Digital Camera Patent Abstract
There is disclosed a digital camera in which a lens cover formed
with a plurality of holes is attached to a lens barrel. Different
items of the print conditions are assigned to the individual holes.
The camera senses these holes formed on the cover, recognizes the
print conditions based on the sensed image, and transmits the recognized
condition to a printing apparatus as print condition data. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera which can store a digital image obtained by
sensing an object, comprising:
a reader for optically reading a member that contains at least
one print condition upon printing an image;
a recognizer recognizing the print conditions form a read print
condition image;
an interface for sending data pertaining to the recognized print
condition to an external printing apparatus;
a switch which is closed upon depression; and
a control program for setting said camera in a print condition
setup mode when said switch is closed,
wherein said member has an actuator for energizing said switch
when said member is attached to a front end of a lens barrel of
said camera.
2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises:
a lens cover which serves as said member, and is formed with a
plurality of openings, each of which passes light therethrough and
is free to open/close;
a lens casing to which said lens cover is to be attached;
a CCD for converting light passing through a lens into an image
signal; and
a memory for storing the image signal.
3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises:
a sheet which serves as said member, and can be formed with holes
that pass light therethrough;
a lens adapter which can receive said sheet;
a lens casing to which said lens adapter is to be attached;
a CCD for converting light passing through a lens into an image
signal; and
a memory storing the image signal.
4. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:
a start switch operated by a user to start external transfer of
data pertaining to the recognized print condition.
5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera
a first mode for making an external controller set the print condition
in a printer; and
a second mode for directly setting the print condition in the printer
on the basis of a print condition setup image, and
said camera further comprises a mode switch, which is energized
when a member is attached to a camera, and sets said camera in the
second mode when said switch is closed.
6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises:
a plurality of holes which are assigned predetermined items of
the print conditions, are aligned in a first direction, and are
free to open/close; and
a slide member which is slidable along said plurality of holes
and closes some or all of said plurality of holes.
7. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises:
a plurality of holes which are assigned predetermined items of
the print conditions, are aligned in a first direction, and are
free to open/close.
8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises:
a plurality of marks which are assigned predetermined items of
the print conditions, and are aligned in a first direction, and
said marks can be painted by a user.
9. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises:
a sheet which serves as said member, and on which a mark can be
written;
a lens adapter which can receive said sheet;
a lens casing to which said lens adapter is to be attached;
a CCD converting light passing through a lens into an image signal;
and
a memory storing the image signal.
10. The camera according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of temporary
holes which can be changed into actual holes by perforations are
formed on said member.
11. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus
comprises an ink-jet printing apparatus for printing an image by
ejecting ink in a detachable ink cartridge via a nozzle.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system which can directly
connect a digital camera and a printing apparatus, and allows the
printing apparatus to directly print an image sensed by the digital
camera, and also to a digital camera and printing apparatus.
Conventionally, the simplest way to print out an image sensed by
a digital camera as a picture is to capture the sensed image into
a PC (personal computer) via a predetermined cable if the image
is recorded on an internal memory of the camera or via a PC card
slot or the like arranged in the PC if the image is recorded on
a PC card or the like, and to print out that image after the print
conditions for an ink-jet printer (printing apparatus) are set on
the PC. More specifically, the PC is interposed between the camera
and printer, and the print conditions are set on that PC.
As a method of setting the print conditions upon printing an image
sensed by the digital camera, conventional methods that do not use
any PC are also available. For example, in one method, a dedicated
adapter and TV monitor are inserted between the digital camera and
ink-jet printer, and the print conditions for the ink-jet printer
are set on that TV monitor. In another method, a dedicated adapter
is inserted between the digital camera and ink-jet printer, and
the print conditions for the ink-jet printer are set on a built-in
liquid crystal monitor of the digital camera.
However, in the conventional method of capturing an image recorded
in the digital camera into the PC, since intervention of the PC
is required only for the purpose of setting the print conditions
for the ink-jet printer, the operator of the ink-jet printer cannot
directly print out the sensed image in a desired mode pertaining
to the paper size, image quality, and the like.
