JPH1023361A - Video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the operation in the case of printing out a still image by using a detection means to detect whether video information VS is a moving image or a still image, allowing the user to depress a memory button and a print button when the information is a moving image and to depress only the print button when the information is a still image. SOLUTION: When a power button of a video printer 20 is depressed, a moving image or a still image of a current video signal VS of a video equipment is displayed on a monitor 9. Whether the input video signal BS is a moving image or a still image is discriminated. The discrimination is conducted manually by the user and a changeover switch 14 is operated or a still image/ moving image detection circuit 13 is used to detect a motion of the input image for automatic discrimination. When the input image is discriminated to be a still image, a CPU 6 allows the monitor to display a guidance of depressing a print button 5a and also its still image immediately. When the user depresses the button 5a according to the guidance, the input still image is stored in a memory 4 and the CPU 6 allows a thermal head 12 to print out the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color video printer suitable for a printer which takes in video information, prints it on a hard copy, and prints it out.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various color video printers have been proposed which take in video information to obtain a hard copy print. Such a color video printer 1 was configured as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, a video signal VS from a VTR, a video camera or the like is supplied to an input terminal T ₁ and supplied to an analog signal processing circuit 1 to perform analog signal processing such as Y / C separation. The decoder 2 converts the signals into, for example, R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color signals in accordance with the video signal VS.
After being converted into video data formed of a digital color signal by an analog-to-digital conversion circuit (A / D) 3 and further converted to analog by a digital-to-analog conversion circuit (D / A) and encoded by an encoder and drive circuit 8, Driving a monitor device 9 such as a CRT to convert it into an original video signal,
An image of the input video signal is displayed on a monitor device.

When a predetermined video signal is printed out by the color video printer 20, first, when the user wants to print while watching the image on the monitor displayed on the monitor device 9, the user operates a predetermined operation device of the operation unit 5. For example, when the memory button 5a for selecting a scene to be printed is operated, the image currently displayed on the monitor device 9 from the A / D 3 is stored in the memory 4. The memory 4 has a capacity capable of storing at least frame (field) data. Thus, the video data to be printed can be stored in the memory 4 while monitoring the monitor device 9.

When the image to be printed and stored in the memory 4 in this manner, the CPU 6
, And outputs the video data to the monitor device 9 via the D / A 7, the encoder and the drive circuit 8,
The image of the video data to be printed out stored in the memory 4 can be confirmed.

Therefore, when the target image displayed on the monitor device 9 is not a desired memory image, it is desired to switch to the input image side with the input image / memory image switching button 5c of the operation unit 5 and print out the image stored in the memory. If it is determined that the image is an image, a predetermined operator in the operation unit 5, for example, a print button 5b
Is pressed, the video data stored in the memory 4 via the CPU 6 and the color processing circuit 10 is
1, the controller 11 drives and controls the thermal head 12 so that the image of the video data stored in the memory 4 can be printed on a hard copy paper in a predetermined color tone and printed out. .

[0007]

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A video signal VS inputted to the color video printer 20 in the input terminal T ₁ of the conventional construction described above is one scene you want from videos changed continuously image data from a video camera or the like It is designed to select and print out. That is, many video printers operate a button (memory button, capture button, etc.) for selecting a scene to be printed when a desired scene to be printed out is found from a moving image being monitored like the memory button described above. After that, the print button is operated to print the moving image of the predetermined scene on the hard copy paper and print out, so that at least two operation procedures are required.

[0008] Exceptionally, a print button operated when printing is intended, and a button for selecting a predetermined scene (hereinafter, referred to as a button).
A simple color video printer that also serves as a print button by sharing the same function as a memory button has been proposed.
In such a printer, the scene of the screen is determined and the printing operation is performed at once by using only the print button 5b. Therefore, even if the timing of the scene to be printed is shifted, one scene of a desired moving image is printed out. There was a problem that could not be done.

When the image to be printed is a moving image as described above, it is desirable to print out a desired scene correctly by operating two buttons. For example, digital information of a still image having no change in scene is input. When
There was a problem that printing was not possible just by pressing the print button without operating the memory button and the print button, and without operating the memory button (the button for determining the scene), and the operation became cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to print only by pressing a print button when an input signal is a still image, so that the operation is not troublesome. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color video printer (hereinafter referred to as a video printer).

[0011]

A video printer according to the present invention stores video information VS in a storage means 4 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Printer 2 that reads and prints
0, detecting means 13 for detecting whether the video information VS to the video printer 20 is still image information or moving image information, and storing the video information VS in the storage means 4 and storing the stored video information VS. Operating means 5a for checking the video information, second operating means 5b for printing the video information VS, and first and second operating means 5a and 5b.
And a control unit 6 to which the output of the detection unit 13 is supplied and which controls the storage unit 4 and the printing unit 12. When the detection unit 13 detects that the video information VS is a moving image, the first and second operation units 5a and 5b are operated, the video information of the moving image is printed by the printing means 12 via the control means 6, and if it is a still image, only the second operation means 5b is operated and the control means 6 is used. It is formed by printing a still image by the printing means 12.

