JPH0732672A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To fetch an image to be printed sequentially during printing by providing a means for inputting printing image data and a means for reading the image data stored in a printing memory so as to output to a predetermined printing means. CONSTITUTION:A color printer converts a video signal SV into an image data as a digital color signal at an analog digital converting circuit 2. Thereafter, the color printer outputs it to a color correcting circuit 24 through a selecting circuit 23. A system control circuit 25 controls the whole operation and issues a control code at a predetermined circuit block in response to operation of an operating device 27. When an operating device for adjusting color is operated, the table of the color correcting circuit 24 is renewed. The output data of the color correcting circuit 24 is outputted to an image memory 22 and the image memory 22 fetches the output data of the color correcting circuit 24 when a user operates the operating device 27 so as to output a predetermined control code from the system control circuit 25. The color printer releases adjustment of color tone at the color correcting circuit 24 and accumulates image data of original color tone in the image memory 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Field of Industrial Application Conventional Technology (FIG. 9) Problem to be Solved by the Invention (FIG. 9) Means for Solving the Problem (FIG. 1) Action (FIG. 1) Example (1) Overall Configuration of Example ( (Fig. 1) (1-1) Normal print process (Fig. 1) (1-2) Print edit process (Figs. 1 to 7) (1-3) Check image display (Figs. 1 and 7) (1) -4) Input of multi-screen (FIGS. 1 and 8) (2) Effect of the embodiment (3) Effect of the other embodiment

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and is particularly suitable for being applied to a printer which captures and prints a video signal.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some printers of this type have been designed so that a video signal can be captured and printed (hereinafter referred to as a color printer).

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, in this color printer 1, an analog digital conversion circuit (A
/ D) 2 inputs the video signal SV, and converts the video signal SV into image data formed by digital color signals of red, blue and green. Further, the color printer 1 outputs the digital color signal to the digital analog conversion circuit (D / A) 4 via the color correction circuit 3, where it is converted into the original video signal and output to the monitor device 5.

Here, in the color printer 1, the system control circuit 6 controls the entire operation, and when the user operates a predetermined operation element, the color correction circuit 3 formed of a look-up table responds to this operation. Contents of the system control circuit 6
Rewrite with. As a result, the color printer 1 can switch the input / output characteristics of the color correction circuit 3 in response to the operation of the operator 7, thereby adjusting the color tone of the print result, and the adjustment result is previously monitored by the monitor device 5. It is designed to be monitored by.

When the color tone adjustment is completed in this way and the user operates the desired operator 7, the color printer 1
The digital color signal output from the analog digital conversion circuit 2 is stored in the frame memory 8. As a result, the color printer 1 can operate the operator 7 while monitoring the monitor device 5 to store the image to be printed in the frame memory 8.

When the user operates a predetermined operator 7 with the image to be printed stored in the frame memory 8 in this way, the color printer 1 replaces the digital color signal output from the analog digital conversion circuit 2. The digital color signal stored in the lever frame memory 8 is output to the digital analog conversion circuit 4. As a result, the color printer 1 can confirm the image to be printed that has been taken into the frame memory 8.

On the other hand, the color printer 1 outputs the image data stored in the frame memory 8 to the head drive 9 via the color correction circuit 3 when the user presses the operator of the print, and the head drive 9 The thermal head 10 is driven on the basis of this image data, so that the color printer 1 can print the image stored in the frame memory 8 on a predetermined sheet. At this time, the color correction circuit 3 corrects and outputs the image data with a preset input / output characteristic, so that the user can print a desired image with a desired color tone.

[0009]

By the way, in the color printer 1 of this type, if the color tone can be adjusted while checking the print object to be printed subsequently during printing, the work can be performed efficiently, and the whole work can be performed. Can save time.

On the other hand, in the color printer 1, when the color correction circuit 3 is used for printing, there is a problem that the color tone cannot be adjusted for the image to be printed subsequently.

In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the capacity of the memory 8 to adjust the color tone of the subsequent prints during printing. That is, in the color printer 1, the memory 8 having a large capacity stores the image being printed and the image to be subsequently printed, and the image data to be continuously printed is stored in the color correction circuit 3 during the video period of the monitor device 5. Output to the monitor device 5 through the color correction circuit 3 during the blanking period, and the image data during printing is sent to the head drive 9 through the color correction circuit 3.
Output to.

