JPH11331757A - Image forming apparatus and method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To perform panoramic synthesis with a smaller memory capacity. SOLUTION: A plurality of image data shot by a digital camera is stored in a CF card 50. The system control circuit 52 considers the free space of the CF card 50 and the capacity of the print buffer memory 62, and
One of the processing 1 using the free space of 0, the processing 2 using the memory 62, and the processing 3 using both the free space of the CF card 50 and the memory 62 is selected, and the panorama synthesis of each color component is performed. Are written in the print buffer memory 62 in color plane order. The panoramic image data stored in the print buffer memory 62 is applied to the thermal head 10 by the thermal control circuit 64 and printed on recording paper.
The system control circuit 52 repeats panoramic synthesis and printing for each color component.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and method, and a storage medium, and more specifically, to an image forming apparatus and method for synthesizing a plurality of images and forming them on a recording material, and a method therefor. And a storage medium for storing the program according to the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographed image of a digital camera is usually recorded in a card-like storage medium (for example, a CF card or the like) made of a non-volatile semiconductor memory after being compressed by the JPEG method or the like. Recently, a thermal transfer printer having such a memory card slot and printing an input image has been commercialized. This makes it possible to easily make a hard copy of an image captured by a digital still camera at home.

[0003] Also, a technique of synthesizing a plurality of images to form one composite image including a wide range, that is, a so-called panoramic image is known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-93430).
For example, a digital still camera can capture two images of a scene with an appropriate overlap area, and combine them to obtain one panoramic image.

If such a panoramic synthesis can be realized by the printer itself, the way of enjoying the digital camera will be increased. However, a large-capacity memory is required for panorama synthesis, and the price of the printer is greatly increased. For example, consider a case in which a panoramic image having an aspect ratio of 1: 3 is synthesized from three images each consisting of 1536 × 1024 pixels of 8 bits each of RGB and output at 300 dpi on a 100 × 300 mm sheet. As a print buffer memory, 100 / 25.4 × 300 /
25.4 × 300 × 300 = 4.18 MB is required. Further, as a work memory at the time of panorama synthesis, 15
36 × 1024 × 3 × 3 = 14.1 MB is required.

[0005]

If these are installed as they are, the cost of the printer will be greatly increased. The print buffer memory is essential for final printing, while the work memory is for intermediate data storage. We want to reduce both, but the latter is particularly important.

[0006] Another patent application proposes a method of reducing memo capacity by performing panoramic synthesis for each color component in a frame-sequential manner and printing out in a frame-sequential manner. As a result, the required memory capacity can be reduced. However, since the same panorama synthesis processing is repeated by the number of color components, the processing time, that is, the time until a final print result is obtained, becomes longer. is there.

Further, when the size of an image to be synthesized becomes very large, or when the number of images to be synthesized becomes four or more, there is a problem that the memory capacity becomes insufficient.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and method capable of obtaining a panoramic composite image in a short time with a small memory capacity, and a storage medium.

[0009]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention reads out a plurality of original image data from a detachable image storage medium storing a plurality of original image data, and synthesizes an image for each color component. A synthesizing unit, and a forming unit for forming a composite image of each color component formed by the image synthesizing unit on a recording material in a frame-sequential manner, wherein the image synthesizing unit uses the image storage medium as a work memory. It is characterized by the following.

An image forming method according to the present invention comprises: an image synthesizing step of reading a plurality of original image data from a detachable image storage medium storing a plurality of original image data and synthesizing an image for each color component; Forming a composite image of each color component formed in the composing step on a recording material in a frame sequential manner, wherein the image compositing step uses the image storage medium as a work memory.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, a software program for executing the above-described image forming method is stored in an externally readable manner.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an internal mechanism of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a sublimation type printer. The present embodiment includes a standard mode for printing a standard size image on a recording sheet and a panorama mode for printing a panoramic size image (two times the standard size in the horizontal direction) on a recording sheet.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a thermal head in which a large number of recording electrodes are arranged in accordance with the recording density, and reference numeral 12 denotes an ink cassette in which ink sheets 14 arranged in the order of yellow, magenta and cyan are wound and accommodated. Reference numeral 16 denotes a platen having a highly smooth surface, between which the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 16 are movably inserted.