According to the video printer of the present invention, the printing operation at the time of printing a still image can be simplified, and one field or frame image of a desired predetermined scene when printing a moving image is determined and printed. You can check the image. Further, the procedure at the time of printing can be displayed on a monitor device or the like to provide guidance.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a video printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is a flowchart of the video printer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system diagram of the video printer of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the video printer of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the operation unit of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the operation method of this invention, Comprising: FIG.
Corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

First, an embodiment of the video printer of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the system diagram of FIG. 2 and the configuration diagrams of FIGS.

[0015] In the diagram of FIG. 2, or different from FIG. 7 is a CPU6 current, or motion picture video signal VS is supplied to the input terminal T ₁ is a still image in this example And a still image / moving image detection circuit 13 for supplying a detection signal for detecting the detection.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, control data is input to the still image / moving image detection circuit 13 from the moving image input terminal T ₂ or the still image input terminal T ₃ via a manual input image change switch 14. When the contact piece a is in contact with the fixed contact piece b, the output of the still / moving image detection circuit 13 is
, For example, outputs binary data “1” and outputs binary data “0” when the contact piece a is in contact with the fixed contact piece c.
U6 determines whether the input video signal is a moving image or a still image.

Further, a character generator 15 is provided. The CPU 6 controls the character generator 15 to generate a predetermined character for guidance, which will be described later, and outputs the CR to the monitor 9 via the encoder and drive circuit 8.
Guidance characters are displayed on a screen such as T at a predetermined timing. Other circuit configurations are the same as those in FIG.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are external views of the video printer of the present embodiment. The video printer 20 has a photographic paper discharge port 22 for discharging printed photographic paper 25 on the front surface of a housing 21 thereof. The operation unit 5 is provided on the upper surface of the photographic paper discharge port 22.
Are formed, and various operation button groups are provided.

These operation buttons are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
For example, it comprises a memory button 5a, a print button 5b, an input image / memory image switching button 5c, a reproduction stop button 5d, and the like. And power button (not shown) on the front of the casing 21, moving image or the input image selector switch 14 or the like for switching a still image manually is provided, further to the right wall input terminal T ₁ and the output terminal T ₄ A video device 24 such as a VTR or a video camera is connected to the input terminal T ₁ , and the monitor device 9 is connected to the output terminal T ₄ . Also, the housing 2 of this example
A video camera station terminal to which a video camera or the like can be directly fitted when the cover 23 disposed on the upper portion 1 is removed is provided.

The operation of the video printer of this embodiment in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1 and the display monitor screen of FIG.

[0021] In the flowchart of FIG. 1, the moving image or still image of the current video signal VS being imaged, for example a video camera of the video equipment 24 when the power button of the first step ST ₁ the video printer 20 to introduce Analog signal processing circuit 1 → decoder 2 → A / D3 → D / A7 →
Monitor device 9 via encoder and drive circuit 8
It is displayed as the second step ST ₂ above.

The third step ST ₃ the video signal VS inputted in performs a still image or determine video. In the system diagrams and configuration diagrams of FIGS. 2 and 3 to 4, the user manually determines whether the moving image is a still image and operates the changeover switch 14 to determine the still image / moving image. For example, when the motion of the input image is detected by the moving image detecting circuit 13 and there is no motion for a certain period of time or more, the image is automatically determined to be a still image, and this determination data is supplied to the CPU 6 so that
U6 can automatically determine whether the image is a still image or a moving image, and can perform the operation after the third step.

As the above-mentioned motion detection circuit, the configuration previously proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-302563 (television signal transmission system) can be used.

If it is determined in the third step ST ₃ that the image is a moving image, the CPU 6 causes the character generator 15 → encoder and drive circuit 8 shown in FIG. As shown in Fig. 5A above, "Press the memory button and select the image you want to print."
Is displayed as shown in FIG.

[0025] Based on the first guidance 27 and select one scene of the moving image 28 to be printed as users fifth step ST ₅ pressing the memory button 5a,
CPU6 stores as shown a scene content of the moving image 28 on the display surface 26 of the monitor device 9 to a sixth step ST ₆ to the memory 4.

In the next seventh step ST ₇ , the CPU 6 displays one scene 28 of the moving image stored in the memory 4 on the monitor 9.
Is displayed on the display surface 26.

Here, the user judges whether the input image or the memory image is present, and when the scene of the moving image stored in the memory 4 is different from the scene to be printed, pressing the input image / memory image switching button 5c causes the second step ST. Returned to ₂ ,
The input image is displayed on the display surface 26 of the monitor device 9. Thereafter, with the scenes of the moving image to be printed in the desired repeating the operation of the second step ST ₂ to eighth step ST ₈ described above, the moving image scene on the monitor unit 9 is determined to a memory image to be printed , 9th step S
As of T ₉ and FIG. 15B "to press the print button 5b"
The second guidance 29 is displayed on the display surface 26 of the monitor device 9.

