U.S. patent application number 11/577625 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for printer and method for controlling printer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Tatsuya Kuroda, Toshiyuki Nagasawa.
Application Number | 20090153886 11/577625 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36203111 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090153886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nagasawa; Toshiyuki ; et
al. |
June 18, 2009 |
PRINTER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PRINTER
Abstract
The present invention is employed for self-service printing
vending machines installed in various stores, for example. The
present invention is provided for detecting an abnormality of an
image and for displaying the abnormality with the corresponding
image to be printed. The abnormality is corrected in accordance
with an instruction by a user.
Inventors: |
Nagasawa; Toshiyuki;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Kuroda; Tatsuya; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL LLP
P.O. BOX 061080, WACKER DRIVE STATION, SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-1080
US
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
36203111 |
Appl. No.: |
11/577625 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 19, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2005/019637 |
371 Date: |
April 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C23C 14/0641 20130101;
C23C 14/568 20130101; C23C 14/067 20130101; C23C 14/024 20130101;
B41J 29/46 20130101; C23C 30/005 20130101; Y10T 428/1266
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.9 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/60 20060101
H04N001/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 22, 2004 |
JP |
2004-307569 |
Claims
1. A printer comprising: image data inputting means for inputting
image data; abnormality detecting means for detecting an
abnormality of an image input as the image data; displaying means
for displaying a result detected by the abnormality detecting
means; inputting means for inputting an instruction for printing
the image, which is displayed by the displaying means; and printing
means for printing the image which is instructed to be printed by
the inputting means.
2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: image
correcting means for correcting an abnormality of the image in
accordance with an instruction by a user.
3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the image data
inputting means successively inputs a plurality of pieces of image
data corresponding to a plurality of images, the abnormality
detecting means detects an abnormality of each of the plurality of
images input by the image data inputting means, and the display
means displays the plurality of images together with corresponding
detection results detected by the abnormality detecting means as a
list.
4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the image data
inputting means successively inputs a plurality of pieces of image
data corresponding to a plurality of images, the display means
displays the plurality of images as a list, and the abnormality
detecting means detects an abnormality of an image which is
instructed to be printed by the image data inputting means.
5. A method for controlling a printer, comprising: an image data
inputting step of inputting image data; an abnormality detecting
step of detecting an abnormality of an image corresponding the
image data; a displaying step of displaying a result detected in
the abnormality detecting step; an inputting step of inputting an
instruction for printing the image, which is displayed in the
displaying step; and a printing step of printing the image which is
instructed to be printed in the inputting step.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to printers and methods for
controlling the printers and may be employed in self-service
printing vending machines installed in various stores, for example.
The present invention is used for detecting an abnormality of an
image and informing a user of the abnormality to thereby
appropriately correct the abnormality of the image.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] In general, various stores such as convenience stores
provide self-service printing vending machines. Even users who do
not have computers may use the printing vending machines to print
images captured using electronic still cameras or cellular phones
including cameras, for example.
[0005] Such a self-service printing vending machine is a printer
used for printing image data recorded in a memory card as a
recording medium. When a memory card used with an electronic still
camera or a cellular phone including a camera is loaded in the
self-service printing vending machine, captured images recorded in
the memory card are displayed as a list of thumbnail images. The
self-service printing vending machine allows a user to select
images to be printed from the displayed list, the user pays a
charge corresponding to the number of prints, and then the selected
images are printed for the user.
[0006] Regarding printing of images, various techniques of
correction of captured images have been proposed. For example,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-186323
discloses a technique of correction of a captured image so that a
color in the captured image considerably approximates to a color of
actual skin in a photo printing system for an identification
photograph.
[0007] In recent years, a self-service printing vending machine
which automatically corrects the brightness of an entire image or
corrects a grainy image, or which corrects the hue of an image in
accordance with an instruction by a user has been proposed.
[0008] It is considered that, since the captured images are
corrected in the printing vending machine as described above, a
high level of convenience for the user is obtained. However, the
user may capture an image of a subject in backlight or in excessive
exposure on purpose. Accordingly, the user has to check the images
before the printing vending machine corrects the captured
images.
[0009] However, in the printing vending machines in the related
art, since captured images are displayed as a list of small
thumbnail images, it is difficult to find abnormalities of images
which should be corrected. In the printing vending machines in the
related art, even when an abnormality is not found in the displayed
list of thumbnail images, an abnormality such as a red-eye portion,
low brightness, or low saturation may be found after printing.
