JP2007124115A - Portable printer and camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a camera system that can accurately capture a photographed image during self-photographing and can perform printing immediately after photographing.
A camera system includes a small digital camera and a portable printer. The digital camera 3 is detachable from the portable printer 4. The portable printer 4 is provided with a planar mirror 32. The reflection surface 32 a of the mirror 32 has a similar relationship with the light receiving surface 18 a of the CCD image sensor 18. When the digital camera 3 is attached to the portable printer 4, the lens center of the photographing lens 17 is positioned on the center line 33 of the reflecting surface 32a, and the reflecting surface 32a and the light receiving surface 18a have the same posture.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable printer and a camera system in which a small digital camera is detachable.

  2. Description of the Related Art Digital cameras that convert a subject image captured by a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD image sensor into digital image data and record it in a memory are widely used. Digital cameras have become very small as technology advances and can be carried anywhere. Such digital cameras can be used for so-called self-photographing, where you can shoot yourself or where you and your friends are together, in addition to taking pictures of others and scenery. It has become.

Self-photographing can be performed by extending the hand holding the digital camera, directing the photographing lens toward the user, and pressing the release button in this state. However, in this case, the photographer cannot confirm the composition of the subject, and the photographed image is often not as expected. For this reason, conventionally, it has been common to provide a mirror near the photographing lens of the camera, and to perform photographing while confirming the subject displayed on the reflecting surface of the mirror (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-142125 A

  However, some digital cameras are very small, and even if a mirror is provided on such a digital camera, the subject cannot be sufficiently projected because the mirror is small. Conventionally, it is known to project a wide range by using a convex mirror, but it is difficult to project a subject image distorted with this mirror.

  In recent years, portable printers that can receive image data from a digital camera, a camera-equipped mobile phone, or the like and perform printing have been put into practical use. This portable printer receives image data from a digital camera using, for example, infrared communication, exposes an instant film stored in the printer based on the image data, and then develops a developer in an image recording area. ing. Since a portable printer needs to store an instant film, it is larger in size than a general digital camera.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and is composed of a small digital camera and a portable printer to which the digital camera is attached and detached as necessary, and can accurately determine the composition during self-photographing. Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera system capable of printing immediately after shooting.

  The camera system of the present invention comprises a portable printer and a small digital camera that can be detachably attached to the portable printer and operated while holding the portable printer. A mirror that is provided and displays a subject at the time of self-photographing, a communication unit that exchanges data between the portable printer and the digital camera, and is operated by operating the digital camera while viewing the subject displayed on the mirror. Control means for acquiring image data of the captured image via the communication means and recording an image on a recording medium housed in the portable printer based on the acquired image data. And

  The communication means includes a connection portion provided in one of the portable printer and the digital camera, and a connected portion provided in the other and electrically connected by insertion of the connection portion. When the digital camera is attached to the portable printer by inserting the digital camera into the connected portion, the lens center of the photographing lens of the digital camera is positioned on the center line of the reflecting surface of the mirror. preferable. Here, the center line of the reflecting surface of the mirror is a line extending in the vertical direction when the portable printer is held and the photographing lens of the digital camera is directed toward the subject, and is a line passing through the center point of the reflecting surface. . Thereby, the parallax disappears in the left-right direction between the subject image of the mirror and the captured image.

  The reflecting surface of the mirror and the light receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor of the digital camera are similar to each other, and the reflecting surface and the light receiving surface are in the same posture when the digital camera is mounted. It is preferable that the subject range projected on the reflecting surface is substantially the same as the shooting range. As a result, the subject range displayed on the reflecting surface becomes the shooting range, so that the photographer can accurately determine the composition during self-shooting.

  It is preferable that the reflection surface of the mirror is the same size as the recording area of the recording medium, and the object projected on the reflection surface is recorded as an image in the recording area with the same size. As a result, since the image is recorded in the recording area with the same size as the subject image on the reflecting surface, the photographer can accurately confirm the size of the image after printing at the time of self-photographing.

  The digital camera is capable of switching a shooting angle of view between a wide angle and a telephoto, and allows the photographer to recognize a shooting range on the reflecting surface of the mirror when the shooting angle of view is set to telephoto. It is preferable that a photographing range frame is provided. Since the photographer knows the photographing range on the reflecting surface based on the photographing range frame, the composition can be accurately determined even when the photographing angle of view changes.

  The present invention relates to a portable printer with a detachable digital camera, a mirror for projecting a subject when the digital camera is mounted and performing self-photographing, and a communication means for transferring data between the digital camera, Image data of a photographed image photographed by operating the digital camera while looking at the subject displayed on the mirror is obtained via the communication means, and stored in the portable printer based on the obtained image data. And a control means for recording an image on a recording medium.

