JPH02229048A - Video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To readily trim or compose images in a desired selected color only through the designation of the output layout of a plotting area and printing color by providing an image composing means composing an input image from a video image means and selected color data from a color selecting means based on data stored in a storage means and a printing means printing and outputting a composite image. CONSTITUTION:Binary data read by a scanner 12 is sequentially stored in a memory 14a or 14b, whichever is selected by a memory changeover switch 15b. The memory 14a is used for trimming and the memory 14b is used for character information. Under the control, only the plotting area inputted by the scanner 12 and stored in the memory A14b is outputted as a video image, whereas other areas can be outputted as a color designated by a color select switch A19a. Consequently, an input video image can be trimmed. When a preferential switch 50 stands at 'L', character information can be composed while the image is trimmed. The output of the image selectively composed by a multiplexer 6a is sent to a head driver circuit 21a, supplied to a head 21b, and is printed in color.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video printer capable of trimming input video image information and compositing processing with arbitrary color figures.

[Prior Art] Conventional video printers simply print according to input video signals.

Therefore, in order to print out only a predetermined area of the image with a video printer, before outputting it to the printer,
This requires using an image editing machine or the like to set and input a predetermined area to be printed using a digitizer, etc., and combine the images by making only the image of the inputted area valid.

The result of image synthesis in this manner is input as a video signal output to a video input terminal of a video printer, and the synthesized image is printed out.

In addition, in order to superimpose desired text information on a video image and print it, you must generate and input a video signal with text information superimposed on it by superimposing processing etc. on the video input of the link. I had to.

Alternatively, you can first convert the video image into digital data,
This digital data had to be once imported into a personal computer, characters had to be synthesized with this input image by the personal computer, and the synthesized data had to be transferred to the printer side via digital data or the like.

Some printers have an internal character generator that allows them to print simple characters such as old examples (such as zu) superimposed on the image.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the above conventional example uses an expensive image editing machine, it has the following drawbacks.

(1) It required complicated operations, and a great deal of practice was required to achieve the purpose.

(2) Moreover, the structure was complicated and the price was high.

For this reason, it is only suitable for business use, and it has become common for general users to obtain and use it.

On the other hand, in the case of character synthesis processing, in character synthesis using a character generator, only specific characters such as dates can be input, and it has been impossible to print general sentences in a desired font.

Alternatively, character synthesis requires a system that performs character synthesis via a computer (personal computer) that is expensive and complicated to operate, making it impossible for general users to use.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and includes the following configuration as one means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

That is, a video image means for inputting a video signal, a binary image input means for inputting a binary image, and at least two storage means for storing output data of the binary image input means;
at least two color selection means for selecting at least one specific color; and image synthesis means for synthesizing the input image from the video image means and the selected color data from the color selection means based on the data stored in the storage means; and printing means for printing out the composite image from the image composition means.

[Function] In the above configuration, all that is required is to draw the area of the video image input that should be output or should not be trimmed, read this using the binary image input means, and specify the output form and print color of the drawing area. One-rimming or image compositing with a desired selected color is easily possible.

Therefore, the video image output from any video image output device can be edited and printed out without requiring a complicated image editing device or the like.

For example, by coloring the area that you want to print out or the part that should be combined, and inputting this as a binary image using a binary image input means such as a handy scanner, the read information of the painted area can be, for example, "1゛° By composing the video image of the painted part with the video image and/or the read information of the painted part and the video image, the user can freely and easily specify the print area or combine the images. be able to.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, an example according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a video input terminal for inputting various video signals, and 2 is a video input terminal for converting the video input signal from the video input terminal 1 into a Y color difference signal. 3 to 5 are A/D converters for converting three Y color difference analog signal outputs from the decoder circuit 2 into digital signals, and 3 is (
Y) A/D converter for signal, 4 is A/D converter for (RY) signal, 5 is A/D for (B-Y) signal
It is a converter.

6a is a multiplexer a which switches and outputs the Y color difference signal which is a video image from the A/D converters 3 to 5 and the Y color difference signal from the multiplexer 6b, and 6b is a lookup table circuit (hereinafter referred to as rLUTJ) A19.
This is a multiplexer that switches and outputs the color signal from LUTB a and the color signal from LUTB 19b. 7 to 9 are D/A converters that convert the digital signal selected by the multiplexer 6a into an analog signal, 7 is a D/A converter for the (Y) signal, and 8 is a D/A converter for the (R=Y) signal. A converter) 9 is a D/A converter for the (BY) signal. Further, 10 is a well-known encoder circuit for converting the three Y color difference signals Y, R-Y, and B-Y signals converted into analog signals by the D/A converters 7 to 9 into video signals, and 11 is a monitor, etc. This is a video output terminal that is an external terminal for connecting.

