JPS61120576A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To change the frame size easily depending on the format by changing the size of plural images recorded on a hard copy in the main scanning direction. CONSTITUTION:An input image signal is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 1 and stored in plural image memories 2. In taking the maximum frame number of a multi-format as 24 frames in total (4 frames in main scanning direction and 6 frames in sub scanning direction) as shown in figure, the storage capacity of the image memory 2 is 4 frames share and then stores image data 11-14. Since the number of revolutions of a rotary polygon mirror 18 is constant, that is, the main scanning speed of a printer is constant, the size in the main scanning direction of a recorded image is changed as a signal RCP changes. In an example of format shown in figure, images I1-I4 are recorded at first and then the next 4 frames are stored succeedingly in the image memory 2 and then I1'-I4' are recorded, 24 frames are recorded by 6 times of repetition in this way.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field 1] The present invention is a so-called multi-format camera that records a plurality of images on one hard copy, and it is possible to change the size of each recorded image. The present invention relates to an image recording device that can.

[Prior Art] A conventional multi-format camera is a so-called CRT photographing device, and when recording multiple images on one hard copy, each image is displayed sequentially on the CRT, and the lens optical system Recording is performed by projecting the image onto a predetermined position on a silver halide film. Figures 3 and 4 show examples of recording multiple images on silver halide film F. Figure 3 shows a total of 24 frames in a matrix format of 4 frames in the horizontal direction and 6 frames in the vertical direction. A recorded example is shown. Further, FIG. 4 shows an example in which data is recorded in a matrix format of 2 frames in the horizontal direction and 3 frames in the vertical direction, with a total of 6 frames. As you can understand by looking at these, if you use film F of the same size and record a 24-frame format or a 6-frame format with the same frame size, the dead space other than the image becomes large, and the film F becomes It will be wasted. Therefore, in these multi-format cameras, when the format changes, the frame size is changed and recorded as in the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

However, in this conventional projection method using an optical system, when the axis of the optical system is fixed and the image is projected, both the amount of light and the resolution deteriorate in the vicinity and periphery of the optical axis. Therefore, at present, an on-axis method is often used in which the optical axis is moved to the center of each frame to be recorded. Furthermore, in order to change the frame size, a method is adopted in which the film or CRT is moved parallel to the optical axis to change the optical magnification.

However, even with the on-axis method, if the frame size is large, the amount of peripheral light as described above will increase.

The deterioration of resolution becomes a problem, and the time required to move the optical system and the film or CRT increases, and it takes a long time to record a plurality of images, which poses a problem.

In order to improve these drawbacks, an apparatus has been proposed that includes a multi-image storage section that stores a plurality of images and simultaneously records the plurality of images using a recording apparatus that performs raster scanning. That is, a plurality of images 1 arranged in the raster scanning direction, for example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, images 1~! 4. In the example shown in FIG. 14, images It and r2 are recorded simultaneously.

As the above-mentioned conventional example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-501558 is known, although the recording medium is not limited to a silver halide film. In this conventional example, the capacity of the multiple image storage unit is one frame less than the maximum number of frames lined up in the main scanning direction in the multi-format, and the input image signal is used as is for the remaining one frame. , and the image information signal read from the multiple image storage section are multiplexed and stored in a line memory. Therefore, in this method, the image data stored in the line memory changes depending on the format.

This method has the advantage that the capacity of the multiple image storage unit is small, but it requires continuing to input the image signal of the remaining frame until recording is completed, which is impossible if the image is a moving image. Moreover, when the image is an output signal from a computer, there is a drawback that the computer is monopolized by the printer during this period. Furthermore, in this conventional example, is there a complete description of the hardware that changes the frame size depending on the format? Not done.

[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of these conventional examples, and to provide an image recorder that can perform raster scanning and easily change the frame size depending on the format.
Our goal is to provide the equipment.

[Summary of the Invention] The gist of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object is to have a multiple image storage unit that stores a plurality of images, read data from the multiple image storage unit, and store the multiple images in various ways. In the apparatus for raster scanning and recording one copy of one bar in a matrix format in the format, the plurality of image storage section has a storage capacity of at least the maximum number of images to be recorded in line in the main scanning direction, A buffer line memory having a storage capacity for at least one line of the maximum number of images,
Transferring multiple image data from the multiple image storage unit to the line memory at a constant speed when recording on a hard copy,
An image recording device that changes the size of multiple images recorded on a hard copy in the main scanning direction by changing the read speed from the line memory depending on the format and recording the read data on the hard copy. It is.

