JPH11155120A - Digital camera system capable of being integrally coupled with printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer system weigh good operability by removablly and integrally coupling a digital camera and a printer without going via a connection cord and transferring image data as soon as the digital camera is mounted. SOLUTION: In a digital camera system that is coupled integrally with a printer 2 where a digital camera 1 is coupled integrally with the printer 2 by sliding the digital camera 1 in a direction of the arrow, while directing a liquid crystal display screen 6 upward, image data in the digital camera are automatically transferred to a memory of the printer 2, when the digital camera is mounted by setting a transfer mode switch 19 to an automatic mode (A).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera system which can be integrally connected to a printer, and more particularly to improvement of operability thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital camera and a printer are generally connected via a connection cord or via a personal computer to a printer connected to the personal computer. .

[0003]

The former method has problems that the connection of the cord is complicated and troublesome, the structure is not suitable for saving space, and the power supply must be turned on separately. . In the latter method, a personal computer must be operated, the operation is complicated, the system becomes large, and it cannot be said that it is easy and simple.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera and a printer which are detachably connected together without using a connection cord, and which uses a liquid crystal screen of the camera at the time of printing to provide excellent visibility and operability. It is to provide a good printer system.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a digital camera system comprising a printer and a digital camera integrally connected to the printer, wherein the digital camera system is connected to one side of the printer. The digital camera has a liquid crystal screen portion which is directly connected to an image output terminal portion of the digital camera, and a liquid crystal screen portion of the digital camera is installed facing upward or frontward. In a digital camera system that can be integrated with a printer configured to display and print out by using a part of the operation unit on the digital camera or the printer side, the image output terminal of the digital camera is connected to the printer. Detecting means for detecting the direct connection to the connecting part of Recording means capable of recording image data, wherein image data recorded in the digital camera is automatically transferred to and recorded by the recording means provided in the printer based on detection information of the detection means. And a digital camera system that can be integrated with the printer. According to the above configuration, since the printer and the digital camera are integrally connected, the printer and the digital camera have a simple connection structure without taking up space, and a system for printing out a captured image with good visibility and operability can be realized.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. The digital camera 1 has a liquid crystal screen 6
And an operation unit 13 including a plurality of buttons for photographing, adjustment, and the like is disposed on the left side of the liquid crystal screen 6. On the upper right side of the liquid crystal screen 6, an image feed selection button 10 is provided.

The image feed selection button 10 is used to sequentially reproduce each photographed frame, select a desired image, and is also used when printing out. A release button 14 is arranged near the upper right end of the digital camera 1. At the center of the upper surface of the printer 2, a coupling groove 18 having an opening 18a on the right side is provided. The coupling groove 18 plays a role of a guide when the digital camera 1 is fitted and a function of holding after the fitting. A connector support 17 (see FIG. 3) is provided at the left end of the coupling groove 18. A grip 3 for holding down the printer 2 when the digital camera 1 is attached or detached is provided near the left end of the upper surface of the printer 2. A power button 9 is provided near the lower end of the upper surface of the printer 2, and a print button 11 is provided at the right end.
However, a mode switching button 19 is provided at the center.

An eject operation knob 7 for detaching the mounted digital camera 1 and a printout section 8 are provided on the front side (front side) of the printer 2. Printer 2
The printer tray 4 that accommodates the photographic paper 12 is mounted on the back of the printer.

When the digital camera 1 is mounted, the user presses the grip 3 and inserts the digital camera 1 with the liquid crystal screen 6 facing upward from the opening 18a side of the coupling groove 18. The digital camera 1 is guided by the coupling groove 18 so that the female connector 15 at the lower part of the digital camera is fitted into the male connector 16 of the connector support 17 and integrally connected, and a lock mechanism (see FIG. 4).
Locks the camera so that it does not come off the connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the fitting mechanism. The connector female 15 of the digital camera 1 is provided on the camera lens side, and its connection surface is L from the camera end.
It is only a distance away. Note that the value of L may be set to 0 so that the connection surface is located at the side surface of the camera. The connector support 17 has a U-shape, and a connector male 16 is provided at the center thereof. The female connector 15 is fitted to the male connector 16, the connector peripheral surface 1a on the camera lens side contacts the upper surface 17a of the connector support 17, and the side walls 18a and 18b of the coupling groove 18 contact the bottom surface 1b and the upper surface 1c of the camera. Therefore, the position when the camera is fitted is fixed. A detection switch 18c is provided on the side wall 18a, and is pressed against the bottom surface 1b of the camera when the camera is fitted. When the detection switch 18c is pressed, the detection switch is turned on.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of a printer system according to the present invention. When the digital camera is mounted on the printer, the camera-side I / F unit 50 and the printer-side I / F unit 51 are electrically connected. The operation unit 43 corresponds to a portion including the camera-side operation unit 13 and the image feed selection button 10 when associated with FIG. 1, and the operation unit 55 corresponds to a portion including the power button 9 and the print button 11, respectively.

