JPH04100145A - Video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extend the use range by storing picture data and character data in a prescribed memory part and synthesizing and printing out a picture and characters of these picture data and character data on a recording paper and displaying them on a monitor device. CONSTITUTION:Character data out of data read out from a second memory part 5 is stored in a third memory part 8 through a first switch 6, and data read out from a first memory 1 is stored in the third memory part 8. When the monitor operation of a synthesized picture consisting of data stored in the third memory part 8 is performed, the picture where characters are inserted is displayed on a monitor 10. Consequently, an operator changes data stored in first and second memory parts 1 and 5 if he does not like this synthesized picture. Thus, characters are synthesized with the picture and they are printed out.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a video printer that prints out an image based on an input video signal, etc., and more specifically relates to a new video printer that prints out an image based on an input video signal, etc. It concerns video printers.

[Conventional example] In recent years, various video printers have been proposed for printing out images from videophones, facsimile machines, personal computers, and the like.

By the way, as shown in FIG.
In other words, a memory section 1 stores one frame of image data (of a television signal).

A printer device 2 that prints out an image based on the image data read from the memory section 1 onto recording paper, and a switch 3 that switches to output the data read from the memory section 1 to the printer device 2 by a printout operation are provided. It is being

The video printer also has a function of converting the image data stored in the memory section 1 into a video signal and converting it into a signal that can be input to a monitor device. It is now possible to monitor images based on data.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned video printer, the input signal must be in a predetermined format, for example, a video signal format, and the input signal must be in a predetermined format, such as the character data of word processors, which have become extremely popular in recent years. It is not possible to manually input signals with different formats.

In addition, within the video printer, image compositing,
For example, it was not possible to combine images and text.

This invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to be able to print out a composite image of an input video signal or the like with characters created by a word processor.
An object of the present invention is to provide a video printer that can be used in a wider range of applications.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the video printer of the present invention stores image data, prints out an image based on the stored image data on recording paper, and A video printer capable of displaying image data on a video printer includes a first memory section for storing the above-mentioned image data, an interface circuit for converting character data from a word processor into a data format of the video printer, and a first memory section for storing the image data, an interface circuit for converting character data from a word processor into a data format of the video printer; a second memory section that stores character data; a first switch that switches between data read from the first memory section and data read from the second memory section; a literature department detection circuit that detects character data from the data and switches the first switching device to the second memory section side based on the detection signal; and a third literature detection circuit that stores the data switched by the first switching device. The device includes a memory section and a second switch that switches between the data read from the third memory section and the data read from the first memory section, and stores image data and character data in the third memory section. The gist of the present invention is to combine images and characters based on the image data and character data onto the recording paper, print it out, and display it on a monitor device.

[Function] With the above configuration, the first memory section stores image data such as an input video signal, while the second memory section stores signals from a word processor, such as character data. However, this character data is
It has been converted into a format that can be processed by a printer. Further, the data read from the first and second memory sections are stored in the third memory section, but at this time, among the data read from the second memory section by the literature department detection circuit, Character data is detected, and while this detection signal is being output, the first switch is switched to the second memory section "side. Therefore, the third memory section.

Data is stored in which characters based on the data in the second memory section are inserted into an image based on the data in the first memory section.

Then, switch the second switch to the third memory section side,
When the data stored in the third memory section is output to the printer device, the printer device prints out an image in which characters are combined with the image.

Additionally, the data stored in the first and second memory units can be monitored and changed.

The data stored in the third memory section can be changed.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 4. In addition, in the figure, the same parts as in FIG. 5 are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanation will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, this video printer has:

an interface circuit (word processor compatible circuit) 4 that converts a signal (character data) from a word processor into the data format of the device; and a second circuit that stores this converted data.
a memory unit (RAM) 5, and a first switch 6 that switches between data read from the memory unit (first memory unit) 1 and data read from the second memory unit 5 shown in FIG.
, the character data of the data read from the second memory unit 5 is detected, and this detection signal causes the first switch 6 to switch to the second
literature department detection circuit 7 which switches to the memory section 5 side of the first
A third memory section (RAM>8) that stores the data switched by the switch 6, and the data read from the third memory section 8 and the data read from the first memory section 1 are manually operated. In addition, the first to third memory sections 1, 5.8 are provided with a second switch 9 for switching.
Data writing and data reading are performed using the same synchronous clock.

Next, the operation of the video printer having the above configuration will be explained with reference to the display images shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. Note that FIG. 2 shows an image displayed on the monitor 10 based on the image data stored in the first memory section 1, and FIG.
4 is a diagram showing characters based on character data stored in the third memory unit 8 displayed on the monitor 10, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image based on image data stored in the third memory section 8 displayed on the monitor 10.