[Embodiments of the Invention] The present invention will be explained in detail based on the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer using a silver halide film as a recording medium.
The figure shows a timing chart of signal waveforms at each part in FIG. 1, and shows differences depending on the format. In FIG. 1, an input image signal V is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 1 and stored in a multiple image memory 2. Here, if the maximum number of frames in the multi-format is 24 frames in total, 4 frames in the main scanning direction and 6 frames in the sub-scanning direction as shown in FIG. ■4 image data can be stored. Also, the address of one image memory 2 is the video clock pulse v
The CP is counted and designated by the address counter 3.

When printing, the contents of the image memory 2 are temporarily transferred to the buffer line memory 4.5, and the line memories 4 and 5 each store one line in the main scanning direction of the power image to be recorded. . The address to be stored is specified by inputting the output WADR of the write address counter 6 to the input terminal A of the multiplexer 7.8. The output RADR of the read address counter 9 is input to one input terminal B of the multiplexer 7.8.

The selection signal BSEL input to the multiplexer 7.8 is
The main scanning synchronizing signal B[l of the printer is frequency-divided by a frequency divider 10 and is a signal 0DEV selected by a multiplexer 11 by a multi-format mode signal MODE.

Note that since 12 is an inverter, multiplexer 7
．． The selection signals BSEL of 8 are mutually inverted. Therefore, when multiplexer 7 selects signal WADR, multiplexer 8 selects signal RADR, and when multiplexer 7 selects signal RADR, multiplexer 8 selects signal WAOR, and so on. By synchronizing the readout signal of the line memory 4.5 with the selection of the multiplexer 7.8, when writing to the line memory 4, the line memory 5 is read, and when reading from the line memory 4, the line memory The sequence can be written to 5. This is because it is a good idea to use inexpensive dynamic RAM for large-capacity memories such as image memory 2, and dynamic RAM must be refreshed periodically and synchronized with printers that perform raster scanning. Since this is difficult, it becomes the 4777 means of speed change.

Here, it is assumed that the odd lines of the image to be recorded in the sub-scanning direction are stored in the line memory 4, and the even lines are stored in the line memory 5. Line memory 4 output 0DATA,
The output EDATA of line memory 5 is multiplexer 1
3, each output PDAT selected only when reading
It becomes A. Therefore, first of all, the multiplexer 7 selects the signal WADR, the line memory 4 enters the write state, and the first signal from the image memory 2 to the line memory 4 is transferred from the image memory 2 to the line memory 4.
The data If-1 to 4-1 in the row are transferred, the multiplexer 8 selects the signal RADR, the line memory 5 becomes read and outputs EDATA, and the multiplexer 13
selects EDATA, so the output PDATA is EDAT
It becomes A.

Next, the multiplexer 7 selects the signal RADR, the line memory 4 becomes read and outputs 0DATA, the multiplexer 13 selects 0DATA, and the output PDATA becomes 0DATA. In addition, the multiplexer 8 outputs the signal WA
DR is selected, the line memory 5 is written, and data 11-2 to ■4-2 in the second row of II to ■4 are transferred from the image memory 2 to the line memory 5, and this repetition is performed by the signal 0DEV. It is repeated at regular intervals. However, since the contents of the line memory 5 are undefined in the first state, the signal is blanked at this time.

The output PDATA of the multiplexer 13 is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 14, and drives the acousto-optic element 16 via the amplifier 15. Output light L1 of laser light source 17
is intensity-modulated in the acousto-optic element 16 and becomes modulated light L2
The rotating polygon mirror 18 converts the main scanning light L3 into main scanning light L3, which main scans the silver halide film F. The silver halide film F is sub-scanned by a drive mechanism in the direction of the arrow, and a plurality of images are recorded. Note that the main scanning light L3 is detected once during main scanning by the photodetector 19, and is sent to the frequency divider 10 as a main scanning synchronization signal BD.

Here, the clock input to the address counter 6 is the same as the clock input to the address counter 3, and is constant without changing depending on the format, so the signal WADR is always constant. Therefore, line memory 4.5 always has 4
Data for one line of the frame is transferred. In fact, in consideration of blanking, it is preferable that the line memory 4.5 has a capacity slightly larger than one line of four frames.

