JPH10200839A - Image selection system and direct print adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To directly output image data to a printer by a series of easy operations by displaying the plural image data fetched to a memory on a screen by the thumbnail system of (m)×(n), selecting a printing object image by a cursor and inputting a desired printing sheet number. SOLUTION: When an adapter main body 1 is activated, a screen display program is activated and a mode selection screen is displayed. When a user selects a desired mode with the setting switch of an operation panel, a setting menu image is taken out from the memory and displayed corresponding to a digital camera mode, a video mode or a scanner mode. In the digital camera mode, the image data for a prescribed sheet number are fetched from the memory and thumbnail images are aligned and displayed on a video monitor 6 through a data transfer direction switching part 120 and a display processing part 150. The user selects a desired image, pressurizes an icon for a required sheet number, displays it on the screen, confirms it and presses a printing switch.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video signal input from a video or a television, image data obtained as a result of image pickup by a digital camera, image data read by a scanner, or image data stored in a non-volatile storage medium. The present invention relates to an image selection method and a direct printer adapter used for outputting and obtaining an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, advanced image input / output devices have been remarkably developed, and accompanying image processing techniques have been remarkably developed. Among them, general-purpose image input devices include scanners and digital cameras, and output devices include printers such as inkjet printers. With respect to printers, color printers have been developed along with an increase in demand for print output of color images, and at present, inexpensive printers for word processors or peripheral devices for personal computers have been marketed.

[0003] Among image processing techniques that have become widespread in recent years, a method of converting a video signal into an image signal using a personal computer, displaying the image signal on a monitor, selecting a desired image, and printing out the image signal, a scanner and a digital camera. There is a method of inputting image data from a camera or the like, displaying the data on a monitor, selecting a desired image, and printing out.

When color printing is performed using a personal computer, binarized data for color image printing is generated by a group of programs on the personal computer side in order to reproduce and print a color image (video) based on input digital image data. Processing is performed to create bitmap data for each print color required for drawing, and to provide this to a printer together with a drawing control signal to perform a color printing operation.

As a color printer, a dark / light color printer capable of printing high-quality images, such as paintings and photographs, using both dark and light inks has been developed / sold. Normally, four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are used. However, since it is difficult to express gradation with high quality using only dark ink, dark and light color inks are used. Printers (hereinafter simply referred to as color printers) use cyan, magenta, yellow,
For each color of black, gradation expression is realized by using inks having different densities, and a color image output is obtained.

[0006]

When an image (or video) is printed using a personal computer, it takes time to input a command, take in a print processing application program and a printer driver, and take a long time to start up. It has been pointed out that, although personal computers have become very popular, there are still many problems that need to be solved in order to make full use of them, and the majority of those who have them cannot use them. Even if a user purchases and installs an image (video) print processing application program or printer driver, the installation itself is difficult, or there is a problem that the user may not know how to input the command.

On the other hand, when a print image is selected, an index image is displayed on a monitor, and the cursor is stopped at a desired image position by sequentially following the top image with a cursor.
Since the confirmation input is performed before outputting to the printer,
Even if you know that the desired image is at the end,
It is necessary to follow the cursor to the end in order, and there is a problem that it takes too much time to select an image.

In order for a digital camera to spread in the future and to be generally used in ordinary households, simplification of the operation at the time of printing the photographed result (photograph), almost zero overhead time, and processing operation by turning on a power switch are performed. There is a demand for the development of a portable video device to be started and an adapter that can be connected to a digital camera and a printer. There was also a demand for a solution on the user's side, such as ease of selecting images.

The simplification of the operation in the printing process of the photographing result and the reduction of the overhead time to almost zero so that the processing operation can be started when the power switch is turned on will promote the spread of digital cameras and the like at the general household level in the future. Patent Application No. 8-27 filed on Oct. 18, 1996 by the present applicant as invented by the inventor of the present invention.
No. 6467 (name "Direct Print Adapter"). The present invention is to directly input a video signal or a digital image signal and output a high-quality image to a printer, and has a function of processing an input image signal and outputting it directly to the printer easily.

