CN1307272A - Image output system that allows stand-alone operation - Google Patents

Abstract

An image output system, particularly, the image output system has the function of previewing images and provides a control device operated by a user. Therefore, the image output system can be used as a peripheral device of a computer host to be matched with the computer host for operation or can be operated by a single computer, so that a user can preview a plurality of secondary image data stored in the image output system in advance, further select at least one secondary image data from the plurality of secondary image data, and further print the selected secondary image data.

Description

Image output system that allows stand-alone operation

The present invention relates to an image output system (image output system) as a peripheral device of a host computer, in particular to an image output system that allows stand-alone operation. The system uses an image preview (preview) The function, after receiving image data from a host computer or from the image data input device of the system itself, previews the image data first, and then selects the image to be printed according to the user's wishes, and then sends it to the printing device of the system itself (print device) for printing processing.

An image output system, such as a photo printer, is one of the current popular computer peripheral devices. With the development of computer peripherals toward multi-functional office machines (MFPs, multi-functional office machines), it is believed that image output systems will become more common.

A typical image output system is to print the image data directly after receiving the image data from a host computer. If the user wants to select the image data to be printed, the image data must first be displayed on the screen of the monitor configured by the computer host through an application program executed on the computer host, and then the selection action is performed.

With the rapid development of storage media, image data that had to be stored in bulky storage media in the past can now be stored in thin, portable, and high-capacity storage media, such as Compact-Flash with high storage capacity, Smart-Media and other memory cards. Therefore, most of the current image output systems are equipped with data input devices (such as reading devices for various memory cards). In this way, the image output system can read the image data from the data input device without the aid of the computer host, and then print the image data, and become a so-called stand-alone operation mode, so as to provide users with more convenience.

However, most of the above-mentioned image output systems equipped with data input devices are unable to preview the images themselves, let alone select the image data that the user actually wants to print for image printing. In practical application, the above-mentioned image output system is equipped with a data input device and cannot preview the image. After reading the image data from the data input device, if it is necessary to preview and select the image data, it still needs to use the computer host to display the image data. On the screen configured on the host computer, the image data to be printed is selected by using the application program executed on the host computer. Therefore, for users, the above-mentioned image output system does not fully realize its intention of providing stand-alone operation.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which schematically depicts a method for selecting image data to be printed in an image output system 10 of the first known technology. The image output system 10 is externally connected to a display 13 via a video output encoder (vedio-out encoder) 12 . The user can operate the operating device 11 provided by the image output system 10 to convert the image data read by the image output system 10 into a video signal (vedio signal), and then display the video signal on the screen of the display 13 , so as to assist the user to select the image data to be printed. Obviously, it still needs the assistance of monitors and other peripherals, and has not yet fully achieved the stand-alone operation mode, and there are still considerable limitations in use.

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which schematically depicts a method for selecting image data to be printed by an image output system 20 of the second known technology. The user can operate through the manipulation device 21 provided by the image output system 20, and print all the multiple image data read by the image output system 20 on an image form (list) 22, and on the form 22 Each piece of image data is compiled with an index code, and the image data to be printed is selected for further printing processing by means of the index code. Although the image output system 20 can select the image data to be printed without the assistance of peripheral devices, the method of printing the image form first is time-consuming and wastes consumables.

Through the understanding of previous technologies, it can be clearly seen that there is still no image output system that can be completely operated by a single machine, is convenient to operate, and does not waste consumables. An image output system provided by the present invention meets the above requirements. And especially, the image output system provided by the present invention has an image preview function, and provides a manipulation device operated by the user. Thereby, the image output system can be used as a peripheral device of a computer host to cooperate with the computer host, or can be operated as a stand-alone machine, allowing users to preview the image data stored in the image output system first, and further select the image data to be printed , and further send the selected image data to the printing device of the system itself for printing processing. In addition, the present invention can also preview the image data sent by the host computer, so as to first check whether the image data received by the image output system is correct, and then decide whether to print, so as to avoid wasting consumables.

