JPH03243355A - Density gradation selector of video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print an image of a selected gradation-density characteristic by a method wherein a density selection switch provided to a gradation selection part is switched to any one of, for instance, soft, standard, and hard, which represents the gradation-density characteristic. CONSTITUTION:A gradation selection part 6 stores a plurality of strobe time data which are established as 'soft' wherein variation in density to gradation is near, for instance, almost a straight line, 'standard' wherein the variation in density on and after near intermediate density gradation becomes more or less quickly thick, 'hard' wherein the variation in density on and after near the intermediate density gradation becomes considerably suddenly thick, etc., and a gradation selection switch or the like are established. These soft, standard, heard, etc., are assigned by changing over this switch or the like, and a strobe time data of the assigned density variation characteristic is outputted. A memory part 7 stores a program or the like for controlling each part of this device. A control part 8 controls each part in the device and besides, outputs a strobe signal based on a data from a gradation selection part 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video printer, and more particularly to an apparatus for selecting a gradation of printing density.

[Prior Art] In a video printer device that prints television images, etc. on paper,
A video signal such as a television image is converted into a digital signal, a current based on this digital signal is applied to a thermal head of a printer, etc., and the dye ink on the ink ribbon is sublimated by the Joule heat generated by the heating resistor of the thermal head. There are some types that print by transferring dye onto paper (sublimation type thermal transfer printing).

In such an apparatus, the print density of an image depends on the amount of sublimation of the dye ink, that is, the temperature of the thermal head.

For this reason, a program or the like is set to control the length of time for applying current to the thermal head in accordance with the gradation to obtain the desired print density. Normally, this program etc. is set to obtain the optimum print image for images with very low density gradation, so the density gradation can be adjusted depending on the content of the image or the purpose of the printed image. Even if you try to fix it, it is impossible. Therefore, in the case of a color image, a density setting switch such as "mJ", "medium", "light", etc. is provided for each color, i.e., yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are complementary colors of red, green, and blue. , etc. that allow the user to select the density gradation.However, in this case, it takes some effort to determine how to set these switches and what density gradation of the image will be printed. Experience and skill are required, and it has been difficult for those who use it rarely or for beginners to make an accurate selection.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In view of these points, the present invention classifies the characteristics of printing density with respect to the gradation of image density into a plurality of types, and for each of these classifications, The data of the application time of current to the printer section is stored in advance, and the characteristics suitable for the image to be printed are selected by operating a switch, etc., and the data is supplied to the printer section. The present invention provides an apparatus that performs printing based on image data converted by a density gradation signal conversion section.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a video printer that converts an analog video signal into digital data and prints it on paper or the like via a printer. A memory section for storing data, a density gradation signal converting section for determining the gradation of data read from the memory section and outputting data corresponding to the number of gradations, and a current converting section based on the data from the density gradation signal converting section, etc. a printer section that prints on paper or the like using a thermal head or the like; a gradation selection section that stores a plurality of data on the application time of current to the printer section and outputs data on the application time specified by a selection operation; A density gradation system for a video printer comprising a storage section that stores programs etc. for controlling the device, and a control section that controls the memory section, density gradation signal conversion section, printer section, gradation selection section, and storage section. The present invention provides a key selection device.

[Function] With the above-described structure, in the density gradation selection device for a video printer according to the present invention, the density selection switch provided in the gradation selection section can be used to express gradation-density characteristics, for example.
By switching to "soft", "standard", "hard", etc., an image with the selected gradation-density characteristic is printed.

[Embodiment 2] Hereinafter, a density gradation selection device for a video printer according to the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of essential parts of an embodiment of a density gradation selection device for a video printer according to the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is an image signal processing unit that divides an analog video signal such as an input TV image into three colors, green and blue in the case of a color image, adjusts it to the required signal level, and outputs it. do. 2 is an A/D converter that converts the analog video signal from the video signal processor 1 into digital data. A memory section 3 writes the digital image data from the A/D converter 2 into a frame memory that can store one screen using, for example, a DRAM (dynamic random access memory). Reference numeral 4 denotes a density gradation signal conversion unit which judges the gradation of the digital image data read out from the memory unit 3, and converts each gradation up to 64 times depending on the gradation, for example, if the printer is a 64-gradation printer. Output the data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a printer section, which records the data of each gradation from the density gradation signal converter 4 in a built-in line memory one gradation at a time, and then reads out the data from this line memory to a control section 8, which will be described later. The strobe signal (command signal for applying current to the thermal head) is AND-processed, and a current based on the processed data is applied to a group of thermal heads arranged in one line, and the current is applied to each heat-generating resistor. to generate Joule heat. This heat is applied to the heat-sensitive dye sublimation ink ribbon that is in contact with paper, etc., sublimates the dye ink, develops color, and prints on the paper. 6
is the tone selection section, and the density change for the wi tone is, for example,
"Soft", which is almost a straight line; "Standard", where the density gradually becomes darker after the middle density gradation; and "Hard J," where the density becomes considerably darker after the middle density gradation. Multiple strobe time data are stored, a gradation selection switch, etc. is provided, and by switching to this switch, etc.
This specifies the "software" and "hardware", and outputs the strobe time data for the specified concentration change characteristics. 7 is a storage unit that stores programs etc. for controlling each part of this device. A control section 8 controls each section within the apparatus and outputs a strobe signal based on the data from the gradation selection section 7.