However, in the case of this method, it is necessary to process the image data at a high speed, and there is a problem that the peripheral circuits of the memory 8 and the like are complicated accordingly.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a printer which has a simple structure and is capable of capturing an image to be printed subsequently and performing color tone adjustment during printing. is there.

[0014]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, an image memory 22 for holding monitor image data and a video signal SV which is sequentially input are converted into image data at a predetermined timing. Image data input means for monitor 2, 23, 24 to be stored in the image memory 22 by
28, monitor image data output means 4, 26, 28 for outputting the image data stored in the image memory 22 to a predetermined monitor device 5, a print memory 21 for holding print image data, and a video signal. Image data input means 28 for printing, which stores the image data of the SV in the memory 21 for printing.
0 and 31 and printing image data output means 30, 31, 34 and 35 for reading out the image data stored in the printing memory 21 and outputting the image data to predetermined printing means 9, 10, and 36.

Further, in the second aspect of the invention, the printing memory 21 transfers the image data stored in the image memory 22 to the printing memory 21 by the printing image data input means 28, 30 and 31 so that the image memory is obtained. Image data is stored via 22.

Further, in the third invention, the monitor image data input means 2, 23, 24, 28 or the monitor image data output means 4, 26, 28 is a first color tone correction means for correcting the color tone of the image data. The image data input unit for printing 28, 30, 31 or the image data output unit for printing 30, 31, 34, 35 has a second color tone correction unit 34 for correcting the color tone of the image data.

Further, in the fourth invention, the printer 20
Is image data transfer means 23, 24, 2 for transferring the image data stored in the printing memory 21 to the image memory 22.
The printing memory 21 has 8, 30, 31 and is adapted to store image data for a plurality of sheets, and the image data transfer means 23, 24, 28, 30, 31 are stored in the printing memory 21. The plurality of image data are thinned out and transferred to the image memory 22, the image data is stored in a predetermined area of the image memory 22, and the monitor image data input means 2, 2
3, 24, and 28 convert the sequentially input video signal SV into image data, thin it out, and sequentially store it in a predetermined area of the image memory 22, and monitor image data output means 4, 26 ,.
Reference numeral 28 denotes the image data transferred from the printing memory 21 to the image memory 22, and the monitor image data input means 2 and 2.
Image data sequentially stored via 3, 24, and 28 are read out and output in a predetermined order to divide the display screen of the monitor device 5 into image data transferred from the printing memory 21 to the image memory 22. The image and the image of the video signal SV are displayed.

Further, in the fifth invention, the printer 20
Is image data transfer means 23, 24, 2 for transferring the image data stored in the printing memory 21 to the image memory 22.
8, 30 and 31 and a check image generating means 25 for calculating image data of a check image by arithmetically processing the image data stored in the print memory 21.
1 has a check image storage area for storing image data of a check image, stores the image data of the check image generated by the check image generating means 25 in the check image storage area, and stores the image data of the check image as image data. The check image is displayed on the monitor device 5 by transferring it to the image memory 22 via the transfer means 23, 24, 28, 30, 31.

[0019]

Operation: Image memory 2 for holding image data for monitor
2 and a printing memory 21 that holds image data for printing
By separately providing and, the image to be printed subsequently can be confirmed during printing, and the printing process can be speeded up.

At this time, by storing the image data in the printing memory 21 via the image memory 22, the image to be printed can be confirmed and printed.

Further, monitor image data input means 2, 2
3, 24, 28 or monitor image data output means 4, 2
6, 28 and image data input means for printing 28, 30, 3
1 or printing image data output means 30, 31, 34, 3
5 and 5, first and second color tone correcting means 24 and 34 for correcting the color tone of the image data, respectively, can be arranged to adjust the color tone of the image to be printed subsequently during printing.

Further, a printing memory 21 is formed so as to store image data for a plurality of sheets, and the printing memory 2
A plurality of image data stored in 1 are thinned out and stored in the image memory 22, and the video signals SV sequentially input
Image data of the image data transferred from the printing memory 21 to the image memory 22 by reading out the image data stored in the image memory 22 and outputting the image data. With the image of the video signal SV, a multi-screen display screen can be formed.

