JP4941277B2 - Image writing apparatus and image writing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image writing apparatus and an image writing system.

Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic album using a plurality of electronic papers as an image display medium. In this electronic album, a transparent pressure sensitive sheet is pasted on the surface of electronic paper used as an image display medium, and a desired image can be designated with an input touch pen. In this electronic album, it is possible to specify processing (for example, copy, enlargement / reduction, rotation) of the image displayed on the electronic paper by the input touch pen. After a desired image is specified by the input touch pen, When any process is designated, the process is executed on the designated image.
JP 2002-55651 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image writing apparatus and an image writing system capable of setting and displaying an icon representing processing for an image for each electronic paper.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention, as one embodiment, corresponds to a receiving unit that receives identification information of a display recording medium that displays and holds an image in a non-powered state, and corresponds to the identification information received by the receiving unit. When displaying the icon based on the image data of the attached icon, detecting that the icon is designated by the user, and when the display means detects that the icon is designated by the user And an image writing apparatus having processing execution means for executing predetermined processing associated with image data representing the icon.

  The present invention also provides, as an embodiment, an image writing system including a display recording medium that displays and holds an image in a non-powered state, an image writing device, and a server, and the image writing device includes: First receiving means for receiving identification information of a display recording medium, and identification data received by the first receiving means is transmitted to the server, and image data of an icon associated with the identification information from the server Communication means for receiving the icon, display means for displaying the icon based on the image data of the icon received from the server by the communication means, and detecting that the icon is designated by the user, and the display means When it is detected that the icon is instructed by the user, an execution request for processing associated with the image data representing the icon is issued. Transmitting means for transmitting data to a server, wherein the server receives second identification means for receiving identification information of the display recording medium from the image writing device, and identification received by the second receiving means. Representing an icon from the image writing apparatus, a specifying means for specifying the image data of the icon associated with the information, a transmitting means for transmitting the image data of the icon specified by the specifying means to the image writing apparatus Image writing comprising: third receiving means for receiving an execution request for processing associated with image data; and processing execution means for executing processing requested by the execution request received by the third receiving means Provide a system.

  The present invention makes it possible to provide an image writing apparatus capable of setting and displaying an icon representing processing for an image for each electronic paper.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1) First Embodiment (1-1) Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an image writing system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image writing system includes an image writing device 1, an electronic paper 2, and a touch pen 3.
The image writing device 1 includes an upper main body 5 and a lower main body 6 which are connected to each other by a hinge 4 so as to be opened and closed. The image writing apparatus 1 can be detachably attached to the electronic paper 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image writing device 1 is opened.
The upper body 5 is provided with a touch panel 12 described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image writing apparatus 1. As shown in the figure, the image writing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, a touch panel 12, a signal transmission layer 13, a power transmission layer 14, and a bus 15.
The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU reads and executes the image writing program stored in the ROM, thereby causing the image writing apparatus 1 to execute an image writing process described later. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU to execute the program.
The storage unit 11 is a storage device such as a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores image data to be displayed on the electronic paper 2 and a processing table 110.
As shown in FIG. 4, the processing table 110 is associated with the medium identification information MID assigned to each electronic paper, the processing content related to the image displayed on the electronic paper, and the icon image data representing the processing content. It is a table for memorizing. Here, the processing related to the image displayed on the electronic paper specifically includes “image writing”, “page feed (return)”, “copy”, “print out”, and “enlarge ( (Reduction) "and the like.
The touch panel 12 is a device that combines a display and a matrix switch, and is a device that receives a desired instruction by pressing a display on the screen with a finger or the touch pen 3. As a method for detecting contact with the screen, a resistance wire method or a capacitance method may be applied in addition to the matrix switch.
The signal transmission layer 13 includes at least one transmission coil 130, generates a magnetic field by causing a current to flow through the transmission coil 130, and a reception coil 230 included in a signal reception layer 23 of the electronic paper 2 described later. Form magnetic field coupling to communicate data.
The power transmission layer 14 includes at least one power supply coil 140, generates a magnetic field by passing a current through the power supply coil 140, and receives power from the power reception coil 240 included in the power reception layer 24 of the electronic paper 2 described later. A magnetic field coupling is formed to supply power.

