This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2018-168914, filed on Sep. 10, 2018, and 2018-213335, filed on Nov. 13, 2018, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a handheld recording device.
In recent years, with the downsizing of notebook computers and the rapid spread of smart devices represented by smartphones, downsizing and portability have been demanded for printers. There is known a handheld printer that applies ink while being manually operated to scan on a print medium, such as paper, without a recording medium conveyance system (e.g., paper conveyance system). In response to image data from a data output device such as a smart device (e.g., smartphone) or a computer (e.g., personal computer), the handheld printer scans flat and freely (freehand) on a print medium (e.g., notebook or standard paper) to form (or record) an image.
The handheld printer may receive the image data transmitted from the data output device via wireless communication. Alternatively, the handheld printer may receive the image data via wired communication. For example, a universal serial bus (USB) cable is connected to the handheld printer for the purpose of charging a battery for driving the handheld printer, in addition to the purpose of transmission of the image data.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a novel handheld recording device includes a first face, a second face, a third face pair, a recorder, and a connector. The first face has an opening. The second face is disposed opposite the first face. The third face pair is different from the first face and the second face. One of the third face pair is disposed on one side in a given direction of the second face and configured to be held by a user for recording. The recorder is configured to discharge ink from the opening. The connector is configured to be connected to a cable to receive at least one of power and image data. The connector is disposed at a position closer to the second face than the first face, on another one of the third face pair disposed on another side in the given direction of the second face.
A more complete appreciation of the embodiments and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. Also, identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.
In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of the present specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations with reference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and not all of the components or elements described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are indispensable to the present disclosure.
In a later-described comparative example, embodiment, and exemplary variation, for the sake of simplicity like reference numerals are given to identical or corresponding constituent elements such as parts and materials having the same functions, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted unless otherwise required.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.
Initially, a description is given of a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The upper unit 2 has a control board mounted inside. On the upper face 22, the upper unit 2 includes operation buttons 5 and a light emitting diode (LED) 8. A user, for example, performs various operations with the operation buttons 5. The LED 8 displays, e.g., an operation status of the handheld printer 1. A universal serial bus (USB) connector 9 (also referred to as a USB port) is disposed in the upper unit 2, on the back side of the right side face 32 of the handheld printer 1, to be connected to a USB cable 151. Note that
The user uses the operation buttons 5 for, e.g., general printing or a normal print operation. The LED 8 is a light emitting element that displays the operation status of the handheld printer 1. For example, the LED 8 displays that the normal print operation is in progress and that the handheld printer 1 is receiving image data.
The lower unit 3 is equipped with a recording head 104 that discharges ink. A detailed description of the recording head 104 is deferred. The lower unit 3 further includes guide rollers 4 and a guide part 7. The guide rollers 4 assist the movement of the main body of the handheld printer 1 in a lateral direction (i.e., scanning direction). The guide part 7 is disposed on one side face, in this case, on the left side face 31.
With the guide part 7, the user ascertains a print area (i.e., an area in which, e.g., an image is printed) on a print medium (e.g., print medium 20 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The user operates the operation buttons 5 of the handheld printer 1 to determine an initial position on the print medium 20 and start printing. The handheld printer 1 ascertains a print position of the image data, that is, where to print the image data on the print medium 20, based on the initial position thus determined on the print medium 20. The handheld printer 1 has one or more navigation sensors 106 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a navigation sensor 106) such as acceleration sensors or gyro sensors aboard. With the navigation sensor 106, the handheld printer 1 recognizes the posture and position thereof from the initial position. A detailed description of the navigation sensor 106 is deferred. When the user scans freehand with the handheld printer 1 on the print medium 20 as illustrated in
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The controller 101 controls an entire operation of the handheld printer 1. The controller 101 is constructed of, e.g., a system on a chip (SoC) and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The SoC includes a central processing unit (CPU). Note that the controller 101 may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) instead of or in addition to the FPGA. The controller 101 may include the CPU as a single unit, instead of the CPU included in the SoC. The controller 101 reads and executes an operation program stored in the memory 102, thereby controlling the entire operation of the handheld printer 1.
