Instant Film Printer Image Rotation for Marginal Area Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing instant film printers struggle to align the marginal area with the subject correctly, leading to an unbalanced and undesirable print when the subject or camera is inclined, resulting in an unappealing final image.

Innovation Solution

A printer and camera system that rotates the image to position the marginal area in a desired direction relative to the subject, utilizing a display control unit to arrange and display the rotated image, allowing users to check and adjust the alignment before printing, and includes features like subject detection and image trimming to optimize the print layout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the image is printed directly without rotation on instant film, then the printing process is simple and fast, but the marginal area may not be positioned in the desired direction with respect to the subject when the subject or camera is inclined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting process simplicityVSAvoidmarginal area alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the subject's orientation and calculates the required rotation angle before printing. The image is pre-rotated in the buffer memory to the correct orientation, ensuring that the marginal area will be properly positioned relative to the subject after printing, without requiring manual adjustment during the printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical rotation of the film or camera with an automated digital image rotation process. The control unit automatically rotates the image data in the buffer memory based on detected subject orientation, eliminating the need for physical adjustment mechanisms and achieving precise alignment through software-based image transformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If the marginal area position is fixed on the instant film, then the film structure is simple, but the balance between the marginal area and subject is lost when the subject orientation varies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilm structure complexityVSAvoidvisual balance precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the subject's orientation and calculates the required rotation angle before printing. The image is pre-rotated in the buffer memory to the correct orientation, ensuring that the marginal area will be properly positioned relative to the subject after printing, without requiring manual adjustment during the printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the image data in the buffer memory based on the detected subject orientation. By rotating the image by calculated angles (0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°), the system adapts the fixed marginal area position on the film to match various subject orientations, maintaining visual balance without modifying the film structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If image rotation is implemented to align the marginal area with the subject, then the marginal area positioning accuracy is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarginal area alignment precisionVSAvoidimage processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs only the necessary rotation operation (0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°) based on subject orientation detection, rather than performing full image processing. This partial action approach achieves the required alignment with minimal processing, avoiding unnecessary computational overhead while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical rotation of the film or camera with an automated digital image rotation process. The control unit automatically rotates the image data in the buffer memory based on detected subject orientation, eliminating the need for physical adjustment mechanisms and achieving precise alignment through software-based image transformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3336767B1Printer, camera with printer, and printing method

Publication Date: 2021.05.12 FUJIFILM CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

In a printer according to an aspect, since a received image is rotated such that the marginal area is positioned in a specific direction with respect to the subject in a case where the image is printed on the instant film, it is possible to acquire the print on which the marginal area is positioned in the desired direction with respect to the subject in a case where the image is printed by using the instant film having the image forming area and the marginal area. A user can fill out a message in such a marginal area, and can acquire a print having a good appearance.