JP3954139B2 - Digital photo printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital photo printer having an image processing function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, the images taken on photographic films such as negative films and reversal films (hereinafter referred to as films) are printed on photographic materials such as photographic paper. The so-called direct exposure method is the mainstream.
On the other hand, the applicant of the present invention has recently developed a printing apparatus that uses digital exposure, that is, digitally reads an image photographed on a film, performs various image processing, and records digital image data (digital data). Developed and put on the market a digital photo printer that scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated in accordance with this image data, records an image (latent image), and develops and prints it. .
[0003]
In digital photographic printers, exposure conditions are determined by photoelectrically reading film and performing color / density correction by image signal processing, so the exposure time per image is short, and exposure Since the time is also constant according to the image size, printing can be performed more quickly than conventional surface exposure.
Moreover, editing such as image composition and image division, image processing such as color / density adjustment, and image processing can be performed freely, and finished prints that have been subjected to image processing and image processing can be freely selected according to the application. Can output. Further, conventional direct exposure printing cannot reproduce all images recorded on film etc. in terms of resolution, color / density reproducibility, etc., but it is recorded on film by a digital photographic printer. A print that reproduces almost 100% of the existing image (density information) can be output.
[0004]
Such a digital photographic printer basically includes an image reading device (scanner), an image processing device, and an image recording device (printer).
In a scanner, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on a film to obtain projection light carrying an image photographed on the film, and this projection light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens. By photoelectric conversion, the image is read as an image signal (at high speed), A / D converted, and digital image data is subjected to various processing by the signal correction circuit as necessary. ) Film image data (image information) is stored, and the stored image data of one film is read from the frame memory and output to the image processing apparatus. Usually, in a high-speed scanner, a memory having a capacity capable of storing image data of a plurality of films is used as a frame memory, and reading image data of one film is stored and another film is stored. The image data can be read out simultaneously.
[0005]
The image processing apparatus first stores the image data transmitted from the scanner in the frame memory, then reads the stored image data from the frame memory, sets the image processing conditions according to the read image data, An image was displayed on the display of an operating device of an external personal computer connected via an interface circuit, and an examination and adjustment of image processing conditions and an instruction or simulation of image processing were performed as necessary. Thereafter, the image processing circuit applies the set image processing and image processing to the image data, and outputs the image data to the printer as output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording.
In the printer, first, image data transmitted from the image processing apparatus is stored in a frame memory. For example, if the apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, a light beam is emitted according to the image data read from the frame memory. The light beam is modulated and deflected in the main scanning direction, and the photosensitive material (photographic paper) is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Then, exposure (printing) is performed to form a latent image, which is then subjected to development processing or the like according to the photosensitive material, and output as a finished print (photograph) in which an image photographed on the film is optimally reproduced.
[0006]
As described above, in systems that handle digital image data such as digital photo printers, a large amount of data is required especially for high-quality, high-definition images due to its characteristics. But necessary so For this reason, high-speed scanners, image processing apparatuses, and printers constituting digital photo printers each have a large-capacity frame memory. In a system comprising such a digital photographic printer, conventionally, an operator uses an operation device such as an external personal computer (hereinafter also referred to as a PC) to process various images while checking on a CRT display. For example, gradation correction, composition, image modification, etc. are performed. In other words, all or part of the image data of one frame read out from the frame memory of the image processing apparatus is stored in the memory in the external PC and stored in the memory in the PC. Various image processing processes are performed using the obtained image data, and the processed image data is returned to the image processing apparatus.
[0007]
For this reason, when performing image processing in an operating device such as a PC, a large amount of image data must be processed, which takes a long time to process, and even if the image reading by the scanner is fast, The entire digital photographic printer has a problem that high-speed processing cannot be achieved.
