JPH03208695A - Image output apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate editing processing and to make re-output after editing possible by mounting a cardlike memory means reading the hardwritten image of a character or figure to store the image data thereof and an image data writing means adding the image data of the character or figure to write the same in the cardlike memory means. CONSTITUTION:An image output apparatus is an apparatus printing the image of a character or figure handwritten on the surface of a white sheet 11 to output the same and a white sheet reader 13 reads the handwritten image to output image data. A printer 15 prints the outputted image data on printing paper and the image data read by the white sheet reader 13 is written on an IC card 122 through an IC card reader/writer 12. A personal computer system containing a CPU 40 inputs the image data of a separate character of figure through an IC card reader/writer 45 and adds the same to the already written image data to write the same in the IC card 122.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image output device for characters and figures, and in particular, image information regarding characters and figures displayed on its display surface is stored in a card-like storage means such as an IC card. The present invention relates to an image output device for storing image information stored in the card-shaped storage means, and further reading and displaying image information stored in the card-shaped storage means.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, there has been a device that automatically copies image information such as characters and figures written on a whiteboard onto special thermal recording paper and sends it out. In this case, the user can use the whiteboard,
To explain in detail, figures or characters are written in the valid writing area of the white sheet surface using a dedicated marker. Thereafter, if it is desired to print and output the written image information on a paper surface, the image information can be obtained in the form of a reduced version recorded on a dedicated thermal recording paper by operating an external switch. Therefore, it can be used in a wide range of applications, such as meetings, education, and information transmission, since it eliminates the need to transfer characters and figures written on a whiteboard onto paper, and the required number of copies can be made on the spot.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the image information written on the whiteboard is printed out as described above, the information written on the whiteboard is temporarily erased in order to draw the next image. Subsequent additions and changes to the deleted information must be made on the printed paper. Therefore, when the number of copies to be printed is large, additions and changes of similar information must be reflected in parallel and accurately, resulting in problems such as time consuming and less accurate reflection. Furthermore, if there are many additions and changes to the above information, there is also the problem that it is necessary to rewrite all the information, which takes an enormous amount of time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to easily perform editing processing such as adding, deleting, and changing images to be output, and to
An object of the present invention is to provide an image output device capable of re-outputting outputted image information after editing it.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image output device according to the present invention is a device that prints and outputs images such as handwritten characters and figures, and prints and outputs images such as handwritten characters and figures on the surface of the image output device. a writable display panel; an image reading means for reading an image handwritten on the display panel and outputting image information;
printing means for printing the image information read by the image reading means on printing paper; a card-like storage means that is detachably provided and storing the image information read by the image reading means; an input means for inputting image information; and image information for adding the image information inputted by the input means to the image information stored in the card-like storage means and writing it into the card-like storage means. and a writing means. Briefly, the above-mentioned image output device includes an image information reading means for reading out image information stored in the card-shaped storage means, and an image information reading means provided on the display surface of the display panel to read out the image information read by the image information reading means. and writing means for writing information on the display panel as characters, figures, etc. The image output device further includes image information reading means for storing image information in the card-like storage means in advance and reading out the image information stored in the card-like storage means; and writing means provided on the surface of the display panel for writing image information read by the image information reading means on the display panel as characters, figures, or the like.

[Function] Since the image output device according to the present invention is configured as described above, the image output on the display panel surface can be temporarily stored in the card-like storage means, so that the output image can be stored from the display panel. Even if the image disappears, it can be displayed again on the panel surface at any time by reading out the output image stored in the card-like storage means.

Moreover, after the image information stored in the card-shaped storage means is updated by the image information writing means, it can be redisplayed on the panel surface.

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

In this example, a device (hereinafter referred to as "device") that records information such as characters and figures written in the effective writing area of a white sheet on the necessary number of sheets of thermal recording paper using a thermal recording method on the spot and outputs the information is used. , is referred to as an electronic whiteboard). In addition, the electronic whiteboard mentioned here temporarily writes the information of characters and figures written on the whiteboard onto an IC card, and then
The image information read from the card can also be redisplayed on the white board.

FIGS. 1(a) and (b) are external views of an electronic whiteboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(a) is an external view from the front, and FIG. 1(b) is an external view of an electronic whiteboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is an external view of the back side of the electronic whiteboard shown in FIG. 1(a).

In FIG. 1(a), the electronic whiteboard includes a board body 10, legs 20, casters 21, a paper tray 22, an operation panel 23, and a saucer 24. Further, the board body 10 includes a white sheet 11, an IC card reader/writer 12, a white sheet reader 13, and an XY plotter 14.