Further, the image data stored in the print memory 21 is subjected to arithmetic processing to create image data of a check image, and the image data of the check image is transferred to the image memory 22 and displayed to display the print result in advance. You can check.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of the Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a color printer as a whole, and memories 21 and 22 for printing and monitor respectively.
To place.

That is, the color printer 20 converts the video signal SV into image data of a digital color signal by the analog digital conversion circuit 2 and then outputs it to the color correction circuit 24 via the selection circuit 23. Here, the system control circuit 25 controls the entire operation and issues a control code to a predetermined circuit block in response to the operation of the operator 27, and when the operator for color tone adjustment is operated, The table of the color correction circuit 24 is updated.

The color printer 20 outputs the output data of the color correction circuit 24 to the digital-analog conversion circuit 4 through the selection circuit 26, converts it into a video signal, and outputs it to the monitor device 5. This allows the color printer 20
Is adapted so that the color tone of the video signals sequentially input can be adjusted by operating the operator 27, and the adjustment result can be monitored by the monitor device 5.

Further, in this embodiment, the color printer 20 outputs the output data of the color correction circuit 24 to the image memory 22.
Is operated to output a predetermined control code from the system control circuit 25, the output data of the color correction circuit 24 is fetched. At this time, the color correction circuit 24
Outputs the image data by switching the input / output characteristic to the linear characteristic.
In the case of 0, the adjustment of the color tone in the color correction circuit 24 is canceled and the image data of the original color tone is stored in the image memory 22.

In response to this, the system control circuit 25
The characteristics of the color correction circuit 24 set up to that point are stored in a predetermined memory. As a result, in the color printer 20, the image data is adjusted in color tone and applied at the time of the final printing process, so that when the captured image is edited and printed, image quality deterioration in the editing process occurs. It is designed so that it can be effectively avoided.

Thus, the color printer 20 is adapted to be able to capture the sequentially input video signals into the image memory 22 at a desired timing, and to print the captured image.

When this image data is taken in, the image memory 22 is adapted to intermittently take in the image data input through the analog digital conversion circuit 2 and store it in a predetermined area in the multi-screen display mode. As a result, the video signal SV that is sequentially input is displayed in a partial area of the display screen of the monitor device 5, and the image data previously captured by the color printer 20 can be displayed in the remaining area.

As a result, the color printer 20 can check the printing result in advance when printing a multi-screen image. Therefore, the image memory 22 is controlled and operated by the memory controller 28.
The image data captured via the selection circuit 26 can be output to the monitor device 5. As a result, the color printer 20 can confirm the captured image via the monitor device 5.

Further, the image memory 22 transfers the taken-in image data to the printing memory 21, and stores the transferred image data in the printing memory 21 again if necessary.

That is, the image memory 22 includes the color correction circuit 2
When the user presses a predetermined manipulator 27 after capturing the image data via 4, the captured image data is output to the input / output circuit 30. Thus, in this embodiment, the image memory 22 is formed of a 3-port memory and stores image data for monitor.

Here, the input / output circuit 30 is formed of a buffer circuit, outputs the image data output from the image memory 22 to the memory controller 31, and selects the image data output from the memory controller 31.
Output to. The memory controller 31 controls the operation of the printing memory 21 to sequentially store the image data output from the image memory 22 in a predetermined area of the printing memory 21, and further read the image data stored in the predetermined area. It is designed to output.

In this way, the color printer 20 is provided with a monitor memory and a print memory separately, so that the image memory 22 is formed of a 3-port memory and operates in synchronization with the operation of the monitor device 5 and the video signal SV. While a monitor memory can be formed so as to obtain, the print memory 21 can be operated asynchronously with the image memory 22. As a result, the color printer 20 can print the image data of the printing memory 21 and obtain a printing result at high speed.

If the monitor memory and the print memory are separately arranged in this way, a general-purpose integrated circuit image memory can be applied as the image memory to simplify the entire structure, and the print memory can be easily obtained. A dynamic random access memory can be used, which makes it possible to effectively utilize the characteristics of each memory to simplify the overall configuration and improve the usability of the color printer 20.