In addition, a high-capacity frame memory is required for each of the high-speed scanner, the image processing apparatus, and the printer that constitute the digital photo printer. There is a problem that the cost of the entire digital photo printer becomes high.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and to perform a frame memory that is inevitably mounted on a scanner (for function implementation) when processing an image using an operating device such as a personal computer. A digital photo printer having an image processing function at high speed and at a minimum cost is provided by using it as a work area in common with an image processing apparatus and by using the image processing function of the image processing apparatus for a print function. There is.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image sensor that photoelectrically reads a document image, A / D conversion of the read image signal, and signal correction that performs a required signal correction on the obtained digital image data. A circuit, a frame memory for storing at least one of the corrected image data and the image processed image data, and an image processing circuit for performing required image processing on the image data stored in the frame memory A control circuit for controlling the image sensor, the signal correction circuit, the frame memory and the image processing circuit via a control bus;
An operation device connected to the control bus via an interface and for performing a required image processing process on the image data stored in the frame memory from the outside using the image processing circuit, and an image bus connected to the image processing circuit The image data processed by the image processing circuit and output directly, or the image data output from the frame memory through the image processing circuit or the image processed image data is output as a print image. The operation device reads an image read out from the frame memory or an image read out from the frame memory, and performs necessary image processing and image processing in accordance with an external command in the image processing circuit. A display for displaying the displayed image, and a command from the outside based on the image displayed on the display. And an input device for receiving image data stored in the frame memory, Accepted by the input device According to the external command By the image processing circuit The present invention provides a digital photographic printer that is subjected to image processing.
The original image is preferably an image photographed on a film.
The image data transmitted to the operation device and displayed on the display is the image data after the thinning process read out from the frame memory and thinned out, or read out from the frame memory and before the thinning process. It is preferable that the image data is a part of the image data, or image data that has been read from the frame memory, subjected to frequency processing, and subjected to thinning processing.
Further, the image data transmitted to the operation device and displayed on the display is read from the frame memory and subjected to the scaling process, or the reduced image data after the scaling process, or read from the frame memory. Alternatively, it may be a part of image data before scaling processing.
The processing result of the image processing performed by the image processing circuit is stored in the frame memory after the input device receives an instruction to execute an image processing from the outside based on the image displayed on the display. In this case, the processing result of the image processing performed until the input device accepts the image processing execution command is applied only to the image data displayed on the display. Is preferred.
[0010]
here And said On the display, the thinned image that is read out from the frame memory and transmitted after the required image processing and commanded image processing in the image processing circuit is displayed or read out from the frame memory. Preferably, it is either a thinned image or a simulated image created by the operation device main body from partial image data.
[0011]
In addition, it is preferable that an image processing function necessary for image processing instructed by an operator by the operation device is held in the control circuit as software.
Further, it is preferable that an image processing command by an operator is given from another operating device via a network.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A digital photographic printer according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a digital photographic printer of the present invention.
A digital photo printer 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes a scanner 12, an image processing device 14, and a printer 16. Images taken on a film F or the like by the scanner 12 are frame by frame. The image data is sequentially read and output to the image processing device 14, subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing device 14, output to the printer 16 as image data for recording, and modulated by the printer 16 in accordance with the image data. The photosensitive material is scanned and exposed with a light beam, developed, and output as a finished print.
[0014]
The scanner 12 includes a reading optical system 18, a CCD sensor 20, a signal correction circuit 22, and a frame memory 24 shared with the image processing apparatus 14, which is one of the features of the present invention. The captured images are photoelectrically read by the CCD sensor 20 frame by frame as digital image data for each of the three primary colors, subjected to necessary signal correction by the signal correction circuit 22, and then stored in the frame memory 24. The reading optical system 18 is used to form an image of one frame photographed on the film F on the CCD sensor 20, and the light source 25, the variable aperture 26, and the image photographed on the film F are R (red). A color filter plate 27 having three color filters of R, G and B for separating the three primary colors of G, (green) and B (blue), and capable of rotating any color filter on the optical path; A diffusion box 28 for making the reading light incident on the film F uniform in the surface direction of the film F; and an imaging lens 29 that forms an image on the CCD sensor 20 through which the projection light that passes through the film F and carries an image is formed. Have
[0015]
The CCD sensor 20 is an area sensor that photoelectrically reads each color component of one frame image taken on a film as an image signal, and can image and read one frame of the film. The signal correction circuit 22 is obtained by an amplifier 30 that amplifies the image signal read by the CCD sensor, and an A / D converter 31 that converts the amplified analog image signal into a digital image signal by A / D conversion. And a correction processing circuit 32 that performs signal correction and conversion processing such as offset correction, dark correction, LOG conversion (density signal conversion) by LUT (lookup table), and shading correction on the digital image data.
