U.S. patent application number 11/103483 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for instant printer, printing method for use in the instant printer, and electronic still camera incorporated with printer.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Aosaki, Ko, Nishitani, Yasuhiro, Omura, Hiroshi, Sugano, Yoshio.
Application Number | 20050179731 11/103483 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27310246 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050179731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Omura, Hiroshi ; et
al. |
August 18, 2005 |
Instant printer, printing method for use in the instant printer,
and electronic still camera incorporated with printer
Abstract
Printing light beams from a printing head that is driven based
on image data are used for recording a latent image in a
predetermined exposure area on an instant film. The instant film is
exposed through an exposure opening formed through a case of a film
pack. The printing head projects the printing light beams linearly
along a main scan direction while moving in a sub scan direction
perpendicular to the main scan direction. An illumination range of
the printing light beams is determined to be wider than the
exposure area in the main and sub scan directions, in consideration
of clearances between the case and the instant film. So the entire
exposure area is exposed even where the instant film deviates
inside the case. A light-shielding housing for covering up a moving
range of the printing head in a light-tight fashion is formed
integrally with a pack loading chamber for loading the film
pack.
Inventors: |
Omura, Hiroshi; (Asaka-Shi,
JP) ; Nishitani, Yasuhiro; (Asaka-Shi, JP) ;
Aosaki, Ko; (Asaka-Shi, JP) ; Sugano, Yoshio;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET
2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
MINAMI-ASHIGARA-SHI
JP
|
Family ID: |
27310246 |
Appl. No.: |
11/103483 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11103483 |
Apr 12, 2005 |
|
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|
09673381 |
Oct 16, 2000 |
|
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|
09673381 |
Oct 16, 2000 |
|
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PCT/JP99/01918 |
Apr 12, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
347/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/193 20130101;
H04N 1/2112 20130101; H04N 1/1017 20130101; H04N 1/2154
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
347/050 |
International
Class: |
B41J 002/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 15, 1998 |
JP |
10/104517 |
May 11, 1998 |
JP |
10/127117 |
Sep 10, 1998 |
JP |
10/256634 |
Claims
1. In an instant printer comprising a loading chamber for loading a
plurality of instant films that include a processing fluid, a
printing head for projecting printing light onto a photosensitive
surface of the loaded instant film on the basis of image data, a
scanning mechanism for moving the printing head along the
photosensitive surface of the instant film, a pair of spread
rollers for spreading the processing fluid over the exposed instant
film, and a body for containing the above elements, the improvement
comprising: a light-shielding housing provided inside the body and
behind the pack loading chamber, the light-shielding housing
covering up at least a moving range of the printing head in a
light-tight fashion.
2. An instant printer according to claim 1, wherein the
light-shielding housing covers up the scanning mechanism besides
the moving range of the printing head.
3. An instant printer according to claim 1, wherein the
light-shielding housing is formed integrally with the loading
chamber.
4. In an electronic still camera comprising an imaging device for
obtaining image data by photographing a subject, a loading chamber
for loading a plurality of instant films that include a processing
fluid, a printing head for projecting printing light onto a
photosensitive surface of the loaded instant film on the basis of
image data, a scanning mechanism for moving the printing head along
the photosensitive surface of the instant film, a pair of spread
rollers for spreading the processing fluid over the exposed instant
film, and a camera body for containing the above elements, the
improvement comprising: a light-shielding housing provided inside
the camera body and behind the pack loading chamber, the
light-shielding housing covering up at least a moving range of the
printing head in a light-tight fashion.
Description
FIELD OF THE ART
[0001] The present invention relates to an instant printer that
makes printing on instant film based on electronic image data, and
a printing method for use in the instant printer. The present
invention also relates to an electronic still camera
incorporated-with a printer, that memorizes image data of a subject
photographed through an image sensor, and records a subject image
on instant film based on the memorized image data.
BACKGROUND ARTS
[0002] Portable electronic still cameras are widely used, which
convert an optical image of a subject to an electric image signal
through a CCD image sensor or the like, convert the image signal to
digital image data, and write the image data frame by frame as
still images in a memory. Also an instant printer that uses instant
film for printing hard copies of still images based on their image
data, and an electronic still camera incorporated with such an
instant printer have been known.
[0003] In the above mentioned instant printers, so-called
mono-sheet type instant films are widely used. The mono-sheet type
instant film is mainly constituted of a protective sheet for an
image receiving photosensitive layer, the image receiving
photosensitive layer, an image transferred layer and a protective
sheet for the image transferred layer, which are laminated in this
order from a photosensitive surface. A pod containing processing
fluid is provided along a leading end of the instant film. While
the instant film after exposed is being ejected through a pair of
spread rollers, the pod is ruptured and the processing fluid is
spread between the image receiving photosensitive layer and the
image transferred layer. Thereby, an image formed on the image
receiving photosensitive layer is transferred to the image
transferred layer, so a positive image is developed in a few
minutes. The mono-sheet type instant film is further classified
into a transparent type where the image appears on the opposite
side from the photosensitive surface, and a reflective type where
the image appears on the photosensitive surface. Beside the
mono-sheet type, another kind of instant film, called peel-apart
type, may be used in the instant printer. In the peel-apart type
instant film, a negative sheet (an image receiving photosensitive
layer) is exposed and then put on a positive sheet (an image
transferred layer). Then, an image is transferred to the positive
sheet by pressing these sheets to each other while spreading the
processing fluid between these sheets. Thereafter, the positive
sheet is peeled apart from the negative sheet. The instant film is
usually provided as a film pack, wherein a plurality of sheets of
instant films are packaged in a case, and the case and all are
loaded in an instant camera or the like. The film pack is designed
such that when a light-shielding sheet is advanced out the case
after the film pack is loaded, a predetermined exposure area on the
photosensitive side is exposed through an exposure opening that is
formed through the case.
[0004] The instant printer and the electronic still camera
incorporated with the printer comprise a pack loading chamber for
loading the film pack, an exposure unit for exposing the
photosensitive surface of the instant film, a film developing
ejecting mechanism including the spread rollers that spread the
processing fluid while feeding the exposed instant film to the
outside, many kinds of operating members, a display section for
displaying an image to print, many kinds of circuit sections,
mechanical frames for placing and securing these elements, and an
outer cover members.
[0005] Among the above mechanisms, the film developing ejecting
mechanism fundamentally has the same constructions and the same
functions as that used in conventional instant cameras, such as
disclosed in JPA No. 4-194832. Exemplary of the exposure unit is
disclosed in JPA Nos. 6-83243 and 8-271995, wherein a color image
is printed by a printing head with a light emitting element array
that moves relative to the instant film while projecting red, green
and blue printing light beams. The light emitting element array
consists of a plurality of light emitting elements that are
arranged in a line and emit light beams responsive to processed
image data.
[0006] In the above mentioned film pack of the instant films, the
instant films are a little smaller than an internal size of the
case, to provide clearances between the instant films and the
casing, for allowing the exposed instant film to be sent out or
drawn out smoothly. Because there are clearances, the instant films
may deviate inside the case if a shock or another factor is
applied. Therefore, the exposure area is not always placed in a
predetermined position behind the exposure opening of the case.
[0007] If the instant film deviates, some part of the exposure area
would not be exposed to printing light. Since the unexposed part of
the exposure area will be colored black when the image is developed
to be positive, it damages the image. Also in a printer where the
instant film is individually loaded, the same problem may be caused
by the deviation inside a film loading chamber.
