JP4205999B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus incorporated in, for example, a mobile phone or the like that performs photographing to obtain image data and transmits the image data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, mobile phones such as mobile phones and PHS (Personal Handyphone System), etc. (hereinafter, may be represented by “mobile phone” regardless of the communication mode) have been equipped with a shooting function, A function of transmitting image data photographed using the camera has also been installed. Accordingly, a printer that receives image data transmitted from a mobile phone equipped with such a function and prints an image based on the image data has been considered.
[0003]
On the other hand, printers that receive image data and output an image based on the received image data have been equipped with new functions such as enlarging or reducing processing according to the paper size based on the received image data. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0004]
However, although image data is transmitted to the printer, an image based on the image data that should have been transmitted may not be printed. In this case, the user may not be able to determine whether the communication of the image data has failed or the device has failed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-94769 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that notifies a user that an image based on image data that should have been transmitted is not printed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An imaging device of the present invention that achieves the above object includes an imaging unit that performs imaging to obtain image data;
A transmission unit that transmits the image data obtained by the imaging unit to a printer that outputs an image based on the image data;
A determination unit for determining success or failure of image data transmission by the transmission unit;
In response to the determination of the image data transmission failure by the determination unit, a display unit that displays that the transmission of the image data has failed and displays an image that identifies the image represented by the image data that has failed to be transmitted is provided. It is characterized by that.
[0008]
According to the photographing apparatus of the present invention, success or failure of image data transmission is determined by the determination unit, and the image that failed to be transmitted is displayed on the display unit in response to the determination of the determination unit. The user specifies which image data transmission has failed.
[0009]
Then, the image data transmission failure to be transmitted can be communicated to the user in an easy-to-understand manner on the display unit. If the image data transmission fails, the determination unit identifies the image that failed to transmit. The re-transmission can be prompted by displaying on the display unit.
[0010]
In addition, an editing unit that edits the image data acquired by the photographing unit is provided,
It is preferable that the transmission unit can freely transmit image data after editing.
[0011]
As described above, when the image data can be edited on the photographing unit side, the image data can be edited on the photographing unit side, and the edited image data can be transmitted to the printer. For this reason, it is convenient for the user.
[0012]
In the photographing unit of the present invention, the transmitting unit preferably transmits image data by infrared communication, and the photographing unit is incorporated in a portable phone. desirable.
[0013]
Then, information can be recorded on the spot by using the mobile phone as a terminal device for information acquisition and transmitting the information acquired by the terminal device to the printer by infrared communication. Wired communication such as USB may be used, but considering that it is a handy terminal device, wireless communication such as infrared communication is desirable because it saves the trouble of carrying the cable and connecting the cable.
[0014]
Also, if you have an image capturing device of the present invention and a printer that receives image data transmitted from the image capturing device via infrared communication, you can easily print anywhere, but crosstalk with other mobile phones (cross) Talk) is expected. Therefore, it is preferable that the mobile phone is equipped with a communication function that conforms to the IrDA standard, the Bluetooth (trademark) standard, or the like, which hardly causes such crosstalk.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0016]
1 and 2 are perspective views showing a front surface and a back surface, respectively, of a mobile phone in which an embodiment of a photographing apparatus constituting the photographing print system of the present invention is incorporated.
[0017]
The mobile phone 200 includes an upper part 210 and a lower part 220, and is a foldable type.
[0018]
An upper part 210 of the mobile phone 200 is provided with a display screen 211, a mouthpiece 212, an antenna 213, and a camera photographing lens 214 arranged on the back surface, and an operation key 221 and a mouthpiece 222 are provided on the lower part 220. Is provided.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the mobile phone whose appearance is shown in FIGS.
[0020]
The mobile phone 200 is configured so that the whole is controlled by the CPU 230. The CPU 230 includes a RAM 231 which is a volatile memory, a ROM 232 which is a nonvolatile memory, a display unit 233 including the display screen 211 shown in FIG. 1, an operation key 221 also shown in FIG. 1, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory. A rewritable ROM 234 and a power supply unit 235 are provided.
[0021]
The ROM 232 stores programs executed by the CPU 230, and the rewritable ROM 234 stores programs downloaded by packet communication, and the programs stored in the ROM 232 and the rewritable ROM 234 are stored in the CPU 230. By being executed, the operation of each part of the mobile phone 200 is controlled.
[0022]
The RAM 231 is used not only as a work area for a program executed by the CPU 230 but also as a storage area for setting values of the number of pixels of image data handled by the mobile phone 200 and image data.
[0023]
The display unit 233 has the display screen 211 shown in FIG. 1 and displays an image on the display screen 211 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 230.
[0024]
The operation key 221 has a role of receiving an operation by the user and transmitting the operation to the CPU 230. When the operation key 221 is operated, the CPU 230 controls each unit according to the operation.
[0025]
The power supply unit 235 is loaded with a battery (not shown), and the power from the battery is supplied to the CPU 230 and each part of the mobile phone in response to a command from the CPU 230.
[0026]
In addition, the cellular phone 200 includes an antenna 213, a transmission / reception unit 241, a signal processing unit 242, and a call unit 245, which are also shown in FIGS. The call unit 243 includes a microphone 243a provided inside the earpiece 222 and a speaker 243b provided inside the mouthpiece 212 in FIG.
[0027]
The transmission / reception unit 241 is a circuit element responsible for transmission / reception of radio waves by the antenna 213, and a signal obtained by the transmission / reception unit 241 by reception of radio waves by the antenna 213 is input to the signal processing unit and subjected to signal processing to receive a call unit 243. Are output as sound from the speaker 243b. The voice picked up by the microphone 243 a of the call unit 243 is subjected to signal processing by the signal processing unit 242 and is transmitted as a radio wave from the antenna 213 via the transmission unit 241.
[0028]
The mobile phone 200 also has a packet communication function, and a received or packet signal is received in the RAM 231 after being subjected to appropriate signal processing by the signal processing unit 242 via the antenna 213 and the transmission / reception unit 241, or In the case of a downloaded program, it is stored in the rewritable ROM 234, and the packet data in the RAM 231 is displayed on the display screen 211 (see FIG. 1) of the display unit 233 by the CPU 230 that has received an instruction from the operation key 221, or The program stored in the rewritable ROM is executed.
[0029]
The packet communication document or the like created with the operation key 221 is temporarily stored in the RAM 231 at the time of creation, sent to the signal processing unit 241 in response to a transmission instruction from the operation key 221, subjected to signal processing for transmission, and transmitted / received It is transmitted as a radio wave via the unit 241 and the antenna 213.
[0030]
Further, the mobile phone 200 has a photographing function as an embodiment of the photographing apparatus according to the present invention. Here, a photographing unit 251 and an image processing unit 252 are provided as elements responsible for this photographing function. Further, an infrared communication unit 253 is provided as an element having a function of transmitting image data representing an image photographed by the photographing function.
[0031]
The photographing unit 251 is provided with the photographing lens 214 and the photographing element 251a shown in FIG. 1, and a subject captured via the photographing lens is presented by the photographing element 251a to generate an image signal. The image signal obtained by the imaging element 251a is processed by the image processing unit 252 and converted into digital image data. The image signal is temporarily stored in the RAM via the CPU 230 and displayed on the display unit 231 in accordance with the operation of the operation key 221. 211, or transmitted to the outside (a printer described later) via the infrared communication unit 253. The infrared communication unit 253 also has an infrared signal reception function, and receives an acknowledge signal indicating that image data has been received, which is communicated from the printer when the transmitted image data is received by the printer. . As a result, this mobile phone recognizes whether or not the transmitted data has been correctly received by the printer, depending on whether or not the acknowledge signal has been received within a predetermined time after transmitting the image data to the printer. Can do.