Here, there arises a problem that the printing vending machines in
the related art do not appropriately correct abnormalities of
images.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above
drawbacks, and the invention provides a printer capable of
appropriately correcting abnormalities of images and a method for
controlling the printer.
[0011] Accordingly, there is provided a printer including image
data inputting means for inputting image data, abnormality
detecting means for detecting an abnormality of an image input as
the image data, displaying means for displaying a result detected
by the abnormality detecting means, inputting means for inputting
an instruction for printing the image, which is displayed by the
displaying means, and printing means for printing the image which
is instructed to be printed by the inputting means.
[0012] In this configuration of the present invention, since the
printer includes image data inputting means for inputting image
data, abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality of
an image input as the image data, displaying means for displaying a
result detected by the abnormality detecting means, inputting means
for inputting an instruction for printing the image, which is
displayed by the displaying means, and printing means for printing
the image which is instructed to be printed by the inputting means,
a user corrects the image displayed by the displaying means as
needed in accordance with the result detected by the abnormality
detection. Consequently, the user appropriately corrects the
abnormality of the image.
[0013] Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is
provided a method for controlling a printer including an image data
inputting step of inputting image data, an abnormality detecting
step of detecting an abnormality of an image corresponding the
image data, a displaying step of displaying the abnormality of the
image as a result of the detection, an inputting step of inputting
an instruction for printing the image, which is displayed in the
displaying step, and a printing step of printing the image which is
instructed to be printed.
[0014] With this configuration of the present invention, a method
for controlling a printer capable of appropriately correcting an
abnormality of an image is provided.
[0015] According to the present invention, an abnormality of an
image is appropriately corrected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer according to
a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the printer shown in
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of
a controller of the printer shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing display in accordance with the
processing procedure of FIG. 3.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure
according to a correcting process in the processing procedure of
FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of
the controller of the printer according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing display in accordance with the
processing procedure of FIG. 6.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings as
needed.
(1) Configuration of First Embodiment
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer as a
self-service printing vending machine according to an embodiment of
the present invention. A printer 1 is installed in amusement parks,
sightseeing spots, or various stores and is used for printing
images captured by electronic still cameras or cellular phones
including cameras.
[0025] The printer 1 substantially has a vertically long cubic
shape as a whole and includes a display unit 3 having a touch panel
2 on a surface thereof. The display unit 3 is disposed so as to
face obliquely upward and forward of the printer 1. The printer 1
displays images to be printed and various menus on the display unit
3 and allows a user to select images and menus through the touch
panel 2.
[0026] The printer 1 has insertion slots 4 for loading various
types of memory card. Each of the insertion slots 4 has a memory
card reader disposed in the back of the interior thereof and
compatible with an inserted memory card. The printer 1 has a
charging apparatus 7 including a coin slot 5 and a coin return slot
6 disposed in a lower right portion of the printer 1 and below the
insertion slots 4, and a picture dispensing slot 8 for dispensing
prints as results of printing disposed in a substantially lower
center portion of the printer 1 and below the insertion slots
4.
[0027] After a memory card, which is a recording medium used with
an electronic still camera or a cellular phone including a camera,
for example, is loaded in the insertion slot 4 compatible
therewith, the display unit 3 is operated, and payment is made
using the charging apparatus 7, prints which are results of
printing captured images recorded in the memory card are dispensed
through the picture dispensing slot 8.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the
printer 1. In the printer 1, a memory card reader 11 successively
reads pieces of image data from the memory card loaded in the
corresponding insertion slot 4 under the control of an image
reading unit 12 and outputs the pieces of image data to the image
reading unit 12.
[0029] The image reading unit 12 detects the loaded memory card and
controls an operation of the memory card reader 11 compatible with
the loaded memory card, thereby successively acquiring the pieces
of image data recorded in the memory card through the memory card
reader 11 and outputting the acquired pieces of image data to a
controller 13 and an image processor 14. Accordingly, the image
reading unit 12 serves as image data input means for the memory
card together with the memory card reader 11.
[0030] The image processor 14 stores and holds the pieces of image
data supplied from the image reading unit 12. The image processor
14 also detects abnormalities of the pieces of image data as
captured images and informs the controller 13 of the detection of
the abnormalities. In the printer 1, a red-eye portion and a
backlight image are set as abnormalities of the captured images.
The image processor 14 detects a hue area which may correspond to
the red-eye portion in each of the captured images and determines
the shape of the area, to thereby determine whether the captured
image includes the red-eye portion and inform the controller 13 of
the determination result. If an area having a luminance level lower
than other areas due to luminance distribution of the captured
image is included in the center of the captured image and is larger
than a predetermined area, the image processor 14 determines that
the image is captured in backlight and informs the controller 13 of
the determination. Note that various determination methods may be
broadly used for the determination of abnormalities.