[0008] Meanwhile, the photosensitive surfaces of the instant films
loaded in the instant printer or in the printer-incorporated
electronic still camera should be completely shielded from ambient
light. However, there are so many kinds of light that might reach
the photosensitive surfaces of the instant films, such as light
leaking through gaps between the cover members and the various
operation members, light leaking through joints between the cover
members, and light leaking from a illumination device that
illuminates an LCD panel from the back. Therefore, it has been
difficult to shield the photosensitive surfaces completely from
light.
[0009] The present invention is made to solve the above problems,
and has an object to provide an instant printer and a printing
method for use in the instant printer, wherein the exposure area
would be entirely exposed even if the instant film deviates inside
the case or the printer when the instant film is exposed by the
printing head.
[0010] The present invention also has an object to provide an
instant printer that effectively shield ambient light that might
reach the photosensitive surfaces of the instant films.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
printer-incorporated electronic still camera, which is capable of
writing and reading photographed image data on external
memories.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In an instant printer that comprises an exposure device for
projecting printing light based on image data, and a pair of spread
rollers, and in a printing method for use in the instant printer,
wherein the instant printer records a latent image in an exposure
area of a predetermined size on an instant film that includes a
processing fluid, by exposing the instant film to the printing
light, and develops the latent image into a positive image by
spreading the processing fluid over the exposed instant film
through the spread rollers, the present invention is characterized
in that an illumination range of the printing light on the instant
film by the exposure device is determined to be larger than the
exposure area, so the entire exposure area may be exposed even
where the instant film deviates from a predetermined position
relative to the exposure device.
[0013] Where the instant film is contained in a case that is formed
with an exposure opening for exposing the exposure area, the size
of the illumination range relative to the exposure area is
determined in accordance with clearances provided between the case
and the instant film.
[0014] An instant printer according to the present invention
comprises an exposure device that consists of a printing head for
projecting the printing light linearly along a main scan direction,
and a scanning mechanism for moving the printing head relative to
the instant film in a sub scan direction perpendicular to the main
scan direction, wherein an illumination range of the printing light
by the printing head is longer in the main scan direction than a
length in the main scan direction of the exposure area, whereas a
sub scanning range by the scanning mechanism is longer than a
length in the sub scan direction of the exposure area.
[0015] An instant printer according to the present invention
comprises a light-shielding housing that covers up at least a
moving range of the printing head in a light-tight fashion. The
light-shielding housing preferably covers up the scanning mechanism
besides the moving range of the printing head.
[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, in an
electronic still camera comprising an imaging device for
photographing a subject, an exposure device for exposing an instant
film that includes a processing fluid on the basis of image data of
the subject photographed through the imaging device, and a pair of
spread rollers for ejecting the exposed instant film out of a
camera body while spreading the processing fluid over the exposed
instant film, the electronic still camera comprises a device for
connecting an external memory to the instant printer, a device for
compressing image data of a subject photographed through the
imaging device and writing it on the connected external memory, and
a device for expanding compressed image data that is read out from
the external memory, wherein the exposure device may be driven
based on the image data read out from the external memory. The
external memory is preferably a memory card that is removably
attachable to the camera body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating an
electronic still camera incorporated with printer, according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the
electronic still camera of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical section illustrating the
electronic still camera of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating an instant film
and a film pack;
[0021] FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating an opposite side
of the instant film of FIG. 4A;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an instant printer
section of the electronic still camera of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating an example of
printing head;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the circuitry of the
electronic still camera of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship
between an illumination range of the printing light and an exposure
area on an instant film in the instant printer section of FIG.
5;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another printing head using
light emission array unit that projects printing light of three
colors;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of still another printing head
using light emission array unit that projects printing light of
three colors;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a printing head that uses
three color filters for obtaining printing light of three colors
for exposure;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a printing head that makes
exposure in a three-color frame sequential fashion by switching
three color filters;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of another printing head that
makes exposure in a three-color frame sequential fashion by
switching three color filters;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating the circuitry of a
printer-incorporated electronic still camera, according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a sequence of
fundamental processes in the electronic still camera of FIG.
14;
[0033] FIGS. 16A and 16B are explanatory diagrams illustrating
examples of displays on an LCD panel of the electronic still camera
of FIG. 14;
[0034] FIG. 17 is a front perspective view illustrating an
electronic still camera incorporated with printer, according to a
further embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view illustrating the
electronic still camera of FIG. 17;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a schematic vertical section illustrating the
electronic still camera of FIG. 17; and
[0037] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating another
embodiment of instant printer section.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0038] The present invention will be described in more detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0039] In the electronic still camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a
taking lens 3 and a flash projector 4 are provided on a front side
of a camera body 2. A shutter button 6 is provided on a top side of
a grip portion 5. Upon the shutter button 6 being pressed, image
data of a subject photographed through the taking lens 3 is picked
up as a frame of still image. An ejection slit 7 is formed through
a top wall of the camera body 2. When a printing operation is made,
an exposed instant film is ejected from the ejection slit 7.
[0040] A slot 8 for loading a memory card 9 as an external memory
medium is formed through a side wall of the camera body 2 beside
the grip 5. While the memory card 9 is in the memory slot 8, the
electronic still camera can read and write data from and on the
memory card 9.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, a knob 12 is formed on a back side of
the camera body 2, for opening and closing a pack loading door 11
of a pack loading chamber 10. The pack loading door. 11 is usually
locked in a closed position by the knob 12, and is opened by
operating the knob 12, for loading or unloading a film pack into or
out of the pack loading chamber 10. A counter window 13 displays
the number of used instant films.
[0042] An LCD (liquid crystal display) panel 14 is incorporated
into the pack loading door 11. The LCD panel 14 constitutes an
electronic viewfinder that displays images of subjects as being
photographed through the taking lens 3 in a real time fashion. A
console 15 is provided below the LCD panel 14. By operating keys of
the console 15, it is possible to choose between an imaging mode
and a reproduction mode, select images in the reproduction mode,
enter a print command, delete image data and carry out other
operations.
[0043] An instant film 20 and a film pack 24 for use in the above
electronic still camera are shown in FIG. 4A. The opposite side of
the instant film 20 is also shown in FIG. 4B. The instant film 20
is a well-known mono-sheet type, wherein light is applied to an
exposure area 21 on a photosensitive surface side that is shown in
FIG. 4A, and a developed color positive image is shown in a display
area 22 on a display surface side that is shown in FIG. 4B. The
film pack 24 contains a stack of sheets of these instant films 20
in a plastic case 23.
[0044] On the photosensitive surface side, along opposite ends of
the instant film 20 in an advancing direction from the case 23,
there are provided a processing fluid pod 25 containing processing
fluid, and a surplus fluid accepting portion 26 for accepting a
remainder of the processing fluid. On a surface of an image
receiving photosensitive layer protecting sheet, a photosensitive
side frame 27 is provided for defining position and size of the
exposure area 21 on the instant film 20. A displaying side frame 28
is provided on a surface of an image transferred layer protection
sheet. A display area 22 is defined by the display side frame. 28,
such that the display area 22 is located inside the exposure area
21, and sized a little smaller than the exposure area 21.
[0045] The case 23 of the film pack 24 has an exposure-opening 29,
to which the photosensitive surface of the instant film 20 is
opposed, and which is larger than the exposure area 21. As shown in
FIG. 3, a spring member 30 is provided inside the case 23 on the
opposite side from the exposure opening 29. The spring member 30
urges the stacked instant films 20 toward the exposure opening 29,
thereby to maintain the uppermost one of the instant films 20 in a
flat plane. The case 23 also has a cutout 31 in an end portion that
is on the side of the surplus fluid accepting portion 26 of the
contained instant films 20, and an outlet 32 in a portion on the
side of the processing fluid pod 25.