The signals converted into digital signals by the A/D converters 3 to 5 are trimmed or synthesized via the multiplexer 6a as described later, and then input to the D/A converters 7 to 9 to be converted into analog signals. The signal is then converted into a video signal by an encoder circuit 10, and output to an output terminal 11 connected to a monitor or the like.

Further, 12 is a binary image input device (scanner) for reading document data as a binary image, and in this embodiment, it is a handy scanner using a line CCD. 13
Under the control of the control unit 16, the binary image data read by the scanner 12 is converted into data suitable for the memory A 14a and the memory B 14b (by converting one line of binary data into serial data). B14
control to write to memory 14a or memory B14b
14. a memory controller that performs readout control;
a or 1.4b is a memory A or B for storing binarized data from the scanner 12; 15a is a scanner start switch for instructing the scanner 12 to start reading; 1;
5b is a memory changeover switch, which is a switch for selecting which of the memory A 14a or memory B 14b is to be enabled (which one is to be accessed). (If the switch 15b is on (output “H”), the memory A
14a, and when the switch 15b is off (output "L°"), the memory B14b is enabled.

Further, 16 is a control unit that controls the entire embodiment, and 17a
or 17b is the memory A14a or the memory B1 depending on the setting of the reversing switch A20a or the reversing switch B20b.
4. an exclusive OR gate (exclusive OR circuit) that outputs the output data from b as is or inverts it; 18a is a color selection switch A; 1.8 b
is color selection switch B, 19a is color selection switch A18a
A look-up table circuit (hereinafter referred to as rLUTJ) A, 1 that outputs the set color signal as a Y color difference signal.
9b is an LUT B which outputs the color signal set by the color selection switch B18b as a Y color difference signal, and LUTA, 1
9a or I-tJ T B 1.9 b selectively outputs a signal corresponding to a plurality of colors of the output Y color difference signal selected by the color selection switch 18a or 18b. For example, when "white" is selected by the color selection switch A18a, a Y color difference signal corresponding to "white" is output from the LUT A19a.

20a is a reversing switch A, 201 is a reversing switch B, and the reversing switch A20a or the reversing switch B20b
energizes the output J of the exclusive OR game h17a or ],7b when the output from memory Al4a or memory B14b is "1", or when the output is 0"' (-1 In other words, it is an instructing circuit for outputting the output from the memory Δ14a or the memory B14b as it is or inverting it.

For example, when the inverting switch A20a is in the OFF state and the signal from the inverting switch A20a is L', the output of the memory Δ1.4a is output without being inverted.

Further, 22 is a print start switch, 24 is a horizontal switch with an up-down function that changes the horizontal position left and right, and 25 is a horizontal switch that has an up-down function that changes the vertical position up and down. A switch 50 is a priority switch that selects whether to give priority to data from the memory Al4a or data from the memory B14b, and when the switch 50 is on, that is, the switch output is "L", the memory A14
a has priority.

With the above configuration, the handy scanner 12 can be moved,
Scan the original to read the image data on the original,
The memory controller 13 converts this read line data together with a line signal into serial data and writes it into the memory. As a result, surface information of a binary image is stored in the memory.

Note that when the control unit 16 detects the input of the scanner start switch 15, it energizes the memory controller 13 as an instruction to start reading the scanner 12, and thereafter the scanner 1
The binary data read from 2 is the memory changeover switch 15b.
memory selected by ], 4a or memory 14b
For example, when a predetermined number of pixels have been read, reading is completed.

This reading may be completed when a scanner stop switch is provided, the stop switch is pressed, and the control unit 16 detects this switch input. With the above control, the amount of read data can be unlimited.

In this embodiment, a case will be described later in which the memory 14a is used for trimming and the memory 14b is used as a memory for character information, but the combination of memories is not limited to the above example, and any combination can be used. Even if there is, the object of the present invention can be achieved.

