Digital camera and printing system

• US 20060023085A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shiohara, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,830,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.990
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/007 Transform coding, e.g. discrete cosine transform
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00957 Compiling jobs, e.g. for batch processing H04N1/3208 takes precedence; program code compilation G06F8/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3216 of a job size, e.g. a number of images, pages or copies, size of file, length of message
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 : Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/10 : for generating image signals from different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 : the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 : using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 : the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

With a digital camera 100, a photographed image 31 is displayed on a liquid crystal display and the user selects a desired image and specifies print specifications of the number of print sheets, a print paper size, a print color mode, etc., then print image data is prepared. The prepared print image data is transmitted from the digital camera 100 to a color printer of an output unit. An image is printed at the color printer in accordance with the print image data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light and then recording the conversion result as image data, the apparatus comprising:

a display portion;

an image selection switch for sequentially displaying images on the display portion, and a function selection switch;

a recording medium which records the image data;

an image data selecting unit which selects desired image data from the recording medium using the image selection switch; and

an output method specification screen displaying unit, which displays an output specification screen on the display portion, the output specification screen being used for specifying a plurality of print specifications including a number of copies of the selected image;

wherein the function selection switch is used to specify one print specification from the plurality of the print specifications.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output method specification screen displaying unit causes the display portion to display the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the switch includes a first button and a second button, and the number of copies increments by one as the first button is depressed, and decrements by one as the second button is depressed.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for sequentially displaying the images, the switch being also used as a switch for specifying the number of copies.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the images displayed correspond to reduced image data prepared based on the image data, and the images are sequentially displayed on the display portion in a fast scroll manner.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the images displayed are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displayed output method specification screen contains a plurality of print specification items including the number of copies, and the output method specification screen displaying unit includes a means for automatically moving from a first one of the print specification items to a next, second one of the print specification items when the first one of the print specification items has been set.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a digital camera.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image selection switch is used to set a number of copies, which has been specified as the one print specification using the function selection switch.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said apparatus is a digital camera.

12. A print system comprising:

a photoelectric conversion unit which executes photoelectric conversion of image pickup light;

a display portion;

an image selection switch which is used for sequentially displaying images on the display portion, and a function selection switch;

a recording medium which records the conversion result by the conversion unit as image data;

an image data selecting unit which selects desired image data from the recording medium using the image selection switch;

an output method specification screen displaying unit, which displays an output specification screen on the display portion, the output specification screen being used for specifying a plurality of print specifications including a number of copies of the selected image; and

a print unit which prints the selected image in accordance with the print specifications;

wherein the function selection switch is used to specify one print specification from the plurality of the print specifications.

13. The print system according to claim 12, wherein the output method specification screen displaying unit causes the display portion to display the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

14. The print system according to claim 13, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

15. The print system according to claim 14, wherein the switch includes a first button and a second button, and the number of copies increments by one as the first button is depressed, and decrements by one as the second button is depressed.

16. The print system according to claim 12, further comprising a switch for displaying the images sequentially, the switch being also a switch for specifying the number of copies.

17. The print system according to claim 12, wherein the images displayed correspond to reduced image data prepared based on the image data, and the images are sequentially displayed on the display portion in a fast scroll manner.

18. The print system according to claim 17, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

19. The print system according to claim 12, wherein the displayed output method specification screen contains a plurality of print specification items including the number of copies, and the output method specification screen displaying unit includes a means for automatically moving from a first one of the print specification items to a next, second one of the print specification items when the first one of the print specification items has been set.

20. The print system according to claim 12, further comprising a digital camera having the conversion unit, the display portion, the image selection switch, the function selection switch, the recording medium, the selecting unit and the displaying unit.

21. The print system according to claim 12, wherein the image selection switch is used to set the number of copies, which has been specified as the one print specification using the function selection switch.

22. The print system according to claim 21, further comprising a digital camera having the conversion unit, the display portion, the image selection switch, the function selection switch, the recording medium, the selecting unit and the displaying unit.

23. A method, comprising:

executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light;

recording the conversion result as image data;

sequentially displaying images on a display portion;

selecting desired image data from the recording medium using an image selection switch;

displaying an output specification screen on the display portion, the output specification screen being used for specifying a plurality of print specifications including a number of copies of the selected image; and

specifying one print specification from the plurality of the print specifications by using the function selection switch.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the display portion displays the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen by operating a switch.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the switch includes a first button and a second button, and the number of copies increments by one as the first button is depressed, and decrements by one as the second button is depressed.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein a switch for displaying the images sequentially is also usable as a switch for specifying the number of copies.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the images displayed correspond to reduced image data prepared based on the image data, and the images are sequentially displayed on the display portion in a fast scroll manner.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

30. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

the displayed output method specification screen contains a plurality of print specification items including the number of copies, and

the output method specification screen displaying unit includes a means for automatically moving from a first one of the print specification items to a next, second one of the print specification items when the first one of the print specification items has been set.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein the specified one print specification is the number of copies, and the image selection switch is used to set the number of copies.

32. An apparatus for executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light and then recording the conversion result as image data, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying;

means for sequentially displaying images on the means for displaying;

means for recording the image data;

means for selecting desired image data from the means for recording the image data using the means for sequentially displaying images;

means for displaying an output specification screen on the means for displaying, the output specification screen being used for specifying a plurality of print specifications including a number of copies of the selected image; and

means for specifying one print specification from the plurality of the print specifications.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the means for displaying the output method specification screen displays the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the switch includes a first button and a second button, and the number of copies increments by one as the first button is depressed, and decrements by one as the second button is depressed.

36. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the means for displaying the output specification screen is also used for specifying the number of copies.

37. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

the images displayed correspond to reduced image data prepared based on the image data, and

the images are sequentially displayed, on the means for displaying, in a fast scroll manner.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

39. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

the displayed output method specification screen contains a plurality of print specification items including the number of copies, and

the output method specification screen automatically moves from a first one of the print specification items to a next, second one of the print specification items when the first one of the print specification items has been set.

40. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said apparatus is a digital camera.

41. A print system, comprising:

first means for executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light;

second means for displaying;

third means for sequentially displaying images on the means for displaying;

fourth means for recording the conversion result by the first means as image data;

fifth means for selecting desired image data from the means for recording the image data using the means for sequentially displaying images;

sixth means for displaying an output specification screen on the means for displaying, the output specification screen being used for specifying a plurality of print specifications including a number of copies of the selected image,

seventh means for specifying one print specification from the plurality of the print specifications; and

eighth means for printing the selected image in accordance with the print specifications.

42. The print system according to claim 41, wherein the means for displaying the output method specification screen displays the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

43. The print system according to claim 42, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

44. The print system according to claim 43, wherein the switch includes a first button and a second button, and the number of copies increments by one as the first button is depressed, and decrements by one as the second button is depressed.

45. The print system according to claim 41, wherein the means for displaying the output specification screen is also used for specifying the number of copies.

46. The print system according to claim 41, wherein:

the images displayed correspond to reduced image data prepared based on the image data, and

the images are sequentially displayed, on the means for displaying, in a fast scroll manner.

47. The print system according to claim 46, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

48. The print system according to claim 41, wherein:

the displayed output method specification screen contains a plurality of print specification items including the number of copies, and

the output method specification screen automatically moves from a first one of the print specification items to a next, second one of the print specification items when the first one of the print specification items has been set.

49. The print system according to claim 41, further comprising a digital camera having the first to seventh means.

50. The print system according to claim 41, wherein the specified one print specification is the number of copies, and the means for sequentially displaying images is used to set the number of copies.

51. The print system according to claim 50, further comprising a digital camera having the first to seventh means.