In the panorama mode, the ink sheet 14
Is twice as large as that in the standard mode, the ink cassette 12 is prepared for the standard mode and for the panoramic mode, and is exchanged and mounted according to the application.
An identification mark indicating whether the mode is for the standard mode or the panoramic mode is provided on the upper surface of the ink cassette 12. The identification mark can be read mechanically, physically or electrically, and the ink cassette sensor 20 determines the identification mark on the installed ink cassette 12.

The recording paper 18 is sandwiched between a pinch roller 22 and a capstan roller 24,
By rotating the roller 24 with a motor (not shown),
1 is transported from the left side to the right side (between the thermal head 10 and the platen 16). In the panoramic mode, the transport amount of the recording paper 18 is twice that in the standard mode. Recording paper 1
8 itself is also available in two types, one for standard mode and one for panoramic mode.
The determination is made by a paper cassette sensor 28 that reads the identification mark of each paper cassette 26.

A protective cover 26a for protecting the recording paper protruding outside the housing is covered on the upper part of the paper cassette 26 for the panoramic mode. In the case of the panoramic recording paper, first, the paper supply roller 30 takes out the recording paper 18 from the paper cassette 26, and the pinch roller 22 and the capstan roller 24 convey the recording paper 26 until the right end thereof reaches the position 18a. . At this time, the left end of the recording paper 18 is located at a position 18b on the left side of the pinch roller 22 and the capstan roller 24. Recording is started from this position, and the recording paper 18 is conveyed leftward by the pinch roller 22 and the capstan roller 24. The right end of the recording paper 18 is a pinch roller 22 and a capstan roller 24.
Comes to the position 18c on the right side (at this time, the recording paper 1
The left end of 8 is located at position 18d. ), The recording paper 18 is conveyed rightward again until the right end reaches the position 18a. During this reciprocation, yellow, magenta, and cyan are printed in a frame-sequential manner.

When all the colors are printed, the recording paper 18 is discharged from the housing 34 to the outside by the discharge roller pair 32.

The basic operation of the recording paper in the standard mode is the same as that in the panorama mode. However, the recording paper 18 in the standard mode reciprocates between the position 18e and the position 18f. That is, the recording paper 18 in the standard mode does not go out of the housing 34 during the reciprocating movement.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a tray for supporting a portion of the recording paper protruding from the rear side of the housing 34 when printing on the panoramic recording paper. The tray 36 is provided with an extension 36a which can be pulled out at the tip thereof. The tray 36 and the extension 36a are tilted down from the housing 34 during panoramic printing, pulled out, and used.

At an appropriate position of the housing 34, there are provided a slot 38 for inserting a medium on which image data of a digital camera is recorded, and an operation key group 40 such as a switch for instructing the start of printing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a control system according to the present embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. When a user inserts a recording medium of a digital camera, for example, a CF card 50 into the slot 38, the system control circuit 52 sets a CF card interface 54
, The contents of the CF card 50 can be accessed.

When the user presses the recording image print start switch 40 a with the CF card 50 inserted in the slot 38, the signal is input to the system control circuit 52 via the operation key interface 56. The system control circuit 52 determines the type of the set ink cassette 12 and the paper cassette 26 by the ink cassette sensor 20 and the paper cassette sensor 28, respectively, and determines whether the mode is the panorama mode or the standard mode according to the determination result. decide.

For example, when a panoramic ink cassette and recording paper are set, the system control circuit 52 selects a panoramic mode and sets two or three original images to be subjected to panoramic synthesis by an appropriate method. Will choose.
As a method for selecting an original image, a thumbnail image of an image read from the CF card 50 is displayed on the video interface 5.
8 and displayed on the video monitor 60, and the user may select it with the operation keys 40. The original image may be automatically selected by attaching an appropriate marker to the original image.

The system control circuit 52 reads the image data of the selected original image from the CF card 50, executes a color-sequential panorama mode synthesizing process, and writes the panoramic image data of each color to the print buffer memory 56 in a frame-sequential manner. .