Note that 50 is a priority switch circuit that specifies whether or not to give priority to the input from memory A14a. For example, when the switch circuit 50 is on (output "H"), memory A14a
The AND circuit 52, which is the input from the memory B14b, is selected when it is off (output °°L°'').The output data from the AND circuits 52 and 53 is the OR circuit. The signal is input to the multiplexer 6a via the circuit 54, and it is specified whether the input or the B input is selected according to the output data from the AND circuit.

Therefore, when the priority switch circuit 50 is on, data from the memory A14a is selected, and if the inversion switch A20a is set to the inversion mode at this time, the memory A1
The drawing area data stored in 4a is inverted and outputted by exclusive OR gate 17a, and is further outputted by inverting circuit 55.
a and input to the AND circuit 52, which energizes the output of the AND circuit 52 (to "H") and selects the A side of the multiplexer 6a. That is, the A/D converters 3 to 3 are input to the AND circuit 52. The Y color difference signal of the video image from 5 becomes the output of the multiplexer 6a. Therefore, only the drawing area input by the scanner 12 and stored in the memory A 14a can be output as a video image, and trimming can be performed.
When the output of 4 is “L”, the Y from multiplexer 6b
Select and output color difference signals.

The read data stored in the memory A 14a and the memory B 14b is read out in synchronization with the video synchronization signal under the control of the memory controller 13, and
7b respectively.

The exclusive OR gates 17a and 17b are inverting switches A
20a, according to the setting of the reversing switch B20b, the memory A
14a, output the output data of memory BI4b as is,
Or output it inverted.

When the output of the exclusive OR gate 17a is “°H” and the output of the exclusive OR gate 17b is L°°, the AND circuit 51
The output of LUTA19 is activated, and multiplexer 6b
Select color information from a. When the AND circuit 51 is de-energized, color information from the LUTB 19b is selected. For example, when the color selection switch A18a selects "white" and the color selection switch B18b selects "black", when the AND circuit 51 is energized, the LU
The color (white) from TA 19a is selected, and under other conditions, the color (black) from LUT 19b is selected.

That is, when the read data from the memory 14a is "L" in the non-drawing area, the output of the exclusive OR gate 17a becomes "H", and one input of the AND circuit 51 is "H". At this time, The read data from the memory 14b is “L”
”, the output of the exclusive OR gate 17b is “L”.
”, which is converted to H by the inverting circuit 55b, and the other input to the AND circuit 51 becomes °°H. Therefore, the AND circuit 51 is satisfied, the output is activated, and the multiplexer 6b receives the signal from the LUTA 19a. Select input and output.

Therefore, the drawing part of the memory A14a is a video image, the non-drawing part of the memory A14a and the non-drawing part of the memory 14b is "white" which is the selected color of the LUTAl 9a,
The non-drawing part of memory B14a and the drawing part of memory B14b are LU
It is output in "black" which is the selected color of TB 19b.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the video input image data is output for the drawn portion of the document stored in the memory A14a, and the drawn portion of the document stored in the memory B14b is outputted by the color selection switch B18b. The specified color, for example, "black" is output, and the remaining non-drawing parts of the original stored in the memory A 14a and the original stored in the memory B 14b are output in the color specified by the color selection switch B 18b, for example "white".
is output. Therefore, the drawing part of the original stored in memory A14a is trimmed, and the area other than the trimming is memo 'J.
B 1.4 The drawn portion of the stored document in b (for example, if character information is drawn, the drawn character portion) is printed in black, and the other portions are printed in white.

With the above control, input is made by S type Yana 12, and memory A1
Only the drawing area stored in A19a can be output as a video image, and other areas can be output as colors specified by the color selection switch A19a, and the input video image can be trimmed.

On the other hand, when the priority switch 50 is L', the AND circuit 53 side is selected, and when the drawing area of the memory A14a (solid area of the binary image input by the scanner 12) is output (output cover ■1°') , exclusive OR goo 1-17a
Although it is once inverted by the inverting circuit 55a, it is returned to the original state by the inverting circuit 55a, so that the input of the AND circuit 53 becomes "H". At this time, the non-drawing area of memory B14b (output "r-"
) is read out, the output of the exclusive OR gate 17b becomes "L", which is inverted by the inverting circuit 55b, and its 8' output becomes H'. Therefore, the other input of the AND circuit 53 also becomes H'', the AND circuit 53 is satisfied, and the A side of the multiplexer 6a is selected. That is,
The Y color difference signals of the video images from the Δ/D converters 3 to 5 are output from the multiplexer 6a. Therefore scanner 1
The drawing area inputted in step 2 and stored in the memory A 14a is output as a video image, and the drawing area stored in the memory B 14b in this output image is output by selecting the Y color difference signal from the multiplexer 6b. In this way, according to this embodiment, when the priority switch 50 is at L°°, text information can be synthesized into a trimmed image.

