Digital camera and printing system

• US 7,561,782 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shiohara, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier; Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/298,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,430 Days
• Field of Search: 386/117, 386/46, 386/107, 386/38, 386/1, 386/52, 386/123
• US Class Current: 386/224
• 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 element that converts a plurality of images into signals;

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

a display that displays an output specification screen and at least one displayed image which is based on at least some of the stored image data, at the same time;

a selection element that selects one-frame image data from the stored image data;

a control element that divides the one-frame image data into plural blocks; and

a transmission element that transmits the plural blocks to an external system.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the output specification screen and the at least one displayed image are superimposed on the display.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a user can select at least one predetermined output specification for the at least one displayed image from the output specification screen.

4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the at least one predetermined output specification selected by the user is displayed on the output specification screen.

5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the at least one predetermined output specification includes a number of sheets the user desires to print the image data corresponding to the at least one displayed image.

6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the image data stored in the recording medium includes higher resolution image data and thumbnail image data associated with the higher resolution image data,

wherein the at least one displayed image is displayed on the display based on the thumbnail image data.

7. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein a user can select at least one predetermined output specification for the at least one displayed image from the output specification screen.

8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the at least one predetermined output specification selected by the user is displayed on the output specification screen.

9. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein the at least one predetermined output specification includes a number of sheets the user desires to print the image data corresponding to the at least one displayed image.

10. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the image data stored in the recording medium includes higher resolution image data and thumbnail image data associated with the higher resolution image data,

wherein the at least one displayed image is displayed on the display based on the thumbnail image data.

21. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 11, wherein a user can select at least one predetermined output specification from the screen,

wherein the at least one predetermined output specification includes at least one of a number of sheets and a paper size.

22. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 11, wherein a user can select at least one predetermined output specification from the screen,

wherein the at least one predetermined specification includes data indicative of the external system that is selected by the user from available external systems including at least two of a printer, a facsimile, a PC and a communication terminal.

23. The digital camera according to claim 22, wherein the communication terminal includes a wireless telephone.

24. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 11, further comprising conversion software contained in the digital camera,

wherein the conversion software formats the image data to be suitable for output from the digital camera to the external system.

25. The digital camera according to claim 24, wherein the conversion software is supplied to the digital camera from an external source and is installed in a memory contained within the digital camera.

26. The digital camera according to claim 24, wherein the conversion software comprises a printer driver, and

wherein the printer driver comprises at least one of a rasterizer module, a half tone module, and a color correction module.

27. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 11, wherein conversion software formats the image data based on at least one predetermined output specification selected by a user from the screen.

28. The digital camera according to claim 27, wherein the conversion software comprises a printer driver, and

wherein the printer driver comprises at least one of a rasterizer module, a half tone module, and a color correction module.

29. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the transmission element is a wireless transmitter that transmits the plural blocks to the external system by wireless transmission.

31. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 11, wherein the stored image data includes higher resolution image data.

32. The digital camera according to claim 31, wherein the stored image data further includes lower resolution image data associated with the higher resolution image data.

33. The digital camera according to claim 32, wherein the lower resolution image data includes thumbnail image data.

34. The digital camera according to claim 31, wherein the displayed image is displayed on the display based on the higher resolution image data.

35. The digital camera according to claim 33, wherein the displayed image is displayed based on the thumbnail image data.

36. The digital camera according to claim 35, wherein the displayed image is displayed based on the thumbnail image data by enlargement.

44. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the transmission element directly transmits the plural blocks, to the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the output specification screen.

45. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the transmission elements directly transmits the plural blocks and a specified number of copies, to a printer included in the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the output specification screen.

11. A digital camera comprising:

a display;

an image pickup device that obtains image data;

a recording medium that stores the image data;

a first memory used as an image display memory for displaying an image on the display based on the stored image data; and

a second memory used as a screen display memory for displaying a screen on the display;

a selection element that selects one-frame image data from the stored image data;

a control element that divides the one-frame image data into plural blocks; and

a transmission element that transmits the plural blocks to an external system,

wherein contents of the first memory and the second memory are superimposed on each other on the display.

12. The digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the displayed image is selected to determine output image data when a user inputs a first command,

wherein the screen comprises an output specification screen,

wherein the input of the first command causes the display to automatically display the output specification screen after the first command is input,

wherein the user can select at least one predetermined output specification from the output specification screen, and

wherein the output specification screen and the displayed image are displayed on the screen at the same time.

13. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein the output specification screen and the displayed image are superimposed on the display.

14. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein the displayed image is a selected thumbnail image,

wherein user can select the selected thumbnail image from a plurality of thumbnail images, and

wherein the output specification screen and the selected thumbnail image are superimposed on the display.

15. The digital camera according to claim 14, wherein the output specification screen and the selected thumbnail image are superimposed on the display when the selected thumbnail image is selected.

16. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein the output specification screen is superimposed on the selected thumbnail image in response to the first command.

17. The digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the screen comprises an output specification screen,

wherein a user can select, from the output specification screen, at least one predetermined output specification for an image currently displayed on the display.

18. The digital camera according to claim 17, wherein the at least one predetermined output specification selected by the user is displayed on the output specification screen.

19. The digital camera according to claim 18, wherein the at least one predetermined output specification includes a number of sheets the user desires to print the image data corresponding to the currently displayed image.

20. The digital camera according to claim 19, wherein the image data stored in the recording medium includes higher resolution image data and thumbnail image data associated with the higher resolution image data,

wherein the currently displayed image is displayed on the display based on the thumbnail image data.

30. The digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the transmission element is a wireless transmitter that transmits the plural blocks to the external system by wireless transmission.

46. The digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the transmission element directly transmits the plural blocks, to the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.

47. The digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the transmission element directly transmits the plural blocks and a specified number of copies, to a printer included in the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.

37. A digital camera comprising:

a display;

an image pickup device that obtains image data;

a recording medium that stores the image data;

an input device that selects image data from the stored image data, and that selects at least one predetermined output specification for each of the selected image data;

a first memory used as an image display memory for displaying an image on the display based on the stored image data and holding the selected image data, each having a respective image index number assigned thereto; and

a second memory used as a screen display memory for displaying a screen on the display and storing the selected output specification in location corresponding to the respective image index number;

a control element that divides the selected image data into plural blocks; and

a transmission element that transmits the plural blocks to an external system.

38. The digital camera according to claim 37, wherein the screen is an output specification screen.

39. The digital camera according to claim 37, wherein contents of the first memory and the second memory are superimposed on each other.

40. The digital camera according to claim 37, wherein the selected output specification is stored in location corresponding to the respective image index number in a setup value registration table.

48. The digital camera according to claim 37, wherein the transmission element directly transmits the plural blocks, to the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.

49. The digital camera according to claim 37, wherein the transmission element directly transmits the plural blocks and a specified number of copies, to a printer included in the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.

41. A method of outputting image data from a digital camera including a display, the method comprising:

converting a plurality of images into signals;

storing image data corresponding to the signals;

displaying at the same time on the display an output specification screen and at least one displayed image which is based on at least some of the stored image data;

selecting one-frame image data from the stored image data;

dividing the one-frame image data into plural blocks; and

transmitting the plural blocks to an external system.

50. The method according to claim 41, wherein the plural blocks are directly transmitted to the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the output specification screen.

51. The method according to claim 41, further comprising directly transmitting a specified number of copies to a printer included in the external system, wherein the plural blocks and the specified number of copies are directly transmitted to the printer in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the output specification screen.

42. A method of outputting image data from a digital camera including a display, the method comprising:

obtaining image data;

storing the image data;

utilizing a first memory as an image display memory for displaying an image on the display based on the stored image data;

utilizing a second memory as a screen display memory for displaying a screen on the display, superimposed on the display contents of the first memory and the second memory;

selecting one-frame image data from the stored image data;

dividing the one-frame image data into plural blocks; and

transmitting the plural blocks to an external system.

52. The method according to claim 42, wherein the plural blocks are directly transmitted to the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.

53. The method according to claim 42, further comprising directly transmitting a specified number of copies to a printer included in the external system, wherein the plural blocks and the specified number of copies are directly transmitted to the printer in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.

43. A method of outputting image data from a digital camera including a display and an input device, the method comprising:

obtaining image data;

storing the image data;

selecting image data from the stored image data and at least one predetermined output specification for each of the selected image data via the input device;

holding in a first memory the selected image data, each having a respective image index number assigned thereto, the first memory which is used as an image display memory for displaying an image on the display based on the stored image data;

storing in a second memory the selected output specification in location corresponding to the respective image index number, the second memory which is used as a screen display memory for displaying a screen on the display;

dividing the selected image data into plural blocks; and

transmitting the plural blocks to an external system.

54. The method according to claim 43, wherein the plural blocks are directly transmitted to the external system, in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.

55. The method according to claim 43, further comprising directly transmitting a specified number of copies to a printer included in the external system, wherein the plural blocks and the specified number of copies are directly transmitted to the printer in response to detecting an operation, of the digital camera, that completes the screen.