Printer parameter compensation by a host camera
View Patent ↗A system wherein already-existing computing and memory resources in an electronic camera are used to process an image for printing. Rather than duplicating, in printers, computing and memory resources that are already in digital cameras, significant computing and memory resources need exist only in the camera. A digital camera can support many different printers, each with its own set of parameters such as for example print size, pixel size, colorimetry, sensitometry, and artifacts compensation. Printer parameters are uploaded from the printer to the camera to provide a basis for image processing specific to the associated printer; whereby compensation may be done for variations in the printer characteristics which may occur as a result of printer manufacturing variations, and further so that compensation may be done for different media types which may be installed in the printer.
1. A digital imaging system comprising:
a digital camera for capturing images and a digital printer for producing prints of the captured images,
the digital camera including:
an image sensor for capturing images and producing raw image data;
an image processor for executing a first plurality of image processing algorithms in order to process the raw image data to produce first processed image data, the first plurality of image processing algorithms including color filter array interpolation and compression;
a nonvolatile memory for storing the first processed image data;
a printer interface for directly connecting the digital camera to the digital printer to enable the digital camera to receive printer parameters identifying a print size from the digital printer and to provide second processed image data to the digital printer; and
a parameter memory for storing the printer parameters identifying the print size received from the digital printer; and
the digital printer including:
a media transport mechanism and a marking apparatus for producing a print using process colors;
a memory for storing the printer parameters identifying the print size;
a processor for controlling the media transport mechanism and the marking apparatus, the processor being coupled to the memory to read the stored printer parameters; and
a camera interface coupled to the processor, for providing the printer parameters identifying the print size to the digital camera and for receiving the second processed image data from the digital camera; and
wherein the image processor in the digital camera executes a second plurality of image processing algorithms in order to produce the second processed image data, the second plurality of stored image processing algorithms to perform decompression and print re-sizing responsive to the printer parameters identifying the print size stored in the parameter memory.
2. A digital imaging system as recited in claim 1 wherein:
the digital camera is a portable, hand-held digital image capture device which captures original digital images of objects at varying distances and in variable ambient light conditions.
3. The digital imaging system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the camera interface and the printer interface are provided using a cable connection.
4. The digital imaging system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the camera interface and the printer interface are provided using infrared transmission.
5. The digital imaging system as recited in claim 1 wherein the printing parameters further allow for compensation for printing temperature variations.
6. The digital imaging system as recited in claim 1 wherein the printing parameters further allow for compensation for ink viscosity variations.
7. The digital imaging system as recited in claim 1 wherein the second printing parameters allow for compensation for manufacturing variations of a particular media type.
8. The digital imaging system as recited in claim 1 wherein the printing parameters further compensate for printing process variations determined when the digital printer is manufactured.