The print buffer memory 56 needs to have at least a memory capacity Cb necessary to print a standard size at the density of the thermal head 10. For example, the recording range of the standard size is 100 mm × 1
Assuming that the density of the thermal head 10 in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions is 300 dpi, 1181
8 bits each of RGB of 1772 pixels, that is, 1181 ×
1772 = 2 MB is the minimum required. This memory capacity is hereinafter referred to as Cs. Normally, Cs is equivalent to one color, so 3 Cs for three colors is preferable, and 6 Cs for three colors of a panoramic size is more desirable as the memory capacity Cb of the print buffer memory 56. Is determined. In the following description, Cb = 3Cs
And

In this embodiment, a panoramic image of each color is formed in a frame-sequential manner, and is printed out on a recording paper 18. First, a yellow panoramic image is synthesized and developed in the print buffer memory 62. The thermal control circuit 64 controls the voltage applied to the thermal head 10 and the number of strobe pulses according to the yellow image data stored in the print buffer memory 62. At the same time, the system control circuit 52
The motor drive pulse control circuit 66 controls the drive amount of the transport motor 68 for the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 18 to control the transport amount of the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 18. As a result, a yellow image is recorded on the recording paper 18.

Next, in order to record magenta, the ink sheet 14 is wound so as to be a magenta portion,
The recording paper 18 is returned to the original position as described above,
The paper sensor is set so that its leading end is at a predetermined position.

Thereafter, similarly, the processing of magenta and cyan is executed, and the entire printing is completed. The CPU 52a of the system control circuit 52 controls the above operation according to a program stored in the ROM 52b.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the panorama mode of this embodiment. When the print start switch 40a is pushed, the system control circuit 52
The outputs of the sensor 20 and the paper cassette sensor 28 are checked (S1), and if both indicate panoramic (S1), S
The second and subsequent panorama synthesizing processes are executed, and if any of them is for standard use (S1), the standard print process is executed.

In the panorama synthesizing process, first, the panoramic recording paper 18 is conveyed (S2), and an original image is selected (S2).
3). The recording paper 18 is transported to the initial position where the left end of the panoramic recording paper 19 is located at the position 18a (S4), and at the same time,
By moving the ink sheet 14 in the ink cassette 12,
The ink sheet 14 is set to yellow (S5). As described above, the yellow panorama synthesizing process is executed (S6), and the yellow synthetic image is recorded on the recording paper (S7). Recording paper 18 for the next magenta recording
Is returned (S8), and the left end is set to the position 18a (S9).

The ink sheet 14 is set to magenta (S10), a magenta panorama synthesis process is executed (S11), and a magenta panorama synthesis image is recorded on the recording paper 18.
(S12). For the next cyan record,
The recording paper 18 is returned (S13), and the left end is set at the position 18a (S14).

The ink sheet 14 is set to cyan (S
15) Then, cyan panorama synthesis processing is executed (S1).
6) The cyan panorama composite image is printed on the recording paper 18 (S17).

Now that the panoramic composite images of all colors have been printed, the recording paper 18 is discharged from the apparatus (S18).

Panorama synthesis processing (S6, S11, S1)
6) is preferably executed in parallel with the setting operation of the recording paper 18 and the ink sheet 14 from the viewpoint of time saving.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of S6 (yellow panorama synthesizing process) in FIG. As described above, the memory capacity Cb of the print buffer memory 62 is a capacity 3Cs necessary and sufficient for printing at 300 dpi in a standard recording range of 100 mm × 150 mm.
(= 6 MB).

First, parameters necessary for panorama synthesis,
That is, the position of the joint and the corresponding point, the affine transformation coefficient a,
b, c, d, and parameters α, γ1, γ2,
γ3 and the like are determined (S21 to S26).

For example, if three images are selected for panorama synthesis in S3, one image is 1536 × 1024.
× 3 = 4.5 MB. Here, for simplicity, the data amount 1536 × 1024 bytes of the original image is represented by Ci.
I will write.

The image number variable N is set to 1 (S2
1) The image N is read from the CF card, decompressed, and developed in the print buffer memory 62 (S22). Since the parameter setting does not necessarily require the same density as the original image, for example, the image is thinned down to 1/4 in length and width and compressed as a whole to 1/16 (S23). The degree of this thinning is determined so as to be optimal by the balance between the accuracy and the memory capacity. The processing of S22 and S23 is performed on the necessary original image (S24, S25). Assuming that the compression ratio of each original image is β, it is sufficient that approximately 3 × Ci × β is smaller than １ ／ to の of Cb.

Next, parameters required for panorama synthesis are determined from the three images developed in the memory 62 (S2).
6). The signal used for this is preferably a luminance signal.
A signal may be used. This includes, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-9
A known algorithm such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3430 can be used, but it is particularly preferable that a process including a process that makes the seam of image synthesis inconspicuous is included.