  According to the camera system of the present invention, in addition to using a small digital camera alone as in the prior art, the small digital camera can be mounted on a portable printer and used as a digital instant camera. . A portable printer can be provided with a sufficiently large mirror for self-photographing, and the composition can be accurately determined by checking the subject image of the mirror during self-photographing.

  A camera system 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a print function, and includes a small digital camera 3 and a portable printer 4 (hereinafter, printer 4). The digital camera 3 is detachable from the printer 4. The digital camera 3 can be used alone or in combination with the printer 4.

  A USB connector (connection unit) 10 is provided on the lower surface of the digital camera 3. The USB connector 10 can be inserted into a USB port (connected portion) 11 provided on the upper surface of the printer 4. When the USB connector 10 is inserted into the USB port 11, the digital camera 3 is fixed to the printer 4, and the digital camera 3 and the printer 4 are electrically connected to enable data exchange.

  The digital camera 3 is formed with inclined surfaces 12 and 13 that are inclined with respect to the upper surface. The inclined surfaces 12 and 13 are respectively provided with release buttons 14 and 15 that are pressed during photographing. The release button 14 is used, for example, during normal shooting for shooting landscapes, and the release button 15 is used during self-shooting. Here, self-photographing means taking a picture of yourself or taking a picture of where you and your friend are together. The release buttons 14 and 15 are located on the side opposite to the USB connector 10.

  On the front surface of the digital camera 3, an object side window 16a of the finder 16 and a photographing lens 17 are provided. A CCD image sensor 18 is disposed behind the photographing lens 17. The light receiving surface 18a of the CCD image sensor 18 has a rectangular shape, and is arranged such that the long side of the light receiving surface 18a extends in the vertical direction. On the rear surface of the digital camera 3, a power button 19, a zoom operation unit 20, and an eyepiece side window 16b of the finder 16 are provided (see FIG. 3). The zoom operation unit 20 has an operation member 21, and the photographing field angle can be switched between a wide angle and a telephoto by sliding the operation member 21.

  A film door 30 that opens and closes a film loading chamber (not shown) is provided on the front surface 4 a of the printer 4. When the film door 30 is opened, a plurality of instant films 31 shown in FIG. 2 can be loaded into the film loading chamber. The instant film 31 is provided with an image recording area 31a in which an image is recorded. The image recording area 31a has a similar relationship with the light receiving surface 18a of the CCD image sensor 18. The instant film 31 is provided with a developer reservoir 31b. The developer reservoir 31b is crushed when the instant film 31 is discharged and developed into the image recording area 31a.

  The film door 30 is provided with a planar mirror 32. The reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 is similar to the light receiving surface 18a of the CCD image sensor 18 and the image recording area 31a of the instant film 31, and has the same size as the image recording area 31a. .

  The mirror 32 is arranged such that the long side of the reflecting surface 32a extends in the vertical direction. When the digital camera 3 is mounted on the printer 4, the mirror 32 and the CCD image sensor 18 take the same posture, that is, the long side of the reflecting surface 32a is parallel to the long side of the light receiving surface 18a. Further, when the digital camera 3 is attached to the printer 4, the lens center of the photographing lens 17 is positioned on the center line 33 of the reflecting surface 32a. Here, the center line 33 of the reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 is a line that passes through the center point of the reflecting surface 32a and extends in the vertical direction.

  On the reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32, a shooting range frame 34 is drawn for allowing the photographer to recognize the shooting range on the reflecting surface 32a when the shooting angle of view is set to telephoto. Note that when the shooting angle of view is set to a wide angle, the entire reflecting surface 32a is the shooting range. A film discharge port 35 for discharging the instant film 31 is provided on the lower surface of the printer 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, grips 36 and 37 are provided on the back surface 4 b of the printer 4. The grips 36 and 37 are made of rubber and are provided so as to extend in the vertical direction. The grip 36 is held by, for example, the thumb of the right hand during normal shooting. Further, the grip 37 is held by, for example, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger of the right hand during self-photographing. At any time of shooting, the index finger reaches each of the release buttons 14 and 15 while holding the printer 4 with the right hand.

  Further, an IrDA transmission / reception unit 38, a power button 39, a repeat button 40, and a counter 41 are provided on the back surface 4b of the printer 4. The IrDA transmission / reception unit 38 can perform infrared communication in conformity with IrDA, and can receive image data from, for example, another digital camera or a camera-equipped mobile phone. The repeat button 40 is operated when performing printing similar to the previous printing. The counter 41 displays the remaining number of instant films 31 stored in the printer 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, which is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the camera system 2, the CCD image sensor 18 is connected to the CCD drive unit 50, and the drive is controlled by the CCD drive unit 50. The CCD image sensor 18 converts an optical subject image formed on the light receiving surface 18a by the photographing lens 17 into an electrical imaging signal and outputs it. The imaging signal is amplified to an appropriate level by the amplifier 51, and then digitally converted by the A / D converter 52 to become image data. This image data is input to the image processing unit 53 and subjected to various image processing such as gradation conversion, white balance correction, and γ correction. When the zoom operation unit 20 is operated, a part of the photographing lens 17 moves in the optical axis direction, and the photographing field angle is switched between the wide angle and the telephoto.