[0016]
The frame memory 24 is one of the features of the present invention, and has a capacity capable of storing image data for three colors of R, G, and B for at least one frame, and is corrected by the signal correction circuit 22. The image processing apparatus 14 has a function of storing image data that has been subjected to various types of image processing, and is shared by the scanner 12 and the image processing apparatus 14. Here, when the capacity of the frame memory 24 is one frame, the frame memory 24 may store either one of image data read by the scanner 12 and image data processed by the image processing device 14. However, the frame memory 24 has a capacity of two frames or more, and writing of the read image data by the scanner 12 and reading of the read image data by the image processing device 14 are performed by the image processing device 14 (for processing). (Reading of image data or writing of processed image data) and reading of processed image data for transmission to the printer 16 may be performed simultaneously.
Note that the CCD sensor 20, the amplifier 30 of the signal correction circuit 22, the A / D converter 31, the correction processing circuit 32, and the frame memory 24 are sequentially connected by an image data bus (image bus) 33 in this order. The reading optical system 18, the CCD sensor 20, the signal correction circuit 22, and the frame memory 24 are each connected to a control data bus (control bus) 34.
[0017]
In such a scanner 12, the reading light emitted from the light source 25, adjusted in light amount by the variable diaphragm 26, adjusted in color through the color filter plate 27, and diffused in the diffusion box 28 is incident on the film F. , The projection light carrying the image photographed on the film F is obtained.
The projection light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 20 by the imaging lens 29 and is read photoelectrically by the CCD sensor 20. The output signal from the CCD sensor 20 is amplified by an amplifier 30, converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 31, and LOG converted. L The density signal is subjected to the above-described various correction processes by the correction processing circuit 32 having a UT and the like, and once stored in the frame memory 24 as R, G, B image data of an image photographed on the film F, It is read out and sent to the image processing device 14.
[0018]
The scanner 12 performs such image reading three times by sequentially inserting the three color filters R, G, and B of the color filter plate 27, so that one frame image photographed on the film F is R. , G and B are separated into three primary colors and read.
In the illustrated apparatus, the variable aperture 2 is set prior to the main scan for obtaining image data to be output to the printer 16. 6 In order to determine the amount of aperture and to set image processing conditions, pre-scanning for reading an image at a low resolution may be performed. That is, the scanner 12 performs image reading (output of image data) six times in total by reading one frame image, and the frame memory 24 stores pre-scan image data (low resolution data) and main scan data (high resolution data). It may be stored.
When the reading of one frame is completed, the film F is fed by one frame by a feeding means (not shown), the next frame is conveyed to the reading position, and the stored image data is read from the frame memory 24 by the image processing device 14. If the storage area (capacity) of the frame memory 24 is writable, or if the capacity of the frame memory 24 is large and there is a writable storage area, the next frame is read.
[0019]
The image processing apparatus 14 reads out from the frame memory 24 of the scanner 12, performs predetermined image processing on the transmitted image data, and outputs the processed image data to the printer 16. The frame memory 24 shared with the scanner 12 is used. An image processing circuit 36, a CPU 38, a personal computer (hereinafter also referred to as a PC) (main body) 40, and the PC (main body) 40. control A PC interface (circuit) 42 for connecting to the data bus 34, a CRT 44 and a keyboard 46 connected to the PC 40 are provided.
In the illustrated digital photo printer 10, one scanner is connected to the image processing device 14, but the number of scanners (image reading devices) used in the present invention is not limited to one, and two scanners. Alternatively, a plurality of more scanners may be connected. In addition to a scanner for reading a film F (transparent document) as shown in the drawing, a scanner for reading an image of a printed matter or a photograph may be connected.
Further, the number of printers connected to the image processing apparatus 14 is not limited to one, and a plurality of printers may be connected.