[0046] In an instant camera, the exposure area 21 is exposed at
once through the exposure opening 29. However, in the present
electronic still camera, the instant film 20 is exposed line after
line to printing light from a printing head 40. A pair of spread
rollers 34 are located between the outlet 32 of the film pack 24
and the ejection slit 7 of the camera body 2. After each exposure,
a claw member of an advancing claw mechanism 36 is inserted into
the case 23 through the cutout 31, to advance the exposed instant
film 20 out of the outlet 32 into between the spread rollers 34.
Then, rotation of the spread rollers 34 causes the instant film 20
to advance through the ejection slit 7 to outside the camera body
2.
[0047] In front of the pack loading chamber 10 is disposed an
exposure unit 38 as an exposure device of the instant printer
section. The exposure unit 38 is constituted of the printing head
40, and a scanning mechanism for moving the printing head 40 in a
sub scan direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) that is parallel
to the film feed out direction. An image sensor, e.g. CCD image
sensor 42, is located in front of the exposure unit 38 but behind
the taking lens 3. An optical system including the taking lens 3 is
of a pan-focus type, so it is possible to photograph a subject
within a depth of field of the optical system without the need for
focusing. But it is of course possible to provide an automatic
focusing device to carry out focusing by shifting the taking lens 3
in accordance with a subject distance a timing when the shutter
button 6 being pressed. In that case, a light projection window and
a light receiving window are provided on the front side of the
camera body, for measuring subject distance in a trigonometric
method.
[0048] Above the taking lens 3 and the CCD image sensor 42 is
mounted an imaging circuit unit 43. The imaging circuit unit 43,
the taking lens 3 and the CCD image sensor 42 constitute an imaging
device. Below the taking lens 3 and the CCD image sensor 42 are
disposed a printing circuit unit 44 and the memory slot 8. The
printing circuit unit 44 and the exposure unit 38 constitute the
instant printer section.
[0049] FIG. 5 shows an appearance of the instant printer section.
The printing head 40 extends along a main scan direction M that is
perpendicular to the sub scan direction S. A protruded portion 40a
is formed on one side of the printing head 40 that faces the film
pack 24, and is provided with a light projection slit 46 for
projecting printing light onto the photosensitive surface of the
instant film 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the printing head 40 is
disposed such that the protruded portion 40a is inserted in the
exposure opening 29 of the case 23, to oppose the light projecting
slit 46 to the instant film 20. Placing the printing head 40 in the
exposure opening 29 reduces the amount of protrusion of the
printing head 40 in a vertical direction to the surface of the
instant film 20, and thus improves the space efficiency inside the
camera-body 2. Also the printing light is projected onto the
instant film 20 without leakage.
[0050] The scanning mechanism 41 includes a lead screw 41a that
extends in the sub scan direction S, a scanning motor 47 for
rotating the lead screw 41a, and a shift member 41b that is moved
in an axial direction of the lead screw 41a (the sub scan direction
S) by rotating the lead screw 41a. To the shift member 41b is
secured one end of the printing head 40. Thus, the printing head 40
moves with the shift member 41b along the sub scan direction S when
the lead screw 41a rotates with the scanning motor 47.
[0051] The scanning motor 47 may rotate in forward and rearward
directions. When the scanning motor 47 rotates forward, the
printing head 47 moves toward the spread rollers 34, i.e. from a
scanning start position on the side of the processing fluid pod 25
of the instant film 20 toward the surplus fluid accepting portion
26. When the printing head 40 moves to a scanning end position
shown by phantom lines, a sub scanning step is accomplished. A
guide pin 48 is provided on the opposite end of the printing head
40 from the shift member 41b. The guide pin 48 is engaged in a
guide groove 49, so the printing head 40 would not be slanted
during the movement. While the scanning mechanism 41 is moving the
printing head 40 in the sub scan direction, printing light beams of
three colors are concurrently projected onto the exposure area 21
of the instant film 20 to record a color image line by line. When
the exposure is completed, the scanning motor 47 is rotated
rearward to return the printing head 40 to the scanning start
position shown by solid lines.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 6, the printing head 40 contains a light
emission array unit 50 consisting of a light emitting element array
51 for red, a light emitting element array 52 for green, and a
light emitting element array 53 for blue. Each of the three light
emitting element arrays 51 to 53 is constituted of a large number
of light emitting elements 51a to 53a which are arranged in a row
in the main scan direction M, and the three arrays 51 to 53 are
arranged in rows in the sub scan direction. To recording a line,
light emission times of the light emitting elements 51a to 53a are
each individually controlled in accordance with image data of
corresponding colors, but all of the light emitting elements 51a to
53a emit white light. LEDs are used as the light emitting elements
51a to 53a in this embodiment, but another kind of light emitting
elements are usable insofar as they emit light containing three
color components of red, green and blue.
[0053] Light beams from the light emitting elements 51a of the
light emitting element array 51 for red are deflected by mirrors 55
and 56a that are provided outside the light emission array unit 50.
In the deflected light paths is disposed a red-pass filter 57a,
through which the light beams are turned to red printing light
beams. In the same way, light beams from the light emitting
elements 52a of the light emitting element array 52 for green are
deflected by the mirror 55 and a mirror 56b, and are turned to
green printing light beams through a green-pass filter 57b that is
disposed in the light paths of these light beams. Light beams from
the light emitting elements 53a of the light emitting element array
53 for blue are turned to blue printing light beams through a
blue-pass filter 57c, after being deflected by the mirror 55 and a
mirror 56c.
[0054] In light paths of the printing light beams of the respective
colors is disposed a micro lens array 58 that is constituted of
focusing lenses 58a, 58b and 58c for red, green and blue, which are
arranged in correspondence with the light emitting elements 51a to
53a of the light emitting element array 51 to 53. The red printing
light beams are focused by the focusing lenses 58a for red of the
micro lens array 58 onto the photosensitive surface in the exposure
area 21 of the instant film 20 via the light projection slit 46. In
the same way, the green printing light beams and the blue printing
light beams are projected onto the instant film 20 through the
focusing lenses 58b for green and the focusing lenses 58c for blue,
respectively.
[0055] Incident surfaces of the focusing lenses 58a and 58c for red
and blue have a function of prism, and are inclined such that their
optical axes come across optical axes of the focusing lenses 58b
for green. Thus the three-color printing light beams from those
three of the light emitting elements 51a to 53a which are aligned
in the sub scan direction S, are projected onto a point on the
instant film 20. Consequently, the photosensitive surface is
exposed to the three-color printing light beams that are aligned in
a line along the main scan direction M, so a large number of
three-color pixels aligned in a line along the main scan direction
M are recorded on the instant film 20.
[0056] FIG. 7 shows the circuitry of the above described electronic
still camera. The operation of the electronic still camera is
controlled by an imaging controller 61 of the imaging circuit unit
43 and a printing controller 62 of the printing circuit unit 44.
The imaging controller 61 controls sequential operations necessary
for imaging in accordance with a sequence program written in ROM
61a. The printing controller 62 exchanges data with the imaging
controller 61, and controls sequential operations from exposure to
ejection of the instant film 20 in accordance with a sequence
program written in the ROM 61a. RAM 61b is used as a work memory
that temporarily stores necessary data for the control or other
data.