[0031] After informing the controller 13 of the abnormality, the
image processor 14 receives an instruction for correcting the
abnormality issued by the controller 13 and corrects the
abnormality. When the abnormality is caused by a red-eye portion,
the hue and the luminance of a specific area including the red-eye
portion are corrected and thus red-eye prevention is performed.
When the abnormality is caused by a backlight image, a gradation of
the entire image is corrected and thus backlight prevention is
performed. Accordingly, the image processor 14 serves as
abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality caused by
a red-eye portion or a backlight image of an image as image data
input by means of the image data inputting means. The image
processor 14 also serves as image correcting means for correcting
such an abnormality in an image.
[0032] When receiving an instruction for printing the captured
image from the controller 13, the image processor 14 outputs the
image data corresponding to the captured image to be printed to a
printing unit 15. The printing unit 15 prints and outputs the image
corresponding to the image data. In this process, if the image
processor 14 has corrected the abnormality of the captured image,
the image data corresponding to the captured image subjected to the
correction is output to the printing unit 15. Thus, the captured
image, in which the abnormality thereof caused by a red-eye portion
or a backlight image is corrected, is printed.
[0033] The controller 13 is a computer for controlling an entire
operation of the printer 1. The controller 13 controls the display
unit 3 to display operation guides and various menus and controls
the touch panel 2 to detect selection of the displayed menus,
thereby controlling the entire operation.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of
control performed by the controller 13. The controller 13 controls
the display unit 3 to display the operation guides. When a memory
card inserted in the insertion slot 4 by a user in accordance with
the operation guides is detected, the controller 13 performs the
processing procedure. The controller 13 proceeds from step SP1 to
step SP2 where the controller 13 controls the image reading unit 12
to read an image from the memory card. In step SP3, the controller
13 controls the image processor 14 to check for an abnormality of
the read image and proceeds to step SP4 where the controller 13
determines whether the image includes an abnormality in accordance
with a check result obtained in step SP3.
[0035] When an abnormality is detected in step SP4, the controller
13 proceeds from step SP4 to SP5 where guidance for informing the
user of the detection of the abnormality is generated and the
guidance is displayed with a thumbnail image of the image having
the abnormality in step SP6. On the other hand, when such an
abnormality is not detected in step SP4, the controller 13 directly
proceeds from step SP4 to step SP6 where the read image is
displayed as a thumbnail image.
[0036] When the single image is displayed as described above, it is
determined whether all the images recorded in the memory card are
processed in step SP7. When the determination is negative, the
controller 13 returns to step SP2 where another image is read from
the memory card. Thus, the controller 13 repeats the processing
procedure of SP2-SP3-SP4-SP6-SP7-SP2 or
SP2-SP3-SP4-SP5-SP6-SP7-SP2. As shown in FIG. 4, the images
recorded in the memory card are displayed as a list of thumbnail
images on the display unit 3 and, in this displayed list, each of
the images which are detected as images having abnormalities is
displayed with the guidance. In this embodiment, the guidance is
displayed by characters in a circle, such as a "red eye" or a
"backlight" illustrating a content of the abnormality, in the
vicinity of and below the corresponding image. Such guidance may be
displayed by means of an icon, a character, or text. When the
guidance is displayed by means of an icon, a mark indicating a
red-eye prevention mode or backlight correction provided in an
electronic still camera, for example, may be used as the icon. This
ensures that the printer 1 detects an abnormality of an image by
means of such guidance displayed as described above, even when the
abnormality of the image is difficult to find because of the
display manner of the image.
[0037] Furthermore, a correction menu is displayed in the displayed
list under the control of the controller 13. When the correction
menu is selected, the controller 13 accepts the selection of the
image to be corrected and controls the image processor 14 to
correct the abnormality of the image. Accordingly, when the image
including the abnormality which is neither intended nor desired by
the user is detected, the user corrects the abnormality by means of
an operation through the touch panel 2 and obtains a desired print.
Thus, the printer 1 appropriately corrects the abnormality of the
image.
[0038] Specifically, after displaying the list of the images, the
controller 13 proceeds from step SP7 to step SP8 to receive an
instruction regarding a correcting process issued by the user and
to correct the abnormality. Furthermore, the controller 13 allows
the user to select images to be printed. Then, in step SP9, the
controller 13 controls the display unit 3 to display a price for
printing the images to be printed and receives payment made by the
user. In step SP10, the images selected by the user are printed,
and the controller 13 proceeds to step SP11 to terminate the
processing procedure.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of
the correcting process performed in step SP8 of FIG. 3 in detail.