[0010] Further, the direct print adapter is also invented by the inventor of the present invention for the purpose of making it easy to select a print image, and has been proposed by the present applicant in 1996.
Japanese Patent Application No. 8-27647 filed on October 18, 2016
No. 0 (named "Image Selection Method and Direct Print Adapter"). The present invention has a feature in that the user interface is emphasized, and a plurality of thumbnail images from a digital camera are arranged and displayed on a video monitor,
The cursor is displayed so as to be freely movable within the screen of the video monitor, the position (coordinates) is obtained, and the image at the position where the cursor is stopped is used as a print output image candidate. It has a function of taking in a corresponding high-resolution image from a digital camera into a memory, displaying the image on a video monitor, and indexing the displayed image.

However, the desired number of prints of the image selected by the latter image selection method is not limited to one each, and depending on the image, a plurality of prints (so-called “printing”) may be required. In such a case, it is conceivable to specify the index from the selection screen and input the number of additional prints, and output it to the printer together with the print data as a part of the print command. It is preferable that the number of additional prints can be specified, and it is more preferable that shooting information such as shooting conditions can be displayed when selecting a print output image candidate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to fulfill the above-mentioned demand, and is capable of taking in image data and directly outputting a high-quality image to a printer, selecting a print image with good operability, and designating the number of additional prints. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image selection method and a direct print adapter that can realize the above-described functions.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image selection system according to the present invention stores a plurality of image data fetched into a memory in a predetermined size m × m on a screen of a display device.
n, display the image displayed at the position where the cursor is stopped as a selected image candidate, select a selected image from the selected image candidates, input the desired number of prints, and enter the desired number of prints in the selected image. It is displayed at the corresponding position.

In the above-mentioned image selection method, it is desirable that the photographing information of the selected image candidate is displayed in a window on the screen of the display device, and the image of the selected image candidate is enlarged on the screen of the display device. May be configured to display a window.

Further, in the above-mentioned image selection method, an index is assigned to each image arranged in a predetermined size of m × n in the screen of the display device, and the images are displayed in correspondence with the indexes. A desired number of images may be displayed in association with the selected image, and image data, image data and shooting information, image data and index, or image data, index and shooting information may be stored in a non-volatile storage medium. it can.

Further, the direct print adapter of the present invention is capable of connecting at least a printer, a digital camera and a video device, and converts a video signal input from the video device into digital data; A display processing unit for restoring a video signal from image data and displaying it on a video monitor, a data transfer direction switching unit for switching a data transfer direction by a switching control signal from an input / output control unit, and an input / output control unit; An instruction signal input unit for giving an instruction signal to the data processing unit, wherein in the video mode, the video data from the video signal processing unit is loaded into the memory as image data, and in the digital camera mode, the image data as an imaging result of the digital camera To receive the image data into the memory, process the image data A direct printing adapter for output as printing data, m × n a plurality of image data but ipecac in memory to a video monitor at a predetermined size
Selected image display means for arranging and displaying images, image selecting means for selecting an image at a position where the cursor is stopped as a selected image candidate, and inputting a desired number of selected images selected from the selected image candidates Means, and a number display means for displaying the desired number in correspondence with the selected image.

In a preferred embodiment, in the direct print adapter, in the digital camera mode, image data and photographing information as a result of photographing by the digital camera are received and stored in a memory, and photographing information of a selected image candidate is further displayed on the display device. It is configured to have a photographing information display means for displaying a window on the screen.

In another preferred embodiment, the direct print adapter receives the image data as a result of reading by the scanner, stores the image data in the memory, displays the image data captured in the memory on the video monitor, and selects the selected image data. It has a scanner mode for processing image data of an image and outputting it as print data.

In another preferred embodiment, the direct print adapter further comprises indexing means for indexing each of the images arranged on the screen of the video monitor, wherein the image selected by the image selecting means is indexed. It is configured to specify and select.

In another preferred embodiment, the direct print adapter further includes close-up means for enlarging the selected image candidate and displaying it in a window.

