JP2001238156A - Image printing system and digital camera used therein - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: Provided is an image printing system in which an image photographed by a digital camera can be printed by a printing device without special operation by an image processing device, and the handling of print execution is easy. . SOLUTION: When a digital camera 1 is connected to a personal computer 3, a downloader is started in the personal computer 3, and a DP stored in a flash memory of the digital camera 1 is started.
Download the OF file to the personal computer 3. The downloader starts an application program on the personal computer 3 and creates print data for printing an image on the printer 5 from the image data included in the DPOF file. The printer 5 prints an image based on the print data. The user can print the image based on the image data selected by the digital camera 1 with the printer 5 without performing any special operation on the personal computer 3 for downloading and printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera and an image printing system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a digital camera which converts light from a subject into an electric signal and stores it as digital image data. With the improvement of the performance of a printer as a printing apparatus, a user can print an image captured by a digital camera at home.

As a method of printing an image photographed by a digital camera with a printer, a method of printing through a personal computer (hereinafter, a personal computer is referred to as a “personal computer”) as an image processing device is generally used. In this case, a recording unit such as a flash memory of the digital camera in which the image data of the photographed image is recorded is connected to a personal computer, and the image data recorded in the recording unit is read out to the personal computer. Then, using the personal computer, the read image data is subjected to, for example, color tone correction,
Image processing such as trimming or layout according to the print medium is performed. Further, after performing these processes, it is necessary to execute processes for executing printing, for example, creation of print data. Therefore, the user can connect the digital camera to the personal computer, read image data,
A plurality of operations such as image processing and print execution processing are required. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to operate the digital camera, the personal computer, and the printer at a time.

As a method of printing an image photographed by a digital camera with a printer, there is a method of directly connecting the digital camera to a printer via a transmission means, so-called direct printing. By using direct printing, there is no need to interpose an image processing device such as a personal computer between the digital camera and the printer, and even users who are not accustomed to handling personal computers can easily print images taken with the digital camera. it can.

[0005]

On the other hand, recently, in order to improve the data transfer speed between a personal computer and a peripheral device such as a scanner or a printer, or to improve the ease of handling, the personal computer and the peripheral device are connected. The interface that is the transmission means to be connected is an existing parallel (centronics) system, serial system, or SCSI (Sm
USB (Universal Serial Bus) system, IEEE1
394 system is used. In particular, the USB system is rapidly spreading because of easy connection.

[0006] As a conventional printer interface, a parallel system is mainly used. On the other hand, as a digital camera interface, a serial system is mainly used. Therefore, in order to perform the above-described direct printing, a serial system has been used as an interface of a digital camera.

On the other hand, with the spread of the USB system, the USB is becoming a standard as a printer interface instead of the conventional serial system. Therefore, there is a possibility that direct printing cannot be performed with an existing digital camera having a serial interface. Therefore, it is desirable that the interface of the digital camera is also a USB system.

The USB system is used by connecting a printer or scanner, which is a device, mainly to a host such as a personal computer. Therefore, in order to use the USB system as an interface between the digital camera and the printer, it is necessary to set the digital camera as a host and the printer as a device. However, to set a digital camera as a host,
It is necessary to add an additional function for the digital camera to function as a host, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the digital camera increases.

Therefore, when using the USB system for a digital camera, it is conceivable to use a digital camera and a printer as devices using a personal computer as a host. However, by printing an image photographed by a digital camera via a personal computer with a printer, the user also needs to operate the personal computer, which is not preferable for a user unfamiliar with the operation of the personal computer.

Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide an image printing apparatus which can print an image photographed by a digital camera with a printing apparatus without performing special operations on the image processing apparatus, and which can easily handle print execution. An object of the present invention is to provide a system and a digital camera used for the system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that can be used in an image printing system without increasing the manufacturing cost.

[0011]

According to the image printing system of the present invention or the recording medium of the present invention, after the digital camera and the image processing apparatus are connected via the transmission means, the image data is stored in the image data. The acquisition unit is activated, and acquires the image data recorded in the digital camera. The acquired image data is created by the print data creating unit as print data for printing the image by the printing device. The created print data is output to a printing device, and the printing device prints an image on a print medium based on the print data.

[0012] By connecting the digital camera and the image processing apparatus, acquisition of image data, creation of print data,
In addition, since the printing is executed as a series of processes, the user does not need to perform any special operation on the image processing apparatus. Therefore, when printing image data captured by a digital camera, a user can easily print an image based on image data with a printing device without performing any special operation on the image processing device.

