JPH11317897A - Camera apparatus with printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a camera apparatus with printer small. SOLUTION: The camera apparatus is provided with a digital camera section 3 that photographs an object to store a photographed image and with a printer section 4 that prints out the photographed image stored in the digital camera section 3 onto recording paper, and also with a grip section 2 that support the camera apparatus by gripping the grip s2 by fingers and the printer section 4 is incorporated in the grip section 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera device equipped with a printer, which includes a camera unit for photographing a subject and storing a photographed image, and a printer unit for printing the photographed image stored in the camera unit on recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an electronic camera with a printer,
There is a housing in which a camera unit and a printer unit are housed in a housing, and a hand grip unit is provided in a lower part of a housing in which a camera unit and a printer unit are housed. In these cameras, a discharge port for discharging recording paper printed by the printer unit is provided in front of the camera.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional camera apparatus with a printer, if the housing housing the camera section and the printer section is box-shaped, the holding property in the photographing posture is poor, and the camera section and In the case where the hand grip section is provided below the housing that houses the printer section, the shape of the camera device becomes large, and a heavy printer section is arranged on the hand grip by a printer mechanism or the like. not good.

In a conventional camera device with a printer,
Since the recording paper discharge port is provided on the front, the print image is discharged to a position where it is difficult for the photographer to print continuously when printing continuously with the printer unit while taking continuous images with the camera unit. , Its usability was not good.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made to reduce the size of a camera device with a printer.
Includes an easy-to-use printer that enhances the hold performance when shooting, and allows the photographer to easily take a continuous shot while checking the printed image when printing a shot image on the spot while shooting. It is an object to provide a camera device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a camera apparatus with a printer, comprising: a camera section for photographing a subject and storing a photographed image; and a printer section for printing the photographed image stored in the camera section on recording paper. , A grip portion for holding the camera device by gripping with a finger is provided, and the printer portion is built in the grip portion.

As a result, since the printer section is built in the grip section, the space in the apparatus housing can be effectively used, and the size of the camera apparatus can be reduced.

Further, the grip portion is provided on a side portion of the camera device. Thus, by providing a printer unit including a printer mechanism having a relatively gravitational force on the grip unit, the holdability of the camera at the time of photographing is stabilized and the operability is excellent.

[0009] The grip portion may be detachably attached to one or the other side of the camera device. Thereby, the grip portion incorporating the printer can be further mounted on either side of the camera portion, so that the right or left handed camera grip can be selected as required by the user.

The grip portion has a grip surface formed on a side surface of the grip portion to be gripped by a finger, an insertion opening for inserting recording paper into a printer portion built in the grip portion on an upper surface or a lower surface, and a printed recording surface. An outlet for discharging paper is provided.

The printer unit includes a storage unit for storing recording paper. The grip unit has a grip surface formed by a finger on a side surface, and is built in the grip unit on an upper surface or a lower surface. And a discharge port for discharging the recording paper printed by the printer unit.

Thus, since the recording paper is fed from the upper surface or the lower surface of the grip portion excluding the grip surface, the photographer can easily print the photographed image when printing the photographed image on the spot while photographing. It is possible to shoot continuously while checking.

An operation button for instructing photographing of a subject by the camera unit and printing of a photographed image by the printer unit is provided on an outer surface of the grip unit or an apparatus housing near the grip unit.

That is, by providing operation buttons for instructing photographing of the camera section and printing of the printer section on the outer surface of the housing at or near the grip section, it is possible to provide a camera apparatus with a printer which is easy to use.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a camera device with a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the electronic camera with a printer shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera main body, and reference numeral 2 denotes a grip provided on a side portion of the camera main body. The camera body 1 is provided with a digital camera unit 3, and the grip unit 2 is provided with a printer unit 4 (the internal structure will be described later).

On the front of the camera body 1, a taking lens 5,
A flash 6 is provided. A liquid crystal display (not shown) for displaying an image at the time of shooting and playback is provided on the back of the camera body 1. Also, on the upper surface 2b of the camera body,
A power key 7 for instructing power supply to the digital camera unit 3 and the printer unit 4, a photographing mode for photographing a subject, a reproducing mode for reproducing a recorded photographed image, and recording a photographed image An operation mode setting key 8 is provided for setting any one of the print modes when printing and outputting on paper.