Further, in the direct print adapter, when printing data corresponding to the selected image is sent to the printer, the image data may be indexed and sent to the printer. Connect the device and store the image data, the image data and the shooting information, the image data and the index, or the image data, the index and the shooting information displayed on the display device in a nonvolatile storage medium. A storage / reproduction mode may be provided in which stored image data, image data and shooting information, image data and index, or image data, index and shooting information are taken out and used as display data or print data.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a direct print adapter according to the present invention.
A direct print adapter (hereinafter, referred to as an adapter body) 1 includes a video signal processing unit 110, a data transfer direction switching unit 120, an input / output control unit 130, a digital data processing unit 140, a display processing unit 150, an operation unit 160, and a printer. Interface 21, a digital camera serial interface 31, a scanner interface 36, and a power supply unit 12. Note that a memory card interface 32 and a high-speed interface 37 may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the adapter body 1 includes a digital camera 3, a video device 4,
5, memory card reader 7, image scanner 8, film scanner 9, photo CD reader 10
However, as an output device, the printer 2 and the video monitor 6 can be connected via corresponding interfaces, and an A / C adapter 12 is connected for power supply replenishment. Image scanner 8 and film scanner 9 (hereinafter, referred to as
If both are shown, they will simply be referred to as scanners) can share an interface.

Although not shown, a device (HDD (magnetic disk device)) for writing / reading a removable medium (writable / readable nonvolatile storage medium) such as an HD (magnetic disk) and MO (optical disk). And
MOD (optical disk device or the like) can also be connected.

The printer 2 to be connected is a printer capable of performing color printing, and is preferably a dark / light color printer capable of reproducing and printing a high-quality color image.

The adapter body 1 is a digital camera for taking in image data from the digital camera 3 (or the memory card reader 7) into the memory 142 (FIG. 3), selecting an image, and outputting the selected image to the printer 2. Mode and memory 1 for video data from video devices 4 and 5
A video mode in which the image data is loaded into the memory 42 and output to the printer 2; video data from the image scanner 8 or the film scanner 9 (or the photo CD reader 10 for reading a photo CD) is loaded into the memory 142; Of scanner mode 3 to output to
It has a mode (FIG. 5), and can be selected by a mode selection screen, a selection switch or a sheet on which a thumbnail solid printing image is printed.

In each of the above modes, a process for writing image data taken in each of the above modes to a removable medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk at the end of printing or in place of printing by the printer 2 can be selected. Play (read) the written image data at the desired time
Display thumbnail images on the video monitor 6,
It is also possible to configure so as to be able to output to the printer 2.

It should be noted that, at the end of printing in each of the above modes or in place of printing by the printer 2, the image data captured in each of the above modes is replaced with a configuration for selecting a writing process to a removable medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk. Save /
A reproduction mode may be provided so that image data captured in each of the above-described modes is written to and reproduced from a removable medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

The video signal processing unit 110 is an S-video device 5
The video signal is input through the front end, and the chroma signal is divided into a U signal (RY) and a V signal (BY).
In addition to the conversion into two color difference signals, the composite synchronization signal is separated from the luminance signal Y, and these Y, U, V signals are A / D converted to digital signals. If the input video signal is the output of the composite video device 4 (that is, a composite signal), it is separated into a luminance signal Y and a chroma signal, and then subjected to processing after conversion into a color difference signal. Video signal processing unit 1
Reference numeral 10 denotes the composite synchronizing signal and the input / output control unit 13 described above.
A dot clock is generated based on the timing signal from 0 and fed back to the input / output control unit 130.

The data transfer direction switching unit 120 includes a video system (hereinafter referred to as video equipment 4 or 5 and video signal processing unit 1).
In the case where the video data output from the digital data processing unit 140 (FIG. 3) is taken into the memory 142 of the digital data processing unit 140 (FIG. 3), the data of the memory 142 is displayed on the display system (hereinafter, the display processing unit 150 and the video monitor 6). Switching of the signal direction necessary when the signal is supplied to the CPU 14 and the timing of the video system and the CPU 14 of the digital data processing unit 140.
Since one cycle time is different, it is provided to absorb the time difference between the two and make the timings coincide.

When the video data for one frame is taken into the memory 142 from the video system, the data transfer direction switch 120 temporarily converts the digital signal A / D converted by the video signal processor 110 into the data transfer direction switch 120. Inside
The transfer direction is switched so that the video data fetched by the timing signal from the input / output control unit 130 flows toward the digital data processing unit 140. As a result, the video data is stored in the memory 142 of the digital data processing unit 140
The data is transferred by MA and is taken into the memory 142 as image data.

When transferring one frame of image data or the like from the memory 142 to the display processing unit 150, the data transfer direction switching unit 120
The image data to be transferred by the MA is once fetched, and the transfer direction is switched so that the fetched video data flows in the direction of the display processing unit 150 by a timing signal from the input / output control unit 130.

