JP4623945B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer that prints an image taken by a digital still camera or a small electronic device having a camera function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the widespread use of digital still cameras, printers that can print images taken with digital still cameras on recording paper are widely used. Generally, in a digital still camera, image data of a captured image is recorded on a recording medium that is detachably provided. The printer is provided with a slot for inserting a recording medium removed from the digital still camera. When the recording medium is loaded into the printer, image data is selected and an image related to the image data is printed. .
[0003]
In general, sub-information such as shooting date / time information and shooting condition information is added to image data recorded on a recording medium using a digital still camera. For example, when the image data is recorded on a recording medium based on the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method or the TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) method, the sub information uses an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) tag. It is added to the image data. Some printers have a function of reading shooting date / time information from a recording medium and printing it together with an image.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-94799 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional printer, a ROM that stores font data is provided. When an image is printed together with a character string that indicates shooting date / time information, the font data indicating the shooting date / time information is read from the ROM and combined with the image data. It had been. FIG. 9A shows an image G1 related to image data of VGA size (640 × 480 pixels) using a conventional printer, together with a character string “2003.07.07” indicating shooting date / time information, and a postcard (50 FIG. The image G1 is printed over one side of the postcard (50). As shown in FIG. 9A, in a conventional printer, a character string indicating shooting date / time information is printed in an image related to image data.
[0006]
In recent years, small electronic devices such as mobile phones and electronic notebooks equipped with a camera function are becoming widespread, and even in such small electronic devices, image data is recorded on a removably provided recording medium in the same manner as a digital still camera. Is recorded. However, the image size of image data recorded by a small electronic device having a camera function is QVGA size (320 × 240 pixels) or QQVGA size (160 × 120 pixels), which is very small. For example, when the image G2 related to the QVGA size image data is printed on the postcard (50), the area occupied by the image G2 is compared with the area of the postcard (50) as shown in FIG. Become very small. Therefore, when the character string indicating the shooting date / time information is printed with the same size as that shown in FIG. 9A, the character string becomes relatively large with respect to the image G2, and the image G2 and the character The columns are very difficult to see.
[0007]
For example, by recording font data of various sizes in the ROM provided in the printer, it is possible to print a character string with a size relatively suitable for the size of the image to be printed. is there. However, even if a small character string is printed in an image related to image data of the QVGA size or less, it becomes difficult to identify the printed character string.
[0008]
In addition, the conventional printer has a problem even when an image in which the number of pixels in the vertical direction and the number of pixels in the horizontal direction are greatly different, for example, a panorama size image is printed together with a character string indicating shooting date / time information. If the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the printed image is very small compared to the number of pixels in the horizontal direction, the size of the character string in the vertical direction will be larger than the image, making it difficult to see the image and the character string. It was. The same problem occurs when the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the image to be printed is very small compared to the number of pixels in the vertical direction.
[0009]
  The present invention solves the above problems., VerticalProvided is a printer that prints images and sub information in an easy-to-read manner when printing an image having a large difference in the number of pixels in the horizontal direction and the number of pixels in the horizontal direction on recording paper together with sub information such as imaging date and time information.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The printer of the present invention is a printer that prints an image related to image data to which sub-information is added on a recording sheet together with the sub-information.ofWhen it is determined that the image is longer than the image of the aspect ratio, the sub information is printed in the image, and the imageThe aspect ratio ofSaidPredeterminedIf the aspect ratio is determined,Or the image is the predeterminedPrinting the sub-information outside the image if it is determined to be horizontally longer than the image of the aspect ratio,It is characterized by.
[0011]
  In the printer according to the present invention, in the printer that prints the image related to the image data to which the sub information is added on the recording paper together with the sub information, the image is determined to be longer than the image having the predetermined aspect ratio. The sub-information is printed in the image and the aspect ratio of the image is determined to be the predetermined aspect ratio, or the image is longer than the image having the predetermined aspect ratio. If determined, the sub-information is printed outside the image.
[0012]
[Action and effect]
  With the above-described configuration, when printing images with greatly different aspect ratios on recording paper together with sub-information such as imaging date and time, the sub-information can be printed outside the image with a size that can be easily identified. Further, unlike the conventional printer, it is not difficult to see the printed image by printing the sub information. the aboveofAspect ratioIsDepending on the image quality of the image to be printed, the size of the recording paper on which the image is printed, the printing position of the image on the recording paper, and the like, the image may be appropriately changed.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer includes a slot (2) in which a recording medium (1) on which image data is recorded based on the JPEG method is removably mounted. As the recording medium (1), for example, a recording medium equipped with a compact IC chip such as a compact flash (registered trademark), a smart media (registered trademark), or an SD memory card is used.