According to the image printing system of the present invention, the digital camera is provided with activation input means for inputting activation of the data acquisition means. The data acquisition unit is connected to the digital camera and the image processing apparatus, and when the activation input unit of the digital camera receives an activation input, the data acquisition unit is activated. Therefore, the user does not need to perform any special operation on the image processing apparatus, and can easily handle the image printing system.

According to the image printing system according to the third aspect of the present invention or the recording medium according to the eighth aspect, the data acquisition means connects the digital camera and the image processing device, and the digital camera and the image processing device connect the connection. It starts when confirmed. By connecting the digital camera and the image processing apparatus, the data acquisition unit is activated, and acquires the image data of the recording unit of the digital camera. Therefore, the user does not need to perform any special operation on the digital camera and the image processing apparatus, and can easily handle the image printing system. According to the image printing system of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image printing system has a transmission unit of a wireless transmission system. Therefore, the length of the transmission medium, such as a cable, of the transmission means,
Alternatively, image data can be transmitted without being limited by capacity or the like.

According to the image printing system of the present invention, an image processing device is provided between the digital camera and the printing device. Therefore, even when the USB transmission means is used, there is no need to provide an additional function for making the digital camera function as a host, and the manufacturing cost of the image printing system and the digital camera used in the image printing system increases. Nothing.

According to the digital camera of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the digital camera has a starting unit for starting the image data obtaining unit. The activation unit is activated, for example, when the digital camera and the image processing apparatus are connected and the connection is recognized by the digital camera and the image processing apparatus, or when the digital camera and the image processing apparatus are connected and a predetermined instruction is issued from the digital camera. . Then, image data recorded in the recording unit of the digital camera is obtained. Therefore,
The user can easily execute printing without performing any special operation on the image processing apparatus.

[0017]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention; (First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, an image printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a digital camera 1, a personal computer 3 as an image processing device, and a printer 5 as a printing device. . The digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3, and the personal computer 3 and the printer 5 are connected by transmission means 6.

As the transmission means 6, an interface comprising a USB type port and a USB cable is used. The transmission means 6 includes the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3
And a cable 62 connecting the personal computer 3 and the printer 5. The transmission means 6 is not limited to the USB method as described above, and may use a wireless transmission method.

As the wireless transmission method, for example, light such as infrared rays, or electromagnetic waves including short waves or microwaves can be used. Also, for example, the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3 are connected by a USB system, and the personal computer 3
The transmission means 6 may not be the same between the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3 and between the personal computer 3 and the printer 5 so that the connection between the digital camera 1 and the printer 5 is established so that the printer and the printer 5 are connected in parallel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 1 has an imaging section 11, a storage section 12, a display section 13, an input section 14, a connection section 15, and a control section 16. The imaging unit 11 includes a lens 111 for condensing light from a subject and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) for converting the condensed light into an electric signal.
e) 112, and A / D converter 1 for converting an electric signal output from CCD 112 into digital image data
13

The storage unit 12 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 for temporarily storing the converted image data.
1 and a flash memory 122 for long-term recording of image data. The flash memory 122 is a non-volatile memory that retains the recorded contents even when the power supply is stopped. The image data recorded in the flash memory 122 is compressed in order to increase the number of recordings in the flash memory 122, and is, for example, JPEG (Join).
t Photographic Experts Group).

The display unit 13 displays a subject photographed by the CCD 112 or an LCD (Liquid) for displaying an image formed from image data recorded in the flash memory 122.
VRAM (Video RA) for storing image data to be displayed on the LCD 131 and the LCD 131
M) 132.

The input unit 14 includes a shutter button 141 for inputting a photographing start instruction from a user, a setting button 142 for inputting various settings such as exposure and shutter speed, and an image recorded in the flash memory 122. It comprises a selection button 143 as selection means for selecting image data desired to be printed from the data. The shutter button 141 functions as a start instruction input unit. That is, after the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3 are connected, when the user presses the shutter button 141 of the digital camera 1, transmission of image data and the like from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3 is started.