The legs 20 are for supporting the board body 10, and the casters 21 are for freely moving the electronic whiteboard. Further, the paper receiver 22 receives recording paper on which information is printed and sent out. The operation panel 23 is for controlling the functions of the electronic whiteboard by external key operations, and includes a copy key 231 and a copy number designation key 23.
2, includes an IC card write key 233 and an IC card read key 234. The saucer 24 is for storing a dedicated marker.

Further, characters and figures are written on the effective memory area of the white sheet 11 using a special mark and force, and this information is read by the white sheet reader 3. In addition, the X-Y plotter 14 moves the pen carriage 141 to the white sheet 11.
Write letters and figures by moving in the X and Y directions on the surface. The IC card reader/writer 2 also includes a card insertion slot 121, and an IC card inserted through the card insertion slot 121.
The image information on the white sheet 11 can be written to the C card 122, or the image information on the white sheet 11 can be written from the IC card 122 to the white sheet 11.
It operates to read image information to be written on the surface. Furthermore, an operation panel 123 is provided for providing data to the IC card reader/writer 2 from the outside.

Figure 1(b) is white sheet 1 of Figure 1(a) above.
1, a printer 15 equipped with a thermal recording paper 151 and for printing image information written on the surface of the white sheet 11 is attached.

Note that the recording paper printed by the printer 15 is sent to the paper receiver 22 shown in FIG. You can obtain the specified number of copies of paper.

The above has described the appearance of the electronic whiteboard, but the electronic whiteboard is equipped with a microcomputer inside. FIG. 2 schematically shows the internal functional configuration of the electronic whiteboard shown in FIG. 1 above.

In FIG. 2, the electronic whiteboard is a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) that controls and monitors the operation of the electronic whiteboard itself.
301 An operation panel interface 31 for inputting data by pressing keys on the operation panel 23, a storage device 32 for storing control programs and data related to the operation of the electronic whiteboard, and 10 for controlling human output data with the IC card reader/writer 12. IC card reader/writer interface 33,
It includes a white sheet reader driving section 34 that drives and controls the white sheet reader 13, an X-Y plotter driving section 35 that drives and controls the X-Y plotter 14, and a printer interface 36 that controls the printing operation of the printer 15.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a processing flow of the functions of the electronic whiteboard shown in FIG.

Next, the functional operation of an electronic whiteboard according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Note that the characters and figures written by the user on the electronic whiteboard are once printed out, and the written image information is stored in the IC card 122.

After that, it is assumed that the processing proceeds such that the image information stored in the IC card 122 is read out again and displayed on the electronic whiteboard. In addition, the designated number of copies is stored in the storage device 32.
It is assumed that 11 stored in a predetermined storage area of 11 is stored as a default value (designated number of copies = 1) unless the user makes a special key input designation.

In FIG. 3, in step S10 (abbreviated as S10 in the figure), the CPU 30 determines whether the copy key 231 has been pressed by the user and the printout of the characters and figures written on the white sheet 11 has been specified. Determine whether At this time, as mentioned above, print output is specified first, so C
The PU 30 moves to the next processing step S20 based on whether the copy key 231 has been pressed, which is given via the operation panel interface 31.

In the process of step S20, the CPU 30 drives and controls the white sheet reader 13 via the white sheet reader driving section 34 to read the characters and figures written on the white sheet 11. To explain in detail, the white sheet reader 13 is controlled by the white sheet reader driving section 34, and moves parallelly on the white sheet 11 from left to right, for example, while moving the sheet using the well-known 12 techniques. Read all the images written on page 11. Note that the images that can be read are limited to those written within the valid writing area on the white sheet 11. At this time, the image data read from the white sheet reader 13 is temporarily stored in the storage device 32 in the next step S30. Thereafter, the process moves to a loop process from step S40 to step 849.

Now, in the loop process from step S40 to step S49, the image data temporarily stored in the storage device 32 is processed to be printed out for the designated number of copies. To explain in detail, this time the number of copies is not specified by the user, so this loop process is performed in 1
The process is executed once and the image data is printed out on only one page.

That is, in step S40, the CPU 30 accesses the storage device 32, reads the image data, and provides it to the printer interface 36.

