JP4615646B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer for printing image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera, for example, and an image transmitted from a computer system on paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the development of image recording devices such as digital cameras (electronic still cameras), it has become easy to convert captured images into digital image data and record them on a recording medium such as a memory card. The image data recorded on the memory card can be used not only to store images but also to make soft copies that are displayed on the screen using a display device such as a TV receiver, or on paper using a printer (image printer). Have a hard copy to print.
[0003]
By the way, in general, a printer can input not only image data input from a memory card but also image data transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer via a cable. Normally, the printer itself does not have complicated image processing functions such as color conversion and rotation enlargement. For this reason, by inputting image data image-processed on the personal computer side via a cable, the printer prints an image corresponding to the image data on paper.
[0004]
Such a printer for printing an image is provided with an interface connector for connection to a cable connected to a personal computer or the like, together with a slot for mounting a recording medium such as a memory card. Since the interface connector has a different physical shape depending on the type of personal computer (such as DOS-V and MAC) and the interface standard (such as USB), each interface connector is a dedicated connector.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in a printer having a function of connecting to an external device such as a personal computer, an interface connector is required in addition to the memory card slot. The interface connector has a considerably large outer size, for example, in Centronics. For this reason, it is practically difficult to provide a plurality of dedicated connectors in accordance with the types and standards in the main body of a small printer in which portability is particularly important.
[0006]
As an interface standard, an infrared data communication standard called IrDA (Infrared Data Association) standard is well known. With this standard, because of wireless communication, image data can be input to the printer without using a dedicated connector. However, in order to construct an interface of this standard, it is necessary to provide an infrared transmission / reception device in the printer and personal computer, so there are difficulties in miniaturization and cost. Furthermore, a method of connecting a printer and a personal computer using an I / O card that can be mounted with a memory card has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2664). However, since the type of external device such as a recording medium or a personal computer connected to the I / O card cannot be determined, there is a difficulty in practicality.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to input an image data from a recording medium such as a memory card or an external device such as a personal computer without using various dedicated connectors and data communication transmitting / receiving devices, and print an image. The object is to provide a small and highly practical printer.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a mounting slot in which a connection adapter for connecting to a recording medium in which image data is recorded or an external device can be detachably mounted, and whether the mounting object mounted in the mounting slot is a recording medium. Or an identification means for identifying whether it is the connection adapter; Selection of image data to be printed and Perform operations related to printing including printing instructions. Joy And a printing control unit that executes a printing process based on the identification result of the identification unit, and the printing control unit is configured such that when the recording medium is loaded in the loading slot, According to the operation, image data to be printed is selected from the image data recorded on the recording medium, print processing based on the image data is executed, and when the connection adapter is mounted in the mounting slot, the print processing is performed. Input image data transmitted from the external device connected to the connection adapter, execute the printing process by converting the input image data into print data, and send a print end command. The printer is configured to repeat any one of the printing processes until it is performed.
[0010]
With a printer having such a configuration, image data transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer can be input also using a mounting slot for a recording medium such as a memory card. Therefore, since various dedicated connectors, data communication transmitting / receiving devices, and the like are not used, a small and low-cost printer can be provided. In addition, since the type of attachment (including interface specifications) to be installed in the dual-purpose installation slot is identified, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an unusable attachment is connected and malfunctions. Printers can be provided.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a printer related to this embodiment.
[0015]
(Printer configuration)
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a system is assumed from a sublimation printer 1 and a personal computer 2 as an external device. The printer 1 includes a system controller 10, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 11, an operation unit 12, a card slot (mounting slot) 13, an interface 14, a buffer memory 15, an image expansion circuit 16, and an image display circuit. 17.
[0016]
The system controller 10 is a system control device, and executes various controls necessary for executing the printing process. The system controller 10 is configured by incorporating firmware (control program) into a microprocessor (CPU). The LCD 11 is a display for performing status display according to various control processes output from the system controller 10. The operation unit 12 includes key buttons (such as a print execution key) necessary for various operations necessary for print processing, and inputs an operation signal corresponding to a user operation to the system controller 10.