[0020]
The image processing circuit 36 is read by the scanner 12 and is used as a frame memory. 24 The image data stored in the memory is read out and subjected to required image processing to obtain image data for recording by the printer 16, which is configured by combining a memory and various processing circuits.
In the illustrated example, the image processing circuit 36 sequentially reads out image data of a predetermined unit according to the recording order by the printer 16, for example, color / gradation processing for correcting the color and / or gradation of the image, and image enlargement. Each process of scaling processing for reduction, compression and expansion of the dynamic range of image data, and sharpness processing (outline emphasis) is preferably performed by pipeline processing.
[0021]
Note that the image processing circuit 36 can also receive an image processing command input from the keyboard 46 to the PC 40 by the operator from the PC 40 and perform a required image processing process under the control of the CPU 38. Further, the image processing circuit 36 can output the processed image data directly to the printer 16 for printing, or can return the image data to the frame memory 24 for storage. The image data returned to and stored in the frame memory 24 may be read again and simply passed through the image processing circuit 36 and directly output to the printer 16 to be printed. After image processing or image processing is performed, the image may be output to the printer 16 and printed. Here, the image processing circuit 36 performs a required image processing (necessary for output to the printer 16) and a desired image processing processing (instructed by an operator or the like) having processing functions (hardware). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and all or some of the processing functions, particularly the image processing function, may be configured by software.
[0022]
The CPU 38 is connected to the reading optical system 18, the CCD sensor 20, the signal correction circuit 22, the frame memory 24, and the image processing circuit 36 via the control data bus 34, and controls them. For example, when processing the image data in the image processing circuit 36, the CPU 38 creates a density histogram or the like from the image data (for example, prescan image data) stored in the frame memory 24, and calculates the image processing conditions. Set in the image processing circuit 36. That is, the image processing by the above-described image processing circuit 36 is performed according to the image processing conditions set by the CPU 38.
In the image processing apparatus used in the present invention, the setting of image processing conditions is not limited to that using pre-scanned image data, and image processing conditions may be set using main-scanned image data.
The CPU 38 also controls the image processing circuit 36 when causing the image processing circuit 36 to execute an image processing command instructed by the operator from the keyboard 46 via the PC main body 40. The CPU 38 may also be configured to control the printer 16.
[0023]
The PC main body 40, the PC interface 42, the CRT 44, and the keyboard 46 constitute a personal computer system that is an operation device of the present invention, and an operator can input an image processing command to the PC main body 40 using the keyboard 46. The PC main body 40 may be configured to display on the CRT 44 an image processing command input by the operator using the keyboard 46, and to display images before and after processing such as image processing and image processing. . The PC main body 40 transmits the input image processing command to the CPU 38 via the PC interface 42, and the CPU 38 reads out the image data from the frame memory 24, and performs the image processing given by the command as an image processing circuit. 36 may be configured to be executed, or the PC main body itself may be configured to perform an image processing process given by a command.
[0024]
Incidentally, in order to display images before and after image processing and image processing on the CRT 44 and to perform image processing on the PC main body 40 itself, the image processing circuit 36 directly from the frame memory 24 or from the frame memory 24. The image data sent to the PC main body via the image processing (with or without image processing or image processing by the image processing circuit) is stored in the frame memory 24 or processed by the image processing circuit. Low resolution image data thinned out from data, partial image data read out from the frame memory 24 without being thinned out, or read out from the frame memory 24 and frequency processed by an image processing circuit or the like It is preferable that the image data is subjected to thinning processing after (LPF processing). By doing so, various processes such as display on the CRT 44 in the PC main body 40 and processing in the PC main body 40 itself can be quickly performed.
Further, the CRT 44 functions as a display device that displays various types of processing by the PC main body 40 and images before and after image processing or image processing. The display device used in the present invention may be any device capable of outputting a soft copy image such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a plasma display in addition to the CRT 44. The keyboard (KB) 46 functions as an input device for inputting various processing commands and various data to the PC main body 40. Examples of the input device used in the present invention include an input device such as a mouse in addition to a keyboard.