[0032]
The infrared communication unit that transmits the image data corresponds to the transmission unit referred to in the present invention, and the infrared communication unit that receives the acknowledge signal and the CPU that receives the acknowledgment signal and determines the success of the transmission correspond to the determination unit referred to in the present invention. .
[0033]
The following description focuses on the shooting and image data transmission functions of the mobile phone shown in FIGS. In the following description, the configuration will be described by taking as an example a photographing function called “shot (registered trademark)” provided in an existing mobile phone.
[0034]
In this mobile phone, image data of a size of 352 × 288 × 3 colors called “shotL”, image data of a size of 640 × 480 × 3 colors called “VGA”, and 1 mega It is possible to handle image data having a size of about 1000 × 1000 × 3 colors, but when the operation print key is executed by operating the operation key 221, this portable data is displayed at the initial stage of the execution. IshotL is initialized as image data handled by the telephone. Note that this mobile phone can also use image data of the size shotS having a smaller number of pixels than shotL, but the image data of the size shotS is image data of a size used for packet communication or the like. Since the number of print outputs is too small, image data having the size of this shotS cannot be used in the shooting print program described below. This photographing print program is downloaded by packet communication and stored in the rewritable ROM 234.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of shooting of the shooting print program in the form of a display mode on the display screen 211. As the processing at the time of shooting of this shooting / print program proceeds, the display screen is switched to a different display mode, and the process proceeds. In the following description, each display mode is associated with each step, and the display of each step is displayed. The process of each step will be described with a screen.
[0036]
When the photographing print program is activated, the display screen 211 in step S401 is displayed first. On the display screen in step S401, items “edit”, “camera”, and “print” are displayed under the title “print system”. When any item on the display screen in step S401 is selected, processing corresponding to that item is executed.
[0037]
First, out of the items “edit”, “camera”, and “print”, when the “camera” item is selected by the operation of the operation unit 221, the photographing process of the photographing print program is executed. When this photographing process is executed, the display screen in step S401 is switched to the display screen in step S402. In the display screen of this step S402, two selection items of “shooting” and “setting” are displayed below the through image serving as a viewfinder and the through image. Among these selection items, when the “shooting” item is selected by operating the operation element 221, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S403, and when the “setting” item is selected, the display screen is switched to the display screen in step S404.
In the display screen of step S404, Three items of “shotL”, “VGA”, and “1 mega” are displayed below the title of <shooting screen>. As described above, this mobile phone can handle image data of a size of 352 × 288 × 3 colors called “shotL”, and a size of 640 × 480 × 3 colors of pixels called VGA. The image data and the size of the image data of about 1000 × 1000 × 3 colors, which is referred to as 1 megapixel, are displayed as to which size is used for shooting, and “Setting” must be selected in step S402. For example, shooting is performed with the initially set shotL.
[0038]
When “shooting” is selected in step S402, the screen is switched to the screen in step S403. On the display screen in step S403, a photographed image and selection items “cancel”, “print”, and “registration” are displayed below the image. If “print” is selected on the display screen in step S403, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S405, and if “registration” is selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S409. On the display screen in step S409, a message “Image saved” is displayed. After this message is displayed, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S410 after a predetermined time. On the display screen in step S410, selection items “Return” and “Yes” are displayed below the message “Do you want to continue shooting?”, And “Yes” is displayed on this display screen by operating the operator. When selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S402, and a through image of a subject to which the lens 214 of the camera is directed is displayed on the display screen. If “return” is selected in step S410, the display screen is switched to step S401.
[0039]
If “Print” is selected on the display screen in step S403, the display screen is switched to the display screen in step S405, and selection items “Cancel” and “OK” are displayed below the message “Please make the infrared port face the printer”. Is displayed.
[0040]
Here, as indicated on the display screen in step S405, when the infrared port of the mobile phone faces the printer and “OK” is selected by the operation of the operator, image transfer is started. Here, negotiation of communication conditions necessary for communicating image data between the mobile phone 200 and the printer is first performed. When this negotiation is concluded between the mobile phone and the printer, image data transfer is started, and the screen is switched to the display screen in step S406, and a “printer transfer” message is displayed. When the image data is transferred in this way and the transfer of the image data is completed after a predetermined period of time, the screen is switched to the display screen in the next step S407, and the “printer” is displayed below the transferred image together with the transferred image. The message “Transfer completed. Do you want to register?” Is displayed. The selection items of “No” and “Registration” are displayed below the message. If “Registration” is selected, the display screen is switched to the display screen in Step S410. If “No” is selected, the display screen is switched to the display screen in Step S409. .
[0041]
If the orientation of the mobile phone is deviated from the printer while the display screen in step S406 is displayed, image data transfer may not be successful. At that time, when the image data transmitted by the infrared communication unit 253 of the mobile phone 200 is received by the printer, if the acknowledge signal received from the printer is not received within a predetermined time, the lower part of the transferred image Displays the message “Transfer failed”. At this time, an X mark is synthesized and displayed on the image to be transferred so that the situation that the transfer has failed can be understood. The method is not limited to the method of combining and displaying the X mark, and it is also possible to display a blinking image or to display a combined display of characters “failure”. Further, an incomplete image may be displayed such that a part of the image to be transferred is missing.
[0042]
The CPU that performs this display corresponds to the determination unit according to the present invention.
[0043]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of printing of the photographing print program in the form of a display mode on the display screen 211.
[0044]
When “print” is selected from the display screen of step S501 similar to the display screen of step S401 in FIG. 4, the print processing of the photographing print program is executed. When this print processing is executed, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S502, and the thumbnail images of the already shot images are displayed on the multi-screen. Here, four thumbnails of already-captured images are displayed on a multi-screen. When one of the four thumbnails already picked-up images is selected by the operation of the operator, and the determination item below the multi-screen is selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in the next step S503, and the selection is made. The selected items of “Cancel” and “Print” are displayed below the already shot image of the thumbnail that has been set.
[0045]
If “cancel” is selected in step S503, the display returns to the display screen in step S502, and image selection is performed again. When “print” is selected on the display screen of step S503, the display screen is switched to the display screen of step S504. On the display screen in step S504, a message “Please make the infrared port face the printer” and selection items “Cancel” and “OK” are displayed below the message.
[0046]
Here, as indicated on the display screen, when the infrared port of the mobile phone 200 faces the printer and “OK” is selected, transfer of image data is started. When the transfer of the image data is started in this way, the screen is switched to the display screen in the next step S505, and a “printer transfer” message is displayed. When the printer transfer is performed for a predetermined period and the transfer of the image data is completed, the display screen is switched to the next step S507. At this time, the message “Printer transfer completed. Do you want to print another image?” Is displayed below the transferred image, and “End” and “OK” are selected below the message. The item is displayed. Here, when “OK” is selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S502, and when “End” is selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S501.