That is, the printing memory 21 is formed of a large-capacity dynamic random access memory capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image data in units of frames, and a 1-byte 8-bit image is sent via the memory controller 31. The data is converted into 2-byte 4-bit image data and stored. In other words, this type of dynamic random access memory is characterized in that the 4-bit large-capacity memory can easily select a memory having desired characteristics, rather than the 8-bit large-capacity memory.

Accordingly, the color printer 20 utilizes the fact that the printing memory 21 can operate asynchronously with the image memory 22 by disposing the monitor memory and the printing memory separately.
The bit image data is converted into 4-bit image data and the image data is stored in the 4-bit large-capacity memory 21. With this, a simple structure and a large-capacity image recording without impairing the printing speed are provided. Image data memory 2
1 can be stored.

Further, in this embodiment, the system control circuit 25 can directly access the memory controller 31 to store desired data in the printing memory 21. As a result, the system control circuit 25 can perform arithmetic processing on the image data stored in the printing memory 21 to separately generate image data, store the image data in the printing memory 21, and as necessary. Characters such as frames and characters of an image to be printed can be stored in the memory 21 in the form of image data.

As a result, the color printer 20 generates a check image for confirming the print result in advance and stores it in the print memory 21, and the check image is displayed on the monitor device 5.
It is possible to display the index images of the plurality of images captured as necessary, and to monitor the images.When printing the captured images, the characters are overlapped and the frame is displayed. Is formed so that printing can be performed.

At this time, the color printer 20 holds the image data captured in the printing memory 21 as it is and separately generates image data to generate image data for a monitor, thereby effectively deteriorating the image quality of the printing result. It is designed so that the print result can be confirmed by avoiding it.

In this embodiment, the color printer 20 is designed to be able to input / output image data between the printing memory 21 and the computer connected to the outside via the input / output circuit 32. Accordingly, the image data taken in can be output to a computer for editing, and the image data created by the computer can be stored in the printing memory 21 for printing.

Thus, the color printer 20 can output the image data thus stored in the printing memory 21 to the monitor device 5 via the input / output circuit 30, the selection circuit 23, and the color correction circuit 24. As a result, the image data once adjusted in color tone can be adjusted in color tone again, and can be confirmed via the monitor device 5.

At this time, the color printer 20 transfers the image data of the check image and the index image as the image data to the image memory 22 so that the printing result can be confirmed, and the image data fetched in the printing memory 21 can be confirmed. Are thinned out and transferred, and continuous moving images can be displayed in a multi-screen format together with the video signal SV currently being input.

On the other hand, when the user selects an image to be printed and presses the printing operator 27, the color printer 20 causes the image data selected by the user to be selected from the image data stored in the printing memory 21. Is output to the color correction circuit 34 via the input / output circuit 30, where the color correction circuit 24
The color tone of the image data is corrected with the input / output characteristics set in.
That is, if the print and monitor memories 21 and 22 are separately arranged in this way, the print processing and the monitor processing can be simultaneously executed in parallel.

As a result, the color correction circuits 24 and 34 can be respectively arranged in the system of the printing process and the monitor process and the color tone can be adjusted at the same time.
0 has a simple configuration, and during printing, the image to be printed subsequently can be taken in and the color tone can be adjusted.

The image processor 35 includes a color correction circuit 3
The image data output from No. 4 is interpolated to generate image data necessary for printing.
By adding / subtracting the image data formed by the digital color signal of green, it is converted into image data of a complementary color system formed by the digital color signals of cyan, yellow, and magenta.

At this time, the table 36 also corrects the image data to output the corrected color purity of the image data.
The color tone is adjusted by the color correction circuit 24 so that the image can be printed correctly.

(1-1) Normal Printing Process Here, the color printer 20 switches the entire operation by issuing a control code from the system control circuit 25 in response to the operation of the operator 27, and as a result, it is necessary. According to the above, the printing result can be monitored in various forms, and the printing result can be output in various forms.