In response, the printer interface 36 stores the applied image data in its internal buffer, and records the image data on the thermal recording paper 151 via the printer 13 using a well-known thermal recording method. The recording paper on which the image data has been recorded is outputted to the outside via the paper receiver 22. After that, in step S45, the CPU
30 accesses the storage device 32, subtracts 1 from the stored designated number of copies, and updates the designated number of copies. Next, in step S49, it is determined whether the designated number of copies whose data has been updated is equal to 0 or not. That is, if the printout of the designated number of image data is completed, (designated number of copies = 0) is established in the determination process of step S49, so the process moves to the next step S60.
If (designated number of copies≠0), printing of the designated number of sheets has not been completed, so the process returns to step S40 and the subsequent processes are repeated. Therefore, white sheet 1
The image data written on one side and given to the printer interface 36 is printed for the number of sheets designated by the user and sent out from the paper receiver 22 to the outside.

By the way, since the user did not designate the number of copies 14 this time, the CPU 30 prints out only one copy of the image data from the printer 15, and then proceeds to the next step S60. In step 560, the designated number of copies to be stored in the storage device 32 in preparation for the next printout is again set to a default value ((default)=-1).

Now, the above process sets the specified number of copies to the default value ((defa
Although it is assumed that ult)=1), the designated number of copies may be set by a key input of the number of copies designation key 232 by the user. In this case, after the determination process in step SIO, the process branches to step S46. Prior to the above-described printout, the user determines in step S46 whether or not there is a key input on the number of copies designation key 232.

Accordingly, in step S47, the key input data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage device 32 via the operation panel interface 31. After that, the above-mentioned step S4
A loop process from step S49 to step S49 is executed for the designated number of copies.

As described above, according to the electronic whiteboard, image data such as characters and figures written on the whiteboard 15 can be copied as many copies as the number specified by the user and output to the outside.

Next, the process of storing image data regarding characters and figures written on the white sheet 11 in the IC card 122 will be explained with reference to process steps S50 and S51. Note that it is assumed that the IC card 122 is inserted into the IC card reader/writer 12 through its card insertion slot 121 and set to a readable/writable state.

First, in step S50, the CPU 30 determines whether writing of image data to the IC card 122 is requested based on whether or not the IC card write key 233 is pressed.

In this case, the user presses the IC card write key 233 and transfers the image data of the characters and figures written on the white sheet 11, which has already been stored in the storage device 32 in step S30, to the IC card 122. try to remember it. When the CPU 30 recognizes this key press, the process moves to the next step S1651.

In step S51, the CPU 30
to read out the image data already stored in a predetermined storage area. This read image data is given to the IC card reader/writer interface 33. In response, the IC card reader/writer interface 33 controls the IC card reader/writer 12 to write the image data to the specified storage area of the IC card 122 that is set to a data write enabled state. .

As described above, image data regarding characters and figures written on the white sheet 11 is transferred from the internal storage device 32 of the electronic whiteboard to the IC card 12, which is an external storage device.

Next, the process of reading the image data transferred to the IC card 122 as described above and outputting it again onto the white sheet 11 of the electronic whiteboard will be described with reference to steps S52 to S55.

First, in step S52, the CPU 3017 determines whether there is a request to read image data from the IC card 122 based on whether or not the IC card read key 234 is pressed.

In this case, the user may reproduce on the white sheet 11 the image data of the characters and figures written on the white sheet 11 that have already been stored in the storage area of the IC card 122 in step S51. and presses the IC card read key 234.

This key press is determined by the CPU 30, and based on this determination, the process proceeds to step 853.

In step 353 and step S54, the IC
The image data written in the storage area of the card 122 is
It is read out via the card reader/writer 12. To explain in detail, it is assumed that the image data stored in the IC card 122 is for one screen (one white sheet), so the IC card reader/writer 12 is not inserted. The image data stored in step S51 can be read out immediately by accessing the storage area of the IC card 22.

18 However, if there are multiple screens of image data stored in the IC card 122, the user specifies the desired image data by pressing a key on the operation panel 123. Depending on the IC
A CPU (not shown) built into the card 122 can determine data input by pressing this key and read designated image data by addressing.

As described above, the image data read from the IC card 122 is stored by overwriting the same image data in the storage device 32, so the image data in the storage device 32 is updated. Therefore, the image data stored in the storage device 32 can be easily updated from the outside via the IC card 122, and the storage area of the storage device 32 can be used effectively.

