Digital camera and printing system

• US 20060023087A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shiohara, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,825 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 arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus H04N2201/0074; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• 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. A digital camera, comprising:

an image conversion device that converts a plurality of images into signals;

a recording medium that stores image data corresponding to the signals;

a display that displays at least one displayed image based on at least some of the stored image data; and

an output data generating device contained in the digital camera;

wherein the output data generating device generates output data corresponding to the at least one displayed image;

wherein the output data generating device generates the output data in accordance with at least one predetermined output specification selected by a user; and

wherein the at least one predetermined output specification comprises a number of copies of the at least one displayed image.

2. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one displayed image comprises a first image and a second image;

wherein the user can select a predetermined output specification for the first image and can select a predetermined output specification for the second image.

3. The digital camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein, after the user has selected the predetermined output specification for both the first image and the second image, the output data generating device generates the output data for the first image and the second image.

4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein an external device processes the output data based on the at least one predetermined output specification.

5. The digital camera according to claim 4, further comprising a transmitting device which directly transmits the output data to the external device.

6. The digital camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein, after the user has selected the predetermined output specification for the first image and before the user has selected the predetermined output specification for the second image, the output data generating device generates the output data for the first image, and

wherein, the user selects the predetermined output specification for the second image after selecting the predetermined output specification for the first image, and

wherein, after the user has selected the predetermined output specification for the second image, the output data generating device generates the output data for the second image.

7. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein an external device processes the output data based on the at least one predetermined output specification.

8. The digital camera according to claim 7, further comprising a transmitting device which directly transmits the output data to the external device.

9. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the user selects an index print mode, the output data generating device generates index page data corresponding to an index page including a plurality of images corresponding to the stored image data.

10. The digital camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of images included on the index page are thumbnail images.

11. The digital camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein the index page includes a plurality of index codes respectively associated with the thumbnail images.

12. The digital camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein the index page is a single page, and

wherein the thumbnail images represent images corresponding to all of the stored image data.

13. The digital camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein the index page includes a plurality of index codes respectively associated with the plurality of images.

14. The digital camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein the index page is a single page, and

wherein the plurality of images represent images corresponding to all of the stored image data.

15. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one displayed image comprises a first image and a second image,

wherein a user can select a first mode, in which:

the user selects a predetermined output specification for the first image and selects a predetermined output specification for the second image,

the output data generating device generates output data for first image and the second image based on the predetermined output specification for the first image and the predetermined output specification for the second image, and

wherein the user can select a second mode, in which

the output data generating device generates index page data corresponding to an index page including a plurality of images corresponding to the stored image data.

16. The digital camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein, after the user has selected the predetermined output specification for both the first image and the second image, the output generating device generates the output data for the first image and the second image.

17. The digital camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein, after the user has selected the predetermined output specification for the first image and before the user has selected the predetermined output specification for the second image, the output device generates the output data for the first image, and

wherein, the user selects the predetermined output specification for the second image after selecting the predetermined output specification for the first image, and

wherein, after the user has selected the predetermined output specification for the second image, the output device generates the output data for the second image.

18. The digital camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein the index page includes a plurality of index codes respectively associated with the plurality of images.

19. The digital camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein the index page is a single page, and

wherein the plurality of images represent images corresponding to all of the stored image data.

20. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one displayed image includes a first image, and the display displays the first image and a default value of a number of copies of the first image.

21. The digital camera as claimed in claim 20, wherein when the default value is not changed by the user, the default value is recorded as the at least one predetermined output specification for the first image.

22. The digital camera as claimed in claim 20, wherein when the default value is changed by the user to another value, the other value is recorded as the at least one predetermined output specification for the first image.

23. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1?, wherein at least one displayed image includes a second image, and the display displays the second image and a default value of a number of copies of the second image.

24. The digital camera as claimed in claim 23, wherein when the default value for the second image is not changed by the user, the default valve for the second image is recorded as the at least one predetermined output specification for the second image.

25. The digital camera as claimed in claim 23, wherein when the default value for the second image is changed by the user to another value, the other value for the second image is recorded as the at least one predetermined output specification for the second image.

26. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first selector by which the user can select all of the stored image data to be printed,

a second selector by which the user can change a default value of a number of copies of images corresponding to all of the stored image data.

27. The digital camera as claimed in claim 26, wherein after the user has selected, via the first selector, the all of the stored image data to be printed and has not changed, via the second selector, the default value, the output data generating device generates the output data including the all of the stored image data and specifying that each of the images corresponding to all of the stored image data is to be printed by the default value.

28. The digital camera as claimed in claim 26, wherein after the user has selected, via the first selector, the all of the stored image data to be printed and has changed, via the second selector, the default value to another value, the output data generating device generates the output data including the all of the stored image data and specifying that each of the images corresponding to all of the stored image data is to be printed by another value.