[0017]
The card slot 13 of the embodiment is a dual-purpose slot in which a connection adapter (hereinafter simply referred to as an adapter) 30 described later is detachably mounted together with a memory card 24 that is a recording medium for image data. The card slot 13 has a connector (13 </ b> A) that connects one of the inserted memory card 24 or adapter 30 and the interface 14. The interface 14 inputs the image data recorded on the memory card 24 or the image data transmitted from the adapter 30 into the printer 1. The buffer memory 15 stores a plurality of (a plurality of frames) of image data input from the memory card 24 or the adapter 30.
[0018]
The image decompression circuit 16 decompresses the compressed image data stored in the buffer memory 15 and stores it in the built-in image memory. Here, since the image data compressed by, for example, the JPEG method is recorded in the memory card 24, the image data input from the memory card 24 is compressed image data. On the other hand, the image data input from the adapter 30 is usually data that has been subjected to image processing (including image expansion processing) by a personal computer. Therefore, the image decompression circuit 16 stores the image data stored in the buffer memory 15 as it is in the built-in image memory unless there is an instruction from the system controller 10.
[0019]
The image display circuit 17 performs display processing on the image data that has not been subjected to expansion processing or expansion processing by the image expansion circuit 16 and outputs the image data to the output terminal 20. For example, an image display device such as a television receiver is connected to the output terminal 20. The image display circuit 17 outputs not only image data but also image selection screen data necessary for print control from the system controller 10 via the output terminal 20.
[0020]
Further, the printer 1 includes a head drive circuit 18, a printer head 19, a drive control circuit 21, and a drive unit 22. The head drive circuit 18 drives the printer head 19 according to print data (print data) corresponding to image data (including image data decompressed by the image decompression circuit 16) under the control of the system controller 10. The printer head 19 heats the ink ribbon by the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 25 on the paper supplied by the paper transport unit 26 and fixes the pigment of the ink ribbon on the paper, thereby printing a specified image in color. The drive control circuit 21 and the drive unit 22 drive the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 25 and the paper transport unit 26.
[0021]
Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the printer 1 is detachable and uses a cartridge 27 in which paper and an ink ribbon are set. Paper is supplied from the cartridge 27 to the printer head 19 by the paper transport unit 26 of the printer 1. Further, the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 25 feeds the ink ribbon to the printer head 19.
[0022]
On the other hand, the personal computer 2 has a well-known hardware configuration, and includes a CPU 200, an operation unit 201, a monitor 202, a memory 203, an interface 204, and a bus 205. The CPU 200 has various image processing functions such as color conversion and rotation enlargement by executing application programs stored in the memory 203, and the image data generated by the image processing function is externally connected via the interface 204. Output to. In this embodiment, the personal computer 2 can be connected to the interface 204 and the adapter 30 described above, and is connected to the printer 1 by mounting the adapter 30 in the card slot 13.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, the adapter 30 includes a connection portion (second connection portion including a connector) having a shape (similar shape to the memory card 24) that can be mounted in the card slot 13, and a cable 31 coupled to the connection portion. And have. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the cable 31 is coupled to a connection portion (a first connection portion not shown) that can be connected to the interface 204 of the personal computer 2. The connecting portion of the adapter 30 has a shape (30C) for identification with the memory card 24, as shown in FIG. As will be described later, the card detection unit 23 of the printer 1 identifies the memory card 24 or the adapter 30 based on the shape of the card installed in the card slot 13. Further, the card detection unit 23 has a function of identifying the interface specification of the personal computer 2 that is an external device connected to the adapter 30 based on the shape of the adapter 30.
[0024]
(Specific example of the card detection unit 23)
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration relationship between the card slot 13 and the peripheral circuit of the embodiment. The card slot 13 has a connector 13A that can be connected to either the memory card 24 or the adapter 30. In this specific example, the detection signal lines 230 and 231 connected to the connector 13A are used as a function of detecting the card type of the card detection unit 23. That is, when the memory card 24 or the adapter 30 is connected to the connector 13A of the slot 13 (attached to the slot 13), the detection signal line 230 for detecting the attachment of the card becomes active (logic level “H”). . The system controller 10 detects that the memory card 24 or the adapter 30 is installed in the card slot 13 in response to the activation of the detection signal line 230 connected to the card IN terminal.
