact with the upper surface 17 a of the connector support 17, and the side walls 18 a and 18 b of the coupling groove 18 are in contact with the bottom surface 1 b and the upper surface 1 c of the camera. Therefore, the position when the camera is fitted is fixed. A detection switch 18c is provided on the side wall 18a and is pressed against the bottom surface 1b of the camera when the camera is fitted. When the detection switch 18c is pressed, the detection switch is turned on.
[0011]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of a printer system according to the present invention. When the digital camera is mounted on the printer, the camera side I / F unit 50 and the printer side I / F unit 51 are electrically connected. When the operation unit 43 is associated with FIG. 1, the operation unit 43 corresponds to a part including the camera side operation unit 13 and the image feed selection button 10, and the operation unit 55 corresponds to a part including the power button 9 and the print button 11.
[0012]
When the operation unit 55 turns on the power, the power supply circuit 53 powers on its own device and sends the power supply energy to the power supply control circuit 41 on the digital camera side. When the controller (1) 42 of the digital camera controls the power supply control circuit 41, the power supply energy from the printer side is supplied to the battery 40, and the battery 40 is charged when it is not fully charged.
[0013]
The controller (1) 42 reads out the image of the memory 46 that has been photographed and stored by the imaging unit 44 and the image processing unit 45, and reproduces and displays it on the liquid crystal monitor (corresponding to the liquid crystal display unit) 48 via the liquid crystal driver 47. By operating the image advance selection button of the operation unit 43, the images can be sequentially reproduced and displayed, and the image to be printed can be selected. When the print button of the operation unit 55 is pressed, the controller (2) 54 sends a control signal to the controller (1) 42, and the controller (1) 42 reads the displayed image from the memory 46 and sends it to the controller (2) 54. send. The controller (2) 54 drives the printer driver 57 to print an image sent by the printer unit 58. The I / F connector 52 and the I / F connector 49 are connectors for connecting cables.
[0014]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart when the camera is mounted. When the camera 1 is mounted and the detection switch 18c is turned on, the printer 2 is powered on, and the power source energy of the power source circuit 53 is sent to the power source control circuit 41 on the digital camera side.
[0015]
Thereafter, when the transfer mode switch 19 is in the automatic transfer mode, all image data recorded in the digital camera is automatically transferred to the memory in the printer. Further, after the transfer, the image data recorded in the digital camera is deleted. At this time, it is also possible to display a confirmation message on the liquid crystal screen of the digital camera. For example, whether or not to delete with the image feed button 10 of the digital camera is selected according to the message on the liquid crystal screen, and the release button 14 is pressed. Can be determined. Further, the memory of the printer 2 can be stored by using a removable recording medium such as a PC card, and can be used in other devices. After the image data is transferred, the battery 40 is charged when it is not fully charged. If the printer power button 9 is not turned on thereafter, the printer is automatically turned off. Here, when the transfer mode switch 19 is OFF, only the battery 40 is charged.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides a printout system for a photographed image of a digital camera that has a simple coupling structure without taking up space because the printer and the digital camera are integrally coupled, and has good visibility and operability. it can.
[0017]
Also, when the digital camera is installed in the printer, it is automatically transferred to the printer's memory, the image data in the digital camera is erased, and the digital camera's battery is charged with the printer's power supply. By simply attaching it to the printer, the image data can be saved, and there is no problem such as the amount of digital camera recording being small at the next shooting, saving the trouble of saving the data of the image data, and shortening the time. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a fitting mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of a printer system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a flowchart when a camera is mounted.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera 2 ... Printer 3 ... Grip 4 ... Printer tray 6 ... Liquid crystal screen 7 ... Eject operation knob 8 ... Print-out part 9 ... Power button 10. .. Image feed selection button 11 ... Print button 12 ... Photo paper 13 ... Camera operation unit 14 ... Release button 15 ... Female connector (image output terminal)
16 ... Connector male 17 ... Connector support 18 ... Coupling groove 19 ... Transfer mode switch

Claims (3)

A digital camera used in a system having an automatic transfer mode comprising a printer and a digital camera that can be combined with the printer,
The digital camera includes a memory on the digital camera side that records captured image data, a liquid crystal display unit that displays the image data, and sequentially reproduces and displays the image data stored in the memory on the liquid crystal display unit. A digital camera side operation unit for selecting image data to be printed by a printer,
In the automatic transfer mode, the digital camera transfers all the image data recorded in the digital camera-side memory to the printer-side memory, and after the transfer, the digital camera transfers the image data to the digital camera. Automatically erase from the side memory,
When not in the automatic transfer mode, the image data stored in the memory is sequentially reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit according to an instruction from the operation unit on the digital camera side, and image data to be printed by the printer is selected. A featured digital camera. The digital camera according to claim 1,
When automatically deleting the image data from the memory on the digital camera side, a confirmation message as to whether or not to delete the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the digital camera. . A printer for use in a system having an automatic transfer mode comprising a printer and a digital camera that can be combined with the printer,
The printer includes a removable printer-side memory that stores image data transferred from the digital camera, and a printer operation unit that selects the automatic transfer mode and instructs the start of printing,
  When the automatic transfer mode is selected by the printer side operation unit, the printer automatically records the image data transferred from the digital camera in the removable printer side memory,
  When the automatic transfer mode is not selected by the printer-side operation unit, the printer prints an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the digital camera according to a print start instruction from the printer-side operation unit. A printer characterized by that.

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