[0047]
If the acknowledge signal transmitted from the printer is not received by the mobile phone while the display screen in step S505 is displayed and the image data is being transferred, the transferred image and “ The message “Printer transfer failed. Do you want to transfer again?” Is displayed, and “End” and “Resend” selection items are displayed below the message. As described above, in the case of a transfer failure, an image to be transferred is displayed in a blinking manner, or a combined display of an X mark is performed.
[0048]
When “Resend” is selected in the display screen of Step S506, the display screen is switched to the display screen of Step S505, and when “End” is selected, the display screen is switched to the display screen of Step S501. The above is the processing related to printing of the photographing / printing program.
[0049]
Since this photographing / printing program also has an editing process function, the editing process will be described with reference to FIG.
[0050]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing at the time of editing the photographing print program in the form of a display form on the display screen 211.
[0051]
In this editing process, an already shot image recorded in a rewritable memory is deleted and a frame is attached to the image.
[0052]
When “edit” is selected in step S601, the photographing / print program editing process is executed. Similar to the step of FIG. 5, the captured image is displayed on the multi-screen in step SS602, and the item “Determine” is displayed below the multi-screen. When one of the images on the multi-screen is selected by the operation of the operator and “OK” is further selected, the display screen is switched to the next step S603. On the display screen in step S603, the selected image and selection items “cancel”, “frame”, and “delete” are displayed below the selected image.
[0053]
When “Delete” is selected in Step S603, the display screen is switched to the next Step S604, and “Cancel” and “OK” are displayed below the selected image together with a message “Delete image. Is it OK?”. The item is displayed. If “OK” is selected here, the image data representing the already photographed image in the rewritable ROM is deleted, and the screen is switched to the display screen in the next step S605, and the message “Image deleted” and its message are displayed. The item “OK” is displayed below the message. If the item “OK” is selected here, the display screen is switched to the display screen in step S602. If “cancel” is selected on the display screens in steps S603 and S604, the display screen is switched to the display screen in step S602.
[0054]
The above is the process related to the deletion of the image data representing the already captured image.
[0055]
Next, a process for attaching a frame will be described.
[0056]
When “frame” is selected on the display screen in step S603, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S606, and an image with the frame attached is displayed. “Return” and “next frame” are displayed below the attached image. , “Register”, “Print” items are displayed. When “next frame” is selected here, the frame in the display screen in step S606 is switched to another frame, and an image with another frame attached as shown in the display screen in step S607 is displayed. Similarly to the display screen in step S606, items “return”, “next frame”, “registration”, and “print” are also displayed below the image to which this other frame is attached. "Is selected, the display screen returns to step S606.
[0057]
When the print item in the display screen in step S606 is selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S608, and the message “Please set the infrared port facing the printer” and “Cancel” and “ The “OK” selection item is displayed.
[0058]
When “OK” is selected with the infrared port of the mobile phone facing the printer as instructed on the display screen, transfer of image data with a frame is started. Here, when the transfer of image data with a frame is started, the screen is switched to the display screen in the next step S609, and a message “Transferring to printer” is displayed. When the transfer to the printer is performed for a predetermined period and the transfer of the image data is completed, the display screen is switched to the next step S610. At this time, the transferred image and the message “Printer transfer completed. Do you want to register?” Are displayed below the image, and “End” and “OK” items are displayed below the message. . Here, when “OK” is selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S612, and when “End” is selected, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S607.
[0059]
If the acknowledge signal transmitted from the printer is not received by the mobile phone within a predetermined time when the display screen of step S609 is displayed and image data is being transferred, the transferred image and the image are displayed. The message “Printer transfer failed. Do you want to transfer again?” Is displayed below the message, and “End” and “Resend” selection items are displayed below the message. At this time, a blinking display is performed.
[0060]
If “Register” is selected on the display screen in step S606, the image with the frame attached is recorded in the rewritable ROM, and then the screen is switched to the display screen in step S410, and the message “Image saved” is displayed. Is displayed, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the screen is switched to the display screen in step S602.
[0061]
The above is the print processing related to the attachment of the frame.
[0062]
Here, a configuration of a printer that performs printing when image data is transferred from a mobile phone by the photographing / printing program will be described. The mobile phone and the printer constitute a photographing print system.
[0063]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front.
[0064]
When the image data representing the image taken with the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1 is wirelessly transmitted to the printer using infrared communication, the printer of the present invention displays an image on the instant film sheet based on the image data. In addition, it is easy to operate an operator that gives an image output instruction to this printer without re-recording an image based on the transmitted image data from the mobile phone. It is possible to record an image on another instant film, that is, with a simple operation.
[0065]
The configuration of the printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0066]
The printer 1 is portable and has a small and lightweight structure that can record an image by holding both the cellular phone and the printer. An instant film pack is loaded in the casing 1a of the printer 1, and an image is recorded on each of a plurality of stacked instant film sheets in the instant film pack.
[0067]
A power switch (hereinafter referred to as a power switch) 11, a print switch (hereinafter referred to as a print SW) 12, a print data correction switch (hereinafter referred to as a print switch) for instructing to turn on / off the power of the printer 1 Data correction SW) 13 is provided. An LCD panel 14 is provided at the center, and the remaining number of instant film sheets and the contents of the print data correction SW 13 are displayed on the LCD panel 14. The light transmitting / receiving element 15 that receives the image data transmitted by the above-described infrared communication and transmits the data to the mobile phone is located at a position where the mobile phone is easily opposed to the printer, here the housing 1a. It is deployed at the end. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the printer 1 also has a communication port for USB communication.
[0068]
The print SW 12 is operated when re-recording the same image as the recorded image after the recording of the image on the recording medium is completed. The print data correction SW 13 is recorded on the recording medium. This is for adjusting the darkness or darkness (Dark or Light) of the image. When this print data correction SW 13 is switched to the DARK side, the entire tone of the image based on the image data becomes slightly dark on the instant film sheet. When the image is recorded and is switched to the LIGHT side, an image in which the entire tone becomes slightly brighter is recorded on the instant film sheet. When the print SW 12 is operated after the print data correction SW 13 is operated, photographs having the same composition but different tastes are obtained.
[0069]
In FIG. 8, after the latent image is recorded on the instant film sheet by an optical head, which will be described later, the latent image on the instant film 1001 is visualized and the instant film 1001 is discharged from the discharge port of the printer. It is a figure which shows a state when being performed.
[0070]
In this printer, when image data transmitted from the outside by infrared communication or USB communication is acquired by this printer, a latent image based on the acquired image data is recorded on an instant film by exposure, as shown in FIG. As shown, the instant film 1001 on which the latent image is recorded is discharged outside the printer 1 while being visualized. Thereafter, when the print SW 12 is operated, the same image as that image is re-recorded on another instant film, and the instant film 1001 is discharged as shown in FIG.
[0071]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the printer 1 as viewed from the rear and rear side.
[0072]
A film door 101a for loading the film pack 100 is provided on the back side of the printer 1. The film door 101a is opened, and the film pack 100 is loaded into the film loading chamber 100a. This film loading chamber corresponds to the medium loading chamber referred to in the present invention.
[0073]
A battery loading chamber 10a in which a battery 1b serving as a power source for the printer 1 is loaded is also adjacent to the film loading chamber 100a. The battery loading chamber 10a is also provided with a door, the door is opened, and the battery 1b is loaded.