The connection section 15 is connected to the personal computer 3 by a cable 61.
Has a port 151 for connecting the. The port 151 has a detection unit 152 that detects whether the cable 61 is connected to a port 341 of the personal computer 3 described below.
Is provided. The control unit 16 is connected to the imaging unit 11, the storage unit 12, the display unit 13, the input unit 14, and the connection unit 15, and controls each unit. The control unit 16 includes a CPU (Cent
ral Processing Unit) and an RO in which software for controlling the entire digital camera 1 is recorded.
M (Read Only Memory).

The control unit 16 functions as a starting unit for starting a downloader 321a to be described later, which is started by the personal computer 3. The control unit 16 is the digital camera 1
When the personal computer 3 is connected to the personal computer 3, an activation signal is transmitted to the personal computer 3 at a predetermined time.

The personal computer 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32,
It mainly has an input unit 33, a connection unit 34, and the like.
A cable 61 connected to the digital camera 1 is connected to a connection port 341 of the connection unit 34. The cable 62 connected to the printer 5 is connected to the connection port 342. ROM or RAM as the storage unit 32
And a disk device such as a hard disk 321 or a CD-ROM. As the input unit 33, a keyboard 331 and a mouse 332 as shown in FIG. 1 are provided.

The hard disk 321 of the storage unit 32 of the personal computer 3 stores a downloader 321a as image data acquisition means and an application program 321b as print data creation means. The downloader 321a downloads designated image data from the image data recorded in the flash memory 122 of the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3.

In this embodiment, a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) is used as a method of specifying image data. DPOF is number data including information on how many images designated by the user are to be printed, and layout data including information indicating whether the designated image is to be arranged in the vertical or horizontal direction and printed. And so on. Therefore, the downloader 321a downloads image data from the flash memory 122 of the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3 based on the DPOF data. The application program 321b creates print data for executing printing on the printer 5 from the downloaded DPOF file.

The printer 5 has a print head unit 51, a drive unit 52, a connection unit 53, a control unit 54, and the like. For example, in the case of an ink jet printer, the print head unit 51 includes nozzles for ejecting ink for forming an image on the print medium 55 shown in FIG. 1, a tank storing the ink, and the like. As the print medium 55, paper, cloth, an OHP sheet, a resin film, or the like is used. The drive unit 52 includes a medium feeding unit for feeding the print medium 55 to the print head unit 51, and a head drive unit for driving the print head unit 51. A cable 62 connected to the personal computer 3 is connected to a port 531 of the connection unit 53. The control unit 54 has a CPU, a ROM, and the like, and controls each unit of the printer 5.

Next, the operation of the image printing system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Shooting by Digital Camera 1 When the user presses the shutter button 141 of the digital camera 1, shooting of a subject is performed. The photographing is performed in the following procedure (S101). When performing this shooting,
The digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3 are not connected.

When the user depresses the shutter button 141, all the electric charges stored in the CCD 112 are once released, and thereafter, light from the subject is stored as electric charges in the CCD 112 for a predetermined period. CCD 112 is a CCD
A current corresponding to the amount of light incident on 112, that is, the amount of accumulated charge is output. The output current is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 113.
The converted image data is transferred to a DMA (Direct
Memory Access) directly specifies and writes the address of the RAM 121 without going through the CPU of the control unit 16.
The image data stored in the RAM 121 is subjected to processing such as pixel complementation, color correction, and compression, and is then copied and recorded in the flash memory 122.

2. Selection of Image An operation for printing an image based on the image data recorded in the flash memory 122 by the printer 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. (1) The user selects the image data of the image desired to be printed from the image data recorded in the flash memory 122. The selection of an image is performed by operating the setting button 142 and the selection button 143 of the digital camera 1 while watching the image displayed on the LCD 131. For example, a reduced image created from the image data recorded in the flash memory 122 is displayed on the LCD 131, and the user selects a desired image while viewing the reduced image (S102).

(2) When the user has finished selecting the image data, he or she inputs the number of images to be printed. This input is also input by operating the setting button 142 and the selection button 143. Further, the number of prints may be input simultaneously with the selection of the image in S102.
The control unit 16 creates print number data from the input print number.

(3) When the selection of the image data and the input of the number of prints are completed, the control unit 16 creates a DPOF file from the image data and the number of prints (S1).
04). The DPOF file includes the number-of-printed-sheets data of the image selected as described above, layout data indicating the printing direction of the image, and the like. (4) The created DPOF file is stored in the flash memory 122 of the digital camera 1 (S10).
5).

