JPS61114687A - Video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the capacity of frame memory and to record the next image in the frame memory by transferring a color signal information necessary for each one color print from record regenerating means, performing one color print on the basis of a color signal stored in the frame memory, and repeating transfer and print limiting to the necessary number of colors. CONSTITUTION:A frame memory write instruction generating part 21 outputs a frame memory write instruction signal 29. The signal changes from 'L' level to 'M' level, and the 1-frame portion of information of the color signal selected by color signal selection switch 11 is written on the frame memory. When write is completed, the write completion pulse is emitted, and the regenerating instruction signal 20a and frame memory write instruction signal 29 are alto gether varied into 'L' level to stop rotation of magnetic sheet disk 6 and disk motor 7. When one color print motion is ended, the regenerating instruction is given again to repeat the same motion. A print of one image is completed by repeating the same motion three times.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a video signal printing device, and particularly to a video signal printing device suitable for permanently storing a video signal to be printed and for selecting and printing a plurality of video signals. Regarding video printers.

[Background of the invention]

Many methods have been developed for conventional video printers, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-64884. All of these have a frame memory using a hand conductor that can instantly store image data for one frame. While this method has the advantage of being able to instantly store one screen of a continuous video of a blur (1/30 seconds), it also uses a large amount of RAM (Random Access Me) in the frame memory.
The cost is very high because it requires memory), and since AM stores information electrically, once the power is disconnected or the memory contents are updated, the cost is very high. The disadvantage is that the stored information is erased.

Furthermore, when printing one screen of a moving image such as a television image, no consideration is given to the appearance of a new image desired to be printed during printing. Images are recorded in one frame memory and printed while being read out, so during printing, the image being printed must be erased and a new desired image stored, or the image being printed can be saved until printing is completed. There was an inconvenience in that it was not possible to record the next different desired image in a timely manner.

[Purpose of the invention]

It is an object of the present invention to retain stored information even when the power is cut off, to enable permanent storage, and to reduce the cost of frame memory, which has not been solved in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a video printer having means for recording images.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides a disc-shaped record carrier capable of recording a plurality of frame image signals, and includes recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing image signals, and a frame memory for storing image signals for one color. For each print, the necessary color signal information is transferred from the recording/reproducing means to the frame memory, one color is printed based on the color signal information stored in the frame memory, and this transfer/print is performed for the required number of colors. By repeating this process, full-color "printing" is performed.

In this way, only the color signal information necessary for each printing of one color is recorded in the frame memory, reducing the memory capacity to the capacity for one color, and the magnetic recording and reproducing described above is performed only when recording information in the frame memory. The operating time of the magnetic recording/reproducing means is shortened to the minimum necessary to extend the service life of the magnetic recording/reproducing means.Furthermore, it is possible to record another frame signal even during printing, and the recorded information is All transfer timings were made to match the synchronization signal, and print timing was made to match the timing of the paper feeding means.

[Embodiments of the invention]

A further embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a front-stage signal storage means, 2 a rear-stage signal storage means, and 3 a printing means.

The pre-stage signal storage means 1 includes a recording/reproducing switch 4, a magnetic head 5, a magnetic sheet disk 6, a disk motor 7, a magnetic sheet disk controller 8, a reproducing amplifier 9, and a decoder 10. It is composed of a color signal selection switch 11. The subsequent signal storage means 2 is comprised of an analog/digital converter (hereinafter abbreviated as A/D converter) 12), a frame memory 13, a line memory 14, and a memory controller 15, and the print output means 3 is comprised of a signal conversion means 16, It consists of a print head assembly 17.

Next, the overall operation will be explained. First, the input video signal is recorded on the magnetic sheet disk 6 by the recording/reproducing head 5 via the recording/reproducing switch 4 in response to a recording command signal (not shown). The time required for recording at this time is equal to the time of one frame, and is determined by the format of the television signal. 33m5 in NTSC system
It is.

