Digital camera and printing system

• US 7,450,824 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shiohara, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier; Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/238,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 386/117, 386/107, 386/46, 386/124, 386/1, 386/4, 386/52, 386/38
• US Class Current: 386/326
• 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. An apparatus for executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light and then recording the conversion result as image data and reduced image data of the image data, the apparatus comprising:

a display portion;

a recording medium which records the image data and the reduced image data;

a reduced image displaying unit which reads plural pieces of reduced image data from the recording medium, and which causes the display portion to display plural reduced images;

an image data selecting unit which selects a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images; and

an output method specification screen displaying unit which causes the display portion to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images, the output method specification screen being used for specifying number of copies of the selected image.

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. A print system comprising:

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

a display portion;

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

a reduced image displaying unit which reads plural pieces of reduced image data from the recording medium, and which causes the display portion to display plural reduced images;

an image data selecting unit which selects a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images;

an output method specification screen displaying unit which causes the display portion to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images, the output method specification screen being used for specifying a number of copies of the selected image; and

a print unit which prints the specified number of copies of the selected image.

11. The print system according to claim 10, 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.

12. The print system according to claim 11, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

13. The print system according to claim 12, 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.

14. The print system according to claim 10, further comprising a switch for displaying the images sequentially, the switch being also a switch for specifying the number of copies.

15. The print system according to claim 10, 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.

16. The print system according to claim 15, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

17. The print system according to claim 10, 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.

18. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a digital camera which has the conversion unit, the display portion, the recording medium, the reduced image displaying unit, selecting unit, and the output method specification screen displaying unit.

19. A method, comprising:

executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light;

recording the conversion result as image data and reduced image data of the image data in a recording medium;

reading plural pieces of reduced image data from the recording medium;

displaying plural reduced images on a display portion;

selecting a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images; and

displaying an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images, the output method specification screen being used for specifying a number of copies of the selected image.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the display portion displays the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen by operating a switch.

22. The method according to claim 21, 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.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein a switch for displaying the images sequentially is also usable as a switch for specifying the number of copies.

24. The method according to claim 19, 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.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

26. The method according to claim 19, 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.

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

means for displaying;

means for recording the image data and the reduced image data;

means for reading plural pieces of reduced image data from the means for recording the image data and the reduced image data;

means for displaying plural reduced images on the means for displaying;

means for selecting a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images;

means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images; and

means for specifying a number of copies of the selected image.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen causes the means for display to display the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, 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.

31. The apparatus according to claims 27, wherein the means for causing the means for displaying is also used for specifying the number of copies.

32. The apparatus according to claim 27, 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.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

34. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein:

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

the means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen 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.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said apparatus is a digital camera.

36. A print system, comprising:

first means for executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light;

second means for displaying;

third means for recording the conversion result by said first means as image data and reduced image data;

fourth means for reading plural pieces of reduced image data from the means for recording the image data and the reduced image data,

fifth means for displaying plural reduced images on the means for displaying;

sixth means for selecting a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images;

seventh means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images,

eighth means for specifying a number of copies of the selected image; and

ninth means for printing the specified number of copies of the selected image.

37. The print system according to claim 36, wherein the seventh means, for causing the second means for displaying to display an output method specification screen, causes the second means for displaying to display the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

38. The print system according to claim 37, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

39. The print system according to claim 38, 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.

40. The print system according to claims 36, wherein the seventh means for causing the second means for displaying is also used for specifying the number of copies.

41. The print system according to claim 36, wherein:

the images displayed correspond to reduced image data prepared based on the image data, and the images are sequentially displayed, on the second means for displaying, in a fast scroll manner.

42. The print system according to claim 41, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

43. The print system according to claim 36, wherein:

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

the seventh means for causing the second means for displaying to display an output method specification screen 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.

44. The print system according to claim 36, further comprising a digital camera which has the first to eighth means.

45. 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;

a recording medium which records the image data;

a reduced image displaying unit which causes the display portion to display plural reduced images based on the recorded image data;

an image data selecting unit which selects a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images; and

an output method specification screen displaying unit which causes the display portion to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images, the output method specification screen being used for specifying a number of copies of the selected image.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45, 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.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, 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.