Now, when the data transfer of the image data from the IC card 122 to the storage device 32 is completed through the above processing, the CPU 3
0 accesses the storage device 32 again and stores the IC card 122.
The image data transferred from the CPU 19 is read out and applied to the X-Y plotter drive section 35. In response, the X-Y plotter drive section 35 converts the applied image data into graphic data that can be plotted by the X-Y plotter 14, and sequentially supplies the data to the x-Y plotter 14. Therefore, the X-Y plotter 14 moves on the surface of the white sheet 11 in the X direction and the Y direction based on the supplied graphic data while driving the pen carriage 141, and
The image data transferred from the card 122, that is, the characters and figures previously written on the white sheet 11 are reproduced.

If the image data to be erased is stored in advance in the IC card 122 as described above, even if the characters and figures written on the white sheet 11 are once erased, they will be transferred from the external storage device to the internal memory. The image data can be easily reproduced on the white sheet 11 by the data transfer function to the storage device.

Incidentally, there is a request to update the image data stored in the IC card 122, but this can easily be done using a personal computer having functional operations as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. becomes.

Now, the case of updating the image data stored in the IC card 122 as described above will be described below.

It is assumed that the image data stored in the IC card 122 is image data created by a personal computer, which will be described later.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional configuration of a personal computer having a function of updating image data stored in the IC card 122 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic process flow diagram showing the process of updating the image data of the personal computer shown in FIG. 4 above.

In FIG. 4, the personal computer has a CPU 40.
, storage device 41, CRT (Cathode Ra)
Display device 42 such as a display (abbreviation for y tube)
, a keyboard 43, a printer device 44, and an IC card reader/writer 45.

The CPU 40 controls and monitors the 21 functional operations of the personal computer, and the storage device 41 stores in advance programs and data for controlling the operations of the personal computer.

The display device 42 displays the progress of the operation of the personal computer on an external monitor. The keyboard 43 is a means for the user to input data into the personal computer, and the data specified by the user is output to the outside via the printer device 40. Furthermore, the IC card reader/writer 45 receives the IC card 122 in which the image data is stored in the process shown in FIG.
It operates to read and write image data to the card 122.

Data updating processing of image data of the personal computer shown in FIG. 4 will be explained with reference to FIG. 5.

Note that the processing flow shown in FIG. 5 is stored in advance in the storage device 41 as a program, and executed under the control of the CPU 40.

First, in step SIOO of FIG. 5, the C22 PU 40 determines whether or not the image data creation function is designated by the user's keyboard 43 operation. At this time, if the image data creation function is not specified, the process moves to step s110, which will be described later. on the other hand,
If the image data creation function is designated, the process moves to the next step S150.

First, in the process of step S150, a subroutine process related to the creation of image data stored in advance is performed.
Since the image data is created like a normal word processor, a detailed explanation will be omitted. Note that the created image data is temporarily stored in the storage device 41. After that, the process returns to step SIOO described above.

Now, if the image data creation function is not specified in the process of step S100 described above and the process moves to step s110, in step s11o, the image data reading function from the IC card 122 is specified by the user's keyboard 43 operation. It is determined whether the At this time, unless the function of reading image data from the IC23 card 122 is specified, the process moves to step Sll5, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the image data reading function from the IC card 122 is specified, the next step S12
Shifts to processing after 0.

When the function of reading image data from the IC card 122 is designated and the process of step S120 is executed, desired image data is selected from among the plurality of image data stored in the IC card 120 according to the user's operation of the keyboard 43. IC
It is read by the card reader/writer 45. When the desired image data is read out, in the next step 3130, the read image data is transferred to the IC card 12.
Data is transferred from 2 to the storage device 41 and temporarily stored. After that, the process moves to step SIOO again.

Now, further explanation will be given of the desired image data reading process shown in step S120 described above.

24 The CPU 40, in response to the designation of the function of reading image data from the IC card 122,
The writer 45 is controlled so as to read out all the labels (single name tags) attached to each image data stored in the IC card 122 set.

In response, the IC card reader/writer 45 reads the label attached to each image data and provides it to the readout display device 42.
The display device 42 can display the label of each image data on its display screen. Therefore, the user looks at the screen display, selects the desired image data, and inputs its label by operating the keyboard 43. Depending on the CPU
40 is an I button for reading image data specified by key input.
Since it controls the C card reader/writer 45, the IC card reader/writer 45 can access the storage area of the IC card 122 based on the designated label and read out desired image data.

Now, in the process of step S110 described above, the image data reading function from the IC card 122 is not designated, and when the process moves to step S115, 25. In step S115, the image data is transferred to the IC card 122 by the user's keyboard 43 operation. It is determined whether or not the write function is specified.