For example, suppose that two joints L1 and L2 and a maximum inscribed image P are determined as shown in FIG. In the image P, a portion to the left of the joint L1 is referred to as a region R1, a portion to the right of the joint L1 and to the left of the joint L2 is referred to as a region R2, and a portion to the right of the joint L2 is referred to as a region R3. The region R1 can be determined from the image 1 data, R2 can be determined from the image 2 data, and R3 can be determined from the image 3 data. The coordinates (x,
y) and the coordinates (x ′,
y ′) is in the relationship of the following equation by affine transformation using the coefficients a, b, c, and d determined in S27. That is, x '= ax + by y' = cx + dy.

Next, the print data is synthesized. Thereafter, only the parameters determined in S26 are needed, and the image data developed in the memory 62 so far is unnecessary.

First, the necessary memory capacity Cp of the image P is determined (S27). The heights of the regions R1, R2, and R3 are α times the lengths of the images 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and the widths of the regions R1, R2, and R31 are γ1, γ2, and γ3 times the widths of the images 1, 2, and 3, respectively. I do. Since the memory capacity Cp required to store the image P is sufficient for one color, Cp = Ci × α × (γ1 + γ2 + γ3). α, γ1, γ2 and γ3 are the original images 1, 2, 3
Changes in the overlap state. Usually, α <1, γ1 +
Since γ2 + γ3 <3, Cp does not exceed 3Ci. That is, Cp <3Ci.

Next, while confirming the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50, the remaining capacity Rc is stored in an appropriate memory or register for magenta and cyan processing to be performed later (S2).
8). Normally, the CF card 50 has a directory structure as shown in FIG. 9 used in a disk operating system of a personal computer, and stores the directory structure in a FAT (File Allocation Table).
e) manages each file. In the example shown in FIG.
An image data file, a thumbnail file, and a batch print marker file are recorded. CF card 50
Is physically divided into a plurality of memory blocks, a directory records the head address of each file, and the corresponding FAT describes the address of data leading to this, if any. If it is, a marker indicating the end is entered. Therefore, by reading the FAT, information such as the total capacity, the used capacity, and the remaining capacity can be confirmed.

Next, Rc, Ci, Cp, α, γ1, γ2
From γ3, it is examined whether the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50 and the capacity Cb of the print buffer memory 62 are sufficient, and one of the processes 1, 2, and 3 is selected according to the result (S29 to S34). .

That is, the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50 is equal to the sufficient work memory amount described at the beginning, that is, 9Ci + 3Cp.
Is satisfied (S29), the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50 is satisfied.
Is executed as a work memory to execute the panorama synthesizing process (S
29, 30). The details of this process 1 (S30) will be described later with reference to FIG. 6. However, since the conversion from RGB to YMC is performed once during the yellow panorama synthesis process, it can be omitted in the magenta and cyan panorama synthesis processes. Speed is fast.

If the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50 does not satisfy the sufficient work memory amount described at the beginning, that is, 9Ci + 3Cp (S29), the capacity Cb of the print buffer memory 62 is sufficient for the work memory (described later). As described above, it is confirmed whether or not 3Ci + Cp) (S31). If the print buffer memory 62 can be used (S31), the panorama synthesizing process is executed using the print buffer memory 62 as a work memory (S32). Process 2 (S32) is slower than process 1 (S30).

If the capacity Cb of the print buffer memory 62 is insufficient (S31), it is checked whether the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50 is sufficient for a low-speed panorama synthesizing process (S33). If it is sufficient (S33), a low-speed panorama synthesizing process is executed using the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50 as a work memory (S34). CF card 50
The remaining capacity Rc of the panorama synthesizing process is slow (S34).
If not enough (S33), a warning indicating that panorama synthesis is impossible is output and the process is stopped (S35).

By the processing 1, 2, or 3, the yellow image of the image P is stored in the print buffer memory 62.
Since the number of pixels of the image P does not always match the number of print pixels (in this example, 1181 × 3543), an area having an aspect ratio of 1: 3 is appropriately cut out from the image P and interpolation processing is performed (S36). 1181 × 3543
Is secured in the print buffer memory 62 (S37). For example, if the image P is horizontally longer than 1: 3, the right and / or left is cut off, and if the image P is reversed, the upper and / or lower is trimmed. Of course, printing may be performed without trimming, leaving margins in the vertical and horizontal directions.

As described above, by appropriately using the remaining capacity of the CF card 50, the print buffer memory 62
Panorama processing (S
6) can be ended.