The input / output control unit 130 is constituted by a logic circuit, and comprises a video signal processing unit 110, a data transfer direction switching unit 12
0 and a timing signal (synchronization signal) to be given to the display processing unit 150 and the timing of DMA transfer are generated and given to the CPU 141. Also, it controls input / output of print output data (binary data) from the digital data processing unit 140 to the printer 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the digital data processing section 140 is composed of a memory 142 which is composed of an MPU and is connected to a data bus of the CPU 141, and a PROM 143.

The digital data processing unit 140 includes the operation unit 16
0, or a timing signal from the input / output control unit 130, captures the video image data into the memory 142 via the data transfer direction switching unit 120, and stores the image data stored in the memory 142. , Menu data, and input data such as set values to the display system via the data transfer direction switching unit 120;
Serial interface 31 (or memory card interface 3 for memory card reader 7)
2) fetching image data from the digital camera 3 into the memory 142 via the interface 2); an interface 36 for the image scanner 8 and the film scanner 9; and an image from the scanner via the high-speed interface 37 for the photo CD reader 10. It takes in data, etc.

Further, expansion processing of the image data fetched into the memory 142, setting / changing of setting conditions for the digital camera 3, and color conversion processing for converting the image data stored in the memory 142 into color printing data. Transfer of print data to the printer 2 via the parallel interface 21 under the control of the input / output control unit 130, display control based on an operation signal input from the operation unit 160, menu screen based on the designation of the processing mode, setting It performs display control of a screen, a warning screen, and the like.

The PROM 143 stores the data processing module 200 (FIG. 4), menu data, initial data, and the like.

The memory 142 is accessed by the DMA of the CPU 141 and stores image data of a video system or a digital camera 3 (or a memory card 7) or a scanner 9, 8 or a photo CD reader 10, or a removable media such as a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device. The image data is read or read from the reading / reading device, and further, menu data, operation input signals and setting data from the operation unit 160 are stored, and work for binary data processing for print output is performed. It is also used as a region.

The display processing section 150 converts the image data (Y ', U', V '(digital signal)) from the data transfer direction switching section 120 into a luminance signal Y and color difference signals U, V (analog signals). Then, the luminance signal Y and the composite synchronizing signal are synthesized by the synthesizing circuit and the U and V signals are synthesized to obtain a chroma signal to obtain an S-video signal. For the video monitor 6 having a composite video input terminal, the luminance signal Y
The composite synchronizing signal and the chroma signal are combined to output a composite video signal, and the S video signal or the composite video signal is output to the video monitor 6.

The video monitor 6 displays the image data from the display processing unit 150 and the mode selection screen (FIG. 8A).
An image selection screen (FIGS. 8B to 8D) is displayed, input data such as setting data is displayed, and a cursor is displayed on the screen.

The operation unit 160 receives an operation signal from an operation panel (not shown), converts the operation signal into an instruction signal (digital signal), and supplies the instruction signal (digital signal) to the digital data processing unit 140. When a specific key (or button) on the operation panel is repeatedly pressed, the signal is sent to the data processing unit 140 as count information.

<Output to Printer and Input of Printer Information> Output control to the printer 2 is performed by the input / output control unit 130. The input / output control unit 130 further controls the transmission timing of the bitmap data and the drawing control data from the digital data processing unit 140 to the printer 2 via the parallel interface 21.

<Data Processing Module> FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data processing module for executing processing by the digital data processing unit 140. Each program constituting the data processing module 200 is composed of PRO.
It is stored in a storage medium such as M143. In the present embodiment, the data processing module 200 is configured by a group of programs, but may be configured as firmware.

In FIG. 4, the data processing module 200
Control program 201, input signal processing program 20
2. Screen display program 203 including selected image display program 206 (FIG. 5), processing selection program 204, cursor control program 207, image selection program 20
8 and a processing program group 205 including an index assignment program 209, a setting value display program 210, and the like.
And a print data processing module 220.

The control program 201 receives an instruction signal from the operation unit 160 and sends a control signal to the input / output control unit 130 so that the adapter body 1 performs an operation corresponding to the instruction signal.
And a program required for the execution from the PROM 143 to be executed and controlled by the CPU 141.

The input signal processing program 202 processes the count information received from the operation unit 160 by the control program 201 and gives the count value display program 210 of the processing program group 205.

