JPH11321009A - Printer, printing method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium capable of high-speed printing. A housing includes a printing unit for performing printing, a conveyance unit for conveying paper to the printing unit, and a control unit for controlling the printing unit and the conveyance unit based on electronic data for printing an image. The input unit 5 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 9.
The input unit 5 includes a first control method for printing a plurality of images as an index on one sheet by attaching an identification code corresponding to each image based on the thumbnail image data included in the electronic data; A switching key for switching between a second control method for printing an image corresponding to the identification code based on included image data, and an image selection key for designating an identification code corresponding to an arbitrary image are provided. Therefore, an image to be printed by the printer alone can be specified in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium that can print at high speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras, images recorded by digital cameras are frequently printed on paper. Generally, it takes a long time to print data stored with an image because of its large capacity.
Many printers can adjust the image quality by connecting to a personal computer. Therefore, by setting the image quality roughly, the time for printing an image can be reduced to some extent.

[0003] A dedicated printer for printing an image recorded by a digital camera is supplied to the market. According to such a printer, the printing conditions can be set on the TV screen by connecting to a TV, so that the image printing time can be reduced to some extent by setting the image quality coarsely without connecting to a personal computer. Can be.

[0004]

However, data read by a conventional printer which shortens the time required to print an image by setting the image quality roughly is image data. Therefore, since the capacity of the image data to be read is large, the printing time cannot be significantly reduced.

[0005] In a printer in which printing conditions cannot be set without connecting to a personal computer, it is difficult for a user who is not accustomed to handling the personal computer to print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like on paper. There was a problem.

Further, according to a printer which projects a recorded image on a television screen and sets printing conditions, the printing conditions cannot be set unless the TV is connected to the printer. There was a problem that it took time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and provides a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium that can print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like at a high speed. Aim.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium which can print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like by setting printing conditions alone.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium that can specify an image to be printed in a short time for an image recorded by a digital camera or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium that allow a user unfamiliar with handling a personal computer to easily print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium that can save the trouble of printing an image recorded by a digital camera or the like.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer, comprising: a data acquisition unit for acquiring a thumbnail image stored in a recording medium; and a printing unit based on the thumbnail image data of the data acquisition unit. And a control unit for controlling the transport unit, so that an image can be printed at high speed. Here, the thumbnail image data is, when an image is recorded by an image recording device, for example, a digital camera, compressed into smaller data than the image data (for example, 1280 × 960 pixels), and auxiliary data of the image data (for example, 80 × 60 pixels). (Pixel) refers to electronic data stored with the image data in association with the image data.

According to the printer of the present invention, the data acquisition unit acquires the image data from the recording medium, and the control unit controls the printing unit and the transport unit based on the image data of the data acquisition unit. Therefore, a high-quality image can be printed.

According to the printer of the present invention, the control section controls the printing section and the transport section based on the thumbnail image data, and the control section controls the printing section and the transport section based on the image data. Since the switching means for switching between the second control method for controlling the copy unit and the second control method is provided, high-speed printing and high-quality printing can be switched and used by key operation.

According to the printer according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since there is provided an image selecting means for instructing the control unit to designate a print as at least one of the image data of the data acquisition unit as the print designated image data, the printer can perform printing alone. Image data to be printed can be designated by key operation.

According to the printer of the present invention, the printing unit includes a plurality of images based on the plurality of thumbnail image data of the data acquisition unit on one sheet of paper, and an identification code corresponding to each image. Is printable, the image data to be printed can be specified by the identification code.

According to the printer of the present invention, since the display unit for displaying the identification code attached to the print designation image data is provided, the user can designate the image to be printed while checking the identification code. it can.