However, as a clock input to the address counter 9, after dividing the print clock PcP by a frequency divider 2°, a signal RCP selected by a multiplexer 21 according to a multi-format mode signal MODE is input. Since the rotation speed of the mirror 18 is constant, that is, the main scanning speed of the printer is constant, when the signal RGP changes, the size of the R image in the main scanning direction changes.

This situation is shown in FIG. 2(a).

RCPI and RADRI are format examples shown in Figure 3,
RGP2 and RADR2 indicate the format example shown in FIG. It can be seen that if RCP2 is set as a clock with a cycle twice that of RCPI, the size of the recorded image in the main scanning direction will be doubled. Furthermore, in this case, even if all the contents of the line memory 4.5 are read out, the images I3 and I4 remain outside the screen. Also,
In the sub-scanning direction, the period of the signal QDEV can be changed using the frequency divider 10 and the multiplexer 11, and this is shown in FIG. 2(b). 0DEVI is the format example shown in FIG. 3, O[)EV2 is an example of the format shown in FIG. In this example, one main scan of the printer and one line of the image in the format shown in FIG. 3 are shown on a one-to-one basis.

Since the printing clock RCP can be set to any frequency, the image size in the main scanning direction can be set freely, but in order to maintain the aspect ratio of the recorded image, the sub-scanning direction must be set to an integer of the main scanning synchronization signal BO. Because it has to be twice as long, the cycle is limited. If the sub-scanning lines of the printer are made finer, the main-scanning synchronization signal B in Fig. 2(b)
Since the period of D becomes shorter, the degree of freedom increases. Also,
Data can be interpolated to any size.

In this way, in the format example shown in FIG. 3, images 1 to I4 are first recorded, and then the next four frames are stored in the image memory 2 to record [1' to 14', and so on. 24 frames will be recorded by repeating the process six times. In the format example shown in FIG. 4, first, only images 11 and I2 are stored in the image memory 2, only images I1 and I2 are recorded on the film, and then only images
', 12' and then record ■1°, ■2゛ on the film, and so on. Six frames may be recorded in three repetitions, but first the image is stored in image memory 2! 1
．． 72.11°.

It is also possible to store four frames of I2', first recording only 11, I2, and then recording only 11', I2°. This can be realized by using the address counter 9 as a preset counter. In this way, the format example shown in FIG. 4 will start with I1, I2, It',
This means that it can be recorded with two memorization operations, such as I2°, then It'' and 12''. Also on the first line is “It”
, I2', record 11, I2 on the second line, or record I2', If, on the first line, 12, ■1° on the second line, etc. Preset the start address of each frame in the address counter 9. This allows any arrangement to be made.

Since the present invention relates to time expansion/contraction or arrangement conversion of data, it does not place restrictions on printer hardware, and can be applied to printers that do not use laser beams or printers that use different recording media. It can also be applied to thermal printers and electrophotographic printers that use heads.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the image recording device according to the present invention, it is possible to easily change the frame size depending on the format in a multi-format camera, and it is also possible to easily change the arrangement order of images. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of an image recording device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram in which the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer, and FIGS. Timing charts of signal waveforms at various parts, FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams of examples of multi-format recording. 1 is an A/D converter, 2 is an image memory, 3.6,
9 is the address counter, 4.5 is the line memory, 7, 8
．． 11.13.21 is a multiplexer, 10.20 is a frequency divider, 14 is to a D/A converter, 16 is an acousto-optic element,
17 is a laser light source, 18 is a rotating polygon mirror, and F is a silver-based film.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. It has a multiple image storage section that stores a plurality of images, reads data from the multiple image storage section, and stores the multiple images in various formats in a matrix on one hard copy. In an apparatus for recording by raster scanning, the multiple image storage section has a storage capacity for at least the maximum number of images to be recorded in line in the main scanning direction, and a storage capacity for at least one line of the maximum number of images. A buffer line memory is provided, which transfers multiple image data from the multiple image storage unit to the line memory at a constant speed when recording on a hard copy, and reads the data by changing the reading speed from the line memory depending on the format. 1. An image recording apparatus characterized in that the size of a plurality of images recorded on a hard copy in the main scanning direction is changed by recording the images on the hard copy. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two line memories are provided and are used alternately. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of each image in the sub-scanning direction of the raster scanning is changed by changing the number of times the line memory is read depending on the format. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the read position from the line memory is variable. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording on the hard copy is performed by laser beam recording.