The electronic paper 2 is a flexible thin display device having a size such as A4 size paper. The display content can be electrically rewritten, and the displayed image can be displayed and held in a non-powered state.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the electronic paper 2. As shown in the figure, the electronic paper 2 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, a display unit 22, a signal reception layer 23, a power reception layer 24, and a bus 25.
The control unit 20 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU reads and executes an image display program stored in the ROM, thereby causing the electronic paper 2 to execute an image display process described later. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU to execute the program.
The storage unit 21 is a storage device such as an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), and stores image data to be displayed on the display unit 22 to be described later and medium identification information MID assigned to the electronic paper 2.
The display unit 22 has a rectangular display area, for example, and displays an image based on the image data stored in the storage unit 21. As the display method of the display unit 22, a microcapsule method, an electronic powder fluid method, a liquid crystal method, or the like is adopted.
A transparent pressure-sensitive sheet including transparent pressure-sensitive elements arranged two-dimensionally is attached to the surface of the display unit 22, and an image designated by a finger or the touch pen 3 can be detected.
The signal power receiving layer 23 includes at least one receiving coil 230, generates a magnetic field by passing a current through the receiving coil 230, and the transmitting coil 130 included in the signal transmission layer 13 of the image writing device 1 described above. A magnetic field coupling is formed between them to perform data communication.
The power receiving layer 24 includes at least one power receiving coil 240, generates a magnetic field by passing a current through the power receiving coil 240, and the power receiving layer 140 included in the power transmission layer 14 of the image writing device 1 described above. A magnetic field coupling is formed between them to receive power.

  The touch pen 3 is a pointing device for designating an icon displayed on the touch panel 12 of the image writing device 1 or an image displayed on the electronic paper 2.

(1-2) Operation FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the image writing system according to this embodiment.
When writing an image on the electronic paper 2 using the image writing device 1, first, the image writing device 1 is attached to the electronic paper 2 as shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, the lower main body 6 is opened so that the upper main body 5 of the image writing apparatus 1 is on the upper side, inserted into the electronic paper 2 from the lateral direction, and the lower main body 6 is closed. At that time, the image writing device 1 is positioned so that the signal receiving layer 23 and the power receiving layer 24 of the electronic paper 2 and the signal transmission layer 13 and the power receiving layer 14 of the image writing device 1 face each other.
When the power of the image writing apparatus 1 is input in this state, the control unit 10 of the image writing apparatus 1 causes a current to flow through the power supply coil 140 provided in the power transmission layer 14, and the power receiving layer 24 of the electronic paper 2 A magnetic field coupling is formed with the power receiving coil 240 provided to supply power (step S1).
The control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 also causes a current to flow through the transmission coil 130 included in the signal transmission layer 13 to form magnetic field coupling with the reception coil 230 included in the signal reception layer 23 of the electronic paper 2. Then, the electronic paper 2 is requested to transmit the medium identification information MID (step S2). Upon receiving this request, the control unit 20 of the electronic paper 2 reads the medium identification information MID from the storage unit 21 and transmits it to the image writing device 1 via the receiving coil 230 (step S3). When receiving the medium identification information MID via the transmission coil 130, the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 reads the icon image data stored in the processing table 110 in association with the identification information (step S4). ). And the control part 10 displays an icon on the touch panel 12 based on the read image data (step S5).
When it is detected that the icon displayed on the touch panel 12 is pressed by the finger or the touch pen 3 (step S6; YES), the control unit 10 reads out the processing content associated with the icon from the processing table 110 ( Step S7), the processing is executed (step S8).
For example, when an icon indicating “image writing” is pressed with a finger, the control unit 10 transmits the image data stored in the storage unit 11 to the electronic paper 2 and displays the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2. To display an image based on the image data.
Further, for example, when an icon representing “page feed” is pressed by the touch pen 3, the control unit 10 stores image data to be displayed next to the image currently displayed on the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2. Is read from the storage unit 11 and transmitted to the electronic paper 2, and an image based on the image data is displayed on the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2.
Further, for example, when a part of the image displayed on the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2 is specified by the touch pen 3 and the icon indicating “enlarge” is pressed, the control unit 10 The image data of the copy is received from the electronic paper 2 and enlarged, and the enlarged image data is transmitted to the electronic paper 2 so that the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2 displays an image based on the image data. .