Under other conditions, either LU 1-, A 1.9 a, or LUTB 19b is selected. The other areas are the same as when the priority switch 50 is set to H, so the explanation will be omitted.

Incidentally, the selected output result obtained by combining the images by the multiplexer 6a is sent to the head driver circuit 21a constituted by a well-known circuit. For this reason, the head driver circuit 21a converts the signal into a signal suitable for the type of printer and supplies it to the head 21b to perform color printing. These controls,
Since the configuration and configuration are well known, detailed explanation will be omitted.

Furthermore, in the printer of this embodiment, the composite image data is also output to the monitor output terminal 11, and by connecting a monitor here, the result of image composition can be visually confirmed.

The specific image composition and print processing in the above processing will be explained below with reference to FIG.

Printing is started when the control unit 16 detects that the print start switch 22 is pressed, and the mechanical driver 2
The head driver 2 drives the printing mechanism section through the head driver 3.
1a drives the head 21b to perform printing.

In Figure 2, the inverting switch A20a is on (the output is 'H').
), shows the image synthesis sequence when the inversion switch B20b is off (output "L").

In FIG. 2, symbol 30 is a video image, symbol 31 is a scanner input image taken into memory A14a, symbol 3
2 is a scanner input image taken into the memory 14b, 33 is an example of image composition when the priority switch 50 is on (output "H"), and 34 is an example when the priority switch 50 is off (output ゛H'°) An example of image composition is shown.

In the image read into the memory A14a, the symbol 31a
is a solid area which is a drawing part.

In the image read into the memory 14b, the symbols 32a,
32b is a character area which is a drawing part.

In the case of FIG. 2, the memory A 14a is used for trimming, and the inversion switch 20a inverts the output of the exclusive OR gate 17a, so that the output of the exclusive OR gate 17a in the drawing area becomes "L". It has become. On the other hand, the memory 14b is used for characters, and the output of the exclusive OR gate 17b is not inverted by the inversion switch 20b, and the output of the exclusive OR gate 17b is "H" in the drawing area. The level display (H, L) in FIG. 2 is represented by the outputs of exclusive OR gates 17a and 17b.

) When the priority switch 50 is turned on (output "H"), the result of combining each input and read image is shown in FIG. An example of the output is shown in FIG. 3(A).

On the other hand, when the priority switch 50 is turned off (output "L"), the result of combining each input and read image is shown in FIG. An example of the 1-1 fa output is shown in FIG. 3(B).

The conditional expressions in FIGS. 3A and 3B are constructed using the gate circuit shown in FIG.

Next, details of print control by arbitrarily setting the trimming position of this embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

This process is performed using the horizontal direction switch 24 and vertical direction switch 25 shown in FIG.

In addition, in Figure 4, the reversing switch 20 is turned off (output "L")
As an example, to simplify the explanation, memory B14 is
A case in which there is no character composition using b will be described, but it is obvious that if character composition is present, the same processing as described above is performed.

In FIG. 4, 3b is a video image inputted from the input terminal 1, 37 is a read document to be stored in the memory 14a on which the input image from the scanner 12 is drawn, and as shown in 37a, the print area (video image effective area ) is painted solidly.

In this case, for example, first, a video image 36 is inputted from the input terminal l, and a trimmed original shown at 37 is read by the scanner 12 to synthesize the images. In this state 37a
As shown in FIG. 2, the print area (video image effective area) is located approximately at the center, resulting in a composite image shown at 33 in FIG. For example, when the composite image is checked on a monitor connected to the output terminal 11, and the video image portion to be printed is to be moved, the trimming position is moved and set to a desired position.

That is, in order to specify the amount of movement of the trimming position, the horizontal and vertical coordinates to be moved (references) are input using the horizontal direction switch 24 and the vertical direction switch 25. For example, as the horizontal coordinate shown in Figure 4,
``'', and input ``Y'' as the vertical coordinate.