[0057] The imaging controller 61 controls a CCD driver 64, an image
data processing circuit 65 and an I/O control circuit 66 of the
imaging circuit unit 43. The CCD driver 64 drives the CCD image
sensor 42, and charge-storage time of the CCD image sensor 42 is
controlled automatically in accordance with subject brightness fed
back from the image signal processing circuit 67.
[0058] The image signal from the CCD image sensor 42 is fed to the
image signal processing circuit 67. The image signal processing
circuit 67 amplifies the image signal to an appropriate level by
using an automatic gain controller or the like and, thereafter,
subjects it to three-color separation. The image signal of each
color is converted into a digital form through an A/D converter 68,
and then fed to the image data processing circuit 65. The image
data processing circuit 65 produces image data of red, green and
blue by making image processing steps, including white-balance
control, gamma-correction, and matrix operation. The image data of
one frame is successively sent from the image data processing
circuit 65 to an LCD driver 69, so the LCD panel 14 displays moving
finder images.
[0059] When the shutter button 6 is operated, image data of one
frame obtained at that moment is written in an internal memory 70
through the imaging controller 61 and the I/O control circuit 66.
For example, the internal memory 70 can store image data of 50
frames of still images. The image data stored in this way may be
written on the memory card 9 through the I/O control circuit 66,
that is removably inserted in the memory slot 8.
[0060] When a print command is entered through the console 15, the
imaging controller 61 reads respective color image data of one
frame from the internal memory 70 or the memory card 9 through the
I/O control circuit 66, and sends it to the printing controller 62.
Simultaneously, the imaging controller 61 sends a print start
command to the printing controller 62. The internal memory 70 is
designed to keep the written image data based on a backup battery,
separately from a power source of the electronic still camera, so
the image data in the internal memory 70 will not vanish even when
a power switch of the electronic still camera is turned off.
[0061] The printing controller 62 controls the respective elements
of the printing circuit unit 44. The printing controller 62 writes
the image data of each of one line in a line memory 75. The image
data written in the line memory 75 is read out into a head driver
76. The head driver 76 produces drive pulses from the image data of
each color of one line, the drive pulses being used for controlling
emission time of each light emitting element 51a to 53a. The head
driver 76 produces the drive pulses, taking account of spectral
sensitivity of the instant film 20, emission characteristics of the
respective light emitting elements 51a to 53a, transparencies of
the respective filters 57a to 57c and so forth. The drive pulses
for three colors of one line are sent to the printing head 40, so
the corresponding light emitting elements 51a to 53a of the
printing head 40 emit light while the drive pulses are applied
thereto.
[0062] The printing controller 62 rotates the scanning motor 47 in
both directions through a driver 77. Rotational movement of the
scanning motor 47 is transmitted to the scanning mechanism 41 as
set force above, causing the printing head 40 to move in the sub
scan direction. A driver 78 drives a spreading motor 35 after the
printing head 40 complete exposure. Rotational movement of the
spreading motor 35 is transmitted to the spreading rollers 34,
causing them to rotate. The rotational movement of the spreading
motor 35 is also transmitted to the advancing claw mechanism 36, so
the claw member of the advancing claw mechanism 36 is driven once
immediately after the spreading motor 35 starts rotating.
[0063] FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the exposure area 21
of the instant film 20 and an illumination range that is
illuminated by the printing light beams from the printing head 40,
and a relationship between the size of the case 23 and the size of
the instant film 20. FIG. 8 shows a position where the instant film
20 does not deviate from a normal position.
[0064] For smooth transportation of the instant film 20, there are
provided clearances between the instant films 20 and internal walls
23a of the case 23 in the main and sub scan directions M and S. The
clearance from either marginal edge of the instant films 20 in the
main scan direction has a length D1, and the clearance from either
marginal edge in the sub scan direction has a length D2. The
exposure area 21 defined by the photosensitive side frame 27 on the
photosensitive side has a length D3 in the main scan direction M
and a length D4 in the sub scan direction S.
[0065] The printing head 40 has the light emitting elements 51a to
53a and the focusing lenses 58a to 58c of a larger number than
necessary for exposing only the exposure area 21 with respect to
the main scan direction, so a length D5 in the main scan direction
of the line of the printing light beams as projected from the light
projection slit 46, i.e., the length D5 in the main scan direction
of the illumination range, is longer than the length D3 in the main
scan direction of the exposure area 21.
[0066] When the printing head 40 starts projecting the printing
light for the first line at the scanning start position, the
printing light is projected onto a line exposure start position Ps
that is shifted from the exposure area 21 toward the processing
fluid pod 25. When the printing head 40 concludes exposure by
projecting printing light for the last line at the scanning end
position, the printing light is projected onto a line exposure end
position Pe that is shifted from the exposure area 21 toward the
surplus fluid accepting portion 26. In this way, the illumination
range of the printing light has a length D6 in the sub scan
direction S that is longer than the length D4 in the sub scan
direction of the exposure area 21.
[0067] More specifically, the illumination range is elongated in
the main scan direction by the length D7 from either marginal edge
of the exposure area 21 of the instant film 20 as set in the normal
position. The length D7 is determined to be not less than the
clearance D1 in the main scan direction between the instant film 20
and the internal wall 23a of the case 23. Accordingly, if the
instant film 20 deviates from the normal position in the main scan
direction M, e.g. to the right in the drawings, at most by the
length D1, the printing light is projected from end to end of the
exposure area 21 in the main scan direction.
[0068] The illumination range is also elongated in the sub scan
direction by the length D8 from either marginal edge of the
exposure area 21 of the instant film 20 as set in the normal
position. The length D8 is determined to be not less than the
clearance D2 in the sub scan direction S between the instant film
20 and the internal wall 23a of the case 23. Thereby, if the
instant film 20 deviates from the normal position in the sub scan
direction S, e.g. upward in the drawings, at most by the length D2,
the printing light is projected from end to end of the exposure
area 21 in the sub scan direction.
[0069] In this way, the illumination range of the printing light
from the printing head 40 is made wider than the exposure range 21,
so the printing light is projected onto the entire exposure area 21
even where the instant films 20 deviate in the main or the sub scan
direction. Needless to say, the exposure opening 29 of the case 23
is sized to be larger than the illumination range of the printing
head 40 in the main scan direction as well as in the sub scan
direction. Since the display area 22 is made smaller than the
exposure area 21 in this instant film 20, as shown by phantom
lines, it is possible to determine the size of the illumination
range on the basis of the display area 22, regarding the display
area 22 as a substantial image forming area.
[0070] Next, the operation of the electronic still camera having
the above described configurations will be described.
[0071] Before the film pack 24 being used, a light-shielding sheet
for closing the exposure opening 29 is stacked with the instant
films 20 in the case 23. Therefore, when the pack loading door 11
is closed after the film pack 24 is loaded in the pack loading
chamber 10, the spreading motor 35 is automatically driven to cause
the advancing claw mechanism 36 and the spreading rollers 34 to
eject the light-shielding sheet from the case 23 to the outside of
the camera body 2 through the ejection slit 7.
[0072] After a main switch, that is provided in the console 15, is
turned on, either the imaging mode or the reproduction mode is
chosen by operating a mode switching key of the console 15. When
the imaging mode is chosen, images of subjects are successively
photographed through the CCD image sensor 42, and are displayed as
moving images on the LCD panel 14, in the same way as in
conventional electronic still cameras. A subject is framed while
monitoring the images displayed on the LCD panel 14. Thereafter
when the shutter button 6 is operated, image data of the subject
displayed on the LCD panel 14 at that timing is written in the
internal memory 70. When it is determined based on the level of the
signal from the image signal processing circuit 67, that the
subject brightness is less than a predetermined level, the flash
projector 4 is automatically activated to flash in synchronization
with the operation on the shutter button 6.