(2) Second Embodiment (2-1) Configuration FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overview of an image writing system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, this image writing system includes an image writing device 1 ′, an electronic paper 2, a touch pen 3, and a server 7. The image writing system according to the first embodiment. Is different in that the image writing device is replaced and a server 7 is added. However, since there is no change about the electronic paper 2 and the touch pen 3, description about these is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image writing device 1 ′. As shown in the figure, the image writing apparatus 1 ′ includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, a touch panel 12, a signal transmission layer 13, a power transmission layer 14, a bus 15, and a wireless communication unit. 16. Since this configuration is the same as the configuration of the image writing device 1 according to the first embodiment except that the wireless communication unit 16 is provided, description of components other than the wireless communication unit 16 is omitted.
The wireless communication unit 16 includes an antenna, and performs wireless communication with the server 7 in accordance with standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
In the image writing device 1 ′ according to the present embodiment, the processing table 110 is not stored in the storage unit 11, unlike the image writing device 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 7. As shown in the figure, the server 7 includes a control unit 70, a storage unit 71, a wireless communication unit 72, and a bus 73.
The control unit 70 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU reads and executes the image writing program stored in the ROM, thereby causing the server 7 to execute an image writing process described later. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU to execute the program.
The storage unit 71 is a storage device such as an HDD, and stores image data to be displayed on the electronic paper 2 and a processing table 710. The contents stored in the processing table 710 are the same as those of the processing table 110 according to the first embodiment.
The wireless communication unit 72 includes an antenna, and performs wireless communication with the image writing device 1 ′ in accordance with a standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN.

(2-2) Operation FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the image writing system according to this embodiment. Since the process of step S1-S3 which comprises this operation | movement is the same as the process of step S1-S3 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, it abbreviate | omits about description of these processes.
As a result of the processing in step S3, when the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 ′ receives the medium identification information MID via the transmission coil 130, the control unit 10 transmits the identification information to the server 7 via the wireless communication unit 16. When the control unit 70 of the server 7 receives the medium identification information MID via the wireless communication unit 72, the control unit 70 reads the image data of the icon associated with the identification information and stored in the processing table 710. Then, the control unit 70 transmits the image data of this icon to the image writing device 1 ′ via the wireless communication unit 72. When receiving the image data of the icon via the wireless communication unit 16, the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 ′ displays the icon on the touch panel 12 based on the image data.
When it is detected that the icon displayed on the touch panel 12 has been pressed with a finger or the touch pen 3, the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 'instructs the server 7 to execute the process associated with the icon. Request. In response to this request, the control unit 70 of the server 7 reads out the processing content associated with the icon from the processing table 710 and executes the processing.
For example, when an icon representing “image writing” is pressed with a finger, the control unit 70 transmits the image data stored in the storage unit 71 to the image writing device 1 ′. Upon receiving the image data, the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 ′ transmits the image data to the electronic paper 2 and causes the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2 to display an image based on the image data.
Further, for example, when an icon representing “page feed” is pressed with the touch pen 3, the control unit 70 displays image data to be displayed next to the image currently displayed on the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2. Is read from the storage unit 71 and transmitted to the image writing device 1 ′. Upon receiving the image data, the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 ′ transmits the image data to the electronic paper 2 and causes the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2 to display an image based on the image data.
Further, for example, when a part of the image displayed on the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2 is designated by the touch pen 3 and the icon indicating “enlarge” is pressed, the control unit 70 Part of the image data is received from the electronic paper 2 via the image writing device 1 ′ and enlarged, and the enlarged image data is transmitted to the image writing device 1 ′. Upon receiving the image data, the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 ′ transmits the image data to the electronic paper 2 and causes the display unit 22 of the electronic paper 2 to display an image based on the image data.

