Printer Display Control for Ejection Direction Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Digital cameras with integrated printers face difficulties in recognizing the ejection direction of the printed medium and displaying the printed image, especially when using instant film, as the printed image is removed from the screen before it can be visually confirmed.

Innovation Solution

The printer displays the printing target image on the screen, overlaps it with an imaging image that moves in the ejection direction of the medium, and changes brightness and saturation to enhance visibility, allowing the user to recognize the ejection direction and printed image even after it is removed, by using animation and frame addition to the image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the printed image is removed from the screen after printing, then the screen can be reused for the next operation, but the user cannot recognize the ejection direction of the medium

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen reuseabilityVSAvoidejection direction recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent displays an arrow indicator showing the ejection direction before the printed image is removed from the screen. This preliminary action ensures that the user can recognize the ejection direction while the screen is still being reused, resolving the contradiction between screen reuseability and information retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the printed image is removed from the screen immediately, then the screen is available for next use, but the user cannot check the printed image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen availabilityVSAvoidprinted image visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent displays the printed image on the screen for a predetermined period after printing before removing it. This preliminary retention allows the user to check the printed image while the screen remains available for subsequent operations, balancing productivity with information visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the image is displayed statically on the screen, then the display is simple, but the user cannot intuitively recognize the ejection direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay simplicityVSAvoidejection direction recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a moving arrow indicator that animates to show the ejection direction. This dynamic element enhances the user's ability to intuitively recognize the ejection direction while maintaining relatively simple display implementation, resolving the contradiction between display simplicity and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the printed image is removed from the screen, then the screen can display new content, but the user cannot confirm the print progress state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay flexibilityVSAvoidprint progress recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent retains the printed image display for a predetermined period after printing completes before removing it from the screen. This preliminary retention allows the user to confirm the print progress state and verify the printed image, while the screen maintains flexibility for subsequent operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3336769B1Printer, digital camera with printer, and information display method of printer
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3336769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3336769B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3336769B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are provided a printer with good operability, a digital camera with a printer, and an information display method of a printer. In a digital camera with a printer, a printing target image is displayed on a monitor. In a case where an image being displayed on the monitor is printed, an imaging image to be printed is displayed so as to be overlapped on the image being displayed. The imaging image is moved along an ejection direction of a medium, and is removed from a screen.