[0074]
Two spring members 1011a and 1012a are provided on the inner side 101a of the film door, and the instant film sheet laminated in the film pack 100 is pushed to the upper surface side of the printer 1 by these spring members 1011a and 1012a. ing. With such a configuration, among the instant film sheets in the instant film pack 100, the instant film sheet 1001 on the uppermost side of the printer is pushed up to a position close to the discharge port 11a, and the instant film pushed up to that position. Many light spots focused on the sheet are recorded by exposure.
[0075]
The internal configuration of such a printer 1 will be described.
[0076]
FIG. 10 is a view of the inside of the printer with the cover on the top side of the printer 1 removed.
[0077]
As shown in FIG. 10, the optical head unit 16 is disposed at a position facing the uppermost film sheet 1001 among the instant film sheets stacked in the instant film pack loaded in the printer. Yes.
[0078]
A rack member 161 is provided at the end of the optical head portion 16, and the rack member 161 is screwed into a screw of a lead screw 161a supported by the housing 1a. A guide bar 1611a is provided on the side of the optical head portion 16 opposite to the side on which the rack member 161 is provided, and the end of the optical head 16 is engaged with the guide bar 1611a. While the optical head 16 is guided by the guide rod 1611a, the optical head 16 is moved by screwing of the lead screw 161a and the rack member 161.
[0079]
As shown in FIG. 10, a flat cable 170 is connected to the optical head 16, and a control signal corresponding to image data is supplied from the print control unit described later via the flat cable 170. This control signal controls the shutter speed of each shutter of a liquid crystal shutter array, which will be described later, in the optical head 16. The shutter speed of each liquid crystal shutter is controlled according to the image data, light corresponding to each of RGB is irradiated onto the instant film, and a latent image consisting of 480 light spots (dots) is recorded in the width direction of the instant film. Is done. In the following description, this width direction, that is, the direction in which the shutters are arranged one-dimensionally is referred to as a main scanning direction. Therefore, each shutter is electronically scanned in the main scanning direction, and 480 light spots for one line are recorded on the instant film sheet 1001. When a light spot consisting of 480 dots is recorded in the main scanning direction of the instant film 1001 by the electronic scanning of the optical head 16, the stepping motor 162a is driven based on a control signal from a print control unit, which will be described later, and the lead screw 161a is moved. After rotating by a predetermined angle, light spots of 480 dots are sequentially recorded by the optical head 16 in the direction intersecting with the main scanning direction. In the following description, the direction intersecting with the main scanning direction is referred to as the sub-scanning direction. In this sub-scanning direction, 640 lines of light spots are recorded over the entire instant film, with one light spot of 480 dots recorded in one main scan of the optical head as one line.
[0080]
When a latent image representing an image is recorded by the collection of light spots, the developing film 17 sandwiches the instant film sheet 1001 to develop the developer in the instant film on the entire instant film sheet 1001 to visualize the latent image. While discharging the printer. This instant film sheet 1001 is a self-development processing type photosensitive material, and when the instant film 1001 is sandwiched between the developing rollers 17, the developer filled in the instant film is uniformly spread over the entire instant film sheet, The latent image is visualized. In this way, light spots arranged in the main scanning direction intersecting with the sub-scanning direction while moving in the predetermined sub-scanning direction by the optical head are irradiated in accordance with the image data to cause the latent film on the instant film. An image is recorded.
[0081]
Here, the configuration of the optical head 16 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0082]
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the optical head.
[0083]
FIG. 11 shows the arrangement order of the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B disposed at the end of the light guide plate 164 and the traveling direction of the R, G, and B light irradiated as light spots on the instant film. Is schematically indicated by an arrow.
[0084]
As shown in FIG. 11, the optical head 16 includes R, G, and B light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B, a light guide plate 164, the liquid crystal shutter array 165, and a lens 166, which are the three primary colors of light. Consists of.
[0085]
As shown in FIG. 11, the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B of the three primary colors are disposed at the end portions of the light guide plate 164, and the light emitted from these light emitting elements is instant film 1001 by the light guide plate 164. Led to the side. The path of the light guided to the instant film sheet 1001 side is changed by the light guide plate 164 and irradiated onto the instant film sheet 1001. The irradiated light passes through the shutters of the liquid crystal shutter array 165, passes through the Selfoc lens (registered trademark) 166, and reaches the instant film 1001. Thus, the light whose light amount is adjusted by each shutter of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is converged on the instant film by the SELFOC lens, and a lot of focused light spots are recorded on the instant film. Here, by controlling the shutter speed of each shutter according to the image data using a 480 element liquid crystal shutter array, 480 light spots having a gradation corresponding to the image data are recorded on the instant film. This is recorded in the sub-scanning direction for 640 lines, and a light spot of 480 × 640 (VGA size) is recorded as a latent image on the instant film. This latent image is a latent image representing a color image in which light of three colors R, G, and B is recorded at the same light spot by the lens 166.
[0086]
The operation will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 12 for driving the optical head 16, the developing roller 17b, and the stepping motor 162a.
[0087]
As shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 180 is directly supplied with power from the battery 1b so that the printer 1 can be controlled even when the power of the printer 1 is turned off. In addition, power is directly supplied from the battery 1b to the power supply unit 181 and the deployment motor driver 17a. However, the power supply unit 181 and the deployment motor driver 17a do not operate unless instructed by the CPU 180, so that power is not consumed. Further, the power supply to the image processing unit 182, the stepping motor 1621 a, the print processing unit 183, the volatile memory RAM 184, the nonvolatile memory FLASHMEMORY 185, and the external IF 1821 in the image processing unit 182 is performed via the power supply unit 181. Therefore, unless the power supply unit 181 is controlled by the CPU 180 and the CPU 180 instructs to do so, power is not supplied to each unit. In FIG. 12, a power supply line that directly supplies power from the battery 1 b and a power supply line that supplies power from the battery 1 b via the power supply unit 181 are indicated by bold lines. In FIG. 12, control lines and detection lines are also shown by dotted lines.
[0088]
Thus, by controlling on / off of the output of the power supply unit 181 by the CPU 180, power consumption is suppressed, and the life of the battery 1b is extended. As described above, when the battery 1b is loaded in the battery loading chamber 10a of the printer 1, the printer 1 is used for a long time with the battery 1b.
[0089]
Further, various switches 10 shown in FIG. 7 are connected to the CPU 180, and each part is controlled in accordance with operations of these various switches 10. Among these various switches, after the power SW 11 is turned on, image data is sent from the outside by infrared communication or USB communication, and when this printer acquires the image data, this switch does not depend on the operation of the print SW 12 of the various switches 10. An image is recorded under the control of the CPU 180.
[0090]
The CPU 180 receives detection signals from a temperature sensor 180A that detects the temperature of the optical head 16, an origin sensor 180B that detects the recording start position of the optical head 16, and a termination sensor 180C that detects the termination position of the optical head 16. The CPU 180 controls the print control unit 183 to control the shutter speed of each shutter in the optical head 17 in accordance with the detection signal from the temperature sensor 180A, and moves when the optical head 17 is moved in the sub-scanning direction. The start position and the end position are detected by the origin sensor and the end sensor, respectively, and the print controller 183 controls the stepping motor 162a.
[0091]
Here, what operation the CPU 180 causes each unit to perform when image data is transmitted from the outside after the power SW 11 is turned on will be described.
