Television – Camera – system and detail – Camera connected to computer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-14
2001-02-13
Garber, Wendy (Department: 2712)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Camera connected to computer
C358S906000, C347S002000, C347S107000, C399S084000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188430
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system which can directly connect a digital camera and a printing apparatus, and allows the printing apparatus to directly print an image sensed by the digital camera, and also to a digital camera and printing apparatus.
Conventionally, the simplest way to print out an image sensed by a digital camera as a picture is to capture the sensed image into a PC (personal computer) via a predetermined cable if the image is recorded on an internal memory of the camera or via a PC card slot or the like arranged in the PC if the image is recorded on a PC card or the like, and to print out that image after the print conditions for an ink-jet printer (printing apparatus) are set on the PC. More specifically, the PC is interposed between the camera and printer, and the print conditions are set on that PC.
As a method of setting the print conditions upon printing an image sensed by the digital camera, conventional methods that do not use any PC are also available. For example, in one method, a dedicated adapter and TV monitor are inserted between the digital camera and ink-jet printer, and the print conditions for the ink-jet printer are set on that TV monitor. In another method, a dedicated adapter is inserted between the digital camera and ink-jet printer, and the print conditions for the ink-jet printer are set on a built-in liquid crystal monitor of the digital camera.
However, in the conventional method of capturing an image recorded in the digital camera into the PC, since intervention of the PC is required only for the purpose of setting the print conditions for the ink-jet printer, the operator of the ink-jet printer cannot directly print out the sensed image in a desired mode pertaining to the paper size, image quality, and the like.
Also, when the monitor is used only for the purpose of setting the print conditions, setups on the monitor are cumbersome. Furthermore, when the liquid crystal monitor is equipped in the digital camera, a size reduction of the digital camera cannot be attained.
When a dedicated intervening device is used, it requires high cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system, which can directly connect a digital camera and printer via a predetermined interface, and can set print conditions to directly print an image in the digital camera using the printer.
In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a system for directly printing an image stored in a digital camera using a printer, comprising:
the digital camera having a reader optically reading a member that contains a print condition in the printing apparatus;
a recognizer recognizing the print condition from a read print condition image;
a predetermined interface for directly connecting the digital camera and a predetermined printing apparatus; and
the printer for setting the print condition sent via the interface, and printing a sensed image sent from the digital camera in accordance with the set print condition.
More specifically, the camera comprises image sensing means, which obtains the print condition setup image.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera which can set print conditions to directly print the sensed image using an external printer.
In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a digital camera which can store a digital image obtained by sensing an object, comprising:
a reader optically reading a member that contains a print condition upon printing an image;
a recognizer recognizing the print condition from a read print condition image; and
an interface for sending data pertaining to the recognized print condition to an external printing apparatus.
More specifically, the camera recognizes data pertaining to the print conditions from a print condition image, and sends that print condition data to the printer.
The printer may also recognize the print conditions from the print condition image. It is, therefore, still another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera which can set print conditions, capture the set print conditions as an image, and send the print condition image to the printer. That is, there is provided a digital camera which can store a digital image obtained by sensing an object, comprising:
a reader optically reading a member that contains a print condition; and
an interface for sending a read print condition image to a printing apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera which has a lens cover formed with a plurality of openings used for setting the print conditions.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera which can capture the set print conditions as an image, and has a switch for selecting whether or not the print condition image is to be sent to the printing apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera which can capture the set print conditions as an image, and comprises a protocol for setting in cooperation with the printer whether or not the print condition image is to be sent to the printer.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera which has a lens cover formed with a plurality of openings used for setting the print conditions.
The camera of the present invention has various aspects as follows.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the reader comprises:
a lens cover which serves as the member, and is formed with a plurality of openings, each of which passes light therethrough and is free to open/close;
a lens casing to which the lens cover is to be attached;
a CCD converting light passing through a lens into an image signal; and
a memory storing the image signal.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the reader comprises:
a sheet which serves as the member, and can be formed with holes that pass light therethrough;
a lens adapter which can receive the sheet;
a lens casing to which the lens adapter is to be attached;
a CCD for converting light passing through a lens into an image signal; and
a memory for storing the image signal.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the camera further comprises:
a switch which is closed upon depression; and
a control program for setting the camera in a print condition setup mode when the switch is closed,
wherein the member has an actuator for energizing the switch when the member is attached to a front end of a lens barrel of the camera.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the camera further compries a start switch operated by a user to start external transfer of data pertaining to the recognized print condition.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the camera has:
a first mode for making an external controller set the print condition in a printing apparatus; and
a second mode for directly setting the print condition in the printing apparatus on the basis of a print condition setup image, and
the camera further comprises a mode switch, which is energized when the member is attached to the camera, and sets the camera in the second mode when the switch is closed.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the member comprises:
a plurality of holes which are assigned predetermined items of the print conditions, are aligned in a first direction, and are free to open/close; and
a slide member which is slidable along the plurality of holes and closes some or all of the plurality of holes.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the member comprises:
a plurality of holes which are assigned predetermined items of the print conditions, are aligned in a first direction, and are free to open/close.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the member comprises:
a plurality of marks which are assigned predetermined items of the print conditions, and are aligned in a first direction, and
the marks can be painted by a user.
According to a p
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Christensen Andrew B.
Garber Wendy
Morgan & Finnegan L.L.P.
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