Also, when the monitor is used only for the purpose of setting
the print conditions, setups on the monitor are cumbersome. Furthermore,
when the liquid crystal monitor is equipped in the digital camera,
a size reduction of the digital camera cannot be attained.
When a dedicated intervening device is used, it requires high cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system, which
can directly connect a digital camera and printer via a predetermined
interface, and can set print conditions to directly print an image
in the digital camera using the printer.
In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a system
for directly printing an image stored in a digital camera using
a printer, comprising:
the digital camera having a reader optically reading a member that
contains a print condition in the printing apparatus;
a recognizer recognizing the print condition from a read print
condition image;
a predetermined interface for directly connecting the digital camera
and a predetermined printing apparatus; and
the printer for setting the print condition sent via the interface,
and printing a sensed image sent from the digital camera in accordance
with the set print condition.
More specifically, the camera comprises image sensing means, which
obtains the print condition setup image.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital
camera which can set print conditions to directly print the sensed
image using an external printer.
In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a digital
camera which can store a digital image obtained by sensing an object,
comprising:
a reader optically reading a member that contains a print condition
upon printing an image;
a recognizer recognizing the print condition from a read print
condition image; and
an interface for sending data pertaining to the recognized print
condition to an external printing apparatus.
More specifically, the camera recognizes data pertaining to the
print conditions from a print condition image, and sends that print
condition data to the printer.
The printer may also recognize the print conditions from the print
condition image. It is, therefore, still another object of the present
invention to provide a digital camera which can set print conditions,
capture the set print conditions as an image, and send the print
condition image to the printer. That is, there is provided a digital
camera which can store a digital image obtained by sensing an object,
comprising:
a reader optically reading a member that contains a print condition;
and
an interface for sending a read print condition image to a printing
apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera which has a lens cover formed with a plurality
of openings used for setting the print conditions.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera which can capture the set print conditions as an
image, and has a switch for selecting whether or not the print condition
image is to be sent to the printing apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera which can capture the set print conditions as an
image, and comprises a protocol for setting in cooperation with
the printer whether or not the print condition image is to be sent
to the printer.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera which has a lens cover formed with a plurality
of openings used for setting the print conditions.
The camera of the present invention has various aspects as follows.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the reader
comprises:
a lens cover which serves as the member, and is formed with a plurality
of openings, each of which passes light therethrough and is free
to open/close;
a lens casing to which the lens cover is to be attached;
a CCD converting light passing through a lens into an image signal;
and
a memory storing the image signal.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the reader
comprises:
a sheet which serves as the member, and can be formed with holes
that pass light therethrough;
a lens adapter which can receive the sheet;
a lens casing to which the lens adapter is to be attached;
a CCD for converting light passing through a lens into an image
signal; and
a memory for storing the image signal.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the camera
further comprises:
a switch which is closed upon depression; and
a control program for setting the camera in a print condition setup
mode when the switch is closed,
wherein the member has an actuator for energizing the switch when
the member is attached to a front end of a lens barrel of the camera.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the camera
further compries a start switch operated by a user to start external
transfer of data pertaining to the recognized print condition.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the camera
has:
a first mode for making an external controller set the print condition
in a printing apparatus; and
a second mode for directly setting the print condition in the printing
apparatus on the basis of a print condition setup image, and
the camera further comprises a mode switch, which is energized
when the member is attached to the camera, and sets the camera in
the second mode when the switch is closed.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the member
comprises:
a plurality of holes which are assigned predetermined items of
the print conditions, are aligned in a first direction, and are
free to open/close; and
a slide member which is slidable along the plurality of holes and
closes some or all of the plurality of holes.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the member
comprises:
a plurality of holes which are assigned predetermined items of
the print conditions, are aligned in a first direction, and are
free to open/close.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the member
comprises:
a plurality of marks which are assigned predetermined items of
the print conditions, and are aligned in a first direction, and
the marks can be painted by a user.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the reader
comprises:
a sheet which serves as the member, and on which a mark can be
written;
a lens adapter which can receive the sheet;
a lens casing to which the lens adapter is to be attached;
a CCD for converting light passing through a lens into an image
signal; and
a memory for storing the image signal.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a plurality
of temporary holes which can be changed into actual holes by perforations
are formed on the member.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a digital
camera/printer system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a digital camera according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a top view of a lens cover used in the camera shown
in FIG. 2;
FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the lens cover used in the camera shown
in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4A is a partial sectional view of the lens cover shown in
FIGS. 3A and 3B;
FIG. 4B shows an example of a print condition setup image obtained
by the lens cover shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the digital camera;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a closeup adapter according to
the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining the shape of the sheet to
be inserted into the adapter shown in FIG. 6; and
FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining another shape of the sheet
to be inserted into the adapter shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<System Arrangement>
FIG. 1 shows the basic arrangement of a printing system according
to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral
100 denotes a digital camera; 200, a printer of, for example, an
ink-jet scheme; and 150, an interface cable for connecting the camera
100 and printer 200.