[0092]
When image data is sent from the outside to the printer 1 by infrared communication, a signal indicating reception is output to the CPU 180 when the image processing unit 182 having the external I / F 1821 receives the infrared light by the light transmitting / receiving element 15. To do. In response to this signal, the CPU causes the image processing unit 182 to delete both the RAM 184 and FLASHMEMORY 185 image data. Further, the image processing unit 182 is made to receive new image data, and the received image data is stored in the RAM 184 via the bus. The CPU 180, the image processing unit 182 and the RAM 184 correspond to the receiving unit referred to in the present invention.
[0093]
When the CPU 180 causes the receiving unit to receive image data from the outside, the image processing unit 182 reads out the image data stored in the RAM 184 and causes the image processing unit 182 to generate print data. Note that the print data refers to data that has been subjected to appropriate processing by the image processing unit so that the shutter speed of each shutter of the optical head 17 can be controlled, and the image received by the receiving unit. Different from data. In the following description, in order to distinguish both data, the image data received by the receiving unit and stored in the RAM with respect to the print data is referred to as pre-print data.
[0094]
When the CPU 180 generates the print data in the image processing unit 182, the CPU 180 causes the image processing unit 182 to transfer the print data, and causes the print control unit 183 to control the shutter speed of each shutter. Then, according to the print data, the opening time of each shutter arranged in the main scanning direction, that is, the shutter speed is controlled, and the light amounts of the R, G, and B colors passing through each shutter are adjusted. Further, the printing control unit 183 controls the stepping motor driver 1621a, and the stepping motor 162a scans the optical head 16 in the sub-scanning direction, and the shutter speed of each shutter is set according to the print data at each scanning. 183 to control the light quantity of each light spot in the sub-scanning direction. In this way, the light quantity of all the light spots is adjusted, and a latent image representing an image made up of a collection of these light spots is recorded on the instant film. After the latent image is recorded on the instant film in this way, the CPU 180 turns off the output of the power supply unit 181 and drives the developing motor 17 by the developing motor driver 17a.
[0095]
The developing motor 17 rotates the developing roller to sandwich the instant film, develops the developer on the entire instant film, visualizes the latent image, and discharges the instant film to the outside of the printer.
[0096]
The above is the processing that the CPU 180 causes each unit to perform when image data is sent by infrared communication or USB communication after the power source SW11 is turned on.
[0097]
Next, processing that the CPU 180 causes each unit when the print SW 12 is operated will be described.
[0098]
In response to the operation of the print SW 12, the CPU 180 causes the image processing unit 182 to read the image data stored in the RAM 184. Based on the read image data, the image processing unit 182 generates print data and transfers the print data to the print processing unit 183. Based on the print data, the print processing unit 183 controls each shutter of the optical head 17 to adjust the amount of light irradiated on the instant film. By adjusting the light quantity of each light spot, the light quantity corresponding to the image data is irradiated on the instant film, and a latent image corresponding to the image data is recorded.
[0099]
The CPU 180 detects the end of the recording of the latent image by a change in the detection signal of the end sensor 180C, and issues an instruction from the CPU 180 to the power supply unit 181 to turn off the output of the power supply unit 181 and to the developing motor driver 17a. An instruction to drive the deployment motor 17 is issued.
[0100]
A claw (not shown) for feeding the instant film to the developing roller side is driven by the developing motor 17, the instant film is sent to the developing roller side, and the instant film is sandwiched between the developing rollers. To discharge. By sandwiching between the developing rollers, the developer filled in the instant film is developed on the entire instant film, and the latent image is visualized.
[0101]
When the print SW 12 is thus operated, an image based on the image data stored in the RAM 184 is recorded on the instant film.
[0102]
In addition, since the operation of the print SW may be performed even after the power is turned off, the printer according to the present embodiment is provided with a non-volatile memory so that the image data can be saved and restored. Yes.
[0103]
Therefore, when the non-volatile memory is used and the power is turned off by the power SW 11 or when the auto power-off function of the printer of this embodiment is activated, the transfer of the image data in the RAM 184 to the non-volatile memory is performed. The processing unit 182 causes the image data stored in the RAM 184 to be saved.
[0104]
Further, when the power SW 11 is turned on again, the image processing unit 182 is caused to transfer the image data stored in the nonvolatile FLASHMEMORY 185 and the image data in the FLASHMEMORY 185 is returned to the RAM 184. .
[0105]
Furthermore, if the time has passed too much after the image has been recorded, the image data becomes too old, and an unnecessary image may be recorded if the user operates the print SW 12 by mistake. is expected. If such a situation occurs, the instant film sheet is wasted, and the CPU 180 prevents the print processing unit from performing the recording process after a predetermined time has elapsed by the timer.
[0106]
Here, as the re-recording prohibition process, the image data of both the RAM 184 and the FLASHMEMORY 185 is left to notify the user that there is no image to be recorded by display. Since the predetermined time is counted by the timer in the CPU, the CPU 180 or the image processing unit 182 deletes the image data in the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory based on the measured time as a criterion, and the image EMPTY may be displayed on the LCD panel.
[0107]
How the CPU 180 performs processing such as saving, restoring, erasing, and invalidating the print SW operation will be described as needed with reference to the following flowcharts.
[0108]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by CPU 180.
[0109]
FIG. 13 shows the main process.
[0110]
14 to 20 and FIGS. 23 and 24 show the details of each step of the main process.
[0111]
First, the main routine process performed by the CPU 180 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0112]
When the battery 1b is inserted, first, in step 701, initial setting of each part is performed. By this initial setting, the oscillation frequency of the clock supplied to the CPU 180 is set. The CPU 180 has a low power consumption mode, and operates with a slow clock in the low power consumption mode. In the next step S702, the image data in FLASHMEMORY 185 is deleted. Here, for example, since image data for inspection before shipment remains in the FLASHMEMORY 185, the image processing unit deletes the image data.
[0113]
In step S703, the system waits for the power SW11 to be turned on. When the power SW13 is turned on, a power ON process is performed in step S704. In this power ON process, a menu is displayed on the LCD panel, or the processing speed of the CPU 180 is increased by increasing the clock speed.
[0114]
In the next step S705, a transition is made to a standby state in which the state of a signal input to the CPU 180 side waits for a transition.
[0115]
Here, the CPU 180 operates the print SW 12 or the print data correction SW 13 as an item to monitor the transition of the state input to the CPU 180 and switches to the ON side, and the image data is received by the external IF 1821 and received. It states that a signal is detected, that the power SW 11 is switched to the off side, and that the auto power off function of the printer of this embodiment works.
[0116]
If CPU 180 determines that any of these input states has transitioned, CPU 180 causes each unit to perform processing corresponding to the transitioned state.
[0117]
First, in step S706, in response to the print data correction SW being operated to the ON side, the print data correction SW processing process in the image processing unit is started, and the correction coefficient of the image data according to the operation content of the print data correction SW. Is set to image data, and the process returns to the standby state.
[0118]
In response to the image data transmitted from the mobile phone and the external IF 1821 detecting the reception of the image data, the infrared communication process in the image processing unit 182 is started in step S707, and the external IF 1821 in the image processing unit 182 is activated. And image data is acquired by an image acquisition unit comprising the RAM 184. When the image data is acquired by the image acquisition unit, each process is performed from step S713 to step S715, and the instant film is discharged to the outside. When image data is acquired through USB communication in step S708, the same processing as in step S707 is performed.