That is, in the normal operation mode, the color printer 20 switches the contact of the selection circuit 23 to the side of the analog digital conversion circuit 2 and thereby displays the video signals SV sequentially input on the monitor device 5. In this state, the color printer 20 operates the manipulator 27 to switch the operation of the color correction circuit 24, so that the video signal SV
The color tone is adjusted and the adjustment result can be monitored.

Further, when the color printer 20 completes the adjustment of the color tone in this way and the user presses the predetermined operator 27, the color correction circuit 24 switches the characteristic to the linear characteristic and then the color correction circuit. The output data of 24 is taken into the image memory 22. This allows the color printer 20
The image data selected by the user is stored in the image memory 22 and held therein, and is output via the memory controller 28 as needed, so that the image can be monitored by the monitor device 5.

Further, when the user is satisfied with the image captured in this way and presses the predetermined operator 27, the color printer 20 transfers the image data of the image memory 22 to the printing memory 21. As a result, the color printer 20 can repeat this series of processes and store the required number of images in the printing memory 21.

When the user presses the operator for printing with the image data stored in the printing memory 21 in this way, the color printer 20 causes the image data selected by the user to be passed through the color correction circuit 34 to the head. The image is output to the drive 9 so that the image selected by the user is printed on a desired sheet. At this time, the color printer 20 sets the characteristic of the color correction circuit 34 in accordance with the characteristic of the color adjustment circuit set in the color correction circuit 24 at the time of capturing the image data, and thereby prints this image data in the color tone set by the user. .

As a result, the color printer 20 can adjust the color tone of the video signal SV sequentially input by using the color tone adjusting circuit 24 separately arranged during the printing process.

On the other hand, when the user wants to adjust the color tone again, the color printer 20 outputs the image data stored in the printing memory 21 to the monitor device 5 via the color correction circuit 24, thereby the color correction circuit. The operation of 24 is switched so that the color tone can be readjusted, and the image data is printed with the readjusted color tone.

(1-2) Image Editing Process On the other hand, when the user selects the editing mode, the system control circuit 25, based on the image data stored in the image printing memory 21, creates an image as an edited result. Data is generated and this image data is stored in the image memory 22.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the user selects the mode for printing nine images in the multi-screen format, the system control circuit 25 causes the memory controller 3 to operate.
The operation of 1 is switched. This allows the color printer 20
Are images G1 to G3 stored in frame units, respectively.
Image data (FIG. 2 (A)) is intermittently read from the printing memory 21 to form a multi-screen image GH (FIG. 2 (B)).

At this time, the system control circuit 25 transfers the multi-screen image data thus generated to the image memory 22, whereby the image memory 22 takes in the image data and monitors the multi-screen image data. To store for. As a result, the color printer 20 enables the monitor device 5 to monitor this multi-screen image in advance.

As a result, the user can visually confirm the editing result of the multi-screen through the monitor device 5 as needed. On the other hand, when the user presses the printing operator 27, the color printer 20
The multi-screen image data is output from the printing memory 21 to the color correction circuit 34, so that the edited printing result can be applied.

At this time, the color printer 20 reads image data from the printing memory 21 with a fine sampling pitch and outputs it to the color correction circuit 34, as compared with the case of forming a multi-screen for monitor. Thus, the image data of each image stored in the printing memory 21 on a frame-by-frame basis can be effectively used to print a high-quality multi-image. Thus, in the color printer 20, the image data of the original images G1 to G3 is held in the printing memory 21 as it is, and a separate monitor multi-screen image is formed, thereby damaging the original image as necessary. In addition, the edited image can be printed without further degrading the image quality of the original image. Therefore, after printing the edited image as necessary, individual images can also be printed, whereby the usability of the color printer 20 can be improved.

Thus, the color printer 20 is
Even when a multi-screen such as 16 screens or 4 screens is selected, a multi-screen image is printed in the same manner, and a multi-screen image can be formed for monitor and displayed on the monitor device 5 in advance. Has been done.

At this time, the system control circuit 25 corrects the image data for each image forming the multi-screen according to the characteristics of the color correction circuit 24 set when the respective images are input, and outputs the image data to the image memory 22. Thus, the color tone adjustment corresponding to each image forming the multi-screen is executed. Further, when the system control circuit 25 outputs this multi-screen image data to the image processor 35, the color correction circuit 34
In, the color tone adjustment corresponding to each image forming the multi-screen is executed and output.