The interface cable 150 may use, for example, a known RS232 interface
cable. Also, the printer 200 has an interface function that can
interpret an existing print condition setup protocol. Note that
the print condition setup protocol is used for setting the print
conditions of the printer 200, and a conventional protocol for setting
the print conditions between a PC (not shown) and the printer may
be used in this embodiment.
In this embodiment, as the print conditions, the following seven
parameters can be set:
Printer type (thermal ink-jet or bubble-jet)
Print mode (vertical printing, horizontal printing)
Paper Setup (A4 portrait, B5 portrait, postcard, and the like)
Print direction (one-way or two-way)
Print quality (fine, draft)
Density (dark, light)
Color correction
Especially, as for the color correction conditions, balance conditions
for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black can be set.
Referring back to FIG. 1, reference numeral 300 denotes a known
PC. In this embodiment, the PC is not necessary for setting the
print conditions. The camera 100 used in the system of the present
invention supports two protocols, i.e., a camera setup protocol
used for setting the print conditions for directly outputting an
image to the printer 200, and a PC setup protocol for setting the
print conditions via the PC 300. The user can select one of these
protocols by setting a mode switch 101 at a direct or indirect position.
The PC setup protocol is the existing one; the camera 100 need
only send an image to the PC, and the user sets the print conditions
via an application program on the PC. The PC sends data pertaining
to the print conditions to the printer to set them in the printer,
and then sends image data to be printed.
In the camera setup protocol, the camera 100 sends data pertaining
to the print conditions to the printer to set them in the printer,
and then sends image data to be printed to the printer 200.
In FIG. 1, when the camera setup protocol is used, the print conditions
are optically captured by the camera 100. As will be described later,
such setups are optically readably made, and an optical image representing
the set conditions is converted into an electronic image by a CCD
(not shown) via a lens barrel 102 including an image sensing lens
as in a normal image sensing mode. The camera 100 comprises a recognition
unit 104 for recognizing the set print conditions from the electronic
image. The recognition unit 104 converts the recognition result
into a known print condition setup command, and sends the command
to the printer 200 via the interface cable 150 in the camera setup
protocol.
In the system shown in FIG. 1, the recognition unit 104 of the
camera 100 sets the print conditions based on the condition setup
image. Alternatively, the recognition unit 104 may be arranged in
the printer 200. In this case, the camera 100 sends the condition
setup image to the printer 200 as an image, and the recognition
unit 104 of the printer recognizes the print conditions based on
the received image.
<Camera Arrangement> . . . First Embodiment
FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the camera 100 used in the system
of this embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital camera
main body; 106, a shutter button; 107, a finder & lens section
of the digital camera; and 108, a black lens cover. This cover 108
has a projection 105 for driving the mode switch 101.
The cover 108 is a dedicated detachable cover used for setting
the print conditions, and is formed with a plurality of print condition
setup holes used for setting the print conditions. FIG. 3A shows
the top surface of the cover 108, and FIG. 3B shows its rear surface.
In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 111 denotes a condition setup items
display area, on which letters that represent condition setup items
are printed to be read by the user. Reference numeral 110 denotes
a plurality of round holes; and 112, a slit which is elongated in
the vertical direction (up-and-down direction in FIG. 3A). The round
holes 110 and slit pass external visible light therethrough, which
then enters the lens barrel 107.
In the example shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of round holes 110
(eight holes per item) are formed in the horizontal direction in
units of items of the print conditions, and details of the print
conditions are assigned in advance to the individual round hole
positions.