[0119]
Next, when the print SW 12 is operated and switched to the ON side, if the time is over with reference to the timer value in the CPU in step S709, the process returns to the standby state in step S705. If it is within a predetermined time with reference to the timer value, the process proceeds to step S710, the print data RAM development process is performed, the image data is restored to the RAM, and the image recording process based on the image data is performed from step S713 to step S715. Let me do it. In this embodiment, an output operation instruction is that the print SW 12 has been operated and switched to the ON side, and the output operation instruction is received by the CPU 180 serving as an output instruction acquisition unit to perform image recording processing.
[0120]
Further, when the power SW 11 is switched to the off side or the auto power function is activated, the power off processing process in the CPU 180 is started, and the timer value in the CPU 180 is referred to to determine the timer value. Is detected, the image processing unit 182 corresponding to the image transfer unit transfers the image data stored in the RAM 184, and the image data is saved in the FLASHMEMORY 185. Thereafter, the power-off process of each part is performed, and the process returns to the main routine.
[0121]
In this embodiment, the power supply SW11 is switched to the off side or the fact that the auto power off function has been activated is caused to cause the CPU 180 to receive a power supply cut-off instruction, and a cut-off process is performed according to the cut-off instruction. To do.
[0122]
Here, each process started when any state transition as a monitoring item of the CPU occurs will be described in detail.
[0123]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the standby process performed by the CPU 180.
[0124]
This flow is repeatedly executed, and when any state changes, any process corresponding to the state is activated.
[0125]
First, in step S801, the external IF is turned on to wait for whether image data has been transmitted by infrared communication or USB communication.
[0126]
In steps S802 to S807, waiting control corresponding to steps S705 to S710 in the flowchart of FIG. 13 is performed.
[0127]
In step S802, a transition to the ON side of the print SW 11 listed as one of the monitoring items is detected. If the operation of the print SW 11 is detected in step S802, the process proceeds to step S808, and the timer value is determined. This timer is started after the print processing process is started in step S713 in FIG. 13 and the instant film is completely discharged. If the timer value exceeds a predetermined time and the time is over, step S802 is executed. Return to. If it is detected in step S802 that the time is within the predetermined time, in step S809, the process jumps to the RAM development process and starts the RAM development process. As described above, since the image is re-recorded when the print SW is operated, the operation of the print SW may be erroneous if time has elapsed. Therefore, after detecting the timer value in step S808, the process proceeds to the print data RAM development process. The determination step by the timer in the CPU corresponds to a part of the re-recording prohibition unit referred to in the present invention. Here, in accordance with the determination result of the timer, the state is returned to the standby state, and the re-recording is prohibited without performing the rasterizing process on the image processing unit. Based on the determination result, the process may return to step S702 in FIG. 13 to return to the portion where the image data in FLASHMEMORY and RAM is erased, and skipped to the standby state.
[0128]
If it is detected in the next step S803 that the print data correction SW is operated and switched to the ON side, the process jumps to the print data correction SW processing process and starts the print data correction SW processing process in the image processing unit 182 in step S810. To do. As described above, the print data correction SW 13 adjusts the density of the image. When the print data correction SW 13 is operated, the print data correction SW process is started and the image processing unit 182 corrects the image data. The correction coefficient is set for this purpose.
[0129]
If the CPU 180 detects that there is an infrared communication request based on the detection signal from the external IF in the next step S804, it jumps to the infrared communication processing process in step S811, and starts the infrared communication processing process. For example, when image data is transmitted by infrared rays from a mobile phone to the light receiving unit 15 of the printer, the image data is supplied to the external IF 1821 in the image processing unit 182 via the light transmitting / receiving element 15 and received from the external IF. A detection signal “Yes” is output. Therefore, an infrared communication processing process is started as an infrared communication request with this detection signal.
[0130]
The next step S805 is similar to step S804, because the external IF receives that image data has been transmitted by USB communication, and a signal indicating reception is output from the image processing unit 182 having the external IF. The USB communication processing process is activated and image data is received by the external IF 1821 in the image processing unit 182.
[0131]
When the image data is acquired in steps S804 and S805, the latent image is recorded on the instant film by the image recording unit without waiting for the operation of the printer SW, and the instant film is developed by the developing roller. However, the visualized instant film is discharged out of the printer.
[0132]
In step S806, a power-off process in the CPU 180 is started in step S813 because the power SW11 is switched off.
[0133]
In step S807, a time-out is detected by the timer and the auto power-off function is activated. In step S814, the auto-off process is started.
[0134]
In this way, when any input state changes, any process is started.
[0135]
Details of the processes in steps S802 to S807 in FIG. 14 will be described here.
[0136]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of step S809 in FIG.
[0137]
First, if the print SW is operated and the timer value is within a predetermined time, in step S901, the power supply of the external IF having a transmission / reception unit for infrared communication and USB communication is turned off to reject acceptance of new image data.
[0138]
In step S902, the image processing unit 182 determines whether there is print data in the RAM. If there is image data in the RAM 184, the process proceeds to Yes, returns to the main routine, and proceeds to the recording process. If there is no image data on the RAM 184 in step S902, the process proceeds to No, and the image processing unit 182 transfers the image data from the FLASHMEMORY 185 to the RAM 184. Since the operation content of the print data correction SW 13 is also written in the image data, the CPU 180 receives the operation content of the print data correction SW 13 from the image data in the next step S904 and displays it on the LCD panel 14. Display that information. Then, the process returns to the main process and proceeds to the recording process.
[0139]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of step S810 of FIG.
[0140]
Processing in this step is performed in an image processing process in the image processing unit.
[0141]
The CPU 180 detects that the print correction SW 13 has been switched to the ON side, transmits the detected content to the image processing unit 182, and causes the image processing unit 182 to set an internal coefficient for print data correction. The print data correction SW 13 is normally in the NORMAL state, but when pressed once, DARK (dark tone), when pressed again, LIGHT (bright tone), and when pressed again, returns to NORMAL. Toggle operation. Therefore, the CPU 180 reads the contents of the toggle operation, transmits the contents to the image processing unit 182, changes the internal coefficient in step S 1001, sets the image data, and prints it on the LCD panel 14 in the next step S 1002. The operation content (N → D → L, etc.) of the data correction SW 13 is displayed. The process of this process is terminated and the process returns to the main process.
[0142]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an infrared communication processing process.
[0143]
When there is an infrared communication request through the external IF, old image data is no longer necessary. If there is old image data in FLASHMEMORY 185 and RAM 184 in step S1101, the image processing unit 182 deletes the old image data. That is, in response to the start of acquisition of new image data from the outside by the image data acquisition unit, the image data stored in the FLASHMEMORY 185 which is a nonvolatile memory and the RAM 184 which is a volatile memory are stored. Both the image data are deleted by the CPU 180 and the image processing unit 182.
[0144]
In performing communication between the mobile phone and the print SW in the next step S1102, the external IF performs necessary information exchange with the mobile phone and negotiates communication conditions such as communication speed so that infrared communication can be performed. If the negotiation is concluded, it is determined that the negotiation is established, and the communication speed is changed by the external IF 1821 in the next step S1103. In the next step S1104, the image processing unit 182 receives the image data and causes the RAM 184 to write the received image data.