The processing performed by the input signal processing program 202 is to count the number of signals (pulses) output when the user presses the [>] switch for the number of extra prints when setting the number of extra prints, and counts the value. Is output as an additional number, or a menu value conversion process of converting a menu number indicated by the user as input data of the process selection program 204.

The screen display program 202 includes a mode selection screen (FIG. 8A), a digital camera mode processing selection screen (FIG. 8B), and a video mode processing selection screen (FIG. 8 (B)) displayed on the video monitor 6. c)), a scanner selection screen (FIG. 8A), etc., and various menus are displayed. Also, a DMA transfer command request is passed to the CPU 151 to retrieve from the memory 142 the window display data whose display has been switched by the button operation of the display panel 90, and the DMA-transferred data is displayed on the screen of the video monitor 6 via the display processing unit 150. Is displayed in the window opened (FIG. 10B).

The screen display program 203 also converts a plurality of image data fetched into the memory 142 into the video monitor 50.
And a selected image display means 206 (FIG. 5) arranged and displayed m × n (FIG. 9).

The processing selection program 204 determines the meaning of the selected menu when there is selection information selected by a menu on each screen or selection position information such as a cursor or a display frame, and controls the determination result. Deliver to program 201.

[Process in Digital Camera Mode] Processes that can be executed in the digital camera mode include (1) a print condition setting process for setting conditions such as a print paper size and type;
(2) Digital camera condition setting processing for setting or changing conditions on the digital camera side; (3) Digital camera special printing condition setting processing such as thumbnail printing (solid printing) and reprinting; (4) transition to video mode; (5)
(5), (6) are optional, including the transition to the scanner mode, (6) the transition to the storage / reproduction mode, and processing.

When the user presses the setting switch 84 of the operation panel 90 to select an item while viewing the menu as shown in FIG. 8B, and confirms the execution of the selected item by pressing the icon [>] of the key 85. , Screen display program 102
Displays the corresponding menu screen. The user further looks at the menu on the displayed menu screen and operates the operation panel 9.
By operating the switch on 0, a desired process can be selected and executed. In addition, the above (1)-
For the execution of the process (6), a corresponding processing program is provided in the processing program group 205 (FIG. 5).

[Processing in Video Mode] The processing that can be executed in the video mode includes (1) printing condition setting processing for setting conditions such as printing paper size and type, and (2) setting and type of video capture range. (3) Shift to digital camera mode, (4) Shift to scanner mode,
(5) Including the transition to the save / playback mode and processing,
(4) and (5) are optional.

When the user presses the setting switch 84 of the operation panel 90 to select an item while viewing the menu as shown in FIG. 8C, and confirms the execution of the selected item by pressing the icon [>] of the key 85. , Screen display program 203
Displays the corresponding menu screen. The user further looks at the menu on the displayed menu screen and operates the operation panel 9.
By operating the switch on 0, a desired process can be selected and executed. In addition, the above (1)-
For the execution of the process (5), a corresponding processing program is provided in the processing program group 205 (FIG. 5).

[Processing in Scanner Mode] The processing that can be executed in the scanner mode includes (1) printing condition setting processing for setting conditions such as printing paper size and type, and (2) setting and type of image capture range. (3) transition to digital camera mode, (4) transition to video mode, (5) transition to save / playback mode,
(5) is an option.

When the user presses the setting switch 84 of the operation panel 90 to select an item while watching the menu as shown in FIG. 8D, and confirms the execution of the selected item by pressing the icon [>] of the key 85. , Screen display program 203
Displays the corresponding menu screen. The user further looks at the menu on the displayed menu screen and operates the operation panel 9.
By operating the switch on 0, a desired process can be selected and executed. In addition, the above (1)-
For the execution of the processing of (5), corresponding processing programs are provided in the processing selection program group 205 (FIG. 5).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing selection program group 205 and the print data processing module 220. The processing program group 205 includes a plurality of procedures necessary for executing the processing selected in each selection menu. And is provided corresponding to the selected processing.

The processing program group 205 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), a cursor control program 207 for displaying a cursor so as to be freely movable within the screen of the video monitor 6 and obtaining its position (coordinates), and printing an image at the position where the cursor is stopped as a print output image candidate An image selection program 208, an index assignment program 209 for assigning an index to each image arranged in the screen of the video monitor 6, and creating a table in which the images correspond to the indexes, and a setting from the input signal processing program 202. A setting value display program 210 for displaying a value in association with the displayed selected image is included.