Also, a plurality of grooves for receiving opaque, plastic slide
blocks 109 are formed in the cover 108. In the example in FIG. 3A,
since there are ten print condition items, ten slide blocks are
prepared.
FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the cover 108. As described above,
the cover 108 is formed of black plastic, and a plurality of hollow
grooves 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d, . . . partitioned by opaque, black
plastic members 122a, 122b, 122c, . . . are formed in the cover
108, as shown in FIG. 4A. These hollow grooves extend in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 4A, and in the
right-and-left direction in FIG. 3A. The vertical position of each
hollow groove in the cover 108 corresponds to that of the hole 110.
These hollow grooves 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d, . . . receive slide
blocks 109a, 109b, 109c, 109d, . . . , and when the user moves these
slide blocks to the right or left, the blocks slide in the respective
hollow grooves.
In the example in FIG. 4A, the slide blocks 109a, 109c, and 109d
of the slide blocks 109a, 109b, 109c, and 109d reach the other-end
portions of the hollow grooves 130a, 130c, and 130d, and only the
slide block 109b does not reach the end of the hollow groove 130b.
Hence, external light passes through the print condition setup holes
110 corresponding to the hollow groove 130b, and reaches the CCD
(not shown). On the other hand, since the print condition setup
holes corresponding to the hollow grooves 130a, 130c, and 130d are
filled with the slide blocks 109a, 109c, and 109d, the external
light is intercepted by these blocks. Therefore, when the user presses
the shutter button, light is projected onto pixels on the CCD corresponding
to the holes and slit which are not closed by the slide blocks,
thus obtaining a print condition setup image.
FIG. 4B shows an example of the print condition setup image obtained
when the user appropriately sets the slide blocks 109. The print
condition setup image is binarized by recognition (to be described
later), and each hole position gives one of two pieces of print
condition setup information when it is open or closed.
When the user sets the print output conditions, he or she horizontally
slides desired slide blocks 109 on the cover 108 and stops them
at given positions to conceal the target holes 110 and slit portions
112. Then, the user attaches the dedicated condition setup lens
cover 108 to the camera.
The control sequence of the internal control program of the digital
camera 100 of this embodiment will be explained below with reference
to the flow chart in FIG. 5. This control sequence is executed by
an internal CPU of the camera shown in FIG. 1, and its protocol
is stored in a memory (MEM).
When the user attaches the dedicated print condition setup lens
cover 108 set with the print conditions to the camera, the projection
(stopper) 105 of the cover 108 presses the switch 101. Upon depression
of the switch 101, step S100 and the subsequent steps in FIG. 5
are executed. More specifically, the control waits in step S102
until the user presses a "direct print switch" 111. Upon
depression of this switch, step S104 is executed. That is, the print
condition setup process of this camera is started when the user
attaches the cover 108 and presses the switch 111. In other words,
since the switch 111 is arranged, attachment of the dedicated cover
108 does not directly trigger the print condition setups, and can
also serve as a normal lens cover.
In step S104, the control waits until the user presses the shutter
106. When the user has pressed the shutter 106, the camera captures
the print condition setup image by normal image sensing, and stores
it in its internal memory (MEM), in step S106.
In this case, when binary data is captured by the digital camera
100, the camera may roughly read (pre-scan) the image on the lens
cover 108 to recognize the data start position.
The captured print condition setup image is passed to the recognition
unit instep S108. The print condition setup image is binarized and
interpreted by the recognition unit, thus recognizing the print
conditions. The recognized print conditions are converted into a
known print condition setup command format.
In step S110, the already sensed object image data recorded in
the memory and the print condition data obtained in step S108 are
simultaneously sent to the printer. Alternatively, the print condition
setup command is sent to the printer first, and then, the sensed
object image data is sent thereto.
Upon reception of the print condition setup command, the printer
sets the print conditions, and then prints the received image.
In this way, according to the first embodiment, since the digital
camera and printer such as an ink-jet printing apparatus are directly
connected, and the print conditions can be set by simple operation,
a simple, low-cost printing system for printing an image sensed
by the digital camera using the ink-jet printer can be realized
while making the digital camera main body compact.