According to the printing method of the present invention or the recording medium of the present invention, the printing unit and the transport unit are controlled based on the thumbnail image data included in the electronic data, and the respective thumbnail image data are converted to the respective thumbnail image data. A plurality of thumbnail image data is printed on one sheet of paper with a corresponding identification code, and a printing unit and a transport unit are controlled based on the image data included in the electronic data to print the image data corresponding to the identification code. Therefore, an image to be printed by the printer alone can be designated and printed in a short time.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in, the transport unit 1, the printing unit 2, the control unit 3,
It has a display unit 4, an input unit 5, a guide unit 6, a first data acquisition unit 7, and a second data acquisition unit 8. Transport unit 1
, A printing unit 2, a control unit 3, a display unit 4, and an input unit 5
The guide unit 6, the first data acquisition unit 7, and the second data acquisition unit 8 are provided in a box-shaped housing 9. The printer according to the present embodiment can print the electronic data obtained from the first data obtaining unit 7 or the second data obtaining unit 8 in the printing unit 2 driven by the control unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 9 has a display unit 4 and an input unit 5 on the upper surface, a first data acquisition unit 7, a power switch 91, and a warning lamp 92 for notifying that the ink or paper is out. A guide unit 6 is provided, a second data acquisition unit 8 (not shown) is provided on the back surface, and a transport unit 1, a printing unit 2, and a control unit 3 (not shown) are provided inside. A paper supply port 93 and a paper discharge port 94 are formed on the upper surface and the lower front surface of the housing 9, respectively. A paper tray 95 is detachably engaged with the sheet supply port 93, and a sheet receiver 96 is detachably engaged with the sheet discharge port 94.

The transport unit 1 (not shown) is provided inside the housing 9 between the paper supply port 93 and the paper discharge port 94, and transports the paper by friction by contacting the transport roller driven by a motor and the transport roller. And a driven roller.
The transport roller and the driven roller are made of a non-slip material such as rubber. The conveyance unit 1 is configured to rotate the conveyance roller and the driven roller to rotate the paper supply port 93 to the paper discharge port 94.
Is a mechanism for transporting the paper to the printer.

A printing section 2 (not shown) is provided adjacent to the transport section 1 and has a carriage on which an ink tank and an ink jet head are mounted, a step motor, and a carriage rail provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the paper is transported. And The printing unit 2 performs printing by a known inkjet method. Specifically, a carriage driven by a step motor reciprocates on a carriage rail at a position facing the sheet, and performs printing by ejecting ink in an ink tank from an inkjet head onto the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit 1. Note that a laser method, a dot impact method, or the like can be used as the printing unit 2.

The control section 3 (not shown) has a CPU, a ROM in which a control program is recorded, and a memory for temporarily storing electronic data including image data and thumbnail image data. The control unit 3 extracts various information from the electronic data acquired from the first data acquisition unit 7 or the second data acquisition unit 8 and displays the information on the display unit 4 or drives the guide unit 6 to provide a user interface; In addition, the input unit 5 determines an input and controls the printing unit 2 to perform printing.

The input unit 5 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 9.
As shown in FIG. 3, various keys are provided on the key panel 50.

The print start key 501 is operated by the key panel 5
0, that is, on the side close to the first data acquisition unit 7, has the most conspicuous appearance among all keys, and the operation surface is made of a transparent material, and an unillustrated LED (light) is provided inside the operation surface. emitteddiode) is provided. This LED is controlled to blink in a state where printing can be started. The print start key 501 is a key for transmitting a print designation signal or the like corresponding to the print setting displayed on the display unit 4 to the control unit 3 and starting printing.

The all-print key 502 and the index key 503 having a function as a switching means are provided on the key panel 50.
Is provided next to the print start key 501 in the foreground, has a rectangular shape with a rounded corner next to the print start key 501 among all keys, and the operation surface is made of a transparent material and each operation is performed. An LED (not shown) is provided inside the surface.

Range designation key 505 and one frame key 504
Are provided side by side behind all print keys 502 and index keys 503, have an elliptical shape slightly smaller than those, and have operation surfaces made of a transparent material, and LEDs (not shown) inside each operation surface. Be provided.

All print key 502, index key 50
3. The range designation key 505 and the one-frame key 504 are keys for selecting any one of them, and the LED of the selected key emits light.

The upper key 506 and the lower key 507 are vertically arranged in the back of the one-frame key 504, that is, on the side near the display unit 4, and each have a line-symmetric triangular shape.