A grip surface 2a is provided on the outer surface of the grip unit 2 (printer unit 4) to indicate a camera device with a printer by gripping with fingers, and is formed in a shape that is easy to grip. Upper surface 2 of grip section 2
b, a shutter button of the digital camera unit 3;
An operation button 9 for instructing a start of a printing operation of the printer unit 4
Is provided, and an insertion / ejection port 10 for inserting recording paper into the housing of the printer unit 4 (grip unit 2) or inserting the recording paper into the housing is provided. The operation button 9 is provided not only on the upper surface 2b of the grip portion 2 but also on the outer surface of the device housing in or near the grip portion.
The grip portion 2 can be provided at a position where the operation becomes easy when the grip portion 2 is gripped with fingers.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the printer unit 4 shown in FIG. The printer unit 4 is provided with a printer mechanism including a thermal head 11 and a platen roller 12 on a frame (not shown), and a recording paper transport mechanism including transport rollers 13 and 14.

Further, the printer mechanism of the printer unit 4 includes:
A head moving mechanism for pressing and separating the thermal head 11 from and against the platen roller 12 and a motor for driving the head moving mechanism and the transport rollers 13 and 14 are also provided.
Further, an electronic circuit of the printer unit 4 described later is also provided.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a driving battery for the printer unit 4.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes an insertion / ejection port through which the recording paper 20a of a standard size is inserted and ejected. The recording paper 20a is made of a thermosensitive recording material. In the printer unit 4 shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 20a inserted from the insertion / ejection port 10 at the start of printing is sent into the printer by the transport mechanism, and thereafter, the recording paper 20a is ejected toward the insertion / ejection port 10. While being printed by the printing mechanism.

The discharge port 1 is provided on the lower surface 2c of the grip portion 2.
0c, and the insertion / ejection port 10 provided on the upper surface 2b.
May be used only for inserting the recording paper, and a paper transport path may be used in which the recording paper 20a is inserted from the upper surface 2b and discharged from the lower surface 2c. Alternatively, the recording paper 20a may be inserted from the lower surface 2c and discharged from the upper surface 2b.
May be provided with the insertion / ejection port 10c, and the recording paper 20a may be inserted / ejected only with the lower surface 2c.

FIG. 3 shows a continuous recording paper 2 wound in a roll shape.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer unit 4 that uses the printer unit 0b. A storage section 16 for storing the continuous recording paper 20b is formed in the printer section 4, and a roll paper made of a heat-sensitive recording material is rotatably stored therein. The printing mechanism and recording paper transport mechanism are the same as in FIG. Reference numeral 17 denotes a cutter for cutting the recording paper 20b which has been printed and discharged outside the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electronic circuit of the camera device with a printer. The CCD 21 is an imaging element (photoelectric conversion element) that converts an image formed by the imaging lens 5 into an analog electric signal and outputs the analog electric signal. Driver 22 is C
A circuit for driving the CD 21 according to a timing signal output from the timing generator 23;
D21 is driven. Analog / digital conversion circuit 25
Is a circuit for converting an analog signal amplified by the amplifier 24 into a digital signal. The image memory 26 is a memory for storing a plurality of screens of the digital signal converted by the analog / digital conversion circuit 25. CPU27
Controls the digital camera unit 3 and the printer 4 based on the control program stored in the ROM 28. Reference numeral 29 denotes a flash control circuit for adjusting the amount of light and causing the flash 6 to emit light. The video signal generator 30 generates a digital video signal by adding a synchronization signal or the like to a digital image signal output from the analog / digital conversion circuit 25 or the image memory 26. The VRAM 31 is a memory for storing digital video signals. The digital / analog conversion circuit 32 converts the digital video signal output from the video signal generator 30 into an analog video signal,
This is a circuit for outputting to a liquid crystal display 33 as a display unit. The liquid crystal display 33 drives the liquid crystal based on the analog video signal supplied from the digital / analog conversion circuit 32 via the amplifier 34, and displays a captured image. A key input unit 35 includes the power key 7, the operation mode setting key 8, and the operation button 9 described above. The printer unit 4 prints the image data of the captured image stored in the image memory 26 of the digital camera unit 3.

Reference numerals 36 and 37 denote other camera devices with a printer in which the digital camera unit 3 and the printer 4 are detachable (second embodiment).
And a connector for electrically connecting the printer unit 4 to the printer.

