Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-20
2004-01-06
Wallerson, Mark (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001130, C358S001140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06674538
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reproduction system, and, more particularly to an image reproduction system preferably for use in a video printing system for printing out image information stored on a video tape.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, a video printing system
1
arranged as shown in FIG.
9
and capable of printing out an image signal by a video printer
11
thereof has been known, the image signal being supplied from a video camera
10
.
The printing-out operation in the video printing system
1
shown in
FIG. 9
is performed as follows. First, a picked up image signal is transmitted from video camera
10
to the video printer
11
as an analog signal. The transmitted image signal, that is, a picture signal, is monitored on a display
12
. On the other hand, the aforesaid analog signal is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter
110
in the video printer
11
. A desired picture is stored in a field memory
111
at the timing specified by an operation key
116
as a still image. The stored picture is arbitrarily confirmed in such a manner that it is displayed on the display
12
when a switch
115
is switched on by manipulating the key
116
. Then, information stored in the field memory
111
is supplied to a printing image unit
114
so as to be printed out by the printing image unit
114
.
However, in the conventional video print system
1
, it takes about one minute for the video printer
11
to print out one picture and the field memory
111
for only one picture is provided. Therefore, when printing of a plurality of pictures is desired, there is a necessity of waiting for completion of the operation of printing out one picture at the time of searching the next picture from the tape by a searching operation. Therefore, it leads to inconvenience at the time of the operation and a problem arises in that a too long time is required for a user to complete the printing operation.
In a case where a video tape recorder (VTR) for outputting a video signal in the form of a digital signal is connected to the aforesaid video printer, a buffer memory for processing the digital signal must be provided in addition to the aforesaid field memory. Therefore, a problem arises in that the cost cannot be reduced and the overall system cannot be made compact because the circuit becomes too complicated.
In general, in a case where a picture corresponding to a video signal reproduced from a video tape recorder (VTR) is printed out by a printer, a desired picture in the reproduced signal supplied from the VTR is received by a memory in the printer and video data is read out from the memory at a predetermined speed so as to be printed out.
FIG. 18
is a schematic view which illustrates a system of the aforesaid conventional type. Referring to
FIG. 18
, reference numeral
281
represents a VTR,
282
represents a monitor and
283
represents a video printer. The operation of printing out a desired picture selected from a multiplicity of pictures recorded on a tape will now be described briefly.
First, the VTR
281
is set to a reproduction mode in which the reproduced video signal supplied from the VTR
281
is caused to be supplied to the monitor
282
and the printer
283
. An operator operates the manipulation unit of the printer
283
at the timing when a desired picture is displayed on the monitor
282
while confirming the pictures on the monitor
282
. In response to the operation thus performed, a control unit
285
causes a memory unit
284
to store a video signal corresponding to one field (hereinafter called to “one picture”) by controlling the memory unit
284
. When the memory unit
284
receives the video signals which correspond to the one picture, it reads out the video signals at a predetermined speed which corresponds to the printing speed of a printing unit
286
. As a result, a desired picture can be printed out by the printing unit
286
.
Hitherto, analog video signals are generally supplied from the VTR
281
to the printer
283
.
In a conventional system of the type described above, even if a plurality of pictures on one tape are printed out, the following operation must be repeatedly performed: one picture is selected, and then it is printed out while taking a relatively long time of about one minute for each picture and then the next picture is selected. Therefore, in a case where a multiplicity of pictures are printed out, the operator must operate the system until all of the pictures have been printed out while performing required manipulations.
In a case where there is a desire of again printing out a picture which has been once printed out, it is substantially impossible to again select the same picture. That is, since the VTR records video signals for about 30 to 60 fields per second in a case of, for example, an NTSC, it records pictures of about 430,000 fields on a video tape capable of recording pictures for 120 minutes. Therefore, it is substantially impossible to again retrieve a specific picture from the aforesaid number of pictures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an image reproduction system capable of completely or independently overcoming the aforesaid problems and an image reproducing device and an image forming device which constitute the aforesaid system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reproduction system capable of easily forming images of a plurality of pictures.
In order to achieve the aforesaid objects, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an image reproduction system comprising: detection means for detecting an index signal recorded to a recording medium together with an image signal and specifying a picture to be printed; setting means for setting retrieving conditions for retrieving the picture to be printed; extracting means for extracting an index signal which corresponds to the retrieving conditions thus set; and image forming means for image-forming the picture specified with the extracted index signal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reproduction system which is composed of an image reproducing device and an image forming device and the functions of which are properly allocated to the aforesaid devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reproduction system capable of quickly retrieving a desired picture from an image forming device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reproduction system capable of transferring a desired picture to an image forming device at high speed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reproduction system having a novel function.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be appear more fully from the following description.
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patent: 5291282 (1994-03-01), Nakagawa et al.
patent: 5336873 (1994-08-01), Imamura
patent: 5369463 (1994-11-01), Terashita et al.
patent: 5999644 (1999-12-01), Sugiura
patent: 6020982 (2000-02-01), Yamauchi et al.
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patent: 62-104259 (1987-05-01), None
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Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Wallerson Mark
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