As a result, the color printer 20 can effectively use the two color correction circuits 24 and 34 to execute the color tone adjustment corresponding to each image forming the multi-screen and monitor the image. The printing result can be output. That is, as in this embodiment, if the memories for printing and the monitor are respectively arranged and the color correction circuits are arranged corresponding to the respective memories, the image of the multi-screen is monitored and further printing is performed. However, the color tone can be easily adjusted for each image, and the usability of the entire image can be improved accordingly.

Further, when the user selects the mode in which each image is separated and printed while the multi-screen mode is selected, the system control circuit 25 similarly forms and prints a multi-screen image. At this time, the system control circuit 25
As shown in FIG. 3, by reading out image data of each image at a predetermined timing so as to reduce each image, forming a multi-screen image, and assigning predetermined image data between each image, The images are separated to form a multi-screen image (FIG. 3A).

At this time, the system control circuit 25 switches the operation of the memory controller 28 to form an image of this multi-screen image without forming a gap between the images, as in the case of a normal multi-screen image. Memory 2
2 and display it on the monitor device 5.

As a result, the user can visually check the print result and obtain the print result as in the case of the normal multi-screen, and the color printer 20 can obtain the print result.
It is designed to improve usability (Fig. 3
(B)).

On the other hand, when the user selects a framed print, the system control circuit 25 forms a multi-screen image by allocating a predetermined value of image data around each image, as shown in FIG. (FIG. 4 (A)). Further, the system control circuit 25 transfers the multi-screen image to the image memory 22 and displays it on the monitor device 5 without forming a gap and a frame between the images, as in the case of a normal multi-screen image. (FIG. 4 (B)).

As a result, the user can visually check the printing result as in the case of a normal multi-screen even when printing a multi-screen image with a frame.
Thereby, the color printer 20 can be improved in usability.

On the other hand, when the user selects the mode for printing the two screens, the system control circuit 25 similarly switches the operation of the memory controller 31 and issues the address data of the printing memory 21. As shown in FIG. 5, an image for printing is formed so that the two images selected by the user are aligned in the vertical direction on the central portion of the paper (in this case, the user sets the mode in which the screens are separated from each other to print). This is the case when selected (FIG. 5 (A)). Further, the system control circuit 25 issues a control code to the memory controllers 28 and 31 as in the case of a normal multi-screen image, transfers the image for printing to the image memory 22, and displays it on the monitor device 5. (FIG. 5 (B)).

As a result, the system control circuit 25 presses the printing operator in this state to output the image data of the printing image from the printing memory 21, and the two images are arranged in the vertical direction. It is designed so that it can be printed. At this time, the system control circuit 25 switches the operation of the memory controller 31 to generate the address data in the vertical direction and the address data in the horizontal direction by exchanging them when the user presses an operator for changing the vertical and horizontal layouts. As shown in FIG. 6, the direction of the printing image described above with reference to FIG. 5 is rotated by 90 degrees to form the printing image (see FIG.
(A)), this image is displayed and printed on the monitor device 5 (FIG. 6 (B)).

That is, by separately providing the monitor and print memories as in this embodiment, the original image can be deformed and rotated to easily edit the print result, and the print result can be monitored. As a result, the usability of the color printer 20 can be improved. Further, when the printing result is rotated by 90 degrees, the color printer 20 can display the monitor image rotated by 90 degrees so as to correspond to the printing result.

Further, when the print result is displayed on the monitor device 5, the original image data is held and the image memory 2 is held.
Since the image data for printing can be intermittently taken into 2 to form the image for the monitor, the deterioration of the image quality of the print result can be effectively avoided. Note that the color printer 20 rotates 90 degrees to compensate for insufficient image data by executing interpolation calculation processing in the image processor 35 when printing an image by rotating the image 90 degrees in this way. Has been done.

Thus, the color printer 20 can effectively avoid the deterioration of the image quality of the printing result and can easily print the multi-screen image without losing the original image.
It is possible to easily print an image for an index and further an image for various presentations.