When the user selects an image, the controller 13 proceeds from
step SP21 to step SP22 where guidance indicating necessity of
correction of an abnormality is displayed. In step SP23, it is
determined whether the user selected the correction menu. If it is
determined that the user did not select the correction menu, the
controller 13 proceeds from step SP23 to step SP24 and returns to
the main processing procedure.
[0040] On the other hand, if it is determined that the user
selected the correction menu, the controller 13 proceeds from step
SP23 to step SP25 to control the image processor 14 to correct the
abnormality of the image. In step SP26, the guidance indicating the
abnormality displayed in the vicinity of the corresponding
thumbnail image is removed, and guidance indicating that the image
is corrected is displayed. In step SP27, the controller 13 controls
display of the thumbnail image to be changed to a thumbnail image
of the corrected image, and then proceeds to step SP24 to return to
the main processing procedure.
(2) Operation of First Embodiment
[0041] With the configuration described above, in the printer 1,
when a user inserts a memory card in the insertion slot 4 (refer to
FIGS. 1 and 2), the memory card reader 11 and the image reading
unit 12 successively acquire images recorded in the memory card and
the images are displayed as a list of thumbnail images on the
display unit 3. When the user selects images to be printed from the
displayed list and pays a charge for printing the images, the
images selected by the user are printed by the printing unit 15 and
dispensed from the picture dispensing slot 8. Accordingly, users
who do not have a computer may use the printer 1 to print images
captured by electronic still cameras or cellular phones including
cameras.
[0042] In such a series of processes of the printer 1, when the
images are read from the memory card, the image processor 14
detects abnormalities such as a red-eye portion and a backlight
image, and the abnormalities of the images are displayed together
with the list of the images. This ensures that the user realizes
the abnormalities of the images by means of the guidance displayed
as described above, even when the abnormalities of the images are
difficult to find because of the display manner of the images.
Since the abnormalities of the images are corrected as needed,
prints of the images in which the abnormalities thereof are
appropriately corrected are obtained with desired image qualities.
Specifically, in the correction of the images, if an electronic
still camera or a cellular phone including a camera has such a
function of correcting abnormalities, the function may be utilized
for the correction of the images. Alternatively, a computer may be
used for the correction.
[0043] In the printer 1, since the abnormalities of the images are
successively detected when the images are read from the memory card
and the detected abnormalities are displayed as a list of thumbnail
images on the display unit 3, the user selects images to be printed
with reference to the display of the abnormalities of the images.
For example, when similar images are displayed, the user may select
an image which does not include an abnormality. Accordingly, this
improves usability for the user.
[0044] In the printer 1, when an abnormality is detected and the
user selects the correction menu, a correcting process menu is
displayed. The image processor 14 corrects the abnormality of the
image in response to the user's operation of the menu. The
corrected image is printed in accordance with an instruction by the
user. Accordingly, in this embodiment, when an abnormality is
detected and it is determined that the abnormality should be
corrected, the printer 1 corrects the abnormality and prints a
corrected image. This further improves usability for the user.
(3) Advantages of First Embodiment
[0045] With the configuration described above, since abnormalities
of images are detected and displayed, the abnormalities of the
images are appropriately corrected.
[0046] Since the image correcting means corrects abnormalities of
images in accordance with instructions given by a user, when each
of the abnormalities is detected and it is determined that the
abnormality should be corrected, the printer corrects the
abnormality and prints a corrected image. This further improves
usability for the user.
[0047] Furthermore, determination as to whether an image includes
an abnormality is made for all images which are successively input
and the abnormality is indicated in the vicinity of the
corresponding image in a list of the images. Accordingly, the user
easily selects images to be printed.
(4) Second Embodiment
[0048] The configuration of the first embodiment has the following
drawback. All images input from the memory card are successively
subjected to detection of an abnormality, resulting in an
excessively high processing load. Accordingly, in this embodiment,
only abnormalities of images which are instructed to be corrected
by the user are displayed and are corrected in response to the
user's instruction. Note that the printer of this embodiment has
the same configuration as the printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 except for
processing of abnormalities of images controlled by the controller
13. Accordingly, FIG. 1 is used for explanation of a configuration
of the controller 13 in this embodiment hereinafter.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of
the controller 13. The controller 13 controls the display unit 3 to
display operation guides. When a memory card inserted in the
insertion slot 4 by a user is detected, the controller 13 starts
performing the processing procedure. The controller 13 proceeds
from step SP31 to step SP32 to control the image reading unit 12 to
read all images recorded in the memory card. In step SP33, the read
images are displayed as a list of thumbnail images on the display
unit 3.