A right key 509 and a left key 508 having functions as an image selecting means and a switching means are provided by an up key 5
06 and the print start key 501 adjacent to the down key 507
Are provided side by side at the back of the, and each has a line-symmetric triangular shape. The right key 509 and the left key 508 are
Change the details of the printing conditions in each section.

The display section 4 has an input section 5 on the upper surface of the housing 9.
It is provided adjacent to the back. The display unit 4 is a segment type liquid crystal panel, and includes a selection section 401, a paper type section 402, a paper size section 403, a layout section 404, a photo size section 405, a photo selection section 406, a number section 407, an image quality section 408, and automatic adjustment. It is divided into sections 409. FIG. 3 shows a state in which all segments of the liquid crystal panel are turned on. The display content selected on the display unit 4 is controlled by pressing the print start key 501.
Is transmitted to

The selection section 401 is a section for displaying a triangle selectively pointing to another section by the up key 506 and the down key 507 and activating that section. In the active section, the display can be switched by the right key 509 and the left key 508.

The paper type section 402 is a section whose display is switched to plain paper, photo print paper and super fine paper.

The paper size section 403 includes a postcard,
This is a section where the display is switched to a photo card and A4.

The layout section 404 includes
This is a section whose display is switched in the downward, central, whole, index, and with a cutting guide. When "with cutting guide" is selected, the image can be printed with a register mark.

The photo size section 405 is 4L, 2
This is a section whose display is switched to L, 4 × 6, L, E and a card. The display of the photo size section 405 is
It is determined by the paper size and layout settings.

The photo selection section 406 is a section for mainly displaying the total number of image data recorded on the recording medium and a number as an identification code from 0 to 199 for designating an image to be printed.

The number section 407 is a section for displaying numbers from 0 to 199 mainly as the number of prints.

The image quality section 408 includes high quality, high speed,
This section switches the display to ultra-high image quality. When the high speed is selected, the control unit 3 controls the printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 according to the first control method. When high image quality or super high image quality is selected, the control unit 3 controls the printing unit 2 according to the second control method.
And the transport unit 1 is controlled. The first control method is a control method for performing high-speed printing with coarse image quality based on thumbnail image data included in electronic data, and the second control method is high-quality printing based on thumbnail image data included in electronic data. This is a control method for printing.

The automatic adjustment section 409 is a section whose display is switched without the automatic photo fine. When the auto photo fine is selected, the photographic image is automatically adjusted in image quality and printed.

The guide section 6 is provided below the front surface of the housing 9. The guide unit 6 has a speaker 61 driven by the control unit 3 and outputs audio data read from the ROM as audio.

The first data acquisition section 7 is provided above the front surface of the housing 9 as shown in FIG.
And a reader (not shown) for reading electronic data including thumbnail image data and image data recorded on the recording medium and transmitting the data to the control unit 3. In the card slot 71, a PCMCIA standard memory card as a recording medium,
Alternatively, a recording medium such as a compact flash card generally used for a digital camera can be inserted together with an adapter.

The second data acquisition section 8 (not shown) is provided on the back of the housing 9 and has a plurality of connectors. Second
The data acquisition unit 8 is an interface for connecting to a personal computer or a digital camera, and transmits electronic data extracted from the externally connected devices to the control unit 3.

The operation and printing method of the above-described printer will be described below. For the sake of explanation, printing by the printer is classified into normal printing, one-touch printing, two-touch printing, additional printing, and detailed setting printing.

When the power switch 91 is turned on, the control program starts up, and a voice prompting the insertion of a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a memory card) in which electronic data such as "Please insert a card." Emit.

(1) Normal print control unit 3 monitors the electronic data of both the first data acquisition unit 7 and the second data acquisition unit 8, and preferentially processes the earliest electronic data. Therefore, when a personal computer is connected to the second data acquisition unit 8 by a cable and a print instruction is issued from the personal computer, the display on the display unit 4 disappears, and the printer is driven by the control of the personal computer.