The basic parts of the magenta panorama synthesizing process (S11) and the cyan panorama synthesizing process (S16) are the same as in the case of yellow. However, as described above, the stored Rc value is used in the step corresponding to S28, and the conversion from RGB to YMC performed during the yellow processing is used in the step corresponding to S30. This will be described later.

FIG. 6 shows a CF card 5 as a work memory.
5 shows a detailed flowchart of processing 1 (S30 in FIG. 4) using a free area of 0. First, it is determined whether or not the processing is yellow (S41). S42 to S53 are executed only in the case of yellow processing. In the case other than yellow, the processing result of yellow can be ended, so that the process jumps to S54.

In the case of yellow processing (S41), image 1
Is read from the CF card 50, JPEG decompressed, and C
It is developed on the F card 50 (S42). Of course, once the CF card 5 is
It may be transferred to 0. After that, the image 1 in the order of the coordinates (x, y) of the image in R1 is calculated by the affine transformation formula described above.
Are obtained (S43), and the optimal yellow, magenta and cyan density values YMC are calculated from the RGB values of the image (S44), and the results are sequentially stored in the CF card 50. R1 in the image P assigned to
(S45). Here, S44
In order to save processing time, only data having a complementary color relationship among RGB (B data for yellow) may be used, but for better color reproduction, for example,
It is preferable to perform so-called masking processing or the like as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2,640,347, and to calculate and determine from all the RGB data.

Similarly, the region R2 is processed from the image 2 (S2).
46 to S49), the region R3 is processed from the image 3 (S5).
0 to S53).

Next, the corresponding color data (yellow data for yellow, magenta data for magenta, cyan data for cyan) of the image P obtained in this way is Is transferred from the CF card 50 to the print buffer memory 62 (S54). In the case of cyan processing (S55), the data in the area of the CF card 50 used as the work memory is deleted (S5).
6).

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of the process 2 (S32 in FIG. 4) using the print buffer memory 62 as a work memory.

Image 1 is read from CF card 50 and J
The PEG is decompressed and expanded in the print buffer memory 62 (S61). At this time, only 3 Ci (4.5 MB) is required. In the order of the coordinates (x, y) of the image in R1, the coordinates (x ′,
y ′) is obtained (S62), an optimum yellow density value Y is calculated from the RGB values of the image (S63), and the result is sequentially transferred to an area in the print buffer memory 62 corresponding to R1 in the image P. Write (S64). In S63, in order to save processing time and memory, only B data having a complementary color relationship among RGB may be used. However, for better color reproduction, it is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2640347. Such a so-called masking process or the like may be performed to calculate and determine from all the RGB data.

When the yellow density is determined for all the pixels in R1, a portion for storing the data (capacity Ci × α ×
Since it becomes unnecessary except for γ1), it can be used for other purposes.

Similarly, the region R2 is processed from the image 2 (S2).
65 to S68), the region R3 is processed from the image 3 (S6).
9-72). The most memory-intensive part of this process is
S69 to S72, and the required memory amount is 3 + α of Ci.
(Γ1 + γ2 + γ3) times, that is, 3Ci + Cp. In order to execute the process 2, the capacity Cb of the print buffer memory 62 must be larger than 3Ci + Cp (S31).

At the stage where S72 has been completed, the density of yellow has been determined for all the pixels of the image P. Similar processing is performed for magenta and cyan.

FIG. 8 shows print buffer memories 62 and C
Processing 3 using the free space of the F card 50 (S3 in FIG. 4)
The detailed flowchart of 4) is shown.

In process 3, the capacity Cb of the print buffer memory 62 is smaller than 3Ci + Cp, but 3Ci + Ci × α.
× (γ1 + γ2) and the remaining capacity Rc of the CF card 50 is larger than Ci × α × γ3 (S33). In this case, as can be seen from the description of FIG. 7, the entire processing of the regions R1 and R2 and the JPEG decompression of the image 3 for the region R3 can be executed using only the print buffer memory 63 (S81 to S81). S8
9). Thereafter, the coordinates (x ′, y ′) corresponding to the image 3 are obtained by the above affine transformation equation in the order of the coordinates (x, y) of the image in R3 (S90), and the RGB of the image is obtained.
The optimum yellow density value Y is calculated from the values (S91).
The results are sequentially written to a free area of the CF card 50 (S92).