Based on the second guidance 29, the first
If pressed print button 5b as shown in 0 step ST ₁₀ CPU 6 drives control one scene of the moving image stored in the memory 4 via the path of the color processing circuit 10 → the controller 11 → the thermal head 12, discharging the printing paper that has been printed from the paper discharge port 22 of the video printer (14 step ST ₁₄₎ to reach the end. Of course, in the case of moving image printing, even if the print button 5b is directly pressed without pressing the memory button 5a to take in an input image, the print button is not accepted.

On the other hand, when the input image in the third step ST ₃ is determined to be a still image, the process proceeds to the eleventh step ST _11, CPU 6 presses immediately print button 5a as shown in FIG. 15A '"-like A still image 31 is displayed on the monitor device 9 simultaneously with the third guidance 30.

Next, the user inputs a still image as shown in the thirteenth step ST ₁₃ when pressing the print button 5a as in the twelfth step ST ₁₂ based on the third guidance 30 is stored in the memory 4, CPU4 would lead to end performs printing proceeds to the fourteenth step ST ₁₄ through the color processing circuit 10 → the controller 11 → the thermal head 12 at the same time.

In the configuration of the present embodiment described above, the guidance characters formed by the character generator 15 are displayed on the display surface 26 of the monitor device 9. However, guidance can be provided as shown in FIG. 6A and 6B are plan views showing operation buttons near the operation unit 5 of the video printer 20 when a moving image is printed out, and FIG. 6A 'is a similar video printer 20 when a still image is printed out. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a group of operation buttons near the operation unit 5, and display means 32 and 33 such as LEDs are disposed near the memory button 5a and the print button 5b.

The instruction to press the memory button to the user by LED32 is lit or blinks in memory button pressing instruction when the input image or moving image corresponding to the fourth step ST ₄ in FIG. 1 on the upper side of the memory buttons 5a I do.

[0033] Similarly pressed print instruction button shown in 10 step ST ₁₀ is turned on or blinks the LED33 on the upper side of the print button 5b as shown in Figure 6B.

The printing press indicated at 11 step ST ₁₁ when printing out the same still image is FIG 6A '
The LED 33 on the print button 5b is directly lit like
Alternatively, the procedure instruction may be provided by flashing. Needless to say, in this case, the character generator 15 shown in FIG. 2 is unnecessary, and an LED drive circuit is provided instead and the CPU 6 controls the character generator.

Also, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 1, by operating procedures that do not give guidance such as a memory pressing instruction or a print pressing instruction, a printout can be performed only by pressing the print button immediately only for a still image. It can also be done.

Further, in the jump operation method as a still / moving image detecting circuit, the above-described motion detecting method using the motion detector divides one horizontal line into several small sections and outputs a motion discrimination signal for each section. I do. This motion discrimination takes the difference between each point of the current field and the previous field in the section, and if the sum of the absolute values is higher than a certain threshold value, the motion is judged to be a moving picture. In this case, since there is no change in the luminance for each frame, a signal having no change in the luminance signal is output to the CPU 6 as a still image, or a signal capable of identifying a still image or a moving image is sent to a video printer separately from the video signal. The signal may be detected by the CPU.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, if the input signal is a still image, it can be printed out immediately by operating the print button only once, and if the input signal is a moving image, the image is printed before printing. 1 in the video you want to
After confirming the scene, a desired scene in which one field or one frame image is stored in the memory can be printed out. Further, guidance is provided for the procedure for pressing the operation buttons at the time of printing, so that a video printer which is easy to handle can be provided.

[0038]

According to the video printer of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. 1. When the input signal is a still image, printing can be performed by operating only one button. 2. If the input signal is a moving image, a desired field or frame image is determined before printing, and the image to be printed can be confirmed. 3. The guidance display for performing a print operation is switched in accordance with whether the input signal is a moving image or a still image, and an appropriate operation can be guided to the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a video printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of a video printer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a video printer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the vicinity of an operation unit of the video printer of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation method of the video printer of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another operation method of the video printer of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram of a conventional video printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 memory, 5 operation unit, 5a memory button, 5b print button, 6 CPU, 9 monitor device, 12 thermal head, 13 still / moving image detection circuit, 15 character generator, 20 video printer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A video printer which stores video information in a storage means and reads out and prints the video information stored in the storage means, wherein the video information to the video printer is still image information or moving image data. Detection means for detecting whether the information is information, first operation means for storing the video information in the storage means and capable of confirming the stored video information, and second operation for printing the video information Means, and control means for receiving the outputs of the first and second operating means and the detecting means, and controlling the storage means and the printing means, wherein the video information is a moving image by the detecting means. Operates the first and second operation means, prints video information of a moving image by the printing means via the control means, and is a still image. Video printer, characterized in that only operating the second operating means formed by printing a still image by the printing means via the control means. 2. A video printer according to claim 1, wherein said detection means is detected via a manual switching means for switching between a moving image input and a still image input. 3. The video printer according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means is a motion detecting means for detecting a motion of video information. 4. The switching means according to claim 1, wherein said detection means is a switching means for adding an identification signal capable of identifying a still image or a moving image to said video information and detecting said identification signal. A video printer as described. 5. The video printer according to claim 1, wherein an operation procedure of said first and second operation means is displayed or notified.