[0025]
In the present invention, the image data fetched from the CCD sensor 20 is temporarily held on the frame memory 24, and the image data is read from the frame memory 24 to be thinned (low resolution) image data (coarse, reduced image). Directly PC interface It is sent to the PC 40 via 42 and displayed on the CRT 44. Alternatively, the image data read out from the frame memory 24 is subjected to predetermined processing by the image processing circuit 36, and then returned to the frame memory 24 for storage and converted into thinned image data. PC interface It is sent to the PC 40 via 42 and displayed on the CRT 44. Note that the thinned image data to be transmitted to the PC 40 may be read out by being thinned out from the frame memory 24, or all image data may be read out and thinned out by the image processing circuit 36.
[0026]
An image processing command (instruction) for the image displayed on the CRT 44 in this way is input to the PC 40 from the keyboard 46 by the operator (operator). Next, an image processing instruction is sent from the PC 40 circuit 36 (and CPU 38). Image processing circuit 36 reads out image data of an image displayed on the CRT 44 (controlled by the CPU 38) from the frame memory 24, and performs image processing instructed by the read image data. The processing result of the image processing obtained in this way is returned and stored in the frame memory 24 at the same time as the processing and is thinned out. PC interface It is sent to the PC 40 via 42 and displayed on the CRT 44.
[0027]
When an operator issues an OK (printing, that is, exposure / development) instruction to the PC 40 using an input device such as the keyboard 46 by looking at the image displayed on the CRT 44, the instruction is sent from the PC 40 to the CPU 38 and image processing. circuit 36, and image processing is controlled by the CPU 38. circuit 36 reads the image data of the OK image from the frame memory 24 and sends it to the printer 16 as it is (without any processing). The printer 16 exposes and develops the image according to the sent image data, reproduces the print image, and outputs the print as a hard copy image. If the operator does not give an OK instruction for the image displayed on the CRT 44, the image processing instruction input by the operator (operator) is processed by the image processing. circuit The process is executed at 36, reflected in the frame memory 24 and displayed on the CRT 44 until the operator gives an OK instruction.
[0028]
In the above example, image processing circuit Although the processing result of the image processing performed in 36 is reflected in the frame memory 24 at the same time as the processing, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to be reflected in the frame memory 24 separately. The processing result is not reflected in the frame memory 24 every time image processing is performed until an OK instruction is issued from the operator, and the processing result is reflected in the frame memory 24 after the OK instruction is issued. May be. Here, when the processing result is not reflected in the frame memory 24, image processing is performed according to an operator instruction. circuit The image processing performed in 36 need not be performed on all image data read from the frame memory 24, and may be performed only on the thinned image data sent to the PC 40 for display on the CRT 44. Of course, the image processing applied to the OK image may be applied to all image data read from the frame memory 24 and directly output to the printer 16 or may be temporarily returned to the frame memory 24. It may be configured to output to the printer 16 after storing.
[0029]
In each example described above, an instruction for image processing processing by the operator for the image displayed on the CRT 44 is sent from the PC 40 to the image processing. circuit 36 and the CPU 38, and the instructed image processing is processed. circuit However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the instructed image processing process is simulated in the PC 40 using the thinned image data sent to the PC 40 for display on the CRT 44. You may comprise so that a simulated image may be displayed on CRT44. Then, the simulation may be repeated until an OK instruction is issued by the operator. In this case, the CRT 4 in the PC 40 4 When the image displayed on the screen is OK, an instruction for image processing applied to the displayed image is sent from the PC 40 to the image processing. circuit 36 and the CPU 38, and the instructed image processing is processed. circuit It is preferable that the processing is performed on all image data read from the frame memory 24 at 36.
[0030]
The instructed image processing is reflected in the frame memory 24, that is, the image processing circuit The whole image data read out from the frame memory 24 in 36 may be configured so as to perform the background in response to an operation by the operator. Of course, also in these cases, the operator views the image displayed on the CRT 44, gives an OK instruction, and the contents of the frame memory 24 reflect the image processing added to the image displayed on the CRT 44 before the printer. 16 is preferably output.
Further, all image data once read from the frame memory 24 or a part of the image data or the thinned image data is stored in the PC 40, image processing instructed by the PC 40 itself is performed, and the processing result is returned to the frame memory 24 and stored. Of course, it may be configured to do so.