In addition, due to the diversification of sources and storage methods of current image data, the source of image data may also be a video signal source, such as a digital camera (DSC, Digital Still Camera) that provides video signals, or an image scanner (Image Scanner). Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide an image output system that can be connected to different forms of image data sources (including video signal sources). In this way, the diversification of image data sources that the user wants to print can be provided. Furthermore, users can use the image output system provided by the present invention as a conversion tool between various forms of image data.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image output system that allows stand-alone operation, and in particular, the image output system has a function of previewing images and provides a manipulation device operated by a user. Thereby, the image output system can be used as a peripheral device of a computer host to cooperate with the computer host, or can be operated as a stand-alone machine, allowing users to preview the image data stored in the image output system first, and further select the image data to be printed , and further send the selected image data to the printing device of the system itself for printing processing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image output system that can connect different forms of image data sources, thereby providing diversification of image data sources that users want to print. Furthermore, users can use the image output system provided by the present invention as a conversion tool between various forms of image data.

A kind of image output system provided according to the object of the present invention comprises a system bus, a data buffer device connected to the system bus, a manipulation device operated by an operator, a display device, a processing device and a printing device . The data buffer device is used for storing an image data, and the image data includes multiple subsets of image data. The operating device (console) is used to generate a control signal. The display device is used to display information representing the control signal and the plurality of sub-group image data. The processing device responds to the control signal and is used for selecting at least one sub-group image data from the plurality of sub-group image data. The printing device is used for printing the selected sub-group image data on a printing medium.

In a specific embodiment, the image output system further includes a frame buffer means for storing the information to be displayed and multiple sets of image data.

In a specific embodiment, the image output system further includes an input port and a storage device, wherein the image data is transmitted from a computer host through the input port, or is transmitted from a storage medium through the storage device come.

In another specific embodiment, the image output system further includes an input port, a storage device and a video input port (vedio-in port), wherein the image data is transmitted from a host computer through the input port, Either it is transmitted from a storage medium through the storage device, or it is transmitted from a video signal source through the video input port.

Also in another specific embodiment, the image output system can store the image data transmitted from the host computer through the input port or from a video signal source through the video input port through the storage device to a Storage media.

The features and advantages of the present invention can be further understood by referring to the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the international diagram:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a method of selecting image data to be printed in an image output system 10 of the first known technology;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts the method for selecting the image data to be printed by the image output system 20 of the second known technology;

FIG. 3A is an appearance diagram of an image output system 30 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a block diagram for showing a functional block diagram (block diagram) of the image output system 30 according to the present invention;

4A and 4B schematically depict the information and image data displayed on the display panel 372 of the image output system 30 .

Please refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B . What is disclosed in the figure is an image output system 30 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as a multifunctional business machine. FIG. 3A is an appearance diagram of the image output system 30 . FIG. 3B is a functional block diagram for showing the overall arrangement of the image output system 30 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3A , the image output system 30 includes a console 35 (such as a key panel) for user manipulation. The image output system 30 also includes a display device 37 (shown in FIG. 3B ), such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD apparatus) and its display controller. Like a typical display device, the display device 37 includes a display controller 371 and a display panel 372 , and the image data that the user wants to browse is displayed on the display panel 372 . By means of the manipulation device 35 and the display device 37 for displaying image data, the user can easily select the image data to be printed.

As shown in FIG. 3B , the image output system 30 includes a processing device 31 for controlling the operation of the image output system 30 . The image output system also includes a system bus 32 for transmitting data and control signals between the processing device 31 and components. Like a general image output system, a specific embodiment of the processing device 31 includes a typical central processing unit (central process unit, CPU) 311, and a program memory 312 connected to the system bus 32, as shown in FIG. 3B . The program memory 312 can be a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory (Flashmemory), or other non-volatile memory (Non-volatile Memory), and is used to store the instruction program required for execution by the central processing unit 311 . The image output system 30 also includes a data buffer memory 33 connected to the system bus 32 for storing an image data, which includes a plurality of subgroup image data, and each subgroup image data is for an image file. The image output system 30 also includes a printing device 34 for printing the image data transmitted thereon on a print medium, such as printing paper or special photo paper for a photo printer.

The user generates a control signal by operating the manipulation device 35 . Please refer to FIG. 4A , when the control signal is required to display the multiple sets of image data, the processing device 31 responds to the control signal, controls the operation of the image output system, and displays the multiple sets of image data on the display panel 372 . Displayed on the display panel 372 is not only the plurality of sub-group image data, but also displays a message representing the control signal, as shown in FIG. 4A . At the same time of displaying, the multiple sub-group image data are also indexed. With the operation of the user, the image output system 30 can enlarge and display several sets of image data on the display panel 372, and even display a single set of image data in a full-screen manner, as shown in FIG. 4B . When the control signal is required to select at least one sub-group image from the plurality of sub-group image data, the processing device 31 responds to the control signal and selects the group sub-group image data. When the control signal further requires that the group and subgroup image data be printed, the processing device 31 responds to the control signal and transmits the group and subgroup image data to the printing device 34, and the printing device 34 then Print the transmitted image data of the group subgroup on the printing medium.