After recording is completed, the magnetic sheet disk 6 and disk motor 7 stop rotating until a print command signal is received.

The print command signal causes the recording/playback switch 4 to switch to the playback side (
4b), the magnetic sheet disk 6 and the disk motor 7 start rotating, and the magnetic head 5 reproduces the video signal recorded on the magnetic sheet disk 6. The operations of the magnetic sheet disk 6 and the disk motor 7 are controlled by a magnetic sheet disk controller 8. The decoder 10 obtains three primary color signals, a red signal R, a green signal G, and a blue signal B, from the reproduced video signal, and separates a synchronization signal. Of the three primary color signals, only one color signal (primary +-g) is selected by the color signal selection switch 11 and output to the subsequent signal storage means 2.

In the subsequent signal storage means 2, the selected color signal is sequentially converted into digital information by the A/D converter 12 and written into the frame memory 13.

When the writing of information to the frame memory 13 is completed, the magnetic sheet disk 6 and the disk motor 7 stop rotating, and the frame memory 13 stores and outputs print information. The line memory 14 holds information necessary for printing each line and outputs the print information to the print implementation means 3.

The timing, order, address designation, etc. of writing information into the frame memory 13 and line memory 14 are all controlled by the memory controller 15.

In the upprint realizing means 3, which will be described in detail later, the signal converting means 16:
The print information output from the line memory 14 is converted into a pulse signal capable of printing at half-tone density levels, and is applied to the print assembly 17 to generate gradations according to the input pulse width.

Printed in degrees.

Printing systems include inkjet and thermal methods, and as reported in the literature ``Electronic Technology'' Vol. 25, No. 12, pts-p256, there is a method that prints by spraying ink directly onto paper, or There are methods such as heating ink paper with a thermal head and attaching colored media to the paper.

Full-color prints achieve full-color tones by overlapping three different colors (for example, red, green, and blue). Therefore, the printing operation is repeated three times on the same print paper according to the order of the colors to be printed (for example, red, green, etc. (Details will be described later). This will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the pre-stage signal storage means 1 shown in FIG. 1, and parts having the same functions are given the same reference numerals.

Reference numeral 18 denotes vertical synchronizing signal separation means, and the controller 8 is composed of a recording command generation section 19, a reproduction command generation section 20, a frame memory write command generation section 21, and a magnetic head controller 22. Generally, a video monitor 23 is required for checking the signals to be recorded and the recorded signals, and a monitor switch 24 is also provided for switching the input of this monitor. A color designation counter 25 controls the color selection switch 11. 26 is a video signal input terminal, 27
is the freeze command input terminal, 28 is the print command input terminal, 2
9 is a frame memory write command output terminal, 30 is an output terminal for a selected color signal, and 31 is an output terminal for a reproduction synchronization signal divided by w1.

Here, the freeze command is a command to extract one screen of a continuous moving image, and in this embodiment, it is a command to record a signal for one frame on the magnetic sheet disk 6.

Now, when the freeze command signal is input in the form of a pulse as shown in FIG. 3(a), the recording command generating section 19 enters the operating state from the standby state (FIG. 3(b)), and the disk motor 7
The vertical synchronization signal that comes after the start of rotation (Fig. 3 (C1'
) (hereinafter abbreviated as VD).

When VI) is input, the state of the recording command signal 19a is reversed and changes from the 'L' level to the 'H' level as shown in FIG. 3(d). At the same time, the recording and reproducing switch 4 is switched from the reproducing side contact (4b) to the recording side contact (4a), and the video signal is recorded on the calm sheet disk 6 by the recording and reproducing head 5.

When one frame of signals (equivalent to two fields) is recorded after the start of recording, the recording command signal returns to the 'L' level again as shown in FIG. 3(d), and the magnetic sheet disk 6 and disk motor 7 stop rotating. Stop.