The control unit 16 uses the input horizontal and vertical coordinates (x, y) as reference coordinates, controls the memory controller 13, changes the read address and timing of the memory A 14a, and reads the output data of the memory A 14a. Change the timing and move the specified amount horizontally and vertically from the position at the time of reading. Since this read control is well known, detailed explanation will be omitted.

As a result, the print location (video image effective area) is moved by X in the horizontal direction and by Y in the vertical direction, resulting in a composite image shown at 38 in FIG. 4.

As explained above, according to the present embodiment, the scanner 12 reads the trimmed original shown in 37, and by simply inputting (X) as the horizontal coordinate and (Y) as the vertical coordinate, The solid video image effective area shown at 37a can be moved up (x, y).

Therefore, in this state, when the video image 3b input from the input terminal 1 is combined with the image and the print start switch 22 is activated, a printout shown at 38 is obtained. In addition,
The color for areas other than the video image area is set by the color selection switch 18. For example, if it is set to "white," the area other than the video image area becomes "white." It goes without saying that this designation can be made simply by inputting the movement coordinates without referring to the monitor screen.

[Other Embodiments] The above explanation is based on a signal input as an analog signal, -
Although an example has been described in which the A/D converters 3 to 5 convert the signal into a digital signal, and then the D/A converters 7 to 9 convert the signal into an analog signal and output the signal, the present invention is limited to the above example. It is also possible to synthesize images in the analog signal state without converting it to digital (E).

In this case, the multiplexer 6a is configured with an analog switch, and the output from the multiplexer 6b is a D/A switch.
All you have to do is add a converter to convert it to analog and input it to an analog multiplexer. Also, head driver 2]
Since it is necessary to output the signal to the head driver 21a as a digital signal, an A/D converter is added between the head driver 21a and the signal is digitized.

The other circuits are the same as the circuit shown in FIG. 1, so their explanation will be omitted.

With the above configuration, the IUI is applied to the video image synchronization signal from the input terminal 1 to control the timing of reading from the memories A14a and 14b.

In addition, color selection switch A18a, color selection switch B18
b is composed of analog polyum, LUTA19a, LU
By configuring the multiplexer 6b with an analog switch so that the TB19b outputs the Y color difference signal as an analog signal selected and set by this analog volume,
A D/A converter to analog multiplexer can also be omitted.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, by simply adding a simple hunt scanner 12 and a simple configuration to the printer, it is possible to use the hand scanner 12 to solidly fill an area to be trimmed or an area to be printed out. You can easily specify the print color for the trimmed area and print it.

Furthermore, by providing a video signal output terminal to a monitor device, it is possible to easily visually check the image data and image format to be printed simply by connecting the monitor device.

In this way, by equipping the printer with the above configuration, there is no need for a special computer system.
It is possible to create an extremely versatile device that can trim image information from a generally widely used video signal generating device (television receiver, VTR, etc.) in an arbitrary area and output it.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a video image is printed only in a vector-painted area (the binary image is H) using a device that inputs a binary image such as a handy scanner. As a result, you can perform trimming in any shape without using expensive equipment such as an image editing machine, and in terms of operability, you only need to move a handy scanner instead of using multiple scanners like an image editing machine. The effect is often remarkable.

Furthermore, without the need for any special equipment such as a complicated image editing device, the printer according to the present invention can edit and print out video images output from any video image output device, and can be connected to any video image output device. This makes it possible to create an extremely versatile device that can be used in many ways.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the trimming process and character composition process of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the trimming process including movement of the print area of this embodiment. In the figure, l...video input terminal, 2...decoder circuit, 3-5...A/D converter, 6a, 6b...multiplexer, 7-9...D/A converter, 10...
...Encoder, 11...Video output terminal, 12...
- Scanner, 13...Memory controller, 14a. 14b...Memory, 15a...Scanner start switch, 15b...Memory selection switch, 16...
Control unit, 18a, 18b--color selection switch, 19a
. 19b... Lookup table (LUT), 21
a...Head driver, 21b...Head, 23.
...Mechanical driver, 24...Horizontal direction switch, 25
...It is a vertical switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A video image means for inputting a video signal, a binary image input means for inputting a binary image, at least two storage means for storing output data of the binary image input means, and at least one specific color is selected. at least two color selection means for compositing an input image from the video image means and selected color data from the color selection means based on data stored in the storage means; and printing means for printing out a composite image of the video printer.