[0031]
Furthermore, in the above-described example, the image data that has been subjected to the instructed image processing that is output for printing is the entire image data of one frame (one frame) read from the frame memory 24. The present invention is not limited to this, and it may be a part of one frame, or may be a collection of a plurality of frames or various edits. In such a case, the image data of the image for which the operator has given an OK instruction and the image data to be returned to the frame memory 24 and stored again is used for processing by the PC 40 or displayed on the CRT 44. It may be the thinned image data used for this. For example, image processing is performed on the reduced image data thinned frame by frame, such as index printing in the Advanced Photo System (APS), etc., and the thinned reduced image data obtained by the operator's OK instruction is stored in the frame memory. It may be configured to generate one index print image in the frame memory 24 by repeating the storage in the frame memory 24. Of course, in this case, the contents of the image processing applied to the thinned and reduced image data for which the operator has given an OK instruction are stored in a memory (not shown) of the PC 40 or the CPU 38 and stored on one sheet. It is preferable to use a full-size print when outputting from the printer 16.
[0032]
In the above-described example, the operator inputs an image processing instruction from the keyboard 46 to the PC 40 constituting the digital photographic printer 10 of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and via a network. You may comprise so that it may give from operating devices, such as another PC.
[0033]
As described above, the image data is read from the frame memory 24 in the image processing device 14, processed by the image processing circuit 36, or supplied to the printer 16 immediately after passing through the image processing circuit 36 without being processed. The output image data is output to the printer 16 and is output as a print image by the printer 16. An embodiment of the printer 16 used in the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a publicly known device such as a thermal development transfer printer, a thermal printer, a pressure printer, an electrophotographic printer, etc. Wet and dry printers can be used.
In the printer 16 shown in FIG. 2, processed image data output from the image processing device 14 is transferred to the driver 50 of the printer 16 and D / A converted. The driver 50 drives an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 54 of the image exposure unit 52 so as to modulate the light beam according to the D / A converted image data.
[0034]
The image exposure unit 52 scans and exposes the photosensitive material Z by light beam scanning and records an image of the image data on the photosensitive material Z. As shown conceptually in FIG. Each of a light source 56R for emitting a light beam in a narrow band corresponding to the exposure of the R photosensitive layer, a light source 56G corresponding to the exposure of the G photosensitive layer, and a light source 56B corresponding to the exposure of the B photosensitive layer. Light source of light beam, AOMs 54R, 54G and 54B that modulate the light beam emitted from each light source according to the recorded image, polygon mirror 58 as an optical deflector, fθ lens 60, and sub-scan conveyance of photosensitive material Z Have means.
[0035]
Each light beam emitted from the light source 56 (56R, 56G, 56B) and traveling at different angles enters the corresponding AOM 54 (54R, 54G, 54B). Each AOM 54 has a recorded image from the driver 50, that is, the image processing apparatus 1. 4 Drive signals for R, G, and B corresponding to the image data supplied from are transferred, and the intensity of the incident light beam is modulated according to the recorded image.
[0036]
Each light beam modulated by the AOM 54 is incident and reflected at substantially the same point of the polygon mirror 58, deflected in the main scanning direction (in the direction of the arrow x in the figure), and then predetermined by the fθ lens 60 at a predetermined scanning position z. The light beam is adjusted so as to form an image with the beam shape, and enters the photosensitive material Z. The image exposure unit 52 may be provided with a light beam shaping unit and a surface tilt correction optical system as necessary.
[0037]
On the other hand, the photosensitive material Z is wound in a roll shape and is loaded at a predetermined position in a light-shielded state.
Such a photosensitive material Z is drawn out by a drawing roller (not shown), and is held at the scanning position z by a pair of conveying rollers 62a and 62b arranged with the scanning position z constituting the sub-scanning means interposed therebetween in the main scanning direction. Is sub-scan transported in the sub-scanning direction (arrow y direction in the figure) orthogonal to the.
Since the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material Z conveyed in the sub-scanning direction is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam to the photosensitive material Z. Image processing device 14 An image (latent image) of the transferred image data is recorded.