[0145]
In step S1105, it is determined whether or not the image data has been received to the end and written to the RAM 184. If it is halfway, the process proceeds to No, the image data is received by the external IF 1821 until the end, and the image data is received to the end. When the image data is written in the RAM 184, the process proceeds to Yes in step S1105, the power supply to the external IF 1821 out of the output of the power supply unit 181 is turned off, and the process returns to the main process. If it is output to the CPU 180 that data reception failed in the process of the image processing unit 182 in step S1105, the CPU 180 immediately ends this process and returns to the main process.
[0146]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the USB communication processing process.
[0147]
When image data is transmitted by USB communication, processing is performed according to this flow, but processing similar to that of infrared communication is performed.
[0148]
FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the power-off and auto-off process. This process is also performed by the image transfer unit including the CPU 180 and the image processing unit 182.
[0149]
First, in step S1301, the timer value started when the previous image is recorded is referred to. If time-out occurs, the image data in the FLASHMEMORY 185 is deleted in step S1307 without saving the image data in the RAM 184 to the FLASHMEMORY 185, and the process proceeds to step S1303. If the timer value is within the predetermined time in step S1301, the process proceeds to step S1302, and the image data is transferred to FLASHMEMORY 185 in step S1302, and the image data is saved. In this way, if it is within a predetermined time, the image can be re-recorded immediately when the power SW 11 is turned on again. It is also possible to delete old image data during the power shutdown process.
[0150]
Here, since the capacity of FLASHMEMORY 185 is desired to be as small as possible, data before printing is saved in FLASHMEMORY185. However, if the capacity of FLASHMEMORY185 is sufficient, the print data after image processing may be saved in FLASHMEMORY185. If the print data after the image processing is saved, the image data is transferred from FLASHMEMORY to the RAM to be restored to the RAM 184, and then the pre-printing process in step S709 is omitted, so that the printing process can be started quickly. .
[0151]
In the next step S1304, power supply to the external IF 1821 in the image processing unit 182 is stopped by the power supply unit 181, and the infrared communication function and the USB communication function are turned off. In step S1304, the power supply unit 181 also turns off the power supply to the image processing unit 182.
[0152]
In step S1305, the LCD panel is turned off, and in step S1306, the CPU is set in the low power consumption mode and the process returns to the main routine.
[0153]
Among these standby processes, after the infrared communication process and the RAM expansion process are started, the processes from steps S713 to S715 in the flowchart of FIG. 13 are performed, so that the processes of steps S713, S714, and S715 of FIG. Details of the processing will be described.
[0154]
20 is a flowchart of the pre-print process in step S713, FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the print data process in step S714, and FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the film discharge process in step S715.
[0155]
First, pre-printing processing performed by the image processing unit will be described with reference to FIG.
[0156]
Since it is not known what kind of image data is transmitted and received from the cellular phone, in this flow, processing necessary for recording an image with this printer is performed.
[0157]
In step S1401, it is determined whether the data is uncompressed data. Here, since it is not necessary to decompress the image data if it is non-compressed data, the process proceeds to the Yes side, and the process proceeds to the next step S1402. If the image data is compressed data, the process proceeds to No, and the compressed data is decompressed by the image processing unit in step S1403. In the next step S1402, it is determined whether or not the resolution is suitable for image recording by the printer 1. If the resolution is suitable for the printer 1 (for example, VGA), the process proceeds to the Yes side, and the process proceeds to the next step S1405. When the resolution is not suitable for the printer 1 (for example, when the aspect ratio is different, here is shotL or 1 mega), the process proceeds to No, and the image processor performs resolution conversion in step S1404. At this time, a process for matching the screen size and the print size, which will be described later, is performed. If the size is the shotL size, an enlargement process of 1.4 to 1.8 times is performed. In the case of the 1 mega size, a thinning process is performed to reduce the size. As described above, in order to shorten the time required for communication from the number of pixels, shotL is set as initial data. Therefore, image data is acquired in a short time, and the resolution is changed in this step. Is printed. If the magnification is about 1.4 to 1.8 times, the image quality is not deteriorated so much and the time required for communication is short, so that the image is printed quickly.
[0158]
In step S1405, it is determined whether the print data correction SW has not been operated. If the print data correction SW has not been operated on this image data, the process proceeds to the Yes side, and the process proceeds to the next step S1407. If the image data has been corrected by the print data correction SW, the print data correction process is performed in the next step S1408. FIG. 14 shows an example of conversion when the offset adjustment (± A) is performed on the luminance data Y.
[0159]
In step S1407, it is determined whether the color space is suitable for image recording. If it is determined in step S1407 that it is not suitable, the process proceeds to the No side, and if it is a display image signal (YC signal) composed of luminance data Y and chroma data C, the YC signal is converted into an RGB signal in step S1408. Then, print data composed of RGB signals is generated.
[0160]
When the print data is generated by the image processing unit, the print data is transferred to the print processing unit, and an image recording process is performed by the print processing unit.
[0161]
Here, an outline of the resolution conversion processing of the image processing unit will be described.
[0162]
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the difference between the screen size of the mobile phone and the print size of the printer.
[0163]
As described above, the print size is determined by the VGA size, and there are three types of screen sizes: shotL, VGA size, and 1MEGA size.
[0164]
The frame shown in FIG. 22 indicates the VGA size, and the number of pixels is 480 × 640. The horizontal pixel number 480 is x, and the vertical pixel number 640 is y. Then, as indicated by a solid line frame at the center of the figure, the number of pixels of the screen size of shotL that is initially set on the mobile phone side is x / 2 and y / 2. This screen size is called QVGA, which is 0.5 times the number of pixels in each of the vertical and horizontal directions of the image compared to VGA. In this way, if the number of pixels is 0.5 times each in the vertical and horizontal directions, the roughening of the screen printed out is enlarged to an inconspicuous level while ensuring a higher communication speed than transmitting the number of pixels within the VGA size. be able to. A portion indicated by a dotted line is an area where an enlarged image is printed.
[0165]
Here, the image data is converted into image data of any magnification within the range of 1.4 times or more and 1.8 times or less of the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image.
[0166]
For example, when screen size data of shotS (120 × 120) is transmitted, the number of pixels becomes less than 1/2 of the VGA size, which is the print size, and an image is printed out only at a part of the center of the print surface, for example The impression will be made. If the image data of less than 1/2 is enlarged at a magnification of 1.8 times or more, the printed image becomes rough. Therefore, selection of the screen size of shotS is prohibited in the photographing print system of the present embodiment.
[0167]
Therefore, a high-quality image with less roughness is printed out by changing the image data to a magnification within the range of 1.4 to 1.8.
[0168]
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the area of the print surface.
[0169]
As shown in FIG. 22, an area where the shotL size is enlarged by 1.4 to 1.8 times is an area where the image quality is guaranteed.
[0170]
In the case of the minimum magnification of 1.4, the vertical and horizontal sizes are (x / 2 × 1.4) × (y / 2 × 1.4) based on the VGA size x × y. The outside of this size is blank, but when viewed as a photograph, a high-quality image is moderately enlarged and printed on the central print surface to produce a clear photograph.
[0171]
In the case of the maximum magnification of 1.8, the image is enlarged almost to the full print surface, the image is printed within the range indicated by the dotted line, and the photo at the minimum magnification becomes a slightly zoomed photo. Either way, high quality images with little roughness are printed out.
[0172]
If the VGA size is used, printing is performed on the entire printing surface. If the size is 1 mega size, the pixel data is reduced by thinning, and printing is performed according to the VGA size. In this case, since the image is not enlarged, a high quality image is printed out.