3. Data Transfer (1) When the user connects the port 151 of the digital camera 1 and the port 342 of the personal computer 3 with the cable 61, the detecting unit 152 of the digital camera 1 detects the connection with the personal computer 3. Then, the control unit 16 of the digital camera 1 recognizes the connection between the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3 (S106). At this time, the power is already turned on in the personal computer 3 (S301), and the operating system (O
S) has been activated (S302). The power of the printer 5 is already turned on (S501), and the printer 5 is on standby in a printable state.

The OS running on the personal computer 3 inquires at a predetermined interval whether or not the cable 61 connected to the digital camera 1 is connected to the port 342.
When the control unit 16 of the digital camera 1 recognizes the connection with the personal computer 3 in S106 described above, and the OS of the personal computer 3 also recognizes the connection with the digital camera 1 (S303), the DPOF file and the DPOF file from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3 It is in a standby state in which image data can be transmitted and received.

When the user presses the shutter button 141 of the digital camera 1, a start signal for starting predetermined application software is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3 (S1).
07). When the start signal is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3 and the OS receives the start signal, the monitor program shown in FIG. 4 resident in the OS starts the application software stored in the storage unit 32 of the personal computer 3. . This application software is stored in the flash memory 122 of the digital camera 1
This is a downloader 321a for downloading a POF file and image data (S204).

(2) When the downloader 321a is started, the downloader 321a inquires whether a DPOF file is stored in the flash memory 122 of the digital camera 1 (S205). The processing differs depending on the presence or absence of the DPOF file. (3) If there is a DPOF file in the flash memory 122, the downloader 321a first downloads the DPOF file from the flash memory 122 of the digital camera 1 (S221). Downloader 321a
Specifies the image data of the image to be printed based on the content of the downloaded DPOF file, and downloads the specified image data from the flash memory 122 (S222).

(4) DPO in flash memory 122
If there is no F file, the downloader 321a downloads all of the image data recorded in the flash memory 122 (S206).

(5) If there is a DPOF file,
The downloader 321a that has downloaded the POF file and the image data stores the downloaded DPOF file and the image data in predetermined areas of the personal computer 3, respectively (S207). If there is no DPOF file, the downloader 321a that has downloaded all the image data stores the downloaded image data in a predetermined area of the storage unit 32 of the personal computer 3. (6) When the download by the downloader 321a is completed and the image data and the like are stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 32, the downloader 321a activates the application program 321b as shown in FIG.
208).

(7) Application program 32
1b prints, from the image data, print data such as bitmap data corresponding to the number of ink colors of the printer 5 in order to print an image based on the image data stored in the storage area of the storage unit 32 with the printer 5. Create (S20
9). The application program 321b includes a printer driver which is software for driving the printer 5.

If there is a DPOF file, the application program 321b creates print data for the number set in the print number data from the print number data of the DPOF file. That is, the application program 321b, for example,
If the number-of-prints data included in the POF file is 3, three print data a based on certain image data A are created. On the other hand, when there is no DPOF file, the application program 321a creates one print data for all the image data.

(8) The created print data is transmitted to the printer 5 (S210, S302). Printer 5
Is the application program 321b of the personal computer 3.
Prints an image based on the print data created by the user (S3)
03). That is, an image based on the image data selected by the digital camera 1 is printed.

(9) When the printing of the image is completed, the downloader 321a running on the personal computer 3 terminates the application program 321b and deletes the DPOF file and the image data stored in the storage area of the storage unit 32 ( S211). And downloader 3
21a itself ends.

As described above, in the first embodiment, in the image printing system using the digital camera 1, when the digital camera 1 is connected to the personal computer 3 and the user presses the shutter button 141, the personal computer 3 uses the downloader 32.
1a is activated and the flash memory 1 of the digital camera 1
One or both of the DPOF file and the image data stored in the PC 22 are downloaded to the personal computer 3. Then, the downloader 321a starts the application program 321b, and if there is a DPOF file, the application program 321b prints the image data and print data for printing an image on the printer 5 from the print number data and layout data included in the DPOF file. Create On the other hand, if there is no DPOF file, print data is created for all image data. The print data is transmitted to the printer, and the printer 5 prints an image based on the print data. That is, the user can print an image based on the image data selected by the digital camera 1 with the printer 5 without performing any special operation on the personal computer 3 for downloading and executing printing.