[0015]
The printer temporarily stores a CPU (3) that performs overall control of the printer, a ROM (4) that stores various control programs, various data, and a control program that is executed by the CPU (3). RAM (5) to be stored in An operation panel (6) provided with various operation keys is connected to the CPU (3). The operation panel (6) includes a power key (6a), a mode key (6b), a print key (6c), a cursor key (6d), an up key (6e), and a down key (6f). The power key (6a) is used to turn on / off the printer. The mode key (6b) is used for selecting various operation modes of the printer. The print key (6c) is used to instruct the start of the printing operation. The cursor key (6d) is used to move the cursor displayed on the LCD monitor (7) up, down, left, and right when selecting an image to be printed. The up key (6e) and the down key (6f) are used to set various parameters such as the number of recording sheets on which an image is printed. The LCD monitor (7) displays various setting screens for selecting an operation mode of the printer, an image to be printed, and the like, and the LCD driver (8) is configured based on an instruction from the CPU (3). 7) is driven.
[0016]
Image data of an image to be printed is read from the recording medium (1) by the CPU (3) and developed on the SDRAM (9). The image data is compressed based on the JPEG system, and the JPEG decompression circuit (10) decompresses the image data expanded on the SDRAM (9). The decompressed image data is subjected to scaling processing, that is, enlargement (interpolation) or reduction (thinning-out) processing by a scaling circuit (11) as necessary.
[0017]
Sub-information such as shooting date information is added to the image data recorded on the recording medium (1) using an Exif tag. When the mode key (6b) on the operation panel (6) is operated and the operation mode for printing the image related to the image data on the recording paper together with the sub information is selected, the CPU (3) is added to the image data. The sub information is read from the Exif tag and stored in the RAM (5). In addition to the shooting date / time information, sub information regarding the model of the digital still camera, shutter speed, aperture value, presence / absence of strobe, photometry method, white balance mode, and the like can be set in the Exif tag. The printer can print not only the shooting date / time information but also the sub-information or a character string (which may include symbols and figures) indicating a combination of the sub-information together with the image.
[0018]
In the flash memory (12), font data in bitmap format representing numbers from 0 to 9, alphabets and the like used for printing the sub information is stored. The font data representing the alphabet is used, for example, when the shooting date / time information is printed in English. The font data may include symbol and graphic data. When the sub information to be printed together with the image is acquired, the CPU (3) refers to the sub information stored in the RAM (5) and corresponds to the character or symbol constituting the character string indicating the sub information. Select the font data to be used.
[0019]
In addition to the font data, the flash memory (12) stores background data representing a full-white white rectangular image corresponding to the type of recording paper. The background data is used when the size of the image to be printed is smaller than the size of the recording paper, and gives a margin part outside the image. In this case, the CPU (3) reads the background data from the flash memory (12), and the image on the SDRAM (9) is arranged so that the image to be printed is arranged at the center of the entire white rectangular image. Synthesize data and background data.
[0020]
When the image size of the image data of the image to be printed is larger than the predetermined image size, the printer prints the sub information in the image to be printed. In the present embodiment, the predetermined image size serving as a reference for this determination is the QVGA size. In this case, the CPU (3) sequentially reads the font data from the flash memory (12) and expands it in the DRAM (9) so that the character string indicating the sub information is arranged in the image to be printed. Combine with image data. The font data is sequentially overwritten on the image data developed in the DRAM (9).
[0021]
The printer prints the sub information outside the image to be printed when the image size of the image data of the image to be printed is equal to or smaller than a predetermined image size, that is, the QVGA size. In this case, first, the image data is synthesized with the background data, and the CPU (3) sets the font from the flash memory (12) so that the character string indicating the sub information is arranged in the margin part outside the printed image. Data is sequentially read out and combined with image data (image data in which image data to be printed and background data are combined) developed in the DRAM (9). For example, the font data is sequentially overwritten on the image data developed in the DRAM (9) so that the character string indicating the sub information is arranged below the image to be printed.