Next, the operation of the density gradation selection device for a video printer according to the present invention will be explained. A video signal such as a television image is input to the video signal processing unit 1 by operating a "memory" button or the like, for example. If the manually input video signal is a color image, it is divided into three colors, red, green, and blue, adjusted to the required signal level, and sent to the A/D converter 2. The A/D converter 2 converts the input analog video signal into digital image data. The converted digital image data is stored in the memory section 3.
manually and write one screen worth of data to the frame memory. Note that the data written in this memory section 3 will be erased by the next input of image data or by operation of the clear key. The data written to the memory unit 3 is, for example, “
In response to command signals from the control section 8 based on the operation of the "Print" button or the like, the signals are sequentially read out one line at a time and input to the density gradation signal conversion section 4. The density gradation signal converter 4 determines the gradation of the input image data, and if the printer prints 64 gradations, for example, the density gradation signal converter 4 judges the gradation of the input image data, and if the printer prints 64 gradations, then the density gradation signal converter 4 judges the gradation of the input image data. (if any) data for each gradation is output sequentially and transferred to the printer section 5. The printer section 5 writes the data of each gradation from the density gradation signal conversion section 4 into a built-in line memory. After writing data for the first gradation aperture, these data are read out and ANDed with a strobe signal via the control unit 9, which will be described later, and a current based on the processed data is applied to each of the thermal heads from a heating power source. Supplies to heating resistor. After the processing of the first gradation opening is completed, the data from the second gradation opening to the 64th gradation at maximum are processed in the same way. After the processing of the data on the lth line is completed, the data on the second and subsequent lines are processed in the same manner. In this way, the total lines required for one image, for example, 640
Repeat these for the line. Heat generated by the thermal head due to the supplied current is applied to, for example, a thermal sublimation type ink ribbon, sublimates the dye ink, and transfers the dye to paper or the like for printing. For printing, if the image is a color image, from the above image data, green and blue image data,
In reality, printing is performed using an ink ribbon coated with dye inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan based on data converted into yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are complementary colors of each of the three primary colors.

The control section 9 outputs a strobe signal each time it finishes writing data to the line memory of the printer section 5, and the length of time for which this strobe signal is output depends on the strobe signal selected by the gradation selection section 6. This is the gradation of the time data corresponding to the judgment made by the density gradation signal converter 4. An example of the relationship between the strobe time data and the gradation-density characteristics will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, for example, the "standard" application time j (meaning the strobe time) corresponding to the gradation X+""Xh is t+-ja, and the gradation-density characteristic in this case is the third (B) of the figure.On the other hand, the application time for "soft" is 1++~t/, which is slightly longer than "standard" at gradation level X l-X 3, and " The gradation-density characteristic in this case is as shown in FIG. It is almost the same as "standard", but at gradation χ, ~x6, t3 is much longer than "standard".
~t, and the gradation-density characteristic in this case is shown in (C) in Figure 3.
becomes. These data are stored in the gradation selection section 6. Then, the strobe time data of any one of "Soft 1", "Standard J", "Hard 1", etc. selected by operating a switch etc. is sent to the gradation selection section according to the gradation judgment from the density gradation signal converter 4. 6. Then, the signal is applied to the printer section 5 via the control section 8, and the printer section 5 performs AND processing with the tone signal from the density tone signal converting section 4 and the strobe signal, and the processed data Printing is carried out by applying a current to the thermal head based on the above-mentioned "standard" data and "software" that can obtain standard printing characteristics in the case of an image with very low density gradation. , "Hard" is data with characteristics suitable for cases where you want to make the gradation of density clear, such as in a black-and-white movie or painting screen, for example,
This data is suitable for cases such as comics where it is more effective to print in dark colors rather than density gradation, but depending on the purpose of the printed image and as necessary, the type of characteristics may be changed. You can also increase the numbers and set appropriate data for each. Furthermore, a memory or the like that can be freely recorded/erased may be provided so that desired data can be written therein.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the density gradation selection device for a video printer according to the present invention, the switch operation can be performed as appropriate depending on the density of the image to be printed or the use of the printed image. By doing so, it is possible to select the gradation-density characteristics of the printed image.

Therefore, by preparing data for several types of density characteristics in advance and assigning appropriate names to each type, even beginners can easily select the one that suits their needs, and print unexpected images. It won't lead to such failures.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of main parts of an embodiment of the density gradation selection device for a video printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an example of data on gradation density characteristics of the density gradation selection device for the video printer, and FIG. The figure is a diagram for explaining the gradation-density characteristics of the density gradation selection device of the same video printer. In the figure, ■ is a video signal processing section, 2 is an A/D conversion ridge, 3 is a memory section, 4 is a density gradation signal converting section, 5 is a printer section, 6 is a gradation selection section, 7 is a storage section, and 8 is a This is the control section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a video printer that converts an analog video signal into digital data and prints it on paper etc. via a printer, there is a memory section that stores the digital data, and a number of gradations is determined by determining the gradation of the data read from the memory section. a density gradation signal conversion unit that outputs data corresponding to the density gradation signal conversion unit, a printer unit that prints on paper or the like with a thermal head or the like using a current based on the data from the density gradation signal conversion unit, and a current flow to the printer unit. a gradation selection section that stores a plurality of application time data and outputs the application time data specified by a selection operation; a storage section that stores a program for controlling the apparatus; 1. A density gradation selection device for a video printer, comprising a tone signal conversion section, a printer section, a gradation selection section, and a control section that controls a storage section.