Print system, and printer and digital camera making up system

• US 20040190047A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Fukuda, Yoshio, Ito, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00899 Detection of supply level or supply failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0072 Detecting the status of a connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A print system is formed of a digital camera and a printer for printing an image based upon image data received from the digital camera, and has a configuration for improving operability and ease of use. Accordingly, the print system has a configuration wherein a digital camera 10 and a printer 60, including control units 13 and 22, respectively, are functionally connected one to another, and the digital camera has a configuration wherein image data which is to be printed is supplied to the printer under control of the control unit thereof, a secondary battery thereof is charged by receiving electric power supplied from the printer, and the state of each function including the state of the secondary battery can be displayed on a display unit (15), and the printer has a configuration wherein an image is printed based upon the image data supplied from the digital camera under control of the control unit thereof, and electric power is supplied to the digital camera so as to charge the secondary battery thereof, and the digital camera displays the state of the secondary battery on the display unit at the time of the start of the present print system.

Claims

1. A print system formed of a digital camera and a printer, each including control means for controlling operations thereof, functionally connected one to another;

wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein the data forming an image which is to be printed with the printer can be supplied to the printer, a secondary battery, which is a power source thereof, can be charged by receiving electric power supplied from the printer, and the state of each function including the state of the secondary battery can be displayed on a predetermined display unit, under control of the control means thereof;

and wherein the printer has a configuration wherein an image can be printed based upon the image data supplied from the digital camera, and electric power can be supplied to the digital camera so as to charge the secondary battery thereof, under control of the control means thereof;

and wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein in the event that the digital camera and the printer are functionally connected one to another, a display is displayed on a predetermined display unit thereof for notifying the state of the secondary battery.

2. A print system according to claim 1, wherein in the event that a display is displayed on the predetermined display unit of the digital camera for notifying the state of the secondary battery under control of the control means thereof, and a predetermined operation for preparation for printing an image has been received under control of the control means of the digital camera, the display unit is switched to the mode for displaying the corresponding image.

3. A print system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined operation for preparation for printing the image includes an operation for selecting an image which is to be printed under control of the control means.

4. A print system according to claim 1, wherein the display for notifying the state of the secondary battery displays the remaining battery power of the secondary battery, necessity of charging, an estimated value of charging time, or the like, under control of the control means.

5. A print system according to claim 1, wherein an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, is displayed on a predetermined display unit of the digital camera as a main display with a relatively large size, under control of the control means.

6. A print system according to claim 1, wherein a first display arrangement wherein an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, is displayed as a main display with a relatively large size, and a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery is displayed as a sub-display with a relatively small size, on the same screen on the predetermined display unit of the digital camera, and a second display arrangement wherein a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery is displayed as a main display with a relatively large size, and an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, is displayed as a sub-display with a relatively small size, on the same screen, are freely selected by the user, under control of the control means.

7. A print system according to claim 1, wherein in the event that a display is performed for notifying the state of the secondary battery on the predetermined display unit of the digital camera, and the user performs no operation for the digital camera for a predetermined first period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means.

8. A print system according to claim 1, wherein in the event that a display is performed for an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, on the predetermined display unit of the digital camera, and the user performs no operation for the digital camera for a predetermined second period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means.

9. A print system according to claim 1, wherein in a case that a display is performed for an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, on the predetermined display unit of the digital camera, and the user performs no operation for the digital camera for a predetermined second period of time or more, and in the event the secondary battery is not being presently charged, the display is turned off, and on the other hand, in the event that the secondary battery is being presently charged, the display is automatically switched to a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery, and furthermore, in the event that the display is performed for notifying the state of the secondary battery due to the switching, and the user performs no operation for the digital camera for a predetermined first period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means.

10. A print system according to claim 1, wherein upon completion of charging of the secondary battery of the digital camera by receiving electric power supplied from the printer, a display is performed on the predetermined display unit of the digital camera for notifying the completion of charging, under control of the control means.

12. A print system according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein in the event that the state of the secondary battery is displayed on the display unit thereof, and the user performs a predetermined operation in preparation for printing an image for the operation unit, the display on the display unit is switched to the mode for displaying the corresponding image, under control of the control means of the digital camera.