Further, by interposing the personal computer 3 between the digital camera 1 and the printer 5, an image based on the image data stored in the flash memory 122 of the digital camera 1 is printed using USB as a transmission means. Even in the case where the digital camera 1 is used, an additional function for making the digital camera 1 function as a host is not required. Therefore,
The manufacturing cost of the digital camera 1 does not increase.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the case where the activation signal is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3 when the user presses the shutter button 141 has been described. A start signal transmission button or the like may be provided to transmit a start signal by operating the user.

(Second Embodiment) An image printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Components substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the image printing system and the configurations of the digital camera 1, the personal computer 3, and the printer 5 included in the image printing system are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the method of starting the downloader 321a on the personal computer 3 is different from the first embodiment. Therefore, only different points will be described. The process of taking an image and selecting an image by the digital camera 1 is the same as in the first embodiment.

(Transfer of Data) When the user connects the port 151 of the digital camera 1 and the port 342 of the personal computer 3 with the cable 61, the detecting unit 152 of the digital camera 1 detects the connection with the personal computer 3. Then, the control unit 16 of the digital camera 1 recognizes the connection between the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3. At this time, the power is already turned on in the personal computer 3 and the OS is running. The power of the printer 5 is already turned on, and the printer 5 is on standby in a printable state.

The OS running on the personal computer 3 inquires at a predetermined interval whether or not the cable 61 connected to the digital camera 1 is connected to the port 342.
When the control unit 16 of the digital camera 1 recognizes the connection with the personal computer 3 in S106, and the OS of the personal computer 3 also recognizes the connection with the digital camera 1, a start signal is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3.

When a start signal is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 3 and the OS of the personal computer 3 receives the start signal, the monitor program shown in FIG. The downloaded downloader 321a is started.

The processing after the start of the downloader 321a is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the downloader 321a is activated without the user operating the shutter button 141.

In the second embodiment, when the digital camera 1 is connected to the personal computer 3, the personal computer 3
1a is activated. Therefore, the shutter button 141
The user can download one or both of the DPOF file and the image data without performing the above operation, and the operation becomes easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an image printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an image printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image printing method using an image printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image printing method using an image printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating processing of software running on a personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 3 Personal computer (image processing apparatus) 5 Printer (printing apparatus) 6 Transmission means 15 Connection part 16 Control part 55 Print medium 321a Downloader (image data acquisition means) 321b Application program (print data creation means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/781 H04N 5/781 510C 5/91 5/91 H // H04N 101: 00 F term (reference) 2H106 BH00 5C022 AA13 AB65 AC00 AC12 AC32 AC69 AC75 5C052 AA11 CC11 DD02 EE02 EE03 FA02 FA03 FA04 FA06 FA09 FC08 FD07 FD11 FD13 FE01 FE08 5C053 FA04 FA05 FA08 FA27 GB36 KA03 LA01 LA03 LA41 AB14A03 AB04

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera capable of recording light from a subject as image data, an image processing apparatus connectable to the digital camera via transmission means, and a printing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus. An image printing system comprising: an image data acquisition unit that starts after the digital camera and the image processing apparatus are connected, and acquires image data recorded in the digital camera; and An image printing system, comprising: print data creation means for creating print data and outputting the print data to the printing device. 2. The digital camera has a start input unit for inputting start of the image data acquisition unit. After the digital camera is connected to the image processing apparatus, the digital camera inputs the start data to the start input unit. 2. The image printing system according to claim 1, wherein when there is, the image data acquisition unit is activated. 3. The image data acquiring unit is connected to the digital camera and the image processing device, and is activated when the connection is recognized by the digital camera and the image processing device. 2. The image printing system according to 1. 4. The image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit uses a wireless transmission system. 5. The image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit uses a USB system. 6. A digital camera used in the image printing system according to claim 1, wherein:
A digital camera comprising a starting unit for starting the image data obtaining unit. 7. An image processing apparatus for printing an image based on image data recorded in the digital camera via a printing apparatus connected to the digital camera via an image processing apparatus connected to the digital camera. A recording medium on which a computer program is recorded, wherein after the digital camera and the image processing apparatus are connected, an image data acquisition program for starting an image data acquisition program and acquiring image data recorded in the digital camera And a print data creation procedure for creating print data from the image data acquired in the image data acquisition procedure and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus. 8. In the image data acquisition procedure, the digital camera and the image processing device are connected, and when the connection is recognized by the digital camera and the image processing device, the image data acquisition program is started. A recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 7 is recorded.