49. The apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising a switch for sequentially displaying the images, the switch being also used as a switch for specifying the number of copies.

50. The apparatus according to claim 45, 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.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the images displayed are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

52. The apparatus according to claim 45, 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.

53. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said apparatus is a digital camera.

54. A print system comprising:

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

a display portion;

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

a reduced image displaying unit which causes the display portion to display plural reduced images based on the recorded image data;

an image data selecting unit which selects a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images;

an output method specification screen displaying unit which causes the display portion to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images, the output method specification screen being used for specifying a number of copies of the selected image; and

a print unit which prints the specified number of copies of the selected image.

55. The print system according to claim 54, 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.

56. The print system according to claim 55, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

57. The print system according to claim 56, 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.

58. The print system according to claim 54, further comprising a switch for displaying the images sequentially, the switch being also a switch for specifying the number of copies.

59. The print system according to claim 54, 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.

60. The print system according to claim 59, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

61. The print system according to claim 54, 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.

62. The system according to claim 54, further comprising a digital camera which has the conversion unit, the display portion, the recording medium, the reduced image displaying unit, selecting unit, and the output method specification screen displaying unit.

63. A method, comprising:

executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light;

recording the conversion result as image data in a recording medium;

displaying plural reduced images on a display portion, based on the recorded image data;

selecting a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images; and

displaying an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images, the output method specification screen being used for specifying a number of copies of the selected image.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein the display portion displays the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

65. The method according to claim 64, further comprising changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen by operating a switch.

66. The method according to claim 65, 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.

67. The method according to claim 63, wherein a switch for displaying the images sequentially is also usable as a switch for specifying the number of copies.

68. The method according to claim 63, 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.

69. The method according to claim 68, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

70. The method according to claim 63, 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.

71. 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 recording the image data;

means for displaying plural reduced images on the means for displaying, based on the recorded image data;

means for selecting a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images;

means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images; and

means for specifying a number of copies of the selected image.

72. The apparatus according to claim 71, wherein the means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen causes the means for display to display the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

73. The apparatus according to claim 72, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

74. The apparatus according to claim 73, 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.

75. The apparatus according to claims 71, wherein the means for causing the means for displaying is also used for specifying the number of copies.

76. The apparatus according to claim 71, 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.

77. The apparatus according to claim 76, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

78. The apparatus according to claim 71, wherein:

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

the means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen 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.

79. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said apparatus is a digital camera.

80. A print system, comprising:

first means for executing photoelectric conversion of image pickup light;

second means for displaying;

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

fourth means for displaying plural reduced images, on the means for displaying, based on the recorded image data;

fifth means for selecting a desired image from the displayed plural reduced images;

sixth means for causing the means for displaying to display an output method specification screen concurrently with the plural reduced images,

seventh means for specifying a number of copies of the selected image; and

eighth means for printing the specified number of copies of the selected image.

81. The print system according to claim 80, wherein the sixth means, for causing the second means for displaying to display an output method specification screen, causes the second means for displaying to display the number 1 as a default value for the number of copies in the output method specification screen.

82. The print system according to claim 81, further comprising a switch for changing the displayed number of copies in the output method specification screen.

83. The print system according to claim 82, 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.

84. The print system according to claims 80, wherein the sixth means for causing the second means for displaying is also used for specifying the number of copies.

85. The print system according to claim 80, wherein:

the images displayed correspond to reduced image data prepared based on the image data, and the images are sequentially displayed, on the second means for displaying, in a fast scroll manner.

86. The print system according to claim 85, wherein the images displayed sequentially are images enlarged from the reduced image data.

87. The print system according to claim 80, wherein:

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

the sixth means for causing the second means for displaying to display an output method specification screen 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.

88. The print system according to claim 80, further comprising a digital camera which has the first to seventh means.