[0038]
The exposed photosensitive material Z is then carried into the developing unit 66 by the conveying roller pair 64 and subjected to development processing to be a finished print P.
Here, for example, if the photosensitive material Z is a silver salt photographic photosensitive material, the developing unit 66 includes a color developing tank 68, a bleach-fixing tank 70, washing tanks 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d, a drying unit and a cutter (not shown). The photosensitive material Z is subjected to predetermined processing in each processing tank, dried, and then cut into a predetermined length corresponding to one print by a cutter, and output as a finished print P.
[0039]
The digital photographic printer of the present invention has been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when processing an image using an operating device such as a personal computer, the frame memory inevitably mounted on the scanner is shared with the image processing device, Since it is used as an area, it is more preferable that the image processing function of the image processing apparatus for the print function can be used. Therefore, it is possible to provide a digital photo printer having an image processing function at high speed and at a minimum cost. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a digital photo printer according to the present invention, conceptually showing a scanner portion.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the digital photographic printer shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Digital photo printer
12 Scanner (image reading device)
14 Image processing device
16 Printer (image recording device)
18 Reading optical system
20 CCD sensor
22 Signal correction circuit
24 frame memory
25 Light source
26 Variable aperture
27 color filter plate
28 Diffusion box
29 Imaging lens
30 amplifiers
31 A / D converter
32 Correction processing circuit (LUT)
33 Image data bus (image bus)
34 Control data bus (control bus)
36 Image processing circuit
38 CPU
40 Personal computer (PC)
42 PC interface
44 CRT
46 Keyboard (KB)
50 drivers
52 Image exposure unit
54R, 54G, 54B AOM (acousto-optic modulator)
56R, 56G, 56B Light source
58 Polygon mirror
60 Fθ lens
62a, 62b, 64 pair of transport rollers
66 Developer
68 Color developer tank
70 Bleach fixing tank
72a, 72b, 72c, 72d Flush tank
F film
Z photosensitive material
P print

Claims (6)

An image sensor that photoelectrically reads a document image, a signal correction circuit that performs A / D conversion on the read image signal, and performs necessary signal correction on the obtained digital image data, and corrected image data and image processing A frame memory for storing at least one of the image data, an image processing circuit for performing a required image processing on the image data stored in the frame memory, the image sensor, the signal correction circuit, and the frame A control circuit for controlling the memory and the image processing circuit via a control bus;
An operating device connected to the control bus via an interface, and for performing a required image processing process on the image data stored in the frame memory from the outside using the image processing circuit;
Connected to the image processing circuit via an image bus, processed by the image processing circuit, directly output image data or image processing or image processing output from the frame memory via the image processing circuit A printer that outputs image data as a print image,
The operation device displays an image read from the frame memory or an image read from the frame memory and subjected to required image processing and image processing according to an external command in the image processing circuit. And an input device that receives an instruction from the outside based on an image displayed on the display,
The digital photo printer, wherein the image data stored in the frame memory is subjected to image processing by the image processing circuit in response to an external command received by the input device .   The digital photographic printer according to claim 1, wherein the original image is an image photographed on a film.   The image data transmitted to the operation device and displayed on the display as an image is the image data after the thinning process read out from the frame memory and thinned out, or before the thinning process read out from the frame memory. 3. The digital photo printer according to claim 1, wherein the image data is a part of the image data or the image data after the thinning process that is read from the frame memory and subjected to frequency processing and thinning processing.   The image data transmitted to the operation device and displayed on the display as an image is read from the frame memory and subjected to the scaling process, or the reduced image data after the scaling process or the frame data is read from the frame memory. The digital photographic printer according to claim 1, wherein the digital photographic printer is a part of image data before scaling processing.   The processing result of the image processing performed by the image processing circuit is reflected in the frame memory after the input device accepts an external image processing processing command based on the image displayed on the display. The digital photographic printer according to claim 1.   6. The digital photograph according to claim 5, wherein the processing result of the image processing performed until the input device receives the image processing execution command is applied only to image data to be displayed as an image on the display. Printer.

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