[0022]
Image data (hereinafter referred to as “print data”) created by combining the image data developed in the DRAM (9) and the font data (hereinafter referred to as “print data”) is read from the SDRAM (9) by the printer driver (13). Then, the image is sent to the print mechanism (14), and an image related to the print data is printed on the recording paper. The printer driver (13) performs reading of print data from the SDRAM (9), control of the print mechanism (14), and the like based on a print command sent from the CPU (3). When the printer is a thermal transfer printer, the print mechanism (14) includes a cassette for storing recording paper, a recording paper transport mechanism, a thermal head, a thermal head moving mechanism, an ink ribbon, an ink ribbon transport mechanism, etc. (Not shown). In addition to postcards, L or L2 recording paper is used as the recording paper.
[0023]
Hereinafter, the operation of the printer of this embodiment, which is performed when an image related to image data recorded on the recording medium (1) is printed together with the sub information added to the image data, will be described. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing this operation. First, referring to FIG. After the power key (6a) on the operation panel (6) is operated to turn on the printer (S1), the recording medium (1) on which the image data is recorded is mounted on the printer (S2). The LCD monitor (7) displays a setting screen showing a list of images related to the image data recorded on the recording medium (1), and the user operates the cursor key (6d) to print. An image is selected (S3). Next, a setting screen for various parameters is displayed on the LCD monitor (7), and the user operates the up key (6e) and the down key (6f) to set the number n of recording sheets on which images are to be printed. Is set (S4).
[0024]
Next, an operation mode setting screen is displayed on the LCD monitor (7). The user operates the mode key (6b) to select an operation mode for printing the sub information (S5), and the print key ( 6c) is operated to instruct the start of the printing operation (S6). In step S5, the type of sub information to be printed can also be selected. For example, an operation mode for printing shooting date / time information is set. The CPU (3) instructed to start the printing operation in step S6 reads out the image data of the image selected in step S3 from the recording medium (1), develops it in the SDRAM (9), and the SDRAM ( The image data developed in 9) is subjected to decompression processing by the JPEG decompression circuit (10) (S7).
[0025]
Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. After step S7, the CPU (3) reads the sub information from the Exif tag added to the image data of the image to be printed and recorded on the recording medium (1), and stores it in the RAM (5) (S8). ). Next, the CPU (3) determines whether or not the image size of the image data is equal to or smaller than the QVGA size (S9). When it is determined in step S9 that the image size of the image data is equal to or smaller than the QVGA size, the CPU (3) reads the background data from the flash memory (12), and the image data on the SDRAM (9). And the background data are synthesized (S10). Then, the CPU (3) refers to the sub information stored in the RAM (5), sequentially reads the font data corresponding to the characters or symbols constituting the character string indicating the sub information, and obtains the sub information. It is synthesized with the image data developed in the DRAM (9) so that the character string shown is arranged outside the image to be printed (for example, the character string showing the sub information is arranged below the image). (S11).
[0026]
If it is determined in step S9 that the image size of the image data is larger than QVGA, the image data developed in the SDRAM (9) is scaled by the scaling circuit (11) so as to have an appropriate print size. Processing is performed (S12). Then, the CPU (3) refers to the sub information stored in the RAM (5), sequentially reads the font data corresponding to the characters or symbols constituting the character string indicating the sub information, and obtains the sub information. It is combined with the image data developed in the DRAM (9) so that the character string shown is arranged in the image to be printed (for example, the character string showing the sub information is arranged in the lower right part of the image). (S13).
[0027]
The print data created in step S11 or step S13 is sent from the SDRAM (9) to the printer driver (13) (S14), and the CPU (3) sets the counter i for the number of prints stored in the RAM (5). 1 is set (S15). Thereafter, the CPU (3) sends a print command to the printer driver (13), and the print mechanism (14) is driven to print an image relating to the print data on the recording paper (S16).
[0028]
After step S16, the CPU (3) determines whether or not the counter i is equal to the number of printed sheets n set in step S4 (S17). In step S22, when the counter i is different from the number of printed sheets n (smaller than the number of printed sheets n), the CPU (3) increments the counter i (S18). Thereafter, steps S16 and S17 are repeated. If it is determined in step S17 that the counter i is equal to the number n of prints set in step S4, the printing operation of the printer ends (S19).
[0029]
4 (a) and 4 (b) show that an image related to image data recorded on the recording medium (1) is printed on a postcard (50) together with a character string indicating imaging date and time information which is an example of sub information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a state. 4A shows a case where the image size of the image data is the VGA size, and FIG. 4B shows a case where the image size is the QVGA size.