(1-3) Display of Check Image In the case where the image data is intermittently read out and a reduced image is formed in this way, for example, when the original image is reduced by a factor of 1/2, the original image is reduced. Only the image data of the odd frame or the even frame of the image is read out to form the display image for the monitor.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, in a moving image in which an upright bar is tilted, the image changes in successive odd frames and even frames, and this image is set in units of one frame. And print it, 2
A heavily blurred image will be printed. In this case, only by monitoring the display screen of the monitor device 5, only the images of the odd frames or the even frames are displayed, so that the double blurred image cannot be confirmed. You may notice the condition.

Therefore, when the user presses the operator 27 to select the check mode, the system control circuit 25 reads out the image data to be printed from the image data stored in the printing memory 21. By executing interpolation calculation processing between the image data
The image data of the odd number frame and the even number frame are combined to form the image data for the monitor. Further, the system control circuit 25 stores the monitor image data thus generated in the printing memory 21, and transfers the stored monitor image data to the image memory 22.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the color printer 20 causes the monitor device 5 to display an image for checking in which images of odd-numbered frames and even-numbered frames are superposed, and the user can use this monitor device 5. The print result can be easily confirmed by visually confirming the display screen of.

(1-4) Multi-screen input When the user selects the multi-screen input mode, the color printer 20 directly inputs the sequentially input video signals SV in the multi-screen format. Has been done.

That is, in this operation mode, the system control circuit 25 switches the contact of the selection circuit 26 to the memory controller 28 side and issues a control code to the memory controller 28 to switch the operation of the memory controller 28. As a result, the system control circuit 25
The image data input via the analog digital conversion circuit 2 is taken into a predetermined area of the image memory 22 one screen at a time interval set by the user.

At this time, the system control circuit 25 controls the memory controller 28 to control the image memory 22 so as to intermittently capture the continuous image data, whereby an image is formed in the form of a small image which forms a multi-screen in advance. It is designed to capture data. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the four-screen multi-screen input mode is selected, the system control circuit 25 first clears the contents of the image memory 22, and then the area corresponding to the upper left of the display screen (that is, the print result The image data that is continuous with the area corresponding to the upper left of the) is sequentially and cyclically input.

Further, in this state, the color printer 20
The contents of the image memory 22 are sequentially read and output to the monitor device 5, thereby forming a so-called picture-in-picture display screen, and the video signal SV sequentially input is displayed in the upper left portion of the display screen of the monitor device 5. It is designed to do. If the time set by the user elapses in this state,
Subsequently, the system control circuit 25 sequentially and cyclically inputs continuous image data to the area corresponding to the upper right of the display screen (that is, the area corresponding to the upper right of the printing result).

As a result, the color printer 20 captures and holds the first input image in the area corresponding to the upper left of the display screen, and displays the sequentially input video signal SV in the upper right part of the display screen. ing.

When the time set by the user further elapses in this state, the system control circuit 25 sequentially and cyclically inputs continuous image data to the area corresponding to the lower left portion of the display screen, and then the lower right portion of the display screen. The continuous image data is sequentially and cyclically input to the area corresponding to. Note that, in FIG. 8, the images that are continuously input are represented by the symbol “Live”.

As a result, the color printer 20 sequentially captures and holds input images from the area corresponding to the upper left of the display screen at time intervals set by the user, and directly forms a multi-screen image from the input images. . As a result, the color printer 20 takes in a series of moving images and the like to form a multi-screen image, transfers the image data to the printing memory 21, and then prints in response to a user operation.

Thus, in the color printer 20,
By providing a monitor and print memory separately,
It is possible to form a multi-screen image directly from a series of moving images, which allows not only printing and confirmation, but also a series of movements to be easily confirmed through the display screen of the monitor device 5, which is convenient. Can be improved.

On the other hand, a part of the multi-screen is formed by the image stored in the printing memory 21, and the image of the video signal SV sequentially input to the remaining part of the multi-screen is taken in to obtain the multi-screen image. In the case of forming the print memory 2, the system control circuit 25 switches the operation of the memory controller 31 and, as in the case described above with reference to FIG.
The image data of No. 1 is transferred to the image memory 22. Thus, when forming a multi-screen of four screens, for example, the color printer 20 reads image data of three screens out of the four screens from the printing memory 21 and stores the image data in the image memory 22.