The index assignment program 209
Print data corresponding to the selected image to the printer 2
When sending the image data to the printer, the image data is indexed.

A window display program 21 for displaying, in the processing program group 205, window information of image capturing by the digital camera 3 (for example, capturing conditions such as date and time, whether or not a flash is fired, etc.) in association with the image.
1 or the designated print output image candidate data is taken from the digital camera 3 into the memory 142, or the image data stored on the magnetic disk, optical disk, or the like is transferred to the memory 142, and a window (small window) on the screen is displayed. ) May be included so as to include a close-up program 212 which is enlarged and displayed.

The processing program group 205 includes a condition setting / change program 216 and a data expansion program 21.
7. Includes data interpolation program 218.

The condition setting / change program 216 is started when setting or selecting conditions on the digital camera side in the digital camera mode.

The data expansion program 217 expands compressed image data taken from the digital camera 3 or the photo CD in the digital camera mode or the scanner mode.

The data interpolation program 218 performs a data interpolation process for enlarging a print image. The data interpolation process is a process necessary for enlarging and printing the original image when the size of the bit map formed by the pixels of the captured data and the size of the recording paper to be printed are different. There are known an interpolation method and a simple enlargement method in which a pixel is simply padded to enlarge a bitmap of an original image.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the print data processing module 220 includes a rasterizer 221, a color correction module 222, and a halftone module 223.
Are provided as basic means for obtaining binary data required for drawing.

The rasterizer 221 converts the image data (Y ', U', V ') into R (red), G (green), B (blue).
, And raster-converted RGB multi-gradation (for example, 256 gradations) bit image data for each color into a predetermined work area of the memory 142. The color correction module 222 performs a color correction process on the RGB multi-tone bit image data raster-converted by the rasterizer 211 and converts the data into CMYK tone bit image data for printing. Halftone module 223
Prepares a corresponding distribution table in accordance with the printer color information parameters set by the control program and executes the corresponding halftone processing.

[0067]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the adapter body 1 will be described below.

The adapter body 1 houses an operation panel board, a main board, and an AC adapter in a box-shaped casing having a width of about 240 to 250 mm, a height of about 50 mm, and a depth of about 140 to 160 mm. An operation panel 90 as shown in FIG. 7 is provided in the unit, and a terminal unit (not shown) is provided in the rear part of the housing.

The operation panel 90 is used to start a menu screen for performing various settings using the power supply display LED 81, which is turned on when the power is turned on, the power-on switch 82 of the adapter body 1, the error display LED 83, and the video screen. A menu setting switch 84, a setting change switch 85 on the menu screen, a print display LED 86, a print switch 87, a changeover display switch 88 for switching an image displayed on the video monitor 50 according to a mode, and the memory 14
2 is provided with a memory switch 89 for taking in an image.

The terminal section includes a printer output terminal, a digital camera input / output terminal, a composite video monitor output terminal, a composite video input terminal, an S terminal video input terminal, a power supply input terminal, and the like. .

<Image Selection Operation> FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a thumbnail image display operation in the digital camera mode by the adapter body 1, selection of an image to be printed from the thumbnail images, and an operation for setting the number of additional prints.

When the adapter body 1 is started, a screen display program is started, and a mode selection screen shown in FIG. 8A is displayed to prompt the user to select a processing mode (step S1).
In the processing mode, each time the setting switch 84 of the operation panel 90 is pressed, the cursor moves through the numbers 1 to 3 on the screen by the cursor control program 207, and the user presses the icon [>] at the desired cursor position. Mode is selected.

When menu “1” is selected on the mode selection screen (FIG. 8A), the digital camera mode is set, and the data for the setting menu image (selected screen image) is extracted from the memory 142 by the selected image display program 206. Data transfer direction switching unit 120 and display processing unit 150
8 is displayed on the video monitor 6 as a digital camera setting menu as shown in FIG. When the menu "2" is selected, the video mode is set, and a video setting menu as shown in FIG. 8C is displayed on the video monitor 6, and when the menu "3" or "4" is selected, the scanner mode is set. 8 on the video monitor 6
A scanner setting menu as shown in (d) is displayed (step S2).

In the video mode (step S2 '),
In the scanner mode (step S2 ″), corresponding processing (step S3 ′ or step S3 ″) is performed. If the number of images stored in the digital camera 3 exceeds the number that can be displayed on the image selection screen, the icon [>] switch can be further pressed to refer to the screen of the next page.