[0025]
Further, according to the shape of each connection portion of the memory card 24 and the adapter 30 mounted in the slot 13, the logic level of the detection signal line 231 for identifying both changes. Specifically, when the memory card 24 is inserted into the slot 13, it is assumed that the detection signal line 231 is at the logic level “L”. Accordingly, when the adapter 30 is mounted in the slot 13, the detection signal line 231 changes to the logic level “H”. The system controller 10 identifies that either the memory card 24 or the adapter 30 is mounted in the card slot 13 according to the logic level of the detection signal line 231 connected to the card / PC terminal. Here, “card” means the memory card 24, and “PC” means the adapter 30 connected to the personal computer 2.
[0026]
Furthermore, the interface 14 of the same embodiment has an interface switching circuit 140 for switching to a card interface 141 or a PC interface 142 suitable for each according to either the memory card 24 or the adapter 30 mounted in the card slot 13. The interface switching circuit 140 connects the connector 13A and the card interface 141 when the detection signal line 231 is at the logic level "L" according to the logic level. On the other hand, the interface switching circuit 140 connects the connector 13A and the PC interface 142 when the detection signal line 231 is at the logic level “H”.
[0027]
Next, the PC interface 142 identifies the interface specification according to the type of the personal computer 2 and outputs the identification signal to the interface specification terminal (S / P) of the system controller 10. Here, “S” means a serial interface mode (serial I / F mode), and “P” means a parallel interface mode (parallel I / F mode).
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the PC interface 142 is connected to a parallel I / F when a predetermined signal line is opened when the connector 30A of the adapter 30 and the connector 13A of the slot 13 are connected. Detect mode. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when a predetermined signal line is short-circuited when the connector 30A of the adapter 30 and the connector 13A of the slot 13 are connected, the serial I / F mode is used. Detect that there is.
[0029]
(Printer operation)
The operation of the printer of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 together with FIG.
[0030]
First, when the attachment (memory card 24 or adapter 30) is attached to the card slot 13 by the method shown in FIG. 2, the system controller 10 of the printer 1 detects the type of attachment (step S1). YES, S2).
[0031]
When the system controller 10 detects that the memory card 24 is inserted into the slot 13, the system controller 10 sets a card printing mode (a normal mode that is a printer independent mode) and executes a printing process according to a series of normal procedures. That is, according to the operation of the operation unit 12 (operation button) by the user, the system controller 10 relates to a printing process such as selecting an image to be printed from the image data recorded in the memory card 24 mounted in the slot 13. A series of processing is executed (steps S12 to S14).
[0032]
In response to the operation of the print instruction operation button 12A, the system controller 10 controls the image expansion circuit 16 to expand the compressed image data stored in the buffer memory 15 and convert it into print data. Further, by controlling the head driving circuit 18 to drive the printer head 19 according to the print data, the image designated by the ink ribbon by the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 25 is colored on the paper supplied by the paper transport unit 26. Print. In such a card printing mode, for example, a printing process is executed in accordance with image data shot by a digital camera and recorded in the memory card 24.
[0033]
On the other hand, when the system controller 10 detects that the adapter 30 is installed in the slot 13, the system controller 10 sets the PC print mode (print mode based on image data input from the outside) and enters a standby state (YES in step S2). S3).
[0034]
That is, before the printing process is executed, as described above, the PC interface 142 identifies the interface specification of the personal computer 2 connected to the adapter 30 (step S4). The system controller 10 identifies the interface specification (S / P) connected to the adapter 30 based on the identification signal of the PC interface 142 (see FIG. 2).
[0035]
The system controller 10 inputs the image data transmitted from the personal computer 2 via the adapter 30 according to either the identified serial I / F mode or parallel I / F mode, and stores it in the buffer memory 15 ( Steps S5, S6, S7). Then, in response to the operation of the print instruction operation button 12A, the system controller 10 converts the image data stored in the buffer memory 15 (normally, image expansion processing is not executed) into print data (YES in step S8). ). Further, by controlling the head driving circuit 18 to drive the printer head 19 according to the print data, the image designated by the ink ribbon by the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 25 is colored on the paper supplied by the paper transport unit 26. Printing is performed (step S9).