13. A print system according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined operation for the operation unit in preparation for printing the image is to be recognized as being a predetermined operation for selecting an image which is to be printed under control of the control means.

14. A print system according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera displays the remaining battery power of the secondary battery, necessity of charging, estimated value of charging time, or the like, based upon the information with regard to the state of the secondary battery detected and obtained by the battery monitoring circuit, under control of the control means.

11. A print system formed of a digital camera and a printer, each including control means for controlling operations thereof, functionally connected one to another,

wherein the digital camera includes:

image data transmitting means for supplying the image data forming an image which is to be printed with the printer, of the image data acquired by the image-taking means, to the printer, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the printer, communicating with each other;

a charging circuit for charging a secondary battery employed as a power source thereof by receiving electric power supplied from the printer;

a battery monitoring circuit unit for detecting and monitoring the state of the secondary battery, and supplying the detected data to the control means of the digital camera;

display means for displaying the state of each function including the state of the secondary battery on a predetermined display unit under control of the control means of the digital camera; and

an operation unit for receiving operations performed by the user;

and wherein the printer includes;

image data receiving means for receiving image data supplied from the digital camera, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the digital camera, communicating with each other;

printing means having a configuration wherein an image can be printed based upon the received image data; and

an electric power supply circuit having a configuration wherein electric power can be supplied to the digital camera so as to charge the secondary battery;

and wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein the information with regard to the state of the secondary battery detected and acquired by the battery monitoring circuit unit at the time of the start of the print system is displayed on the display unit under control of the control means thereof.

15. A print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein a first display arrangement wherein an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, is displayed as a main display with a relatively large size, and a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery is displayed as a sub-display with a relatively small size, on the same screen on the display unit of the digital camera, and a second display arrangement wherein a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery is displayed as a main display with a relatively large size, and an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, is displayed as a sub-display with a relatively small size, on the same screen, are freely selected by the user performing operations for the operation unit, under control of the control means thereof.

16. A print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein in the event that a display is performed for notifying the state of the secondary battery on the display unit, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined first period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means thereof.

17. A print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein in the event that a display is performed for an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, on the display unit of the digital camera, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined second period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means thereof.

18. A print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein in a case that a display is performed for an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, on the display unit, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined second period of time or more, and in the event the secondary battery is not being presently charged, the display is turned off, and on the other hand, in the event that the secondary battery is being presently charged, the display is automatically switched to a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery, and furthermore, in the event that the display is performed for notifying the state of the secondary battery due to the switching, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined first period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means thereof.

19. A print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein upon completion of charging of the secondary battery by receiving electric power supplied from the printer, a display is performed on the display unit for notifying the completion of charging, under control of the control means thereof.

20. A digital camera employed for a print system formed of the digital camera and a printer, each including control means for controlling operations thereof, functionally connected one to another, the digital camera comprising:

image taking means for obtaining image data corresponding to the subject;

image data transmitting means for supplying the image data forming an image which is to be printed with the printer, of the image data acquired by the image-taking means, to the printer, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the printer, communicating with each other;

a charging circuit for charging a secondary battery employed as a power source thereof by receiving electric power supplied from the printer;

a battery monitoring circuit unit for detecting and monitoring the state of the secondary battery, and supplying the detected data to the control means thereof;

display means for displaying the state of each function including the state of the secondary battery on a predetermined display unit under control of the control means thereof; and

an operation unit for receiving operations performed by the user.

21. A digital camera according to claim 20, wherein in the event that the state of the secondary battery is displayed on the display unit, and the user performs a predetermined operation in preparation for printing an image for the operation unit, the display on the display unit is switched to the mode for displaying the corresponding image, under control of the control means thereof.

22. A digital camera according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined operation in preparation for printing the image includes an operation for the operation unit for selecting an image which is to be printed under control of the control means thereof.