[Display of Thumbnail Image and Image Selection]
When the menu “3” is selected from the digital camera setting menu in the digital camera mode, a predetermined number of images (a maximum of 2 in the example of FIG.
(8 sheets) of image data, or a predetermined number of image data stored in a storage medium of a removable medium writing / reading device such as a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device. As shown in FIG. 9A, m × n is displayed on the screen of the video monitor 6 via the data transfer direction switching unit 120 and the display processing unit 150.
(5 × 6 in the example of FIG. 9) and displayed as a thumbnail image (battery image) (step S3).

Next, index processing (FIG. 6B) is performed, and an index (index number) is displayed above each thumbnail image as shown in FIG. 9B (step S4). The user performs a selection process using the cursor 304 (FIG. 10) to print a desired image from the displayed thumbnail images. The cursor 304 is indicated by a thick frame, and moves up, down, left, and right by operating the icon [>] and [<] switches (step S5), and the image displayed at the position where the cursor 304 is currently stopped. Is a selected image candidate selected for printing (step S6).

When the cursor 304 stops and the user presses the display changeover switch 88 on the operation panel 90 (step S7), the window display program 211 is activated and a window as shown in FIG. 307 is opened to select the candidate image 305 at the cursor stop position.
The photographing information 308 such as photographing conditions is displayed (Step S)
7 ').

When the switch 88 is continuously pressed twice or more in a short time by the user (step S8), the close-up program 212 is activated and a window 309 as shown in FIG. Is opened, and an enlarged image 305 ′ of the selected image candidate 305 at the cursor stop position is opened.
Is displayed. In this case, the thumbnail image 305 (80 × 60 pixels) at the cursor stop position, which is a selected image candidate
Is stored in the memory 142 from a storage device such as the digital camera 3 or a magnetic disk device.
The data is DMA-transferred from the memory 142, and displayed on the window 309 as an image for one window via the data transfer direction switching unit 12 and the display processing unit 15 (step S8 ').

When the user presses the memory switch 88, the selected image candidate 305 is determined as the selected image, and a message prompting the input of the number of additional prints is displayed prominently at the bottom of the screen. When the user presses the icon [>] the number of times corresponding to the required number according to the message (step S10), a number field 303 provided below the screen 301 is provided.
Is displayed (step S11).

Steps S1 to S11 until the selection operation for one frame of thumbnail images is completed.
Is repeated (step S12).

When the selection operation is completed for one frame of thumbnail images, when the print switch 87 is pressed, the data processing unit 14 goes through a pre-printing process (a color conversion process or the like by the print data processing module) (step S1).
3) The print data is transmitted to the printer 2 under the control of the input / output control unit 130, and printing is started for each image (step S14).

FIG. 6B is a flow chart in the case of indexing an image. Step S in FIG.
Steps S4-1 to S4-4 are provided between Steps 3 and S4, and indexes (for example, numbers,
Symbols, character strings, etc.).

That is, the indexing program 2
A step 09 attaches an index to the selected thumbnail image and the image read corresponding to the selected thumbnail image (step S4-1) and displays the image together with the image on the video monitor 6 (step S4).
-2), a correspondence table is created (step S4-3). In the correspondence table, information required as an index is registered in addition to the index and the serial number. An index is also assigned to the image data of the selected image, and the index is printed on the print image (step S4-4).

Thus, a desired image can be selected (retrieved) from the displayed images using the index. Alternatively, a thumbnail print menu (not shown) may be selected to collectively print the indexed thumbnail images, which can be used for subsequent searches.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a video signal processing unit, a data transfer direction switching unit, an input Output control unit, digital data processing unit,
A board provided with a display processing unit, operation unit, serial interface, parallel interface, etc.
Needless to say, it may be incorporated in a printer, a facsimile machine, a digital camera, or a scanner, and various other modifications are possible.

[0086]

According to the present invention, image data can be taken from a video device, digital camera, scanner, or the like, and a high-quality image can be directly output to a printer. In addition, the desired number of displayed thumbnail images can be input / displayed, shooting information such as shooting conditions can be displayed in a window, and desired images can be picked up, so that the use performance is improved.