(3) Modification (3-1) Modification 1
In the above-described embodiment, the image writing devices 1 and 1 ′ may be attached to the electronic paper 2 using means other than the clamping means using a hinge. For example, you may attach using the double-sided adhesive tape, the fastener etc. which combined the hook and the loop.

(3-2) Modification 2
In the above-described embodiment, the object displayed on the touch panel 12 of the image writing devices 1 and 1 ′ may be an icon other than the icon representing the processing content related to the image. For example, it may be an icon representing data used for a predetermined process, or may be a simple character, number, or symbol as long as it can be designated by a finger or the touch pen 3.

(3-3) Modification 3
In the above-described embodiment, power supply and data communication performed between the image writing apparatuses 1 and 1 ′ and the electronic paper 2 may be performed using means other than the coils provided in both apparatuses. For example, connection terminals may be provided in both the image writing apparatuses 1 and 1 ′ and the electronic paper 2, and power supply and data communication may be performed by directly contacting the connection terminals of both apparatuses. In this case, the connection terminals on the image writing devices 1 and 1 ′ side are provided so as to be exposed on the side of the upper body 5 in contact with the electronic paper 2, and the connection terminals on the electronic paper 2 side are connected to the image writing device 1 and It will be provided on the side of the electronic paper 2 so as to be in contact with the 1 ′ connection terminal.

(3-4) Modification 4
In the second embodiment described above, not only the server 7 but also the image writing device 1 ′ may store the processing table in the storage unit 11. In this case, the control unit 10 of the image writing device 1 ′ once confirms whether or not the medium identification information MID received from the electronic paper 2 is stored in the processing table of the own apparatus. The medium identification information MID may be transmitted to the server 7 for the first time.
(3-5) Modification 5
In the second embodiment described above, the image writing device 1 ′ and the server 7 may perform data communication not by radio but by wire.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image writing system according to a first embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image writing device 1 is opened. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image writing device 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the process table. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of electronic paper 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the image writing system according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the general-view figure of the image writing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of image writing apparatus 1 '. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server 7. FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the image writing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 '... Image writing apparatus, 2 ... Electronic paper, 3 ... Touch pen, 4 ... Hinge, 5 ... Upper main body, 6 ... Lower main body, 7 ... Server 10, 10, 20, 70 ... Control part, 11, 21, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 71 ... Memory | storage part, 12 ... Touch panel, 13 ... Signal transmission layer, 14 ... Power transmission layer, 15, 25, 73 ... Bus, 16, 72 ... Wireless communication part, 22 ... Display part, 23 ... Signal receiving layer, 24 ... Power receiving layer, 110, 710 ... processing table, 130 ... transmitting coil, 140 ... feeding coil, 230 ... receiving coil, 240 ... receiving coil, MID ... medium identification information.

Claims (2)

Receiving means for receiving identification information of a display recording medium that displays and holds an image in a no-power state;
Display means for displaying an icon based on the image data of the icon associated with the identification information received by the receiving means, and detecting that the icon is designated by the user;
An image writing apparatus comprising: a process executing unit that executes a predetermined process associated with image data representing an icon when the display unit detects that the icon is designated by a user. An image writing system comprising a display recording medium for displaying and holding an image in a non-powered state, an image writing device, and a server,
The image writing device comprises:
First receiving means for receiving identification information of the display recording medium;
Communication means for transmitting the identification information received by the first receiving means to the server and receiving image data of an icon associated with the identification information from the server;
Display means for displaying an icon based on the image data of the icon received from the server by the communication means, and detecting that the icon is instructed by a user;
Transmission means for transmitting, to the server, an execution request for processing associated with image data representing the icon when it is detected by the display means that an icon has been designated by the user;
The server
Second receiving means for receiving identification information of the display recording medium from the image writing device;
Specifying means for specifying image data of an icon associated with the identification information received by the second receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting image data of the icon specified by the specifying means to the image writing device;
Third receiving means for receiving an execution request for processing associated with image data representing an icon from the image writing device;
An image writing system comprising: a process execution unit that executes a process requested by the execution request received by the third reception unit.

Images