Since the magnetic sheet disk 6 has multiple tracks,
It is possible to record multiple frame signals. The magnetic head controller 22 is provided so that the magnetic head can reproduce the track in which the frame signal desired to be printed is recorded without making a mistake.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4(e), when a print command signal is input in the form of a pulse to the input terminal 27, the reproduction command generating section 20 shifts from the standby state to the operating state, and as shown in FIG. 4(f). The reproduction command signal 20a changes from the 1L" level to the 'H" level. At the same time, the magnetic sheet disk 6 and disk motor 7 start rotating, and the frame signal is reproduced. The frame memory write command generation section 21 detects when the reproduction command signal is issued and the rotation of the motor becomes normal, and outputs the frame memory write command signal 29 to the frame memory 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the color signal changes from the 1L level to the 'H' level, and information for one frame of the color signal selected by the color signal selection switch 11 is written into the frame memory 14. When writing is completed, a write completion pulse (not shown) is issued, the reproduction command signal (20a) and the frame memory write command signal 29 both change to 'L' level, and the magnetic sheet disk 6 and disk motor 7 start rotating. stop.

When the printing operation for one color is completed, a reproduction command is issued again, and the same operation is repeated.

Perform the same operation three times to complete printing one image.
In FIG. 4, the time TI is the time required for the disk motor 7 to reach a normal rotational state after it starts rotating in the reproduction mode gb), and in the case of this embodiment, the value of TI is approximately 1 second. be. The time T2 is the time required to load one frame's worth of information into the frame memory 13;
Equivalent to a frame time of 33 ms. Therefore, the playback time To(To)T1+ of the magnetic sheet disk 6 required to write frame signal information for one color in the frame memory 13 is
T2) is approximately 1 second. In other words, in order to obtain one print image, it is only necessary to reproduce the image for a total of 3 seconds.

When a print command signal is input to the input terminal 28, the video signal recorded on the magnetic sheet disk 6 is reproduced, and the decoder 10 obtains color signals of three colors. Of these color signals, only the color signals to be printed are output by the color signal selection switch 11 and written into the frame memory 13. Color selection is performed by a color designation counter 25. The color designation counter 25 is reset by the print command signal 270 input, and counts the reproduction command signal (20a) as a trigger input. Color signal selection switch 11 for count number
by giving it the order to print (e.g. red,
The color signal to be printed is selected according to the order of green and blue.

Next, the relationship among the magnetic sheet disk 6, the printing operation of the printer, and the stored contents of the frame memo IJ 13 during printing will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 in the same figure, the magnetic sheet disk operating state (fb) indicates the playback state at the 'H' level and the stop state at the 'L' level, and the printer operating state (C) indicates the printing operating state at the 1H" level and the 'L" level. When a print command signal is input ((a) in the figure), the magnetic sheet disk 6 begins to rotate as shown in (b) in the figure to reproduce the video signal. The color signal to be printed first (for example, red signal R) is selected from the reproduced video signal and written into the frame memory 13. When writing is completed, the magnetic sheet disk 6 stops rotating. Frame memory 1
Upon completion of writing to frame memory 3, the printer prints the first color according to the information written in the frame memory (FIG. 5(c), the level changes from 'L' to 'H'). The color information is held in the frame memory 13 until printing of the first color is completed (FIG. 5(d)). When printing is completed, the stopped magnetic sheet disk 6 starts rotating again, and the next color signal to be printed is selected and written into the frame memory 13. At the same time as the writing is completed, the magnetic sheet disk 6 stops rotating and the next color signal is printed. Color signal information is held in the frame memory until printing of one color is completed.

Similar operations are repeated for the last color signal (for example, blue) to complete printing of one screen.