The memory 102 is a non-volatile storage device that stores, e.g., the operation program, firmware for controlling each device, drive waveform data for driving the recording head 104, and a print job (image data) received from the external device 10. The memory 102 is, e.g., a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory.
The recording head drive circuit 103 drives and controls the recording head 104. According to a drive signal based on the drive waveform data, the recording head drive circuit 103 controls the recording head 104 to discharge ink. The recording head 104 is a device that discharges ink from nozzles by the operation of a piezoelectric element according to the drive signal from the recording head drive circuit 103.
The communication I/F 105 performs data communication with the external device 10. The communication I/F 105 corresponds to the USB connector 9 illustrated in
The navigation sensor 106 detects the posture and position of the handheld printer 1. Precisely, the navigation sensor 106 detects the posture and position thereof. The navigation sensor 106 is, e.g., a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor.
The control panel 107 includes, e.g., a button and a display. The user operates the handheld printer 1 with the button. The display displays, e.g., the operation status of the handheld printer 1. The control panel 107 corresponds to the operation buttons 5 and the LED 8 illustrated in
The battery 108 is a rechargeable battery that supplies power to the devices of the handheld printer 1. Note that, when the external device 10 and the communication I/F 105 are connected to each other via the USB cable 151, for example, the battery 108 may be charged with power supplied from the external device 10 via a power supply line included in the USB cable 151.
The power supply circuit 109 converts the power supplied from the battery 108 into power (voltage) for the devices of the handheld printer 1 to supply the power (voltage) to the devices.
Note that the hardware configuration of the handheld printer 1 illustrated in
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The first acquisition unit 201 is a functional unit that acquires a print job (image data) from the external device 10 via the communication unit 213. The first acquisition unit 201 may temporarily stores, in the storage unit 217, the print job acquired from the external device 10 via the communication unit 213 and retrieve the print job from the storage unit 217 for printing.
The print control unit 202 is a functional unit that controls the operation of the recording head drive circuit 103 to cause the recording head 104 to print. In addition, the print control unit 202 transmits a timing signal to the recording head drive circuit 103 to cause the recording head 104 to discharge ink from target nozzles of the recording head 104 onto the print position of the image data to be printed on the print medium 20, when the print position and the positions of the target nozzles of the recording head 104 satisfy given conditions.
The second acquisition unit 203 is a functional unit that acquires the information of the posture and position of the handheld printer 1 (precisely, the navigation sensor 106 itself) detected by the navigation sensor 106. Hereinafter, the information of the posture and position may be simply referred to as posture and position information.
The posture and position calculation unit 204 is a functional unit that calculates the position of each nozzle of the recording head 104 from the posture and position information of the navigation sensor 106 acquired by the second acquisition unit 203. Based on the relative position of the navigation sensor 106 and each nozzle, the posture and position calculation unit 204 calculates the posture and position of each nozzle.
The third acquisition unit 205 is a functional unit that acquires a peripheral image, in the image data, corresponding to the position of each nozzle calculated by the posture and position calculation unit 204.
The communication unit 213 is a functional unit that exchanges data with the external device 10. Specifically, the communication unit 213 receives, e.g., a print job (image data) from the external device 10. On the other hand, the communication unit 213 transmits, to the external device 10, information on the operation status of the general printing, information on the current operation mode, information on the remaining amount of ink in the recording head 104, and information indicating a malfunction of the handheld printer 1. The communication unit 213 is implemented by, e.g., the communication I/F 105 and an operation program executed by the controller 101 illustrated in
The operation unit 214 is a functional unit that receives an instruction from, e.g., a user. The operation unit 214 is implemented by the control panel 107 (e.g., operation buttons 5) illustrated in
The display control unit 215 is a functional unit that controls the display operation of the display unit 216.