When the power is turned on by the operation unit 55, the power supply circuit 53 powers on itself and sends the power supply energy to the power supply control circuit 41 on the digital camera side. When the controller (1) 42 of the digital camera controls the power supply control circuit 41, power supply energy from the printer side is supplied to the battery 40, and the battery 40 is charged when it is not in a fully charged state.

The controller (1) 42 includes an imaging unit 44,
The image processing section 45 reads out the image in the memory 46 that has been photographed and stored, and reproduces and displays the image on a liquid crystal monitor (corresponding to a liquid crystal display section) 48 via a liquid crystal driver 47. Operation unit 43
By operating the image feed selection button, images can be sequentially reproduced and displayed, and an image to be printed can be selected. When the print button of the operation unit 55 is pressed, the controller (2) 54 sends a control signal to the controller (1) 42, and the controller (1) 42 reads out the displayed image from the memory 46, and sends it to the controller (2) 54. send. The controller (2) 54 drives the printer driver 57 to convert the image transmitted thereto into a printer unit 58.
Print with. The I / F connector 52 and the I / F connector 49 are connectors for connecting cables.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart when the camera is mounted. Camera 1 is mounted and detection switch 18c
Is turned on, the printer 2 is powered on, and the power supply circuit 53 of the digital camera sends the power supply circuit 53 power supply energy.

Thereafter, when the transfer mode switch 19 is in the automatic transfer mode, all the image data recorded in the digital camera is automatically transferred to the memory in the printer. After the transfer, the image data recorded in the digital camera is deleted. At this time, it is also possible to display a confirmation message on the LCD screen of the digital camera or the like. For example, select whether or not to delete with the image feed button 10 of the digital camera according to the message on the LCD screen, and press the release button 14. Can be determined.
Further, the memory of the printer 2 can be stored by using a removable recording medium such as a PC card, and can be used by other devices. After transferring the image data, the battery 4
0 is charged when the battery is not fully charged. Thereafter, if the power button 9 of the printer is not turned on, the power of the printer is automatically turned off. Here, when the transfer mode switch 19 is OFF, only the battery 40 is charged.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, a printer and a digital camera are integrally connected to each other, so that the printer and the digital camera have a simple connection structure without taking up space, and a printout system of a digital camera photographed image having good visibility and operability. Can be provided.

When the digital camera is mounted on the printer, the data is automatically transferred to the memory of the printer, the image data in the digital camera is deleted, and the battery of the digital camera is charged by the power supply on the printer side.
Just by attaching the digital camera to the printer, there is no problem such as the amount of digital camera recording being small during the next shooting while saving the image data, saving the work of saving the image data data and shortening the time Can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a fitting mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of the printer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a flowchart when a camera is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera 2 ... Printer 3 ... Grip 4 ... Printer tray 6 ... Liquid crystal screen 7 ... Eject operation knob 8 ... Printout part 9 ... Power button 10. ··· Image feed selection button 11 ··· Print button 12 ··· Printing paper 13 ··· Camera operation unit 14 ··· Release button 15 ··· Connector female (image output terminal part) 16 ··· Connector male 17 ... Connector support stand 18 ... Connection groove 19 ... Transfer mode switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A system comprising a printer and a digital camera integrally connected to the printer, the system having a connection portion on one side of the printer and being directly connected to an image output terminal portion of the digital camera. The LCD screen of the camera is installed facing upwards or forwards, displays the image to be printed on the LCD screen of the digital camera at the same time as the system power is turned on, and prints using a part of the operation unit on the digital camera or printer side. In a digital camera system that can be integrated with a printer configured to output, the printer can record image data and detection means for detecting that the image output terminal of the digital camera is directly connected to a connection of the printer. Recording means, and automatically detects Wherein the image data recorded in the digital camera is transferred to the recording means provided in the printer for recording.