Next, the operation of recording the next new desired image during the printing operation will be explained. During printing of each color, the magnetic sheet disk 6 and the disk motor are in a stopped state, so if there is an empty track, a different frame signal is sent to another trunk during this period. It is possible to record. The operation in this case will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 6. In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the operating state of the magnetic sheet disk is represented by the 1H" level, and the 'L" level represents the stopped state. In the operating state, "1W" indicates a recording state, and "1W" indicates a reproduction state. In FIG. 6, the printer operating state is at the 1H" level, and the print state is at the 1L" level, indicating the standby state.

When a freeze command signal is input as shown in FIG. 6(b) during the printing operation shown in FIG. 5, a recording command signal is issued as described above, and the magnetic sheet disk 6 starts rotating. At this time, the recording and reproducing switch 4 is the reproducing side contact (4b)
The contact is switched to the recording side contact (4a). The magnetic head controller 22 stores the address of the track where the signal being printed is recorded, detects an empty track where no signal is recorded, moves the magnetic head 5 onto the empty track, and prints the desired signal onto the empty track. Record on the track (states in M6 diagrams (C) and (3)).

After recording is completed, the recording/playback switch 4 switches to the recording side contact.
, (4a), the reproducing side contact (4b) K is switched, and the magnetic head 5 is returned to the original track and stops rotating in accordance with the track address information stored in the magnetic head controller. (State of FIG. 6 (CL(4)) Thereafter, the printing operation is maintained again in the same manner as in FIG. 5.

Further, the vertical synchronization signal separation means 18 is generally used for TV or VTI (
, etc. are sufficient.

The rotation speed of the magnetic sheet disk 6 and the disk motor may be 1 field/rotation or 1 frame/rotation. Whether the monitor switch 24 is automatic or manual does not affect the present invention.

Next, the structure and operation of the subsequent stage signal storage means 2 will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11. Components in FIG. 7 having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Memory controller 15c, frame memory write/read signal generation means 40 (hereinafter W/t, abbreviated as signal generation means), line memo IJW/R signal generation means 41, manual synchronization signal changeover switch 42) synchronization for print operation timing Official code generation means 43, A/D sampling clock generation means 44, vertical synchronization signal separation means 45, horizontal synchronization signal separation means 46, frame synchronization signal generation means 47, vertical counter 48, horizontal counter 49, print position counter 5
Consists of 0. 51 is an input terminal for the selected color signal;
52 is a synchronization signal input terminal for frame memory writing, 53
54 is a frame memory write command signal input terminal, 54 is a print information output terminal, and 55 is a one-color print end pulse output terminal.

The separated horizontal synchronization signal is connected to the trigger input terminal T of the vertical counter 48 and the reset terminal ratio of the horizontal counter 49, and the frame synchronization signal obtained from the separated vertical synchronization signal is connected to the reset terminal R of the vertical counter 48. It is connected to the trigger input terminal T of the print position counter 5o. Further, the address signal of the frame memory 13 is given by a vertical counter 48 and the horizontal counter 49, and the address signal of the line memory counter 14 is given by the vertical counter 48.

Now, to explain the operation, when the frame memory write command signal is input to 53, the synchronization signal changeover switch 42 is switched to the playback synchronization signal input side (42a), and at the same time, the print position counter 50 is reset. counts frame synchronization signals, and the count number NF determines the print position.

As shown in FIG. 8, the frame memo IJW/R signal generating means 40 enters the vertical synchronization signal generation wait state when the frame memo IJ f-in command signal changes from the 'L' level to the 1H' level. When the signal is input, a 1H" level write state signal is generated. When the W/R signal is 1H
“During the level period, print information for one color digitized by the A/D converter 12 is written into the frame memory 13.The time required for this writing is equal to the time of one frame, which is 33 m5. The sampling clock used in the /D converter 12 is generated by the sampling clock generating means 44. This clock is completely synchronized with the horizontal synchronization signal (hereinafter abbreviated as VD), and its frequency is equal to the horizontal direction. Determine the increments (resolution), generally approximately 1
Set to 0MHz.