(2) One-touch printing After the power switch 91 is turned on, the card slot 71
When a memory card on which a photographic image is recorded is inserted, the print start key 501 flashes and the all print keys 502 are turned on. As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 4 displays a paper type section 40 as a default setting of the control program.
2 to photo print paper, postcard to paper size section 403, whole to layout section 404, L to photo size section 405, high quality to image quality section 408, auto photo fine to auto adjustment section 409 and memory card to photo selection section 406 The total number of read image data is displayed.
At 07, one is displayed as the number of prints. The control unit 3
Since the high image quality is selected, the printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 are controlled based on the image data included in the electronic data by the second control method.

When a blinking print start key 501 is pressed after inserting a memory card into the card slot 71, all the image data recorded on the memory card is printed one by one according to the display on the display unit 4. Printing in this manner is hereinafter referred to as one-touch printing.

(3) Two-touch print After inserting a memory card into the card slot 71 and pressing the index key 503, all the print keys 502 disappear,
The index key 503 lights up. In the display unit 4, as shown in FIG. 5, the default settings of the control program include photo print paper in the paper type section 402, postcard in the paper size section 403, index in the layout section 404, and image quality section 4
08 displays the total number of image data read from the memory card in the high-speed and photo selection section 406, and 1 is displayed as the number of prints in the number section 407.

Since high-speed image quality is selected, the control section 3 controls the printing section 2 and the transport section 1 based on the thumbnail image data included in the electronic data by the first control method.

After the memory card is inserted into the card slot 71 and the index key 503 is pressed, the blinking print start key 501 is pressed to read out the thumbnail image data recorded on the memory card. As shown in FIG. 6, the identification code 10 is applied to 16 images in four columns and four columns for each postcard size sheet.
2 is printed as an index. Since the thumbnail image data is read and printed, the printing speed is very high. Printing in this manner is hereinafter referred to as two-touch printing.

(4) Additional printing After the index is printed by two-touch printing, pressing the one-frame key 504 causes the index key 503 to be pressed.
Disappears and the one-frame key 504 lights up. And display unit 4
As shown in FIG. 7, as the default settings of the control program, photo paper is set in the paper type section 402, postcard is set in the paper size section 403, and the whole is set in the layout section 404, and the photo size
L is displayed in 05, high image quality is displayed in the image quality section 408, 1 is displayed in the auto photo fine and photo selection section 406 in the automatic adjustment section 409, and 1 in the number section 407. At this time, the photo selection section 406 is active.

Next, by operating the right key 509 or the left key 508, the identification code of the image to be printed out of the images printed in the index is designated in the photo selection section 406. The control unit 3 selects the high image quality,
The printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 are controlled by the second control method based on the image data included in the electronic data. When the flashing print start key 501 is pressed, an image corresponding to the specified identification code is printed according to the settings displayed on the display unit 4.

After the index is printed by two-touch printing, when the range designation key 505 is pressed, the index key 503 disappears and the range designation key 505 is turned on. As shown in FIG. 8, the display unit 4 displays the photo print paper and the paper size section 4 in the paper type section 402 as default settings of the control program.
03, the entire layout section 404, the L in the photo size section 405, the image quality section 408
In the high quality, automatic adjustment section 409, 1 is displayed as the first frame in the auto photo fine and photo selection section 406, and in the number section 407, the total number of image data read from the memory card is displayed as the last frame. At this time, the photo selection section 406 is active.

Next, in the photo selection section 406, the right key 509 or the left key 508 is operated to specify the identification code of the first image in the range to be printed out of the images printed in the index. Further, the down key 507 is operated to activate the number section 407, and the right key 509 or the left key 508 is operated to designate the identification code of the last image in the range to be printed out of the images printed in the index. The control unit 3 selects the high image quality,
The printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 are driven based on the image data included in the electronic data by the second control method. When the blinking print start key 501 is pressed, an image corresponding to the identification code whose range is specified is printed according to the settings displayed on the display unit 4.

After printing the index by two-touch printing, one frame key 504 or range designation key 5
Pressing 05 for printing is hereinafter referred to as additional printing.

