Photography – Plural image recording – Simultaneous recording of plural distinct subjects
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-17
2001-02-27
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Plural image recording
Simultaneous recording of plural distinct subjects
C396S335000, C396S429000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195513
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electronic camera accessory which is attached to an electronic camera, and more particularly to an electronic camera accessory which enables the electronic camera to sequentially capture images and enables the electronic camera to directly connect to a printer so that the image captured by the electronic camera can be printed on the printer.
The present invention also relates generally to an image composition system, and more particularly to an image composition system for composing an image from a background image and a captured image and outputting the composite image to the printer, etc., and an electronic camera with an image composing function and a recording medium suitable for the electronic camera.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional electronic camera, captured image data is compressed in such a format as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) in order to record and retain an increasing amount of data within a limited recording capacity, and the compressed image data is stored in a built-in memory of the camera or a memory card which can be freely inserted and pulled out. The electronic camera connects to a TV set, or the image data recorded in the memory card is transferred to a personal computer, so that the captured image is displayed on a screen of the personal computer or the TV. The image is printed on a printer connected to the personal computer.
In the conventional electronic camera, however, the personal computer is indispensable and is operated in a complicated manner, since the image is printed on a printer which connects to the camera via the personal computer. The image data stored in the built-in memory, etc. is compressed. For this reason, in order to print the captured image, the compressed image data is read from the built-in memory, etc. and is expanded, and then the image data is transferred to the printer. Thus, it takes a lot time to print an image.
On the other hand, if a special function such as direct printing without the use of the personal computer is provided in the camera, the camera body would be expensive.
Moreover, in the conventional electronic camera, the captured image data is recorded in the memory card, etc. after compression processing, and thus, it takes a lot time to process the data and the sequential image-capturing becomes impossible. The sequential image-capturing is also a special image-capturing mode, and thus, if a large capacity of buffer memory is provided in the camera to enable the sequential image-capturing, the camera body would be expensive.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 6-332122 discloses a system for making a composite image. According to this system, image data is sent to a personal computer from an electronic camera or a scanner, etc., and the personal computer executes edit processing such as image composition. Then, a composite image is printed on a printer which connects to the personal computer. This image composition system is large in size. Both the personal computer and the printer must be set with a variety of parameters to execute the edit processing. The personal computer is indispensable in the system, and the personal computer must be operated in a complicated manner.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 5-308503 discloses another image composition system which does not use the personal computer. According to this system, a previously-provided background pattern is pasted on a background of an object image, and then a composite image is printed. In this system, the background of the object image is composed with the previously-provided background pattern, and thus, the object image must be distinguishable from the background.
Furthermore, there is no conventional electronic camera with the normal image-capturing function which camera is provided with the image composing function of combining the background image and the captured image in the electronic camera or in an accessory unit which is detachably connected to the electronic camera body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object the provision of an electronic camera accessory which is able to be attached to the electronic camera as the need arises, so that functions such as direct printing and sequential image-capturing can be performed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image composition system and an electronic camera with an image composing function, which are provided with the normal image-capturing function and the image composing function of combining the captured or reproduced image and the previously-provided background image and are able to print the image.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera with the image composing function, which is able to automatically switch between the normal image-capturing function and the image-composing function, in accordance with an identifier provided on a recording medium such as a memory card mounted in the electronic camera or with identification information recorded in the recording medium.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera with the image-composing function, which has both the normal image-capturing function and the image-composing function, and a recording medium suitable for the electronic camera. The background image is provided by the recording medium such as the memory card mounted in the electronic camera, and the composite image is recorded in the recording medium.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, an electronic camera accessory of the present invention which detachably connects, via an interface, to an electronic camera which stores a captured still image in a form of digital data into a memory. The electronic camera accessory comprises: a terminal which enables the accessory to connect to a printer; and a communication controller which performs two-way communication with the printer connected to the terminal, and transfers image data, via the interface, to the printer in a data format suitable for the printer.
According to the present invention, the accessory is provided with the terminal for connecting to the printer, and the printer is directly connected to the accessory via the terminal. The two-way communication is performed between the accessory and the printer, and the communication controller of the accessory directly controls the printer to print the image data. Thus, the personal computer is not required for printing, and the printing can be easily performed. The time required for transferring the image data can be reduced, and the image data can be printed within a short period of time.
According to another mode of the present invention, the electronic camera accessory is provided with a plurality of color correction lookup tables (LUT) which are suitable for a plurality of printers able to connect to the terminal. The type of the currently-connected printer is automatically recognized in accordance with a signal which is output from the printer during the two-way communication. The suitable color correction LUT is selected according to the recognized type. Thus, the color of the image to be printed on the printer can automatically be adjusted according to the type of the connected printer.
Moreover, according to another mode of the present invention, the image data is captured and transferred to the accessory via the interface in response to the pressing operation of the release button which instructs the camera to start image-capturing. Then, the image data is processed to be in a data format suitable for the printer by the communication controller, and is transferred to the printer. Thus, the captured image can be printed at the same time as the image-capturing. The image data of the still image, which is captured in response to the operation of the release button, is transferred in an uncompressed state to the acces
Igarashi Hiroshi
Iwabe Kazuki
Konishi Masahiro
Nihei Kaname
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Rutledge D.
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