The arrangement examples of the manipulation device 35 and the display device 37 in the image system 30 , other components and sources of image data will be described in detail below.

In a specific embodiment, the image output system 30 further includes an input/output controller (I/O controller) 36 connected to the system bus 32, and the manipulation device 35 communicates with the I/O controller 36 via the input/output controller 36. The processing device 31 communicates, as shown in FIG. 3B . In addition, the display device 37 can also be connected to the input/output controller 36 , that is, the image data is transmitted to the display device 37 through the input/output controller 36 . The image output system 30 further includes a frame buffer memory (frame buffer memory) 38 connected to the I/O controller 36 for storing the information to be displayed and multiple sets of image data. In another embodiment, the operating device 35 is directly connected to the system bus 32 .

In a specific embodiment, the image output system 30 further includes an input port 40 (such as a printer input port) and a storage device 39 (such as a memory card reading device), and the image data can be transmitted from a computer host through the It is transmitted from the input port 40, or transmitted from a storage medium (such as a Compact-Flash memory card or a Smart-Media memory card) via the storage device 39, as shown in FIG. 3B. The storage device 39 can be connected to the I/O controller 36, and its input and output are controlled by the I/O controller 36. For the image data transmitted from the host computer to the data buffer memory 33, the user can send a control signal through the operating device 35 to temporarily retain the image data in the data buffer memory 33, and then preview the image data to detect the transmitted data. Check whether there is an error in the incoming image data, and then decide whether to print it. Also shown in FIG. 3B, in another specific embodiment, the image output system 30 includes a video input port (vedio-in port) 41 in addition to the input port 40 and the storage device 39, and the image data can be obtained from The host computer is transmitted through the input port 40, or from the storage medium through the storage device 39, or from a video signal source (such as a digital camera, or an image scanner) through the video Input port 41 transfers from. The video input port 41 is connectable to the I/O controller 36, and its input is controlled by the I/O controller 36. Obviously, when the source of the image data is a storage medium or a video signal source, the image output system implemented according to the present invention can preview the image data by itself without the help of the computer host, and further select the image data to be printed. It is sent to the printing unit of the system itself to print it on the print media. Thereby, the image output system provided by the present invention can achieve a real stand-alone operation mode. Moreover, the image output system provided by the present invention is convenient to operate and does not waste consumables.

In a specific embodiment, the image output system 30 further includes a video output port (vedio-out port) 42 . The user can convert the selected at least one sub-set of image data into a video signal, and further output it through the video output port 42 . The video output port 42 is connectable to the I/O controller 36, and the I/O controller 36 controls its output. Similarly, the user can also transfer the selected at least one sub-set of image data to the storage medium via the storage device 39 . Thus, the image output system provided by the present invention can be used as a conversion tool between various forms of image data.

In addition, within the scope of the present invention, an auxiliary device for assisting an operator in using a printing device may also be provided. The auxiliary device includes: a system bus; a data buffer device connected to the system bus to store an image data, the image data includes a plurality of subgroup (subset) image data; an operation operated by an operator A device (console) is used to generate a control signal; a display device is used to display information representing the control signal and the multiple sub-group image data; a processing device is used to respond to the control signal to obtain At least one sub-group image data is selected from the plurality of sub-group image data, and sent to the printing device through a connection interface to print the plurality of sub-group image data to a printing medium. The auxiliary device may further include an input port, a storage device, and a video input port (vedio-in port), and the image data is transmitted from a computer host through the input port, or from a storage medium through the storage device, or from a video source via the video input port. With this auxiliary device, users can add various functions provided by the present invention to an image output device that does not originally have the functions of accepting different image sources and previewing images.

Based on the above detailed description of the present invention, it can be clearly seen that the spirit and characteristics of the image output system provided by the present invention, compared with the prior art, have surpassed the scope of traditional image output systems, and can truly achieve stand-alone Operation mode, and convenient operation, no waste of consumables. Obviously, the image output system provided by the present invention is very novel and inventive.