In this camera device with a printer, when the operation mode key 8 is set to the photographing mode, the operation button 9 is operated, so that an analog signal for one screen is output from the CCD 21 and the analog signal is output. The digital signal is converted into a digital signal by the digital conversion circuit 25 and stored in the image memory 26 as image data. Then, print data is created based on the image data stored in the image memory 26, and the printer unit 4 prints the image on recording paper. In the photographing mode, the liquid crystal display unit 33 functions as a viewfinder, and an image is displayed based on an output from the CCD 21. When the operation mode is set to the reproduction mode, the image data of the captured image stored in the image memory 26 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 33. When the operation mode is set to the print mode, the image data of the captured image stored in the image memory 26 can be printed by the printer unit 4 by operating the operation button 9.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of a camera device with a printer according to the second embodiment. In the camera device with a printer shown in FIG. 5, the digital camera unit 3 and the printer unit 4 are detachable. On both sides of the digital camera unit 3 (sides on which the photographing lens 5 and the liquid crystal display unit 33 are not provided), projections 40a, 4
0b is provided, and below the projections 40a and 40b,
Connectors 36a and 36b (connector 36b is not shown) are provided, respectively.

On the other hand, the printer unit 4 has concave grooves 41a, 41a on both sides (portions where the grip surface 2a is not provided).
b, and connectors 37a, 37
7b (the connector 37a is not shown).

The projections 40a, 4 of the digital camera section 3
0b denotes concave grooves 41a, 41b provided in the printer section 4.
And the connectors 36a and 36b of the digital camera unit 3 can be electrically connected to any of the connectors 37a and 37b of the printer unit 4.

That is, the protrusions 40a and 40b and the concave grooves 4
The printer unit 4 and the digital camera unit 3 are mechanically connected to each other by fitting the first unit 1a and the first unit 41b in an arbitrary combination. Connected.

Since these mechanical / electrical coupling structures are provided on both left and right sides of the digital camera unit 3 and the printer unit 4, the printer unit 4 is connected to either the right side or the left side of the digital camera unit 3. It is possible to
In other words, the grip unit 2 can be located on either the left or right side of the digital camera unit 3. For example, the arrangement of the grip unit 2 (printer unit 4) can be selected to the left or right according to the dominant arm. And convenient.

[0031]

As described above, according to the camera device with a printer according to the present invention, since the printer unit is built in the grip unit, it is possible to effectively use space and reduce the size of the camera device. it can. In addition, by providing a printer unit including a printer mechanism having a relatively gravitational force in the grip unit, the holdability of the camera at the time of photographing is stabilized and the operability is excellent. In addition, since the recording paper is fed from the top surface of the grip part excluding the grip surface, etc., when printing a captured image on the spot while shooting, the photographer can easily check the printed image while checking it continuously. To take a picture. Furthermore, since the grip section containing the printer can be attached to either side of the camera section, the user can select the camera grip with the right hand or the left hand as required by the user, and the grip section or the housing of the housing in the vicinity thereof can be selected. By providing operation buttons for instructing photographing of the camera unit and printing of the printer unit on the outer surface, a camera device with a printer that is easy to use can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic camera with a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of another printer unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electronic circuit of the electronic camera with a printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic camera with a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Grip part 3 ... Digital camera part 4 ... Printer part 5 ... Shooting lens 6 ... Flash 7 ... Power key 8 ... Operation mode setting key 9 ... Operation button 10 ... Insertion / discharge port 11 ... Thermal head 12 ... Platen rollers 13, 14 Transport rollers 15 Driving batteries 36, 37 Connectors 40 Projections 41 Grooves

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 5/781 (72) Inventor Kenji Kobayashi 3-2-1, Sakaemachi, Hamura-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Hamura Technical Center (72 Inventor Takeuchi Kensaku 3-2-1, Sakaemachi, Hamura-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Hamura Technical Center

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A camera device with a printer, comprising: a camera unit for photographing a subject and storing a photographed image; and a printer unit for printing the photographed image stored in the camera unit on recording paper. A camera device with a printer, wherein a grip portion for holding the camera device is provided, and the printer portion is built in the grip portion. 2. The camera device with a printer according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is disposed on a side portion of the camera device. 3. The camera device with a printer according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is detachably attached to one or the other side of the camera device. 4. The grip portion has a grip surface formed by a finger on a side surface, an insertion opening for inserting a recording paper into a printer unit built in the grip portion on an upper surface or a lower surface, and a printed recording. 4. The camera device with a printer according to claim 2, further comprising a discharge port through which the paper is discharged. 5. The printer section includes a storage section for storing recording paper, and the grip section has a grip surface that is gripped by a finger on a side surface, and is built in the grip section on an upper surface or a lower surface. The camera device with a printer according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a discharge port for discharging the recording paper printed by the printer unit. 6. An image pickup of a subject by the camera unit on an outer surface of the device housing in or near the grip unit.
The camera device with a printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an operation button for instructing printing of a captured image by the printer unit.