First, when an input video signal of the image shown in FIG. 2 is input, this video signal is converted into a digital signal (image data) and stored in the first memory section 1. Also, the third
When the character signal shown in the figure (signal from the word processor) is input, this input signal is sent to the interface circuit 4.
The data is converted into the data format of the device and stored in the second memory unit 5. At this time, when an operation for monitoring an image based on the data in the first memory unit 1 is performed, the image based on the image data is displayed on the monitor 10, as shown in FIG. Also, when a character monitor operation is performed using the data in the second memory section 5, the monitor 1
At 0, characters based on the character data are displayed. Therefore, you can change the image or text to your desired one, and you can change the image or text until you like it.

Subsequently, when an image synthesis operation is performed using the data in the first and second memory units 1 and 5, the data read out from the first and second memory units 1 and 5 is transferred to the first switch 6. The data is stored in the third memory unit 8 via the data. At this time, the one-character part detection circuit 7 identifies the character (``Kasho New Year's Day'') and the background (the background color of the word processor) based on the data read from the second memory unit 5, and sends a detection signal for that character. Control is performed to switch the first switch 6 to the second memory section 5 side. Therefore, among the data read out from the second memory section 5, only the character data ([Kasho New Year's Day]) is stored in the third memory section 8 via the first switch 6, and the other data The data being read from the first memory section 1 will be stored in the third memory section 8.

Here, when an operation is performed to monitor the composite image based on the data stored in the third memory section 8, the second
A composite image of Figure 3 and Figure 3, that is, the image of Figure 2 is combined with the image of Figure 3.
An image containing the characters in the figure is displayed (as shown in FIG. 4). Therefore, if you do not like the composite image, you can, for example, go back and change the data stored in the first and second memory units 1 and 5.

Next, when the second switch 9 is manually switched to the third memory unit 8 and an operation is performed to print out the composite image shown in FIG. 4 on recording paper, the third switch 3 is turned on. The data being read out from the third memory section 8 is transferred to the printer device 2 via the second and third switching devices 9 and 3.
is output to.

As a result, the printer device 2 prints out an image in which the images and characters shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are combined. Therefore, it is possible to use it for New Year's postcards and picture postcards, for example, and it is also possible to create composite images of computer graphics and characters.

Note that when the second switch 9 is manually switched to the first memory section 1, that is, when an operation is performed to print out an image on recording paper at normal speed, the data read from the first memory section 1 is The data being displayed is transferred to the second and third switch 9,
3 to the printer device 2. Therefore, the image based on the image data in the first memory section 1 is printed out on recording paper as in the conventional case.

Further, in the above embodiment, characters by a word processor are combined into an image, but not only characters but also other symbols can be combined in the same way.

In this way, the signal from the word processor is converted into a format that can be input to the video printer, the converted data is stored in the second memory section 5, and the data in the second memory section 5 and the first The data in the memory section 1 is switched and stored in the third memory section 8, and the data in the third memory section 8 can be output to the printer device 2, so that it is possible to synthesize characters by a word processor into an image that is normally printed out. Moreover, since various combinations of images and characters are possible, the scope of use of the video printer can be expanded.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the video printer of the present invention, in addition to the first memory section that stores normal image data, there is also a second memory section that stores signals (character data, etc.) from a word processor. a third memory section that switches and stores data in the first memory section and data in the second memory section, and an interface circuit that converts signals from the word processor into a data format of the video printer. and a switch for switching between the data in the first memory section and the data in the second memory section, so that images based on the data stored in the first to third memory sections can be monitored, and the third memory section Since the data stored in the unit can be output to a printer device, it is possible to print out on recording paper an image that is a combination of ordinary images and characters created by a word processor, and the combination of the image and characters can be changed in various ways. This has the effect of increasing the functionality of the video printer, that is, expanding its range of use.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial block diagram of a video printer showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematic monitor screen diagrams for explaining the operation of the video printer, and FIG. 5 1 is a schematic partial block diagram of a conventional video printer. In the figure, 1 is the first memory section (RAM), 2 is the third switch, 3 is the printer device, 4 is the interface circuit (word processor compatible circuit), 5 is the second memory section (RAM), 6
1 is a first switch, 7 is a literature department detection circuit, 8 is a third memory section (RAM), 9 is a second switch, and 10 is a monitor (screen). Figure 5◆ Go to monitor device II

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a video printer that stores image data, prints out an image based on the stored image data on recording paper, and makes it possible to display it on a monitor device, the video printer comprises: a first storage means for storing the image data; , an interface means for converting character data from a word processor into a data format of the video printer; a second storage means for storing character data converted by the interface means; and data read from the first storage means. and a first switching means for switching the data read from the second storage means, detecting character data from the data read from the second storage means, and switching the first switching means to the second storage means using the detection signal. Character portion detection means that switches to the storage means side; Third storage means that stores the data switched by the first switching means; Data read from the third storage means and the first storage means. and a second switching means for switching data read from the third storage means, storing image data and character data in the third storage means, and combining the image and characters based on the image data and character data on the recording paper and printing. A video printer characterized in that it can be output and displayed on a monitor device.