23. A digital camera according to claim 20, wherein the remaining battery power of the secondary battery, necessity of charging, an estimated value of charging time, and the like, are displayed based upon the information with regard to the state of the secondary battery detected and obtained by the battery monitoring circuit, under control of the control means.

24. A digital camera according to claim 20, wherein a first display arrangement wherein an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, is displayed as a main display with a relatively large size, and a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery is displayed as a sub-display with a relatively small size, on the same screen on the display unit, and a second display arrangement wherein a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery is displayed as a main display with a relatively large size, and an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, is displayed as a sub-display with a relatively small size, on the same screen, are freely selected by the user performing operations for the operation unit, under control of the control means thereof.

25. A digital camera according to claim 20, wherein in the event that a display is performed for notifying the state of the secondary battery on the display unit, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined first period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means thereof.

26. A digital camera according to claim 20, wherein in the event that a display is performed for an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, on the display unit, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined second period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means thereof.

27. A digital camera according to claim 20, wherein in a case that a display is performed for an image which is to be printed, or which is a candidate to be printed, on the display unit, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined second period of time or more, and in the event that the secondary battery is not being presently charged, the display is turned off, and on the other hand, in the event that the secondary battery is being presently charged, the display is automatically switched to a display for notifying the state of the secondary battery, and furthermore, in the event that the display is performed for notifying the state of the secondary battery due to the switching, and the user performs no operation for the operation unit for a predetermined first period of time or more, the display is turned off, under control of the control means thereof.

28. A digital camera according to claim 20, wherein upon completion of charging of the secondary battery by receiving electric power supplied from the printer, a display is performed on the display unit for notifying the completion of charging, under control of the control means thereof.

29. A printer employed for a print system formed of a digital camera and the printer, each including control means for controlling operations thereof, functionally connected one to another, the printer comprising:

image data receiving means for receiving the image data supplied from the digital camera;

printing means having a configuration wherein an image can be printed based upon the received image data; and

an electric power supply circuit having a configuration wherein electric power can be supplied to the digital camera so as to charge the secondary battery employed in the digital camera.

30. A print system formed of a digital camera and a printer, each including control means for controlling operations thereof, functionally connected one to another, wherein;

the digital camera includes;

image data transmitting means for supplying the image data forming an image which is to be printed with the printer, of the image data acquired by the image-taking means, to the printer, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the printer, communicating with each other;

a charging circuit for charging a secondary battery employed as a power source thereof by receiving electric power supplied from the printer;

a battery monitoring circuit unit for detecting and monitoring the state of the secondary battery, and supplying the detected data to the control means of the digital camera;

display means for displaying the state of each function including the state of the secondary battery on a predetermined display unit under control of the control means of the digital camera; and

an operation unit for receiving operations performed by the user;

and wherein the printer includes;

image data receiving means for receiving image data supplied from the digital camera, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the digital camera, communicating with each other;

printing means having a configuration wherein an image can be printed based upon the received image data by driving a thermal head thereof; and

an electric-power supply circuit having a configuration wherein electric power can be supplied to the digital camera so as to charge the secondary battery;

and wherein the digital camera has a configuration wherein charging of the secondary battery employed therein, performed by the charger, is stopped during a period in time of the thermal head of the printer being driven, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the printer, communicating with each other.

31. A digital camera employed for a print system formed of the digital camera and a printer, each including control means for controlling operations thereof, functionally connected one to another, the digital camera comprising:

image taking means for obtaining image data corresponding to the subject;

image data transmitting means for supplying the image data forming an image which is to be printed with the printer, of the image data acquired by the image-taking means, to the printer, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the printer, communicating with each other;

a charging circuit for charging a secondary battery employed as a power source thereof by receiving electric power supplied from the printer;

a battery monitoring circuit unit for detecting and monitoring the state of the secondary battery, and supplying the detected data to the control means thereof;

display means for displaying the state of each function including the state of the secondary battery on a predetermined display unit under control of the control means thereof; and

an operation unit for receiving operations performed by the user;

wherein the charging circuit has a configuration wherein charging of the secondary battery employed therein is stopped during a period in time of the thermal head of the printer being driven, under control of the control means thereof and the control means of the printer, communicating with each other.