At this time, unless the function of writing image data to the IC card 122 is specified, step S1 described below
The process moves to step 16. On the other hand, if the function of writing image data to the IC card 122 is specified, the process moves to the next step S118.

In the process of step S118, the above-mentioned step S
The image data created in the process 150 is transferred from the storage device 41 to the storage area of the IC card 122. To explain in detail, the created image data is stored with a label attached, and the IC card 1
If there is image data with the same label attached to 22, the IC
The image data is overwritten in the storage area of the card 122, and the image data in the IC card 122 is updated. Furthermore, if there is no image data with the same label attached to the IC card 122, the data will not be overwritten by the IC card 122. is written to a new data storage area. after that,
The process returns to step S100.

Now, in the process of step S115 described above, the function of writing image data to the IC card 122 is not specified, and when the process moves to step S116, it is determined whether or not the function of correcting image data is specified. . At this time,
Unless the image data correction function is specified,
The process moves to the next step S117, but if the image data correction function is specified, the process moves to the above-mentioned step S150, and the image data is corrected by image data creation or subroutine processing.

Note that if the end of operation of the personal computer is selected in step S117, the series of processing ends; however, if the end of the operation of the personal computer is not selected, the process returns to step S100 again, and the processing is repeated in the same manner.

27 As described above, the image data stored in the IC card 122 can be updated as shown in FIGS. If a microcomputer is used, image data can be easily updated in the same way as a conventional word processor.

Also, regarding new image data, without handwriting characters and figures on the white sheet 11 of the electronic whiteboard, a large amount of image data can be created in a short time using the microcomputer, and the data can be printed on the white sheet 11. can be displayed.

Note that although the printer 15 in this embodiment employs a printing method based on a thermal recording method, the printing method is not specified and may be an inkjet method.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the image information displayed on the display panel can be temporarily stored in the storage means, so even if the display of the image information disappears, the storage means The image information 28 stored in the image information 28 can be read out and displayed again at any time. Furthermore, since it has a function to create image information, it has the advantage of being able to create new image information and update image information in large quantities and at high speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are external views of an electronic whiteboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal functional configuration of the electronic whiteboard shown in FIG. 1. Figure 3 shows the first
FIG. 2 is a schematic processing flow diagram of the functional operation of the electronic whiteboard shown in the figure. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional configuration of a personal computer having a function of updating image data stored in an IC card according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic processing flow diagram showing the process of updating the image data of the personal computer shown in FIG. 4. In the figure, 10 is a board body, 11 is a white sheet, 12 and 45 are IC card reader/writers, and 122
1 is an IC card, 23 and 123 are operation panels, 13 is a white sheet reader, 1294 is an X-Y plotter, 15 is a printer, and 32 and 41 are storage devices. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. 30 -749- L! 2 possible

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An image output device that prints and outputs images such as handwritten characters and figures, comprising a display panel on the surface of which images such as characters and figures can be written by hand, and images handwritten on the display panel. an image reading means for reading the image information and outputting the image information; a printing means for printing the image information read by the image reading means on printing paper; and a printing means detachably provided for printing the image information read by the image reading means. a card-like storage means for storing; an input means for inputting image information such as characters and figures; and an input means for adding the image information inputted by the input means to the image information stored in the card-like storage means. , and image information writing means for writing into the card-like storage means. (2) An image output device that prints and outputs images such as handwritten characters and figures, comprising a display panel on which images such as letters and figures can be written by hand, and an image handwritten on the display panel. an image reading means for reading the image information and outputting the image information; a printing means for printing the image information read by the image reading means on printing paper; and a printing means detachably provided for printing the image information read by the image reading means. a card-like storage means for storing image information; an image information reading means for reading image information stored in the card-like storage means; and an image information reading means provided on the display surface of the display panel and read by the image information reading means. an image output device, comprising: writing means for writing on the display panel as characters, figures, etc. (3) An image output device that prints and outputs images such as handwritten characters and figures, comprising a display panel on the surface of which images such as characters and figures can be written by hand, and an image handwritten on the display panel. an image reading means for reading and outputting image information; a printing means for printing the image information read by the image reading means on printing paper; and a card-shaped storage means that is detachably provided and stores image information in advance. , an image information reading means for reading out the image information stored in the card-shaped storage means; and an image information reading means provided on the display surface of the display panel, the image information read by the image information reading means being read out by the image information reading means and written on the display panel. An image output device comprising a writing means for writing as a figure or the like.