  The digital camera system control unit 54 controls shooting processing on the digital camera 3 side while communicating with the printer system control unit 60. Release buttons 14 and 15 are connected to the digital camera system control unit 54. When one of the release buttons 14 and 15 is pressed with the digital camera 3 attached, the image data subjected to image processing is sent to the printer 4 side via the USB connector 10 and the USB port 11. This image data is written into the memory 61. When the digital camera 3 is used alone, the image data is written in the memory 55 in the digital camera 3.

  When the IrDA transmission / reception unit 38 receives image data from another digital camera or camera-equipped mobile phone by infrared communication, the image data is written in the memory 61.

  The printer system control unit 60 controls the print processing and the like on the printer 4 side while communicating with the digital camera system control unit 54. A power button 39 and a repeat button 40 are connected to the printer system control unit 60. The printer system control unit 60 instructs printing when image data is received from the digital camera 3, image data is received via the IrDA transmission / reception unit 38, or the repeat button 40 is operated.

  The printer 4 includes a transport mechanism 62 that transports the instant film 31, and the transport mechanism 62 is controlled by a transport mechanism drive unit 63. The transport mechanism 62 includes a transport roller and a developing roller. The transport roller transports the instant film 31 on the most rear side toward the film discharge port 35. The developing roller pinches the transported instant film 31, thereby crushing the developer pool 31b provided in the instant film 31 and developing the developer in the image recording area 31a.

  The printer 4 is provided with a print head 64 for writing an image on the instant film 31, and the print head 64 is controlled by a head drive unit 65. The print head 64 includes three-color LEDs having emission colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), a light guide, and a liquid crystal shutter. The three color LEDs emit light in order, and each color light is guided onto the instant film 31 through a light guide. Here, a liquid crystal shutter is arranged in the middle of the optical path, and the transmission amount of each color light is controlled according to the image data by this liquid crystal shutter. A latent image for one line extending in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the instant film 31) is recorded on the instant film 31 irradiated with each color light. The instant film 31 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and lines are sequentially recorded on the instant film 31. When the developing solution is developed in the area where the latent image is recorded, the image becomes obvious.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the case where the digital camera 3 is used alone without being attached to the printer 4 will be described. When the power button 19 of the digital camera 3 is pressed, the power is turned on to enable shooting, and shooting is performed by pressing one of the release buttons 14 and 15. Image data of the photographed image is recorded in the memory 55. By connecting the digital camera 3 to another device via the USB connector 10, it is possible to transmit the image data recorded in the memory 55 to another device to display or print as an image. .

  Next, the case where the digital camera 3 is used by being mounted on the printer 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the USB connector 10 is inserted into the USB port 11, the digital camera 3 is fixed to the printer 4 and the digital camera 3 and the printer 4 are electrically connected. When the power button 39 of the printer 4 is pressed, the digital camera 3 and the printer 4 are turned on and photography is possible.

  When performing normal photographing, for example, the grip 36 on the back surface 4b is held with the thumb of the right hand, the front surface 4a is supported with the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger, and the index finger is placed on the release button 14. At this time, the portable printer 4 is held such that the photographing lens 17 is positioned above the mirror 32. When the subject is confirmed through the finder 16 and the release button 14 is pressed, the image data of the subject image at that time is acquired, and this image data is subjected to image processing and automatically transmitted to the printer 4 side. Recorded in the memory 61. The image data recorded in the memory 61 is print data.

  On the other hand, when performing self-photographing, for example, the grip 37 of the back surface 4b is held with the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger of the right hand, the front surface 4a is supported with the thumb, the index finger is placed on the release button 15, and the photographing lens 17 is directed to itself. Like that. At this time, the portable printer 4 is held such that the photographing lens 17 is positioned above the mirror 32. When the shooting angle of view is set to a wide angle, the entire reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 becomes the shooting range, and when the shooting angle of view is set to telephoto, the shooting range frame 34 of the reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 is the shooting range. Therefore, the photographer determines the composition in consideration of this. Since the reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 is sufficiently large and the subject is clearly displayed, the photographer can accurately determine the composition at the time of shooting. When the shooting angle of view is set to a wide angle, the subject projected on the reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 is recorded as an image in the image recording area 31a of the instant film 31 with the same size. The size of the image after printing can be accurately imaged. When the release button 15 is pressed, image data of the subject image at that time is acquired, and after this image data is subjected to image processing, it is automatically transmitted to the printer 4 side and temporarily recorded in the memory 61. The image data recorded in the memory 61 is print data.