29. A digital camera comprising:

an image conversion device that converts a plurality of images into signals;

a recording medium that stores image data corresponding to the signals;

a selector by which the user can select an index print mode;

an output data generating device which is contained in the digital camera and which generates output data in accordance with user'"'"'s selection,

wherein after the user has selected the index print mode via the selector, the output data generating device generates the output data corresponding to index page data for printing an index page by a printer, the index page including a plurality of images corresponding to the stored image data and a plurality of index codes respectively associated with the plurality of images.

30. The digital camera as claimed in claim 29, wherein the plurality of image included on the index page are thumbnail images.

31. The digital camera as claimed in claim 29, wherein the output data corresponding to the index page data is held in a memory.

32. The digital camera as claimed in claim 31, wherein the memory includes a RAM.

33. The digital camera as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

a transmitting device which directly transmits the output data to the printer.

34. A digital camera, comprising:

an image conversion device that converts a plurality of images into signals;

a recording medium that stores image data corresponding to the signals;

a display that displays at least one of a plurality of images corresponding to the stored image data; and

a controller, which is contained in the digital camera and which generates output image data corresponding to the at least one of the images to be output from the digital camera to an external device according to at least one predetermined output specification,

wherein the controller receives first specification data corresponding to a first image of the plurality of images,

wherein the controller receives second specification data corresponding to a second image of the plurality of images,

wherein the controller selects a first predetermined output specification for the first image based on the first specification data,

wherein the controller selects a second predetermined output specification for the second image based on the second specification data,

wherein after both the first predetermined output specification and the second predetermined output specification have been selected, the controller generates output image data corresponding to the first image according to the first predetermined output specification and generates output image data corresponding to the second image according to the second predetermined output specification.

35. The digital camera as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

a transmitting device which directly transmits, from the digital camera to the external device, the output image data corresponding to the first image according to the first predetermined output specification and the output image data corresponding to the second image according to the second predetermined output specification.

36. The digital camera as claimed in claim 34, wherein the first image and the second image are thumbnail images.

37. A digital camera, comprising:

an image conversion device that converts a plurality of images into signals;

a recording medium that stores image data corresponding to the signals;

an input device, wherein a user can select, via the input device, a first image and a second image corresponding to at least some of the stored image data, and wherein, after the first image and the second image are selected, the user can select at least one predetermined output specification via the input device; and

a controller, which is contained in the digital camera and which generates output image data corresponding to the at least the first image and the second image to be output from the digital camera to an external device according to the at least one predetermined output specification.

38. The digital camera according to claim 37, further comprising:

a transmitting device which directly transmits, from the digital camera to the external device, the output image data corresponding to the at least the first image and the second image according to the at least one predetermined output specification.

39. A digital camera method, comprising:

converting a plurality of images into signals with an image conversion device of the digital camera;

storing image data corresponding to the signals;

displaying at least one displayed image based on at least some of the stored image data; and

generating output data corresponding to the at least one displayed image with an output data generating device contained in the digital camera;

wherein the output data generating device generates the output data in accordance with at least one predetermined output specification selected by a user; and

wherein the at least one predetermined output specification comprises a number of copies of the at least one displayed image.

40. A digital camera method comprising:

converting a plurality of images into signals with an image conversion device of the digital camera;

storing image data corresponding to the signals;

selecting an index print mode by using a selector;

after selecting the index print mode, generating output data with an output data generating device which is contained in the digital camera, the output data corresponding to index page data for printing an index page by a printer, the index page including a plurality of images corresponding to the stored image data and a plurality of index codes respectively associated with the plurality of images.

41. A digital camera method, comprising:

converting a plurality of images into signals with an image conversion device of the digital camera;

storing image data corresponding to the signals;

displaying at least one displayed image based on at least some of the stored image data; and

generating output image data corresponding to at least one of the images to be output from the digital camera to an external device according to at least one predetermined output specification, the generating of the image data being performed by a controller contained in the digital camera;

wherein the controller receives first specification data corresponding to a first image of the plurality of images,

wherein the controller receives second specification data corresponding to a second image of the plurality of images,

wherein the controller selects a first predetermined output specification for the first image based on the first specification data,

wherein the controller selects a second predetermined output specification for the second image based on the second specification data,

wherein after both the first predetermined output specification and the second predetermined output specification have been selected, the controller generates output image data corresponding to the first image according to the first predetermined output specification and generates output image data corresponding to the second image according to the second predetermined output specification.

42. A digital camera method, comprising:

converting a plurality of images into signals with an image conversion device of the digital camera;

storing image data corresponding to the signals;

selecting, via an input device of the digital camera, a first image and a second image corresponding to at least some of the stored image data;

after the first image and the second image are selected, selecting at least one predetermined output specification, via the input device;

generating output image data with a controller, which is contained in the digital camera, the output image data corresponding to at least the first image and the second image, for output to an external device according to the at least one predetermined output specification.