[0173]
FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the print processing process of the print processing unit.
[0174]
In step S1501, the print processing unit first supplies power to the stepping motor 1621a and the optical head 16, and in the next step S1502, the print processing unit 183 starts driving the stepping motor 1621a. In the next step S1503, it is determined whether it is the print start timing. Whether or not it is the print start timing indicates the timing at which data is transferred from the print processing unit to each shutter. Here, it is determined whether or not the position of the optical head 16 is on the origin sensor 180B side. If it is determined in step S1504 that the optical head 16 is at the origin position, the process proceeds to Yes, and print data transfer is started to cause the print processing unit to start controlling the shutter speed of the shutter unit of the optical head. According to the transferred print data, the shutter speed of each shutter of the optical head is controlled by the print control unit, and the light spot for 480 dots is recorded. After the light spot for 480 dots in the main scanning direction is recorded by the optical head, the stepping motor is driven to move the position of the optical head by one line, and the light spot for one line in the next main scanning direction is recorded. Let Further, the optical head 16 is shifted line by line by the stepping motor 1621a to record the light spots one after another.
[0175]
In the next step S1505, it is determined whether or not the print data is finished. If there is no print data to be transferred in the print control unit 183, the process proceeds to Yes, and the process proceeds to step S1507. If the print data to be transferred is still in the print control unit 183, the process proceeds to the No side, and it is determined in step S1506 whether the print area is completed. Here, if the output of the end sensor 180C indicating the end of the image recording area has not changed, the process proceeds to the No side, and the process returns to step S1505.
[0176]
If it is determined in step S1506 that the output of the end sensor has changed and the position of the optical head is at the end of the print area, the process proceeds to Yes, and the process proceeds to step S1507.
[0177]
In step S1507, the control of the optical head 16 by the print control unit 183 is terminated, and the transfer of print data is stopped. In step S1508, the printing control unit also finishes driving the stepping motor 1621a, and stops the power supply to the optical head 16. In the next step S1510, the timer is started, and the time until the next image is recorded is started. With this timing, the time from when this image is recorded until the next image is recorded is counted. The time measurement result by this timer is a criterion for determining whether or not the image processing unit 182 corresponding to the image transfer unit and the image data erasing unit is to transfer the image data and whether to delete the image data.
[0178]
When the processing of this flow is completed, the instant film discharge processing is started.
[0179]
FIG. 24 is a flowchart of an instant film discharge process.
[0180]
First, in step S1601, the power supply unit 181 turns off the output. In step S1602, the developing motor is driven, and the developing roller is rotated by the developing motor. In the next step S1603, it is determined whether or not the film discharge processing is completed. When discharge of the instant film is detected, the driving of the developing motor is stopped. When detecting the completion of the discharge, the sensor detects that there is no instant film inside the printer within the time required for normal discharge processing (before timeout).
[0181]
When the discharge of the film is completed and the process proceeds to the Yes side, the developing motor is turned off in the next step S1604, and the power supply to the external IF 1821 having infrared communication and USB communication is cut off in step S1605.
[0182]
The above is the process related to the recording of the image data.
[0183]
In this way, image data can be transmitted by infrared communication from a mobile phone to print an image. When image data is transmitted to the printer by this infrared communication, if there is a failure in image data transmission, the image to be transferred is blinked or a failed character is composited. Therefore, it can be understood at a glance by the user that the transmission has failed. Then, when transmitting the image data with the mobile phone firmly facing each other, it becomes cautious and the rate at which the image data is reliably transferred increases.
[0184]
In this embodiment, an instant film is taken as an example of a recording medium, and a printer that records an image on the instant film is described. However, a printer that records on plain paper using plain paper as a recording medium may be used.
[0185]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, it is possible to provide a photographing apparatus that informs the user that an image based on image data that should have been transmitted is not printed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a surface of a mobile phone in which an embodiment of a photographing apparatus constituting a photographing print system of the present invention is incorporated.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a back surface of a mobile phone in which an embodiment of a photographing apparatus constituting the photographing print system of the present invention is incorporated.
3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the mobile phone whose appearance is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of shooting by a shooting print program in the form of a display mode on a display screen 211;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of printing of the photographing print program in the form of a display form on the display screen 211;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of editing a photographing print program in the form of a display form on the display screen 211;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state when an instant film loaded in the printer is discharged to the outside of the printer.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the back surface of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.
10 is a view of the inside of the printer as seen from diagonally forward and upward, with the front cover of the printer of FIG. 7 removed.
11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the optical head shown in FIG.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer.
13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the CPU of FIG.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure of standby processing in steps of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a print data print data correction SW processing process shown in the steps of FIGS. 12 and 13;
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an infrared communication processing process shown in the steps of FIGS. 12 and 13;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the serial communication processing process shown in the steps of FIGS. 12 and 13;
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a print data RAM development processing process shown in the steps of FIGS. 12 and 13;
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a print data power-off processing process and an auto-off processing process shown in the steps of FIGS. 12 and 13;
20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a pre-printing process shown in the step of FIG.
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an outline of resolution conversion in the step of FIG.
FIG. 22 is another diagram for explaining the outline of resolution conversion in the step of FIG. 20;
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a print processing process shown in the step of FIG. 13;
24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a print discharge processing process shown in the step of FIG. 13;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer
1a case
10a Battery loading chamber
1b battery
100a Film loading chamber
101a film door
1011a 1012a Spring member
100 instant film pack
1001 Instant film sheet
10 Various switches
11 Power SW
12 Print SW
13 Print data correction SW
14 LCD panel
15 Light receiver
16 Optical head
161 Rack member
161a Lead screw
1611a guide rod
162a Stepping motor
1621a Stepping motor driver
163R 163G 163B Light emitting element
164 Light guide plate
165 LCD shutter array
166 Selfoc Lens (registered trademark)
17 Deployment motor
17a Deployment motor driver
17b Roller
180 CPU
180A temperature sensor
180B Origin sensor
180C terminal sensor
181 Power supply
182 Image processing unit
1821 External I / F
183 Print processing department
184 RAM
185 FLASHMEMORY
200 Mobile phone
210 Top
211 Display screen
212 Mouthpiece
213 Antenna
220 Bottom
221 Operation keys
222 Earpiece
230 CPU
231 RAM
232 ROM
233 display
234 Rewritable ROM
235 power supply
241 transceiver
242 Signal processor
243 Calling Department
251 Shooting Department
214 Photo lens
251a Solid-state image sensor
252 Image processing unit
253 Infrared communication part

Claims (3)

A shooting unit for shooting and obtaining image data;
A transmission unit that transmits the image data obtained by the imaging unit to a printer that outputs an image based on the image data by infrared communication ;
A determination unit for determining success or failure of image data transmission by the transmission unit;
A display unit that simultaneously displays the image represented by the image data that failed to be transmitted and the fact that the transmission of the image data failed without waiting for a display instruction operation by the user in response to the determination of the image data transmission failure by the determination unit and,
In response to an operation by the user in a state in which an image represented by the image data that has failed to be transmitted and a message indicating that the image data has failed to be transmitted are simultaneously displayed on the display unit, the display unit An imaging apparatus comprising: a retransmission control unit that performs retransmission . An editing unit that edits the image data acquired by the photographing unit;
The photographing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission unit is capable of freely transmitting image data after editing . 3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photographing apparatus is incorporated in a portable telephone .

Images