[0050] In step SP34, the controller 13 accepts selection of an
image to be printed, and in step SP35, the controller 13 controls
the image processor 14 to check an abnormality of the selected
image. In step SP36, the controller 13 determines whether the image
includes an abnormality on the basis of a check result. When it is
determined that the image does not include an abnormality, the
controller 13 proceeds from step SP36 to SP37 where the thumbnail
image corresponding to the image selected by the user is changed on
the display so as to indicate that the image has been selected. On
the other hand, when it is determined that the image includes an
abnormality, the controller 13 proceeds from step SP36 to step SP38
where guidance for informing the user of the abnormality is
generated. In step SP37, a thumbnail image corresponding to the
image selected by the user is changed on the display so as to
indicate that the image has been selected and the guidance
regarding the abnormality is displayed along with the image.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, a window is
separately shown on a display screen in the display unit 3 and
guidance regarding the abnormality is displayed in the window. In
this case, the selected thumbnail image is displayed in an upper
portion of the window, details of the detected abnormalities (red
eye and backlight) are displayed below the thumbnail image, and a
correction menu is displayed below the details of the detected
abnormalities. The thumbnail image which has already been selected
is displayed by being surrounded by a frame.
[0052] In step SP39, the controller 13 determines whether the user
selected the correction menu. When the determination is
affirmative, the controller 13 proceeds from step SP39 to step SP40
to correct the abnormality of the image, and then, further proceeds
to step SP41. On the other hand, when the determination is
negative, the controller 13 proceeds directly from step SP39 to
step SP41.
[0053] In step SP41, the controller 13 determines whether the user
further selected an image to be printed. When the determination is
affirmative, the controller 13 returns from step SP41 to step SP35.
On the other hand, when the determination is negative in step SP41,
the controller 13 proceeds from step SP41 to step SP42 where a
charging process is performed. In step SP43, the images selected by
the user are printed and the controller 13 proceeds to step SP44
where the processing procedure is terminated.
[0054] According to this embodiment, since only abnormalities of
images which are instructed to be corrected by the user are
displayed, a processing load is reduced and advantages the same as
those in the first embodiment are obtained.
[0055] Since only abnormalities of images which are instructed to
be corrected by the user are displayed and are corrected in
response to the user's instruction, the user selects images to be
printed while checking an abnormality of each of the images.
Accordingly, operation errors are prevented and prints having
desired qualities are reliably obtained.
(5) Other Embodiments
[0056] In the foregoing embodiments, although a case where
abnormalities of images such as a red-eye portion and a backlight
image are detected, the present invention is not limited to this.
Other various abnormalities may be detected and displayed. The
other abnormalities include overexposure or underexposure, that is,
a blank white portion or a shaded black portion, respectively. The
abnormalities are detected on the basis of the distribution of
brightness levels or an average brightness level. The abnormalities
are corrected relative to correction of gradations. The
abnormalities further include a blur. In this case, the
abnormalities are detected on the basis of the distribution of
frequencies or signal levels of edge components. The abnormalities
are corrected by edge enhancement. The abnormalities may include an
abnormality at the time of cropping, distortion of an image, an
abnormality of white balance, and color degradation.
[0057] In the foregoing embodiments, although a case where a memory
card is used as a recording medium is described, the present
invention is not limited to this. Various recording media such as
an optical disc and a magnetic disc may be used.
[0058] In the foregoing embodiments, although a case where image
data is read from a recording medium is described, the present
invention is not limited to this. The image data may be read
through a network or infrared communication. In this case,
abnormalities may be displayed by means of a computer or a cellular
phone by inputting image data from the computer or the cellular
phone through a network or infrared communication.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0059] The present invention relates to a printer and a method for
controlling the printer and may be applied to self-service printing
vending machines installed in various stores.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0060] 1 . . . PRINTER, 2 . . . TOUCH PANEL, 3 . . . DISPLAY UNIT,
4 . . . INSERTION SLOT, 5 . . . COIN SLOT, 6 . . . COIN RETURN
SLOT, 7 . . . CHARGING APPARATUS, 8 . . . PICTURE DISPENSING SLOT,
11 . . . MEMORY CARD READER, 12 . . . IMAGE READING UNIT, 13 . . .
CONTROLLER, 14 . . . IMAGE PROCESSOR, 15 . . . PRINTING UNIT
* * * * *