Further, the displayed thumbnail image data is stored in a non-volatile storage medium, taken out and displayed at a desired time, and the desired image can be additionally printed (printed out). . Further, since an index can be added, reference and search are more convenient than before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a direct print adapter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of input / output device connection of a direct print adapter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a digital data processing unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration example of a data processing module.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a processing program group and a print data module.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an image image selecting operation in a digital camera mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an operation panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a process selection screen such as a mode selection screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image selection screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image selection screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Adapter body (direct print adapter) 2 Printer 3 Digital camera 4, 5 Video equipment 6 Video monitor 8, 9 Scanner 21, 31, 32, 36, 37 Interface 90 Operation panel (input means) 110 Video signal processing unit 120 Data transfer Direction switching unit 130 Input / output control unit 140 Digital data processing unit (data processing unit) 142 Memory 206 Selected image display program (Selected image display unit) 208 Screen selection program (Image selection unit) 209 Index assignment program (Index assignment unit) 210 Set value display program (number display means) 211 Window display program (photographing information display means) 212 Close-up program (close-up means) 303 Number of additional prints (desired number) 304 Cursor 30 Selected image 305 selected image candidate (printout image candidate) 307 imaging information

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image data fetched into a memory are displayed in a screen of a display device in a predetermined size and arranged in a matrix of m × n, and an image displayed at a position where a cursor is stopped is selected. An image selection method comprising selecting a selected image from the selected image candidates, inputting a desired number of prints, and displaying the desired number of prints at a position corresponding to the selected image. 2. The image selection method according to claim 1, wherein photographing information of the selected image candidate is displayed in a window on a screen of a display device. 3. The image selection method according to claim 1, wherein the image of the selected image candidate is enlarged and displayed in a window on the screen of the display device. 4. The image selection method according to claim 1, wherein each of the images arranged in a predetermined size of m × n in the screen of the display device is indexed. And the index are displayed in association with each other, and further, the desired number of selected images is displayed in association with the selected image,
An image selection method characterized by storing image data, image data and shooting information, image data and index, or image data, index and shooting information in a nonvolatile storage medium. 5. A video signal processing unit which can connect at least a printer, a digital camera and a video device and converts a video signal input from the video device into digital data, a data processing unit, and a video signal from the image data. A display processing unit for restoring and displaying on a video monitor, a data transfer direction switching unit for switching a data transfer direction by a switching control signal from the input / output control unit, an input / output control unit, and an instruction signal to the data processing unit. In the video mode, video data from the video signal processing unit is taken into the memory as image data, and in the digital camera mode, image data as a result of imaging by the digital camera is received and taken into the memory, Direct printing that processes image data captured in memory and outputs it as print data An adapter, selected image display means for displaying a plurality of image data fetched into the memory in a video monitor arranged in a predetermined size m × n, and selecting an image at a position where a cursor is stopped. Image selection means as candidates, number input means for inputting a desired number of selected images selected from the selected image candidates, and number display means for displaying the desired number in correspondence with the selected image A direct print adapter. 6. The direct print adapter according to claim 5, wherein in a digital camera mode, image data and photographing information as a result of photographing by the digital camera are received and stored in a memory, and photographing information of a selected image candidate is displayed. A direct print adapter, comprising: photographing information display means for displaying a window on a screen of the apparatus. 7. The direct print adapter according to claim 5, wherein the image data as a result of reading by the scanner is received and taken into a memory, and the image data taken into the memory is displayed on a video monitor.
A direct print adapter having a scanner mode in which image data of a selected image is processed and output as print data. 8. The direct print adapter according to claim 5, further comprising: an index assigning unit for assigning an index to each image arranged in the screen of the video monitor, wherein the image selecting unit assigns an index to the image selected by the image selecting unit. Direct print adapter characterized by specifying and selecting. 9. The direct print adapter according to claim 5, further comprising close-up means for enlarging the selected image candidate and displaying the selected image in a window. 10. The direct print adapter according to claim 5, wherein an index is added to the image data when the print data corresponding to the selected image is sent to the printer. A direct print adapter for sending to a printer. 11. The direct print adapter according to claim 5, further comprising a storage device connected thereto, and image data, image data, photographing information, and image data displayed on a display device. And the index, or the image data, the index and the photographing information are stored in a non-volatile storage medium, and the stored image data, the image data and the photographing information, the image data and the index, or the image data, the index and the photographing information are stored at a desired time. A direct print adapter having a save / reproduce mode for extracting display data or displaying data or printing data.