[0073] In the reproduction mode, by keying the console 15, it is
possible to send image data of an appropriate image stored in the
internal memory 70 or the memory card 9 to the LCD driver 69 via
the I/O control circuit 66, the imaging controller 61, the image
data processing circuit 65, thereby to display it as a still image
on the LCD panel 14. To print a still image displayed on the LCD
panel 14, a print command is entered through the console 15. Then,
the imaging controller 61 sends the print command to the printing
controller 62, and thereafter accesses the internal memory 70 or
the memory card 9 through the I/O control circuit 66, to read out
image data of three colors of the image displayed on the LCD panel
14 sequentially from the first line and send it to the printing
controller 62.
[0074] In response to the print command from the imaging controller
61, the printing controller 62 controls the printing circuit unit
44 to start printing. The printing controller 62 also transfers the
respective color image data of the first line from the imaging
controller 61 to the line memory 75.
[0075] The head driver 76 produces driving pulses of three colors
from the three color image data of the first line written in the
line memory 75, and drives the light emitting elements 51a to 53a
of the light emitting element arrays 51 to 53 for the respective
colors of the printing head 40.
[0076] Light beams from the respective light emitting elements 51a
to 53a are converted into printing light beams of three colors, and
then projected toward the instant film 20 through the light
projection slit 46. Because the printing head 40 is in the scanning
start position at that time, the three-color printing light beams
are projected onto a portion of the instant film 20 that is located
at the line exposure start position Ps inside the exposure opening
29. With respect to the main scan direction, the printing light
beams are projected over a wider range than the exposure area 21 of
the instant film 20 if it is located in the normal position.
[0077] During the exposure of the first line, three color image
data of the second line is written in the line memory 75. After the
exposure of the first line is completed, the driver 77 causes the
scanning motor 47 to rotate forward through a predetermined angle,
shifting the printing head 40 by one line in the sub scan
direction. After the printing head 40 moves by one line, the head
driver 76 produces drive pulses from the three-color image data
written in the line memory 75, and drives the printing head 40 with
these drive pulses. Thereby, three-color printing light beams for
the second line are projected onto the instant film 20.
[0078] Thereafter, in the same way as above, while being shifted in
the sub scan direction, the printing head 40 is driven by drive
pulses which are produced from three-color image data of the third
and following lines, to project three-color printing light beams
for the third and following lines onto the instant film 20. When
the printing head 40 accomplishes exposure of the last line at the
scanning end position, an exposure sequence for an image is
completed. The three-color printing light beams for the last line
are projected onto a portion of the instant film 20 that is located
at the exposure end position Pe inside the exposure opening 29.
[0079] In this way, taking account of the clearances between the
case 23 and the instant film 20, printing light beams are projected
over a range that extends beyond the exposure area 21 of the film
unit 20 as it is placed in the normal position, in the main and sub
scan directions. Accordingly, even if the instant film 20 deviates
in the main or the sub scan direction inside the case 23, the
entire exposure area is included in the illumination range, and
thus exposed to the printing light beams.
[0080] After the exposure of the last line, the scanning motor 47
is continuously rotated rearward, to return the printing head 40
from the scanning end position to the scanning start position.
During the returning movement, when the printing head 40 moves to a
position where it does not hinder the movement of the claw member,
the spread motor 35 is driven to start rotating the spread roller
pair 34. The rotational movement of the spread motor 35 is
transmitted to the advancing claw mechanism 36, so the advancing
claw mechanism 36 inserts the claw member into the case 23 through
the cutout 31, to push the instant film 20 out of the outlet 32
toward the spread rollers 34. Thereby, the exposed instant film 20
is fed in between the spread rollers 34, and is ejected through the
ejection slit 7 of the camera body 2 by the rotating spread rollers
34. At that time, the processing fluid pod 25 is ruptured by the
spreading rollers 34, so the processing fluid is spread between the
image receiving photosensitive layer and the image transferred
layer, while these layers are being pressed onto each other. A
remainder of the processing fluid is accepted in the surplus fluid
accepting portion 26.
[0081] In one or a couple of minutes after the instant film 20 is
ejected through the ejection slit 7, the image photographed as a
latent image on the image receiving photosensitive layer is
transferred as a color positive image to the image transferred
layer, and is fixed on the image transferred layer. The color image
appears in the display area 22 of the instant film 20. As set forth
above, since the entire exposure area 21 is exposed even if the
instant film 20 deviates during the exposure, the color image is
shown over the entire display area 22, without the problem of
having unexposed portions that are colored black.
[0082] In the above embodiment, the CCD image sensor 42 has a
photographic field that corresponds to the illumination range of
the printing head 40. That is, drive pulses for driving the
printing head 40 are produced from image data of one frame obtained
through the CCD image sensor 42. It is alternatively possible to
obtain image data by photographing a field corresponding to the
exposure area 21, and subject the image data of each frame to an
image enlargement process, for forming a frame of printing image
data, from which drive pulses for the printing head 40 are
produced.
[0083] The printing head of the above embodiment uses light
emitting elements that emit white light, for obtaining three-color
printing light beams, and makes exposure to the three color light
beams concurrently on the same line. However, the printing head may
have another configuration. Examples of other configurations of the
printing head will be described with respect to FIGS. 9 to 12. In
the following descriptions, those elements which are substantially
equivalent to those used in the above embodiment are designated by
the same reference numbers as in the above embodiment, so the
description of these elements are omitted.
[0084] In a printing head 40 shown in FIG. 9, a light emission
array unit 50 is constituted of light emission arrays 80 to 82 for
red, green and blue, each of which consists of a plurality of light
emitting elements that respectively project red, green and blue
light beams, so the light emission array unit 50 directly emits
three-color printing light beams. The light beams from the light
emission array 80 to 82 are directed to an lens array 58 through a
pair of mirrors 55a, 55b, 55c and 56a, 56b, 56c, for each
color.
[0085] A printing head 40 shown in FIG. 10 has a light emission
array 50 that is configured to be equal to that shown in FIG. 9,
but optical axes of focusing lenses 58a to 58c of a lens array 58
are not inclined but extend parallel to each other. Thereby, the
instant film 20 is concurrently exposed to three lines of three
color printing light beams, one line for one color. In another
example shown in FIG. 11, a light emission array unit 50 is
constituted of three rows of light emission arrays 51 to 53 that
project white light, and three color filters 57a to 57c are used
for producing three-color printing light beams, like the embodiment
of FIG. 7. However, the three-color printing light beams are
projected along three lines.
[0086] In any of the above examples shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a
full-color image is printed during a single movement of the
printing head 40 in the sub scan direction. Since the three colors
are concurrently projected, it is possible to make the sub scanning
by advancing the instant film 20 out of the camera body 2 through
the spread rollers 33, instead of making the sub scanning by moving
the printing head 40 in the sub scan direction S. Where the
printing head 40 is configured as shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, the
concurrently projected printing light beams have a width in the sub
scan direction that corresponds to three lines. Therefore, the
printing light beams of all the three lines should be projected
over a wider range than the exposure area in the sub scan
direction, in view of the deviation due to the clearances.
[0087] The micro lens array 58 is constituted of a large number of
micro lenses that are arranged in correspondence with the light
emission array 50. Instead of the micro lenses, micro cylindrical
lenses made of graded index type optical fibers, called SELFOC lens
(a trade name), may be used.