In this state, the system control circuit 25 then connects the contacts of the selection circuit 23 to the analog digital conversion circuit 2
Image signals S sequentially input by switching to the side
V is sequentially and cyclically stored in the remaining area of the image memory 22,
As a result, a multi-screen is formed by the image data of the printing memory 21 and the image data of the video signal SV sequentially input.

As a result, the color printer 20 receives the image data of the video signal SV from the image memory 2 at a predetermined timing.
2, the image data is transferred to the printing memory 21, and the input result can be applied.

Thus, by separately providing the memory for the monitor and the memory for the print, it is possible to easily form a multi-screen image even between the image captured in advance and the video signal sequentially input.

(2) Effects of the Embodiments According to the above configuration, by separately disposing the memories for the monitor and the print, the print system and the monitor system can be operated independently, and thus, during printing. Then, the image to be printed can be captured and the color tone can be adjusted, the usability of the whole can be improved, and the printing speed can be increased.

(3) Other Embodiments In the above embodiments, the case where the color correction circuit is provided on the input side of the image memory 22 and the output side of the printing memory 21 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, they may be provided on the output side of the image memory 22 and on the input side of the printing memory 21, respectively.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the editing process is performed in addition to the normal printing process has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various printers that do not have a printing function. It can be widely applied.

[0094]

As described above, according to the present invention, by separately providing the image memory for holding the image data for the monitor and the printing memory for holding the image data for the printing, with a simple structure, It is possible to obtain a printer that can capture an image to be printed subsequently during printing and further add a color correction circuit to adjust the color tone.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a printing result of the multi-screen.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a printing result in which the respective images are separated from each other.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a printing result in which each image is framed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a two-screen print.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a change in image layout.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram used for explaining a check image.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a case of capturing a video signal on a multi-screen.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional color printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 20 ... Color printer, 2 ... Analog digital conversion circuit, 3, 24, 34 ... Color correction circuit, 4 ... Digital analog conversion circuit, 5 ... Monitor device, 6, 2
5 ... System control circuit, 8, 21, 22 ... Memory,
28, 31 ... Memory controller.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image memory for holding monitor image data, monitor image data input means for converting sequentially input video signals into image data and storing the image data in the image memory at a predetermined timing, the image. A monitor image data output means for outputting the image data stored in the memory to a predetermined monitor device, a print memory for holding image data for printing, and the image data for the video signal in the print memory. A printer comprising: a print image data input means for storing the print image data; and a print image data output means for reading the image data stored in the print memory and outputting the read image data to a predetermined print means. 2. The printing memory stores the image data via the image memory by transferring the image data stored in the image memory to the printing memory by the printing image data input means. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is a printer. 3. The monitor image data input means or the monitor image data output means has a first color tone correction means for correcting the color tone of the image data, and the image data input means for printing or the print image 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the use image data output unit has a second color tone correction unit that corrects the color tone of the image data. 4. The printer has image data transfer means for transferring the image data stored in the printing memory to the image memory, and the printing memory stores the image data for a plurality of sheets. The image data transfer means thins out a plurality of image data stored in the printing memory, transfers the thinned image data to the image memory, stores the image data in a predetermined area of the image memory, The monitor image data input means converts the sequentially input video signals into image data, thins them out, and sequentially stores them in a predetermined area of the image memory, and the monitor image data output means outputs the image data from the printing memory. The image data transferred to the image memory and the image data sequentially stored via the monitor image data input means are read and output in a predetermined order. The display screen of the monitor device is thus divided and the image of the image data and the image of the video signal transferred from the printing memory to the image memory are displayed. The printer according to claim 2 or claim 3. 5. The printer comprises an image data transfer means for transferring the image data stored in the printing memory to the image memory, and an arithmetic processing of the image data stored in the printing memory to obtain a check image. And a check image generating means for creating image data, wherein the printing memory has a check image storage area for storing image data of the check image, and image data of the check image generated by the check image generating means. Is stored in the check image storage area, and image data of the check image is transferred to the image memory via the image data transfer means to display the check image on the monitor device. The printer according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3.