With the above detailed description of the preferred embodiments, it is hoped that the characteristics and spirit of the present invention can be described more clearly, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the preferred embodiments disclosed above. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the scope of the appended claims of the present invention. For example, those who are skilled in the art can replace the components and their placement positions in the image output system implemented according to the present invention with other types of equivalent components to change their placement positions. Therefore, the scope of the claims of the present invention should be interpreted on the basis of the above description in the broadest way so as to cover all possible changes and arrangements having equivalents.

Claims (18)

1. An image output system, characterized in that the image output system includes: a system bus; A data buffer device connected to the system bus for storing an image data, the image data includes a plurality of subgroup (subset) image data; a console operated by an operator to generate a control signal; A display device for displaying information representing the control signal and the plurality of sub-group image data; a processing device, the processing device responds to the control signal for selecting at least one sub-group image data from the plurality of sub-group image data; and A printing device is used to print the selected at least one sub-set of image data on a printing medium. 2. The image output system according to claim 1, further comprising a frame buffer means for storing the information to be displayed and multiple sets of image data. 3. The image output system according to claim 2, further comprising an input port and a storage device, wherein the image data is transmitted from a computer host through the input port, or from a storage medium through the The storage device is transferred. 4. The image output system according to claim 3, further comprising an input/output controller connected to the system bus, the processing device and the data buffer device are connected to the operating device and the storage device through the input/output controller , the image area buffer device and the display device communicate. 5. The image output system according to claim 2, further comprising an input port, a storage device and a video input port (vedio-in port), wherein the image data is transmitted from a computer host through the input port or transmitted from a storage medium through the storage device, or transmitted from a video signal source through the video input port. 6. The image output system according to claim 5, further comprising a video output port and an input/output controller connected to the system bus, a video signal converted from the selected sub-group image data is Outputting through the video output port, the processing device and data buffer device communicate with the operating device, display device, video input port and video output port through the input/output controller. 7. An auxiliary device for a printing device, characterized in that the auxiliary device includes: a system bus; A data buffer device connected to the system bus for storing an image data, the image data includes a plurality of subgroup (subset) image data; a console operated by an operator to generate a control signal; A display device for displaying information representing the control signal and the plurality of sub-group image data; A processing device, the processing device responds to the control signal to select at least one sub-group image data from the plurality of sub-group image data, and transmits to the printing device to print the at least one sub-group image data to One print media. 8. The auxiliary device according to claim 7, further comprising a frame buffer means for storing the information to be displayed and a plurality of subgroup image data. 9. The auxiliary device according to claim 8, wherein the image display system further comprises an input port and a storage device, and the image data is transmitted from a host computer through the input port, or from a storage medium through the input port. The storage device is transferred from. 10. The auxiliary device according to claim 7, further comprising an input port, a storage device and a video input port (vedio-in port), the image data is transmitted from a host computer via the input port, Either it is transmitted from a storage medium through the storage device, or it is transmitted from a video signal source through the video input port. 11. The auxiliary device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a video output port through which a video signal converted from the selected subgroup of image data is output. 12. An image output system, characterized in that the image output system includes: a processing device; a display device; an output device; a system bus; A data buffer memory connected to the system bus for storing multiple image files; a console operated by an operator for selectively generating a first control signal or a second control signal; Wherein the processing device responds to the first control signal, selects at least one image file from the plurality of image files, and further displays the selected image file on the display device, and the processing device responds to the second control signal, The selected at least one image file is sent to the output device. 13. The image output system according to claim 12, further comprising a frame buffer means for storing the selected at least one image file. 14. The image output system according to claim 13, further comprising an input port and a storage device, wherein the image file is transmitted from a computer host through the input port, or from a storage medium through the storage The device is transmitted. 15. The image output system according to claim 14, further comprising an input/output controller connected to the system bus, the processing device and the data buffer memory are connected to the operating device, storage The device, the image area buffer device and the display device communicate. 16. The image output system according to claim 13, further comprising an input port, a storage device and a video input port (vedio-in port), wherein the multiple image files are from a computer host via the input port transmitted, or transmitted from a storage medium through the storage device, or transmitted from a video signal source through the video input port. 17. The image output system according to claim 16, further comprising a video output port and an input/output controller connected to the system bus, a video converted from the selected at least one image file Signals are output through the video output port, and the processing device and data buffer memory communicate with the operating device, display device, video input port and video output port through the input/output controller. 18. The image output system according to claim 12, wherein the output device is a storage device.

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