(5) Detailed Setting Print In the above-described one-touch print, two-touch print, additional print, and camera-specified print, the user operates the up key 506 or the down key 507 to select a section whose print condition is to be changed, and prints a sheet in each section. It is also possible to change the settings such as the type, paper size, image quality, and automatic adjustment and set arbitrary printing conditions, and then press the print start key 501 to perform printing. For example, in the two-touch printing, when the image quality section 408 is activated and high image quality is selected, printing is performed based on the image data included in the electronic data under the second control method, and a high image quality index can be printed. . In this way, after setting arbitrary print conditions, the print start key 5
Pressing 01 for printing is hereinafter referred to as detailed setting printing.

On the other hand, even if the printing is in progress by pressing the print start key 501, the next printing can be set. For example, when printing one frame at a time by pressing the one-frame printing key in additional printing, the identification code of the photograph to be printed next can be specified continuously while printing is in progress. Therefore, when performing additional printing of a plurality of frames, there is no need to wait for printing to be completed for each frame and to specify an identification code of an image to be printed next, so that continuous printing can be performed comfortably. .

According to the printer of this embodiment, since the thumbnail image data can be called and printed by the first control method, the image can be printed in a short time.

Further, since an index for designating an image to be printed can be printed by itself and an identification code can be set, an image to be printed can be designated by a printer alone.

Further, since the thumbnail image can be called and the index printed by the first control method, the image to be printed by the printer alone can be specified in a short time.

Further, since there is no need to connect to a personal computer to specify an image to be printed, a user who is not accustomed to handling a personal computer can easily print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like. Further, there is no need to connect to a television and to designate an image to be printed, and image data taken easily can be printed.

In this embodiment, the control program for controlling the printer has been described as being recorded in the ROM in advance. However, this control program downloads the control program recorded on the recording medium to the printer. May be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an index according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveyance unit 2 Printing unit 3 Control unit 4 Display unit 7 First data acquisition unit 102 Identification code 406 Photo selection section 408 Image quality selection section 502 All print keys 503 Index key 508 Right key 509 Left key

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printer comprising: a printing unit for performing printing; and a transport unit for transporting paper to the printing unit, wherein the data obtaining unit obtains a thumbnail image stored in a recording medium; And a control unit for controlling the printing unit and the transport unit based on the thumbnail image data of the unit. 2. The data acquisition unit acquires image data from the recording medium, and the control unit controls the printing unit and the transport unit based on the image data of the data acquisition unit. The printer according to claim 1. 3. A first control method in which the control unit controls the printing unit and the transport unit based on thumbnail image data, and a second control method in which the control unit controls the printing unit and the transport unit based on image data. 3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit for switching between the control method and the control method. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image selection unit configured to instruct at least one of the image data of the data acquisition unit as print designation image data and a print designation instruction to the control unit. Printer. 5. The printing unit can print a plurality of images based on a plurality of thumbnail image data of the data acquisition unit and an identification code corresponding to each image on one sheet of paper. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 6. The printer according to claim 5, further comprising a display unit that displays the identification code attached to the print designation image data. 7. A method for printing using a printer including a printing unit for performing printing, a conveyance unit for conveying paper to the printing unit, and a control unit for controlling the printing unit and the conveyance unit based on electronic data. And controlling the printing unit and the transporting unit based on the thumbnail image data included in the electronic data to attach an identification code corresponding to each of the thumbnail image data and to generate a plurality of thumbnail image data on one sheet of paper. A printing method, comprising: printing, and printing the image data corresponding to the identification code by controlling the printing unit and the transport unit based on the image data included in the electronic data. 8. Printing using a printer including a printing unit for performing printing, a conveyance unit for conveying paper to the printing unit, and a control unit for controlling the printing unit and the conveyance unit based on electronic data. A recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, wherein the printing unit and the transporting unit are controlled based on the thumbnail image data included in the electronic data, and an identification code corresponding to each of the thumbnail image data is attached to the recording medium. Printing a plurality of thumbnail image data on paper, and printing the image data corresponding to the identification code by controlling the printing unit and the transport unit based on the image data included in the electronic data. A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program.