[0036]
The system controller 10 repeats the printing process until a print end command is transmitted (step S10). If the memory card 24 or the adapter 30 is ejected from the slot 13 before the end of the printing process, the printer 1 stops the printing operation and executes a series of processes from the beginning (in step S12). YES, YES in S7).
[0037]
As described above, in the printer 1 of the embodiment, when the memory card 24 is inserted in the card slot 13, the printing process in the printer independent mode (card printing mode) is executed. That is, image data recorded in the memory card 24 is input, and an image printing process according to the image data is executed. On the other hand, when the adapter 30 is installed in the card slot 13, so-called print processing in the PC print mode is executed. That is, the image data transmitted from the personal computer 2 is input via the adapter 30, and the image printing process according to the image data is executed.
[0038]
Therefore, by using the card slot 13 as a combined slot for the memory card 24 and the adapter 30, a dedicated interface connector for connecting to the adapter 30 can be omitted. Also, an IrDA standard data transmission / reception device is not required. The function of identifying the interface specification of the personal computer 2 connected to the adapter 30 can cope with a plurality of interface specifications, and image data transmitted according to each interface specification can be reliably input. .
[0039]
In this embodiment, a personal computer is assumed as an external device. However, the present invention is naturally not limited to this and can be applied to various digital devices such as a digital television receiver.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, image data from a recording medium such as a memory card or an external device such as a personal computer can be input without using various dedicated connectors and data transmission / reception devices. Images can be printed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a small and low-cost printer, and in order to identify the type of attachment (including the interface specifications) that is attached to the dual-purpose attachment slot, an unusable attachment is connected and malfunctions. Therefore, it is possible to provide a printer with excellent practicality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a main part of a printer related to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing the configuration of slots and peripheral circuits related to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a connector connection relationship between a slot and an adapter related to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a view showing the outer shape of a memory card and an adapter related to the embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Printer
2. Personal computer (external device)
10 ... System controller
11 ... Liquid crystal display (LCD)
12 ... operation part
12A ... Print instruction button
13. Card slot
14 ... Interface
15 ... Buffer memory
16 Image decompression circuit (including image memory)
17. Image display circuit
18 ... Head drive circuit
19 ... Printer head
20 ... Output terminal
21 ... Drive control circuit
22 ... Drive unit
23 ... Card detection part
24 ... Memory card
25. Ink ribbon feeding mechanism
26: Paper transport section
27 ... cartridge
30 ... Adapter for connection

Claims (4)

A mounting slot in which a connection adapter for connecting to a recording medium on which image data is recorded or an external device can be detachably mounted;
An identification means for identifying whether the attachment attached to the attachment slot is a recording medium or the connection adapter;
And operation means cormorants line operation according to the print including the selection and print instruction of the image data to be printed,
Printing control means for executing a printing process based on the identification result of the identification means,
The print control means includes
When the recording medium is mounted in the mounting slot, image data to be printed is selected from the image data recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the operation of the operation means, and a printing process based on the image data is executed. ,
When the connection adapter is mounted in the mounting slot, the image data transmitted from the external device connected to the connection adapter is input before the printing process is executed, and the input image data is printed. Convert to data and execute print processing,
A printer configured to repeat any one of the print processes until a print end command is transmitted. An interface for inputting image data from a recording medium or a connection adapter mounted in the mounting slot;
The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an interface switching unit that switches the interface so as to be adapted to either the recording medium or the connection adapter according to the identification result of the identification unit. The identification means includes
3. The function according to claim 1, further comprising a function of identifying an interface specification of an external device connected to the connection adapter when the connection adapter is mounted in the mounting slot. The printer according to item 1. The identification means includes
4. The function according to claim 3, wherein when the connection adapter is mounted in the mounting slot, the interface specification of the external device is identified based on the shape of the connection portion of the connection adapter. Printer.

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