Next, the Y data (capacity Ci × α × γ3) of R3 of the CF card 50 is overwritten in the area (capacity 3Ci) of the print buffer memory 62 used in S89 (S93). Finally, the area of the CF card 50 used in S92 is erased (S94).

A description will be given of a numerical example. It is assumed that the recording range of the standard size is 100 mm × 150 mm, and the density of the thermal head 10 in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions is 300 dpi. In order to print a standard size at the above density of the thermal head 10, an R of 1181 × 1772 pixels is required.
8 bits for each GB, that is, Cs = 1181 × 1772 = 2
MB is the minimum requirement. In this embodiment, Cb = 3Cs =
6 MB.

In the case where three images each having 1536 × 1024 pixels are synthesized in a panoramic manner, α = 0.9 and γ1
= Γ2 = γ3 = 0.8. In this case, Ci
= 1.5 MB, Cp = 3.24 MB. The CF card 50 has a total capacity of 15 MB and a remaining capacity Rc of 10 M
Suppose B. Under such conditions, Rc = 10
Since MB, 9Ci + 3Cp = 23.22 MB, S29
Does not hold. Cb = 6MB, 3Ci + Cp =
Since the condition is 7.74 MB, the condition of S31 is not satisfied.
33 conditions are satisfied. Therefore, the process 3 (S34) is performed.

When three images each having 1024.times.768 pixels are synthesized by panorama, Ci = 0.8 MB, Cp
= 1.6 MB, the condition of S29 is not satisfied, but the condition of S31 is satisfied, and the process 2 (S32) is executed.

In addition, even when three or more images composed of more pixels are combined, the print buffer memory 6
This can be coped with by appropriately increasing the capacity Cb of No. 2.

Although the sublimation type printer has been described as an example, the present invention can be applied to other types of printers such as a thermal transfer type and an electrophotographic type as well as a color-sequential type.

Although a CF card has been described as an example of a recording medium, other recording media such as a PCMCIA card, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and an optical card may be used.

Although the case where the present invention is adapted to the panorama synthesizing process has been described, the present invention relates to a process for obtaining a high-definition image by image synthesizing, for example, JP-A-5-7366 and JP-A-9-1997.
Pixel shift processing as described in JP-A-307802, JP-A-8-37628 and JP-A-8-37628.
The present invention can also be effectively applied to a dynamic range expansion process as described in JP-A-149487.

Although the embodiment in which the printer itself is incorporated has been described, the printer and an appropriate data transmission method (a serial line such as RS232C, and IEEE 1284 and I
A digital camera directly connected by wireless such as rDA) may be configured to have a buffer memory and a unit for performing the above-described processing. In this case, since the means for reading image data from the recording medium, the means for writing data to the recording medium, and the means for detecting the remaining storage capacity of the recording medium are incorporated in the digital camera, the total equipment cost can be reduced. It is effective for

In the above embodiment, three colors of yellow, cyan, and magenta are used. However, black may be added thereto.
There are examples in which more inks are used to obtain photographic quality, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to such printers.

Further, in order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is installed in a computer in an apparatus or a system connected to the various devices. The present invention also includes a case in which a program (code) is supplied and a computer (CPU or MPU) of the apparatus or system is operated by operating the various devices according to stored programs.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example,
A storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other operating system running on the computer. Even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software and the like, it goes without saying that such program codes are included in the embodiments of the invention according to the present application.

Further, the supplied program code is:
After being stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs one of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing all or part of the processes and executing the processing is also included in the invention according to the present application.

[0077]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, by utilizing the remaining capacity of the recording medium, a limited memory capacity, a high pixel count and a high panoramic synthesis processing can be achieved. Fine image processing becomes possible. At the same time, the processing can be speeded up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an internal structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a control system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a panorama synthesizing process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of S6.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a case where three original images are synthesized in a panoramic manner.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart of S30.

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of S32.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of S34.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a file structure of a CF card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: thermal head 12: ink cassette 14: ink sheet 16: platen 18: recording paper 18a to 18d: paper end position of recording paper 20: ink cassette sensor 22: pinch roller 24: capstan roller 26: paper cassette 26a : Protective cover 28: Paper cassette sensor 30: Paper feed roller 32: Paper discharge roller pair 34: Housing 36: Tray 36 a: Extension part 38: Slot 40: Operation key group 40 a: Print start switch 50: CF card 52: System control circuit 52a: CPU 52b: ROM 54: CF card interface 56: Operation key interface 58: Video interface 60: Video monitor 62: Print buffer memory 64: Thermal control circuit 66: Motor drive pulse control circuit 68: Recording paper ·ink Cassette transport motor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 1/387 H04N 5/76 E 5/76 5/907 B 5/907 G06F 15/62 380 9/79 15/66 470J H04N 5/91 J 9/79 G (72) Inventor Kenji Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinya Hirai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kyano Inc.