[0030]
When the image size of the image data to be printed (selected in step S3) is the VGA size, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the image data is stored over the entire surface of the postcard (50). The image H1 is printed, and the character string “2003.07.07” indicating the shooting date / time information is arranged in the lower right portion of the image H1. When the image size to be printed is QVGA size, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image H2 related to the image data is printed in the center of the postcard (50), and the character string indicating the shooting date / time information is In the margin part W1, it is arranged below the image H2. The character string is printed in the same size as the character string shown in FIG. Compared with the case where the image related to the image data of QVGA size together with the character string indicating the shooting date / time information shown in FIG. 9B is printed using a conventional printer, the present invention makes it easy to see the image and the character string. I can understand that it is printed.
[0031]
The printer of this embodiment evaluates the aspect ratio of an image to be printed based on a predetermined first aspect ratio, and determines an operation mode (hereinafter referred to as “second operation mode”) for determining a position for printing sub information. ). Specifically, in the second operation mode, when the image to be printed is longer than the image having the predetermined first aspect ratio, the sub information is printed in the image, and the aspect ratio of the image to be printed is the first aspect ratio. When the aspect ratio is set, or when the image to be printed is wider than the first aspect ratio image, the sub information is printed outside the image. This is in consideration of the case of printing an image in which the number of pixels in the horizontal direction such as the panorama size (640 × 240 pixels) is very large compared to the number of pixels in the vertical direction together with the sub information. In this embodiment, the first aspect ratio (the number of pixels in the vertical direction versus the number of pixels in the horizontal direction) is set to 1: 2. For example, when an image having the above panorama size (aspect ratio 3: 8) is printed, Since this image is wider than the image having the first aspect ratio, the sub information is printed outside the image.
[0032]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer in the second operation mode. The printer operation performed before the processing shown in FIG. 5 is the same as that shown in FIG. 2. When the second operation mode is selected in step S5 shown in FIG. 2, the operation shown in FIG. Processing is performed.
[0033]
First, the CPU (3) reads the sub information from the Exif tag added to the image data of the image to be printed and recorded on the recording medium (1), and stores it in the RAM (5) (S31). Next, a scaling process is performed by the scaling circuit (11) so that the image data developed on the SDRAM (9) has an appropriate print size (S32). Note that step S32 is omitted when the image size of the image data is small. Next, in the second operation mode, since the image related to the image data is not printed over one side of the recording paper, the CPU (3) reads the background data from the flash memory (12) and stores it on the SDRAM (9). Then, the image data and the background data are synthesized (S33).
[0034]
Next, the CPU (3) determines whether or not the image related to the image data is longer than the image of the first aspect ratio (1 to 2) (S34). When it is determined that the image according to the image data is not longer than the first aspect ratio, that is, when the aspect ratio of the image is 1: 2, or when the image has an aspect ratio of 1: 2. When the image is longer than a certain image, the CPU (3) refers to the sub information stored in the RAM (5), and obtains font data corresponding to characters or symbols constituting the character string indicating the sub information. Read out sequentially, so that the character string indicating the sub information is arranged in a blank portion outside the image to be printed (for example, the character string indicating the sub information is arranged on the lower right side of the image) It is combined with the image data developed in 9) (S35).
[0035]
When it is determined in step S34 that the image related to the image data is longer than the image of the first aspect ratio, the CPU (3) refers to the sub information stored in the RAM (5), The font data corresponding to the characters or symbols constituting the character string indicating the sub information is sequentially read out so that the character string indicating the sub information is arranged in the image to be printed (for example, the character indicating the sub information). It is combined with the image data developed in the DRAM (9) so that the column is arranged at the lower right of the image (S36).
[0036]
Steps S37 to S42 are performed after step S35 or S36, and these processes are the same as steps S14 to S19 shown in FIG.
[0037]
FIG. 6 shows a state in which an image related to the image data recorded on the recording medium (1) is printed on the postcard (50) together with a character string indicating the sub information by operating the printer in the second mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example. FIG. 6 shows a postcard (50) on which an image that is longer than an image having an aspect ratio of 1: 2 is printed. A character string “2002.07.07” indicating imaging date and time information, which is an example of the sub information, is arranged on the lower right side of the image H3 in the margin portion W2 outside the printed image H3.
[0038]
The printer of this embodiment evaluates the aspect ratio of an image to be printed based on a predetermined second aspect ratio, and determines an operation mode (hereinafter referred to as “third operation mode”) for determining a position for printing sub information. ). Specifically, in the third operation mode, when the image to be printed is wider than the image having the second aspect ratio, the sub information is printed in the image, and the aspect ratio of the printed image is the second aspect ratio. Or when the image to be printed is longer than the image of the second aspect ratio, the sub information is printed outside the image. This is in consideration of the case where an image having a very large number of pixels in the vertical direction as compared with the number of pixels in the horizontal direction is printed together with the sub information. In this embodiment, the second aspect ratio (the number of pixels in the vertical direction versus the number of pixels in the horizontal direction) is set to 2: 1.