[0088] A printing head 40 shown in FIG. 12 uses a light emitting
element array 85 consisting of a large number of white light
emitting elements arranged in a line, and red, green and blue
filters 57a to 57c. In this embodiment, printing light beams are
focused on the instant film 20 through a micro lens array 86 that
is placed between mirror 55 and 87. The micro lens array 86
consists of SELFOC lenses or another kind of micro lenses, and
prevents the printing light beam for each pixel from diffusing into
other pixel positions. In this instance, the three color filters
57a to 57c are switched to each other upon the printing head 40
being moved once in the sub scan direction, so that a full-color
image is printed in a three-color frame sequential fashion. In this
case, it is unnecessary to return the printing head 40 to the
scanning start position. Instead, red pixels are recorded by red
printing light beams while the printing head 40 moves from the
scanning start position to the scanning end position, and green
pixels are recorded by green printing light beams while the
printing head 40 moves from the scanning start position to the
scanning end position. And then, blue pixels are recorded by blue
printing light beams while the printing head 40 moves from the
scanning start position to the scanning end position. In the
three-color frame sequential printing, sub scanning for the last
color may be carried out by moving the instant film 20 while
holding the printing head 40 stationary.
[0089] Although the amount of exposure of the instant film is
controlled by changing lighting times of the light emitting
elements in the above embodiment, it is possible to drive the light
emitting elements continuously, and direct light from each light
emitting element to an LCD panel, such that the amount of light
that passes through the LCD panel, i.e. the amount of printing
light, may be controlled by controlling transparency of the LCD
panel. This configuration makes it possible to use a fluorescent
lamp and color filters as a light source, instead of the light
emitting element arrays, for obtaining three-color printing light.
FIG. 13 shows an example of such a printing head.
[0090] In FIG. 13, a fluorescent lamp 85 is elongated along a
lengthwise direction of a printing head 40, i.e., along the main
scan direction. Illumination light from the fluorescent lamp 85
contains red (R), green (G) and blue (B). It is possible to use
another kind of light source insofar as its light contains these
colors. A color filter 57 is placed in an illumination light path
from the fluorescent lamp 85. The color filter 57 has a red-pass
filter portion, a green-pass filter portion and a blue-pass filter
portion, which extend along the length of the lamp 85, and are
arranged side by side in a perpendicular direction Y to the lamp,
i.e. in the sub scan direction S. One of these three filter
portions is placed in the illumination light path of the
fluorescent lamp 85 by shifting the color filter 57 in the
direction Y in response to a filter switching signal.
[0091] As passing through the color filter 85, the illumination
light from the fluorescent lamp 85 comes to be red, green or blue
printing light. The printing light travels through a liquid crystal
array 89, a mirror 55, a micro lens array 86 and a mirror 87, and
is projected onto the instant film 20 through a light projection
slit 46. The liquid crystal array 89 consists of micro liquid
crystal segments arranged in a line, wherein each liquid crystal
segment corresponds to one pixel on print. The liquid crystal array
89 controls printing densities by blocking printing light or
controlling light-permeability at each liquid crystal segment.
[0092] FIG. 14 schematically shows the circuitry of an electronic
still camera according to the second embodiment of the present
invention. The same elements as used in the above embodiment are
designated by the same reference numbers, so detailed description
of these elements are omitted. In this embodiment, a printing head
40 is configured as shown in FIG. 13, but the configuration of the
printing head 40 is not limited to this embodiment, but may be
modified appropriately.
[0093] A CCD image sensor 42 is placed behind a camera lens 3.
Micro color filters of R, G, B are arranged in a matrix on a
photoelectric plane of the CCD image sensor 42. Image signals of
each color are serially output from the CCD image sensor 42,
amplified through an amplifier 90, and then converted by an A/D
converter 68 into a digital form. Sampling timing of the A/D
converter 68 is synchronized with driving timing of a CCD driver
64.
[0094] The A/D converter 68 produces digital image data from the
image signal, and feeds the image data sequentially to an image
data processing circuit 65. The image data processing circuit 65
processes the image data for white balance adjustment, gamma
correction and so forth. The image data processing circuit 65 also
produces a video signal of the NTSC standard from the processed
image data, and sends it via a D/A converter 91 and an amplifier 92
to an output terminal 93. Accordingly, a continuous series of
images photographed through the CCD image sensor 42 may be viewed
on a home TV when it is connected to the output terminal 93.
[0095] The video signal from the amplifier 92 is fed to an LCD
driver 69. The LCD driver 69 drives an LCD panel 14 that is
incorporated into a pack loading door 11, so the LCD panel 14
continuously displays the subject images, serving as an electronic
viewfinder.
[0096] A system controller 95 manages electric operations of all
elements of the electronic still camera, including the above image
data processing circuit 65. The system controller 95 monitors
signals from a console 15 and external connection terminals 98
through an I/O port 96, and makes signal-processing operations in
accordance with the input signals.
[0097] A flash memory 100 is a DRAM (dynamic random access memory)
which is accessible at high speed, and stores the image data frame
by frame, as the image data is supplied from the image data
processing circuit 65. For example, the flash memory 100 has a
memory capacity for storing image data of 50 frames of still
images.
[0098] A memory card 9 may be connected to the system controller 96
through a connector 9a and the I/O port 96. The memory card 9
stores image data of subject images obtained through the image data
processing circuit 65, frame by frame in a compressed fashion. For
example the memory card 9 is capable of storing compressed image
data of 50 frames. A data companding circuit 101 consisting of a
data compressing section for compressing image data of photographed
subjects and writing it on the memory card 9, and a data expanding
section for reading compressed image data from the memory card 9
and expanding it. The data companding circuit 101 is controlled by
the system controller 95. The memory card 9 is used optionally, for
example when the available capacity of the flash memory 100 is not
enough, or for preserving the image data. Choice of data storage
medium may be done by operating the console 15. The memory card 9
may also previously store such image data in the compressed fashion
that is used for synthesizing a decorative peripheral frame with
the subject image to modify the contour or the pattern of the
peripheral frame around the subject image, hereinafter referred to
as decoration image data, wherein the decorative frame is selected
from among a variety of options.
[0099] In a reproduction mode, either image data read out from the
memory card 9 and then expanded through the data companding circuit
101, or image data read out from the flash memory 100 is
transferred to the image processing circuit 65. Based on this image
data, an image is displayed on the LCD panel 14. By connecting
another memory medium to an output terminal of the external
connection terminals 98, it comes to be possible to memorize image
data of newly photographed image frames in the memory medium, or
transfer image data from the memory card 9 to the memory
medium.
[0100] A head driver 76 drives the printing head 40 under the
control of the system controller 95. To the printing head 40, image
data is sent from a line memory 75, for use in controlling
transparency of the individual liquid crystal segments that
constitute the liquid crystal array 89. EEPROM 103 previously
stores various kinds of adjustment data which are referred to by
the system controller 95 when the electronic still camera is
operated according to a predetermined sequence. The adjustment data
are adjusted to each individual electronic still camera in an
inspection process after the assembly of the cameras is fished. The
adjustment data includes data concerning focusing of the camera
lens 3, correction data for use in printing the respective colors
and so forth. A motor driver 102 drives a spreading motor 25 and a
scanning motor 47 under the control of the system controller
95.