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An image synthesizing means for reading out a plurality of original image data from a detachable image storage medium storing a plurality of original image data and synthesizing an image for each color component, and each color formed by the image synthesizing means. Forming means for forming a composite image of the components on a recording material in a frame-sequential manner, wherein the image synthesizing means uses the image storage medium as a work memory. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a free space detecting unit configured to detect a free space of the image storage medium, wherein the image combining unit determines that the free space of the image storage medium is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a free area for image storage is used. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an erasing unit for erasing data stored in the image storage medium, wherein the combining unit erases data of an area used in the combining process after the combining process.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The panoramic synthesizing unit according to claim 1, wherein said image synthesizing unit synthesizes a plurality of images taken with a slight overlap area horizontally or vertically to obtain one panoramic image. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 3. 5. The image synthesizing means according to claim 1, wherein said image synthesizing means synthesizes a plurality of images photographed with different exposure amounts to obtain one image having a wide dynamic range. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The image synthesizing unit relatively converts an image formed by a photographing lens in the horizontal and vertical directions of the image sensor by an integral multiple of a unit of length of 1 / n of a pixel of the image sensor. 2. A single high-resolution image is obtained by synthesizing a plurality of images taken at slightly different positions.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a sublimation type printer. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a digital camera connected to a sublimation printer by a suitable data transmission line. 9. An image synthesizing step of reading the plurality of original image data from a detachable image storage medium storing a plurality of original image data and synthesizing an image for each color component, and each color formed by the image synthesizing step. Forming a composite image of the components on a recording material in a frame-sequential manner, wherein the image synthesizing step uses the image storage medium as a work memory. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a free space detecting step of detecting a free space of the image storage medium, wherein the image synthesizing step is performed when the free space of the image storage medium is equal to or more than a predetermined value. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein a free area for image storage is used. 11. The image forming method according to claim 9, further comprising an erasing step of erasing data in the area of the image storage medium used in the synthesizing process after the synthesizing process. 12. The image synthesizing step is a panorama synthesizing step of synthesizing a plurality of images photographed with a slight overlap area horizontally or vertically to obtain one panoramic image. 12. The image forming method according to any one of the eleventh to eleventh aspects. 13. The image synthesizing step of synthesizing a plurality of images photographed with different exposure amounts to obtain one image having a wide dynamic range.
2. The image forming method according to claim 1. 14. The image synthesizing step includes, in units of a length of 1 / n of a pixel of an image sensor, a unit of an image formed by a photographing lens in the horizontal and vertical directions of the image sensor by an integral multiple thereof. The image forming method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein a plurality of images taken at slightly different positions are combined to obtain one high-resolution image. 15. An image synthesizing step of reading out the plurality of original image data from a detachable image storage medium storing the plurality of original image data and synthesizing an image for each color component, and each color formed by the image synthesizing step. A forming step of forming a composite image of the components on a recording material in a frame-sequential manner, wherein the image synthesizing step stores a program using the image storage medium as a work memory in an externally readable manner. 16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: a free space detecting step of detecting a free space of said image storage medium, wherein said image synthesizing step is performed when said free space of said image storage medium is equal to or more than a predetermined value. 16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein a free area for image storage is used. 17. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising an erasing step of erasing data in the area of the image storage medium used in the synthesizing process after the synthesizing process. 18. The image synthesizing step is a panoramic synthesizing step of synthesizing a plurality of images photographed with a slight overlap area horizontally or vertically to obtain one panoramic image. 18. The storage medium according to any one of items 17 to 17. 19. The image synthesizing step of synthesizing a plurality of images photographed with different exposure amounts to obtain one image having a wide dynamic range. A storage medium according to claim 1. 20. The image synthesizing step comprises, in units of a length of 1 / n of a pixel of the image sensor, a unit of an image formed by the photographing lens in the horizontal and vertical directions of the image sensor by an integral multiple thereof. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein a plurality of images taken at slightly different positions are combined to obtain one high-resolution image.