[0039]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer in the third operation mode. The printer operation performed before the processing shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that shown in FIG. 2. When the third operation mode is selected in step S5 shown in FIG. 2, the operation shown in FIG. Processing is performed.
[0040]
First, the CPU (3) reads the sub information from the Exif tag added to the image data of the image to be printed and recorded on the recording medium (1), and stores it in the RAM (5) (S51). Next, a scaling process is performed by the scaling circuit (11) so that the image data developed on the SDRAM (9) has an appropriate print size (S52). Note that step S52 is omitted when the image size of the image data is small. Next, in the third operation mode, since the image related to the image data is not printed over one side of the recording paper, the CPU (3) reads the background data from the flash memory (12) and stores it on the SDRAM (9). Then, the image data and the background data are synthesized (S53).
[0041]
Next, the CPU (3) determines whether or not the image related to the image data is horizontally longer than the image having the second aspect ratio (2 to 1) (S54). When it is determined that the image according to the image data is not longer than the image having the second aspect ratio, that is, when the aspect ratio of the image is 2: 1, or the image has an aspect ratio of 2: 1. If the image is longer than a certain image, the CPU (3) refers to the sub information stored in the RAM (5), and obtains font data corresponding to characters or symbols constituting a character string indicating the sub information. The data is sequentially read out and combined with the image data developed in the DRAM (9) so that the character string indicating the sub information is arranged in a blank portion outside the image to be printed (S55).
[0042]
When it is determined in step S54 that the image related to the image data is wider than the image of the second aspect ratio, the CPU (3) refers to the sub information stored in the RAM (5), and The font data corresponding to the characters or symbols constituting the character string indicating the sub information is sequentially read out and expanded in the DRAM (9) so that the character string indicating the sub information is arranged in the image to be printed. The image data is synthesized (S56).
[0043]
Steps S57 to S62 are performed after step S55 or S56, but these processes are the same as steps S14 to S19 shown in FIG.
[0044]
FIG. 8 shows a case where an image relating to image data recorded on the recording medium (1) by the operation of the printer in the third mode is displayed on a postcard (50 It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the state printed in (). FIG. 8 shows a postcard (50) on which an image is printed when the image to be printed is longer than an image having an aspect ratio of 2: 1. Note that the orientation of the printed image with respect to the postcard (50) is different from that shown in FIG. The character string “2002.07.07” indicating the imaging date and time information is arranged on the left side of the image H4 in the margin portion W3 outside the printed image H4.
[0045]
The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Each part configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer of the present invention performed when sub-information is printed together with an image.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer of the present invention performed when sub-information is printed together with an image.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which sub information is printed on a postcard together with an image by the printer of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation in a second operation mode of the printer of the present invention, which is performed when sub-information is printed together with an image.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which sub information is printed on a postcard together with an image by operating the printer of the present invention in the second operation mode.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation in a third operation mode of the printer of the present invention, which is performed when sub-information is printed together with an image.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which sub information is printed on a postcard together with an image by the printer of the present invention operating in a third operation mode.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which sub information is printed on a postcard together with an image using a conventional printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
(1) Recording medium
(3) CPU
(9) SDRAM
(10) JPEG decompression circuit
(11) Scaling circuit
(12) Flash memory
(14) Print mechanism
(50) Postcard

Claims (4)

In a printer that prints an image related to image data to which sub-information is added on a recording sheet together with the sub-information,
If the image is determined to be longer than an image having a predetermined aspect ratio, the sub-information is printed in the image,
When it is determined that the aspect ratio of the image is the predetermined aspect ratio, or when it is determined that the image is wider than the image having the predetermined aspect ratio, the sub information is added to the outside of the image. printer, characterized in that the printing. The aspect ratio Ru 1: 2 der A printer according to claim 1. In a printer that prints an image related to image data to which sub-information is added on a recording sheet together with the sub-information,
If it is determined that the image is wider than an image having a predetermined aspect ratio, the sub information is printed in the image;
When it is determined that the aspect ratio of the image is the predetermined aspect ratio, or when it is determined that the image is longer than the image having the predetermined aspect ratio, the sub information is added to the outside of the image. A printer characterized by printing . The printer according to claim 3, wherein the aspect ratio is 2: 1.

Images