When the printing information for one color is completed, W/R (
The = sign changes to the 1H (75) level and the L' level, and the 27 frame memory 13 enters the read state.

At this time, the magnetic sheet disk 6 and disk motor 7 stop rotating. Since the timing of reading information from the frame memory 3 and the printing operation are all performed based on the synchronization signal, the synchronization signal changeover switch 42 is selected from the synchronization signal input side (42a) to the synchronization signal generation means side (42a).
42b), and the timing of the operation is determined by the synchronizing signal obtained by the synchronizing signal generating means 43.

The vertical counter 48 is reset by the frame synchronization signal and counts the number of horizontal synchronization signals HD. This count number Nv determines the vertical position fv in the schematic diagram of the television signal scanning line shown in FIG. The horizontal counter 49 is reset by the HD and counts the sampling clock. This count number NH is the 9th
In the figure, the horizontal position 111t1H is determined. In the figure, solid scanning lines indicate odd fields, broken scanning lines indicate even fields, HD is present at the left end, and vertical synchronizing signal VD is present at the upper end.

When the frame memory 13 enters the read state, the line memory 14 stores one line of print information in accordance with the printing order and outputs it to the print implementation means 3. The printing order of the printer is such that each line in the vertical direction in FIG. 10 is one line, and one line at a time is printed sequentially to the right starting immediately after the HD, and printing is completed to the right end to complete one color printing.

The writing/reading of the line memory 14 is controlled by the line memory W/R signal generating means 41, and the writing timing is determined by the count number NF of the print position counter 50.
determined by. The value of this NF is constant during one frame period. Since the printing time of one line is equal to the time of one frame of 33 ms, the timing at which the line memory 14 enters the writing state is constant for the HD during one frame period, and is determined by the delay time tF from each HD. It will be done. This will be explained in more detail using FIG. 10. When the value of the print position counter 50 is NF, the printer is printing the (NF-1)th line, so when the line memory 14 is in the reading state, the value is (NF-1). The print information for the line is output, and in the write state, the print information for the NF line is stored. When the period of the sampling clock is set to the waiting time, when the count number NH of the horizontal counter 49 becomes NH=Nr, that is, when the delay time from each HD becomes tFa+tOxNP, the line memory W/R signal generation means 41 As shown in FIG. 10 (bl), a ``H'' level signal is generated,
The 71st item information for the Nrth line is written into the line memory 14. The address of line memory 14 is provided by vertical counter 48 as described above.

When the writing of the information is completed and the reading state is reached, the information in the line memory 14 is transferred to the next stage print realizing means 3 and printed.

Printing of each line is frame synchronous.

Print timing will be explained using FIG. 11.

In the figure, the operating state of the printer is assumed to be "H" level indicating printing in progress and "L" level indicating standby state. V'D
(When the frame synchronization signal (b) synthesized from al is generated, the printer enters the operating state and starts printing at the gradation density according to the print information. When the printing of one line is completed, the printer changes to the standby state. , waits for the input of the next frame synchronization signal. When the next frame synchronization signal is input, the printer returns to the printing state and repeats the same operation.

When all lines have been printed, a print completion pulse is output, and the same operation is repeated for the next color.

In traditional frame memory systems, the need to simultaneously store red, blue, and green signals to achieve color printing requires a large number of semiconductor memories, making the cost extremely high. Ta. On the other hand, by using magnetic recording and reproducing means in addition to the conventional frame memory system, the frame memory only needs to store the color signal information necessary for each printing of one color, so the required memory capacity is reduced. It has become possible to reduce the amount by one-third, and it has become possible to reduce costs. Furthermore, the magnetic recording/reproducing means is configured to operate only when recording information in the frame memory, thereby shortening the operating time to the minimum necessary and extending the life of the magnetic sheet disk. 1
As mentioned above, the operating time required to store the color print information into the frame memory is approximately 1 second. Therefore, the operating time required to obtain one printed image is 3
Seconds.