Note that the printer 200 may recognize the print conditions from
the print condition setup image, as described above.
Upon forming the condition setup image, natural light is used in
the above embodiment. Alternatively, a backlight may be arranged
in correspondence with the holes 110 and slit, and may be used as
a light source.
<Camera Arrangement> . . . Second Embodiment
The second embodiment of a digital camera according to the present
invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
The first embodiment is directed to the print condition setup method
using only the lens cover of the digital camera. Since the lens
cover has a small area, the number of types of conditions that can
be set is limited. For this reason, the second embodiment uses a
sheet which can set more condition items than the lens cover. The
second embodiment requires an adapter for attaching the sheet. As
this adapter, a normal closeup adapter may be used. However, in
consideration of convenience upon exchanging the sheet, the adapter
is prepared by forming a sheet attachment groove on a normal closeup
adapter, so that it can be used for both the closeup and sheet attachment
purposes.
Note that the camera of the second embodiment is substantially
the same as the digital camera shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 shows the
outer appearance of a closeup/print condition setup adapter 400.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 410 denotes a groove, which receives
a print condition setup sheet. With this groove, various types of
sheets can be exchangeably set.
Note that the length of the adapter 400 is determined so that the
image on the sheet surface inserted into the sheet groove 410 is
formed on the CCD.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a condition setup sheet 411. Many temporary
holes 412 are formed on the sheet 411. Since perforations 413 are
formed on each temporary hole, an actual hole can be easily formed.
The control sequence of the second embodiment is substantially
the same as that in the first embodiment. More specifically, the
user attaches the print condition setup adapter 400 to the digital
camera 100, and inserts the sheet 411 set with the print conditions
into the condition setup sheet groove 410. The camera 100 senses
the image on that sheet, and writes the image data in the memory.
The subsequent control processes are the same as those in the first
embodiment.
Note that the printer may recognize the print conditions from the
print condition setup image as in the modification of the first
embodiment.
To recapitulate, according to the second embodiment, more print
conditions can be set by a simple method in addition to the effect
of the first embodiment, and the degree of freedom in print condition
setups can be greatly improved.
<Modification>
As for the sheet of the second embodiment, temporary holes on the
sheet may be formed by means other than perforations. For example,
the user may form a hole with a tool having a sharp distal end.
In the second embodiment, the print conditions may be set using
marks. FIG. 8 shows the shape of a sheet according to that modification,
and many marks .largecircle. are printed. That is, this sheet is
a mark-sheet type print condition setup sheet. The user fills the
mark corresponding to the item to be set (.largecircle..fwdarw..circle-solid.).
The print conditions sensed as binary data is recorded on a memory,
and both the sensed image data to be printed, and print conditions
are transferred to an ink-jet recording apparatus (not shown) via
a cable, or infrared ray communication means or the like. The ink-jet
printing apparatus prints out a photograph image under the designated
print conditions.
<Another Embodiment>
In the above description, as a printing system for printing an
image sensed by the digital camera, a system as a combination of
the digital camera and ink-jet printing apparatus (including all
the types of ink-jet printing apparatuses called on-demand ink-jet
type, thermal ink-jet type, non-impact bubble-jet type, and the
like) has been described. Also, the present invention can be applied
to other low-cost printing apparatuses such as a sublimation thermal
transfer type that can attain gradation expression by temperature,
molten thermal transfer type using dry inks, and the like as inexpensive
printing apparatuses which can be easily operated by the user. Furthermore,
the present invention can be applied to a color laser printer, which
is expected to become less expensive in the future, although it
is not popular since it is rather expensive currently.
As for the digital camera used in this system, not only a dedicated
digital camera but also a hybrid digital camera such as a still
image digital camera built in a video camera using a DVC (digital
video cassette) may be used.
The interface is not limited to the one using a cable. For example,
an interface using infrared rays, radio waves, or the like may be
used.
In the above embodiments, print condition items are assigned to
the individual holes or marks. However, the present invention is
not limited to this. For example, binary values may be given to
the individual holes or marks, and each print condition item may
be assigned by a decimal value of the binary values of a plurality
of open holes.
As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present
invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended
claims. |