[0101] Now, the operation of the electronic still camera of FIG. 14
will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
15. A power switch is turned on by turning on a main switch that is
provided in the console 15. Then, the present mode is set either to
an imaging mode or to the reproduction mode depending upon a set
position of a mode switching key in the console 15. In the imaging
mode, the CCD image sensor 42 continuously photographs subject
images, and the images are displayed as moving images on the LCD
panel 14 that functions as an electronic viewfinder.
[0102] Upon making a release-operation on a shutter button 6, image
data of a subject image displayed at that moment on the LCD panel
14 is written as a still image on the flash memory 100. The flash
memory 100 is capable of storing image data of one frame
sequentially upon each release-operation on the shutter button 6.
It is also possible to delete image data of appropriate image
frames and write image data of new image frames instead. When the
memory card 9 is connected to the connector 9a, image data of
appropriate image frames may be written on the memory card 9. For
this purpose, the memory card 9 is designated by keying the console
15.
[0103] In the reproduction mode, an appropriate subject image is
selected from among those stored in the flash memory 100 or the
memory card 9 by keying the console 15. Then image data of the
selected image is supplied to the LCD driver 69 through the image
data processing circuit 65, the D/A converter 91 and the amplifier
92, so a subject image 105, as shown for example in FIG. 16A, is
displayed on the LCD panel 14.
[0104] Thereafter, if it is selected to synthesize the decorative
frame by keying the console 15, the decorative image data is read
out from the memory card 9 and is expanded through the data
expanding section 101. Thereafter, an appropriate one of 50 kinds
of decorative frames. The decorative image data read out from the
memory card 9 and the image data of the selected subject image 105
are transferred to the image data processing circuit 65. Then, a
synthetic image 107 composed from the subject image 105 and the
decorative frame 106 is displayed on the LCD panel 14, as shown for
example in FIG. 16B.
[0105] When a print key is operated after the subject image, and if
necessary the decorative frame, the system controller 95 accesses
the memory card 9 or the flash memory 100 to read out an initial
line of image data from among image data of the image 105 presently
displayed on the LCD panel 14, and transfer it to the line memory
75.
[0106] When the decorative frame has been selected, the decorative
image data for one line is transferred from the memory card 9 to
the line memory 75. At that time, in those portions where the
decorative image data overlaps the subject image data, the
decorative image data has priority to the subject image data. In
this way, one line of image data is written in the line memory 75.
Since the printing head 40 makes exposure in the three-color frame
sequential fashion in this embodiment, the image data is read out
line by line sequentially from red image data that correspond to
red pixels of the image to print.
[0107] After confirming that the red-pass filter portion of the
color filter 57 is inserted in the printing light path, and that
the liquid crystal segments of the liquid crystal array 89 are in a
light-blocking condition, the system controller 95 turns on the
fluorescent lamp 85. After it is confirmed that the printing head
40 is at the scanning start position, the red image data written in
the line memory 75 is serially sent to the liquid crystal array 89,
so the individual liquid crystal segments are sequentially switched
from the light-blocking condition to respective transmittance
densities that correspond to the image data. In a constant time,
the individual liquid crystal segments return to the light blocking
condition.
[0108] The red printing light from the red-pass filter portion of
the color filter 57 travels through the LCD segments, so the
instant film 30 is exposed to the red printing light of different
amounts determined by the transmittance densities of the respective
liquid crystal segments. It is to be noted that printing time per
one line will be shortened by transferring the image data of one
line concurrently from the line memory 75 to the respective liquid
crystal segments of the liquid crystal array 89, and thus by
switching the respective liquid crystal segments concurrently to
the transmittance densities determined by the image data.
[0109] At the conclusion of the exposure to the red printing light
for the first line, the scanning motor 47, that is a stepping
motor, rotates through a predetermined angle, shifting the printing
head 40 to a position of a succeeding line. Thereafter, red image
data representative of densities of red pixels of the second line
is transferred from the flash memory 100 or the memory card 8 to
the line memory 75. The second line is exposed to the red printing
light in the same way as for the first line. As the printing head
40 is shifted in the sub scan direction in a stepwise manner, each
line is exposed to the red printing light. When a last line has
been exposed to the red printing light, printing of red pixels of
one frame is completed.
[0110] Then the system controller 95 sends the head driver 76 a
filter change signal, to cause the color filter 57 to slide in the
direction Y by an amount to position the green-pass filter portion
in the printing light path. The system controller 95 accesses the
flash memory or the memory card 9 to read out green image data
representative of green pixels, line by line sequentially from the
last line, and transfer it to the line memory 75.
[0111] Thereafter, the exposure to the green printing light is
carried out in the reversed direction to the exposing direction for
red, i.e. from the last line to the first line. After the
completion of exposure to the green printing light, the blue-pass
filter portion is inserted in the printing light path, and blue
image data is read out from the flash memory 100 or the memory card
9, line by line from the first line. Thus, exposure to the blue
printing light is carried out in the same way as for the exposure
to the red printing light.
[0112] After the exposure to the three-color printing light is
completed, the spread motor 35 is driven responsive to a signal
from the system controller 95, to push out the instant film 20 by
an advancing claw, and then eject it through a pair of spread
rollers out of the camera body. In a few minutes, a subject image
as displayed on the LCD panel 14 at the moment the print key is
operated, is developed and fixed as a positive image, providing a
hard copy of the subject image. Where the decorative frame is
selected, the subject image is printed inside the decorative
frame.
[0113] The subject image data or the decorative image data, as read
out from the memory card 9, may be temporarily written in the flash
memory 100, so that they may be read out from the flash memory 100
during the printing.
[0114] It is possible to use such a memory card that stores
decorative image data representative of cartoons, marks,
characters, messages, and merge-print any of these besides the
decorative peripheral frame. It is also possible to provide an
internal memory in which decorative image data is previously
written. In that case, the memory card is used for reading and
writing subject image data, whereas the decorative image data for
montages is read out from this memory card.
[0115] Although the present embodiment has been described on the
assumption that the printing head 40 has the configuration as shown
in FIG. 13, the configuration of the printing head 40 is not
limited to this embodiment, but may be modified appropriately.
[0116] FIGS. 17 and 18 show an appearance of a printer-incorporated
electronic still camera, according to another embodiment of the
present invention. Similar elements to those shown in the above
embodiments are designated by the same reference numbers as used in
the above embodiments, so detailed description about these elements
is omitted. A taking lens 3 and a flash window 4 are located in
upper front portions of a camera body 2. A shutter button 6 is
located in a middle portion of a grip 5.
[0117] In a front center portion of the camera body 2, a pack
loading door 11 is pivotally mounted through a hinge 11a. The pack
loading door 11 may be opened or closed by operating a knob 12 that
is provided in an upper marginal portion of the pack loading door
11. An ejection slit 7 is formed through a top face of the camera
body 2, and a door member 110 for shielding the ejection slit 7
from light is mounted on the ejection slit 7 to open or close it.
As shown in FIG. 19, the door member 110 is urged in a closing
direction by a spring 168. To inside walls of the ejection slit 7
are attached a pair of light-shielding sponge members 169, called
molt plane. After printing, the door member 110 is pushed open by a
leading edge of the exposed instant film 20 that moves past the
ejection slit 7, as shown in FIG. 18, letting the exposed instant
film 20 out of the camera body 2.
[0118] On the back side of the camera body 2, all operating
members, including the LCD panel 14, a multi-operation button 116,
a mode switching key 117 and a print start key, are integrated.
Accordingly, all operations for printing may be done while the
camera body 2 is laid down. The multi-operation button 116 is used
primary for zooming of a digital zoom system. In combination with
the mode switching key 117, the multi-operation button 116 is also
used for many kinds of operations in different imaging modes and
for selection of an image frame on reproduction and printing. When
the print start key 118 is pressed, an image displayed on the LCD
panel 14 starts being printed.