On the other hand, in a configuration consisting only of magnetic recording/reproducing medium means,
During the printing operation, the magnetic recording and reproducing medium means must be operated continuously. The time required to print Elaine is 33m5. The number of lines to be printed is approximately 64 in this example.
0 line. Therefore, the time required to complete three-color printing is 33m5 x 640 x 3 = 64 seconds. To obtain one color print, it needs to operate continuously for about one minute. According to the present invention, the magnetic recording/reproducing medium means only needs to operate for about 3 seconds, and the service life can be extended by about 20 times.Furthermore, by writing information from the magnetic recording/reproducing medium means to the frame memory, magnetic It also has the effect of preventing distortion of printed images due to uneven rotation of the recording/reproducing medium at a frequency of 30 Hz or less.

During the printing operation, the magnetic recording/reproducing medium means is inactive, and the magnetic sheet disk has a plurality of tracks. Therefore, as described above, a new desired image can be recorded and stored on the magnetic sheet disk even during the printing operation. Furthermore, since the information recorded on the magnetic sheet disk is stored magnetically rather than electrically, the stored information can be preserved without being erased even if the power is cut off.

Although the embodiment of the first-stage signal storage means of the present invention has been described using magnetic recording/reproducing means as an example, the structure shown in FIG. 1 is exactly the same even if this is replaced with optical recording/reproducing means.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, in addition to a frame memory using a conventional semiconductor memory, by using a magnetic recording/reproducing means having a means for magnetically storing information, it is possible to permanently store stored information not only when the power is cut off. In addition, the required memory capacity of the frame memory can be reduced to one-third of the conventional size, and the number of expensive A/D converters can be reduced to one, making it possible to reduce the cost and power consumption of the frame memory. be. Additionally, since the magnetic sheet disk has multiple tracks, it is possible to record a different desired image during printing, which was not possible with conventional semiconductor memory. Furthermore, the operating time of the magnetic recording and reproducing means is shortened to the minimum necessary to prevent rotational unevenness from adversely affecting printed images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
A configuration diagram of an embodiment of the pre-stage signal storage means in the figure, FIG.
4, 5, and 6 are waveform diagrams of essential parts for explaining the operation of FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is a configuration showing an embodiment of the subsequent stage signal storage means in FIG. 1. Figures 8, 10, and 11 are waveform diagrams of main parts for explaining the operation of Figure 7, and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of Figure 7. 3...Print realization means 6...・Magnetic sheet disk 8...Magnetic sheet disk controller 12...A
/D converter 13...Frame memory 14...Line memory 15...Memory synthroller 16...Signal conversion means 17...Print head assembly note 2 Figure L--1-- --1, 4---J1
3. Tutu flute + Zugun (

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A video printer having a storage means for storing a video signal and a printing means for printing an image based on the video signal read from the storage means, which stores video signals for a plurality of sheets. a reading means for selectively outputting a video signal corresponding to one image to be printed from the first storage means, and a color information signal from the video signal read by the reading means. a switching means for sequentially outputting each color, and a second storage means for storing the output of the switching means, and a color information signal is sequentially transferred for each color from the second storage means to the printing means, A video printer characterized by printing. 2) The video printer according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means is a magnetic recording and reproducing device that records and reproduces video signals on a magnetic sheet-like record carrier. 3) In claims 1 and 2, the reading means stores an address signal that is recording position information on the first storage means in which a video signal corresponding to the image being printed is recorded. A video printer characterized in that it has an address storage means. 4) The video printer according to claim 3, wherein the address signal is a signal indicating a track position on the magnetic sheet-like record carrier. 5) In claims 1 to 4, the reading means has a write/read head, and when a write command to the first storage means is issued during printing, the reading means reads the first storage means. After moving the head to another recording position in the storage means and writing the video signal, based on the address signal,
A video printer comprising means for returning the head to a recording position during printing.