  When image data is received by infrared communication from a photographing device other than the digital camera 3, such as another digital camera or a camera-equipped mobile phone, this image data is recorded in the memory 61, and this image data is used as print data. The Further, when the repeat button 40 is operated without receiving the image data, the image data recorded in the memory 61, that is, the same image data as used in the previous print is set as the print data. The

  The printer 4 performs print processing based on the image data recorded in the memory 61. The conveyance mechanism 62 is driven to start conveyance of the instant film 31, and a latent image is recorded line by line by the print head 64 in accordance with the conveyance of the instant film 31. In the area where the latent image is recorded, the developing solution is developed in accordance with the conveyance so that the image becomes visible, and the printed instant film 31 is discharged from the film discharge port 35. Printing is performed automatically after shooting, and you can get a picture right after shooting. When printing is performed again, the above operation is repeated. When the power button 39 is pressed, the driving of each part of the digital camera 3 and the printer 4 is stopped.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration is suitable when the captured image is vertically long. However, the configuration may be suitable when the captured image is horizontally long. In this case, the mirror is disposed so that the long side of the reflecting surface extends in the left-right direction, and the solid-state imaging device is disposed so that the long side of the light-receiving surface extends in the left-right direction. In the above embodiment, the digital camera is mounted on the upper surface of the portable printer, but the mounting position of the digital camera is not limited to this and may be an arbitrary position.

  In the above embodiment, the reflection surface of the mirror and the image recording area of the instant film have the same size, but they do not necessarily have to be the same size. In the above embodiment, the CCD image sensor is used as the solid-state imaging device, but another image sensor may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the digital camera is configured to be driven alone, but may be configured to be driven by being mounted on a portable printer. In this case, since the battery, memory, etc. of the portable printer can be shared, it is not necessary to provide them in the digital camera, and the digital camera has a very simple structure and can greatly reduce the manufacturing cost. .

  In the above embodiment, the USB connector is used as the communication means between the digital camera and the printer, but other connectors may be used. In addition, the digital camera is provided with an attachment portion that can be mechanically attached to the printer in place of the electrically connected connector, and also provided with wireless communication means such as an IrDA transmission / reception portion, through which image data is transmitted. May be sent.

It is a front view of a digital camera and a portable printer. It is the schematic of an instant film. It is a rear view of a digital camera and a portable printer. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a camera system. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of each process of a camera system.

Explanation of symbols

2 camera system 3 digital camera 4 portable printer 10 USB connector 11 USB port 18 CCD image sensor 18a light receiving surface 31 instant film 31a image recording area 32 mirror 32a reflecting surface 33 center line 34 imaging range frame

Claims (6)

It is composed of a portable printer and a digital camera that can be detachably attached to the portable printer and operated while holding the portable printer.
A mirror that is provided in the portable printer and projects a subject during self-photographing;
Communication means for exchanging data between the portable printer and the digital camera;
Image data of a photographed image photographed by operating the digital camera while looking at the subject displayed on the mirror is obtained via the communication means, and is stored in the portable printer based on the obtained image data. And a control means for recording an image on the recording medium. The communication means includes a connection portion provided in one of the portable printer and the digital camera, and a connection portion provided in the other and electrically connected by insertion of the connection portion.
When the connecting portion is inserted into the connected portion and the digital camera is attached to the portable printer, the lens center of the photographing lens of the digital camera is positioned on the center line of the reflecting surface of the mirror. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein:   The reflecting surface of the mirror and the light receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor of the digital camera are similar to each other, and the reflecting surface and the light receiving surface are in the same posture when the digital camera is mounted. 3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein a subject range projected on the reflecting surface is configured to be substantially the same as a shooting range.   4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein the reflecting surface of the mirror is the same size as the recording area of the recording medium, and the subject projected on the reflecting surface is recorded as an image in the recording area with the same size. system.   The digital camera is capable of switching a shooting angle of view between a wide angle and a telephoto, and allows the photographer to recognize a shooting range on the reflecting surface of the mirror when the shooting angle of view is set to telephoto. The camera system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a photographing range frame is provided. In portable printers with removable digital cameras,
A mirror for projecting a subject when the digital camera is mounted and self-photographing;
A communication means for exchanging data with the digital camera;
Image data of a photographed image photographed by operating the digital camera while looking at the subject displayed on the mirror is obtained via the communication means, and stored in the portable printer based on the obtained image data. A portable printer comprising control means for recording an image on a recording medium.

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