[0119] As shown in FIG. 19, a pack loading chamber 10 for holding a
film pack 24 is provided behind the pack loading door 11. The film
pack 24 has a simplified construction, wherein leaf springs are
omitted that have conventionally been provided in a case 23. The
case 23 of the film pack 24 has an exposure opening 29 on its front
side, and has a pair of holes 23b and 23c on its back side, for
accepting a pair of pushing members 122 that are provided on a rear
side of the pack loading door 11. A resilient light-shielding sheet
124 is mounted to an inside wall of the case 23, for closing the
holes 23b and 23c, and thus preventing light from entering through
the holes 23b and 23c. When the pack loading lid 11 is closed after
the film pack 24 is put in the pack loading chamber 10, the film
pack 24 is pushed from the back side by a pack pushing spring 123,
which is mounted on the rear side of the pack loading door 11, to
hold the film pack 24 at an inner position in the pack loading
chamber 10. Simultaneously, the pushing members 122 are inserted
through the holes 23b and 23c into the case 23, pushing the instant
films 20 from the back toward the exposure opening 29. It is to be
noted that the film pack 24 of this type is also enclosed in a
moisture- and light-tight bag made of a plastic film or another
material that is moisture-and light-shielding properties, when the
film pack 24 is on the markets. Also in the unused condition, a
light-shielding plate (not shown) is provided between the exposure
opening 29 and an uppermost one of the instant films 20.
[0120] Since the light-shielding sheet 24 is pushed by the pushing
member 122 when the film pack 24 is loaded in the pack loading
chamber 10, a little gap is provided between the light-shielding
sheet 24 and the inside wall of the case 23. However, because the
back side of the instant film 20 has a light-shielding properties,
and the pack loading chamber 10 is closed light-tightly by the pack
loading door 11, any light would not enter through the holes 23b
and 23c after the loading of the film pack 24.
[0121] A light-shielding housing 127 is formed behind the pack
loading chamber 10 integrally with the pack loading chamber 10. The
light-shielding housing 127 covers up the entire periphery of an
instant printer section, to shield any kind of extraneous light
that could reach a photosensitive surface of the instant film 20.
As such extraneous light, there is light leaking through a gap
between the camera body 2 and the operating members, such as the
printer start key 118, or light leaking from a back-light source
that illuminates the LCD panel 114 from the back.
[0122] As shown in FIG. 20, the instant printer section is
constituted of a printing head 40, a scanning mechanism 41 for
shifting the printing head 40 along the photosensitive surface of
the instant film 20, and a pair of spread rollers 34. The printing
head 40 extends in a direction perpendicular to an advancing
direction of the instant film 20, and has a length that is more
than the width of the instant film 20. A main guide shaft 131a and
a subsidiary guide shaft 131b, which extend in parallel to the film
advancing direction, are put through opposite end portions of the
printing head 40. Thus, the printing head 40 is movable in a sub
scan direction that is parallel to the film advancing direction of
the instant film 20.
[0123] To the printing head 40 are also secured opposite ends of a
belt 134 that is suspended between pulleys 133a and 133b. The one
pulley 133a is coupled to the scanning motor 47 through a reduction
gear train 135, so the printing head 40 moves in the sub scan
direction when the scanning motor 47 is driven. The printing head
40 may have any of the above described configurations.
[0124] When a reproduction-and-printing mode is selected by
operating the mode switching key 117, it is displayed on a
predetermined area in the LCD panel 14 whether the film loading
chamber 10 is loaded with the film pack 24 or not, and how many
instant films 20 remain unexposed in the film pack 24 if it is
loaded in the pack loading chamber 10. If the film pack 24 is not
loaded, or there is no instant film 20 in the film pack 24, the
knob 12 is operated to open the pack loading door 11, for loading a
new film pack 24 in the pack loading chamber 10.
[0125] By closing the pack loading door 11, the pushing members 122
enter the case 23 through the holes 23b and 23c, pushing the
instant films 20 in the case 23 against an inside wall of the case
23 that surrounds the exposure opening 29. Next, the print start
key 118 is pressed to cause a not-shown advancing claw mechanism
and the spread rollers 34 to eject the light-shielding plate
through the ejection slit 7. Thus, a photosensitive surface of the
uppermost instant film 20 is exposed through the exposure opening
29, getting ready for printing.
[0126] Since the instant printer section is entirely shielded by
the light-shielding housing 127, extraneous light would not reach
the photosensitive surface of the instant film 20 exposed through
the exposure opening 29.
[0127] When image data of an appropriate image is selected by
operating the mode switching key 117 and the multi-operation button
116 in combination, the selected image is displayed on the LCD
panel 14. After a subject image is selected in this way, the print
start key 118 is pressed to start exposure of the instant film 20
by the printing head 40. The instant film 20 after exposure is fed
to the ejection slit 7 through the advancing claw mechanism and the
spread rollers 34, and is ejected through the ejection slit 7 while
pushing open the door member 100. In a few minutes, a subject image
as displayed on the LCD panel 14 at the moment the print start key
118 is operated, is developed and fixed as a positive image,
providing a hard copy of the subject image.
[0128] Also in this embodiment, it is possible to write decorative
data previously in an internal memory or a memory card, and read
the decorative data to synthesize it with subject image data, for
printing a composite picture.
[0129] Although the light-shielding housing covers up the entire
printing section in the above embodiment, the light-shielding
housing may cover up a moving range of the printing head. In that
case, a light-shielding device should be provided between the
printing head and the scanning mechanism, for keeping the interior
of the light-shielding housing in a light-tight condition even
while the printing head is moving. For example, where the scanning
mechanism has the above described configurations, holes for putting
the belt therethrough are formed through the light-shielding
housing, so light-shielding fabric is cemented to the rim of each
of these holes, to close in a gap between the rim of the hole and
the belt in a light-tight fashion.
[0130] The embodiments of the present invention have been described
so far with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not
to be limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Besides the
printing head, the scanning mechanism may have any configuration
insofar as it can shift the printing head along the photosensitive
surface of the instant film. Also the appearance and the
configuration of the electronic still camera are not limited to the
above embodiments.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION FIELD
[0131] The present invention is not only applicable to an
electronic still camera incorporated with an instant printer, but
also to a separate instant printer. Where the instant printer is
used as a desk-top type, or where the apparatus body is not needed
to be so small, a laser device may be used as a light source for
the printing light, or it is possible to adopt an exposure device
that scans the printing light in the main scan direction by
reflecting it with a polygonal mirror. An exposure device that
shifts the scanning position of the printing light in the sub scan
direction by changing the angle of mirrors is also usable. The
printing method of the present invention is applicable to those
instant printers or those printer-incorporated electronic still
cameras which make an exposure with use of printing light that is
obtained from an LCD or another display device displaying a frame
of image.
[0132] The present invention is not only applicable to those
instant printers or those printer-incorporated electronic still
cameras which use instant films of the above described mono-sheet
type where the image is shown in the display area that is on the
opposite side from the exposure area, but also applicable to those
using another mono-sheet type where the color image is displayed in
the exposure area. In that case, if an inverted image is printed on
the exposure area, a displayed color image is correspondingly
inverted. Therefore, image processing should be carried out for
printing an erected image on the exposure area. Moreover, the
present invention is usable with a peel-apart type instant film.
The present invention is also applicable to those cases where the
instant films are not contained in a case.
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