The display unit 216 is a functional unit that displays, e.g., the operation status of the handheld printer 1 under the control of the display control unit 215. As the operation status of the handheld printer 1, the display unit 216 displays that the normal print operation is in progress and that the handheld printer 1 is receiving image data, for example. The display unit 216 is implemented by the control panel 107 (e.g., LED 8) illustrated in
The storage unit 217 is a functional unit that stores, e.g., the operation program, the firmware for controlling each device, the drive waveform data for driving the recording head 104, and a print job (image data) received from the external device 10. The storage unit 217 is implemented by the memory 102 illustrated in
The first acquisition unit 201, the print control unit 202, the second acquisition unit 203, the posture and position calculation unit 204, the third acquisition unit 205, and the display control unit 215 described above are implemented by operation programs executed by the controller 101 illustrated in
Note that
Referring now to
In step S101, a user, for example, presses a power button of the handheld printer 1. Note that the power button may be one of the operation buttons 5 illustrated in
In step S102, the devices of the handheld printer 1 are supplied with power from the battery 108 via the power supply circuit 109. Then, the process proceeds to S103.
In step S103, devices such as the controller 101 and the navigation sensor 106 are initialized and activated. Then, the process proceeds to S104.
In step S104, when the initialization of the devices such as the controller 101 and the navigation sensor 106 is complete (YES in step S104), the process proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, when the initialization is not complete (NO in step S104), the handheld printer 1 waits for the initialization to be complete.
In step S105, the display unit 216 turns on the LED 8, for example, to display that the initialization is complete and the handheld printer 1 is ready for printing. Then, the process proceeds to S108.
In step S106, the user operates the external device 10 to select image data to be printed (i.e., print image) in a tagged image file format (TIFF) or a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) format, for example.
In step S107, the user executes a print job. Specifically, the user operates the external device 10 so that the handheld printer 1 executes printing of the selected image data (i.e., print image) as a print job. The print job is transmitted from the external device 10 to the handheld printer 1. Then, the process proceeds to S108.
In step S108, in response to the print job (print image, image data) received by the communication unit 213 from the external device 10, the display unit 216 blinks the LED 8, for example, to display that the handheld printer 1 is receiving the print job. The first acquisition unit 201 acquires the print job received by the communication unit 213. Then, the process proceeds to S111.
In step S109, the user holds the handheld printer 1 and determines an initial position to print the print image on the print medium 20.
In step S110, the user instructs, with the operation unit 214, the handheld printer 1 to start printing. For example, the user presses a print start button to instruct the handheld printer 1 to start printing. Then, the process proceeds to steps S111 and S113.
In step S111, the second acquisition unit 203 acquires the posture and position information of the handheld printer 1 (precisely, the navigation sensor 106 itself) detected by the navigation sensor 106. Then, the process proceeds to S112.
In step S112, the second acquisition unit 203 stores, in the storage unit 217, the posture and position information thus acquired as the initial position. Then, the process proceeds to S114.
In step S113, the user starts freehand scanning.
In step S114, the controller 101 starts measuring the time to obtain a lead time for acquiring the posture and position information detected by the navigation sensor 106. Then, the process proceeds to S115.
In step S115, when the lead time has elapsed, in other words, when the time measured by the controller 101 comes to the time to acquire the posture and position information of the navigation sensor 106 (YES in step S115), the process proceeds to step S116. On the other hand, when the lead time has not elapsed (NO in step S115), the second acquisition unit 203 waits for the lead time to elapse.
In step S116, the second acquisition unit 203 acquires the posture and position information of the handheld printer 1 (precisely, the navigation sensor 106 itself) detected by the navigation sensor 106.
In step S117, the second acquisition unit 203 stores the posture and position information as current posture and position information in the storage unit 217. Note that, when the information detected by the navigation sensor 106 is a moving amount, the second acquisition unit 203 adds the moving amount thus detected to previous posture and position, thereby obtaining the current posture and position information. Then, the process proceeds to S118.
In step S118, the posture and position calculation unit 204 calculates, as a current nozzle position, the position of each nozzle of the recording head 104, from the current posture and position information of the navigation sensor 106 acquired by the second acquisition unit 203.
In step S119, the third acquisition unit 205 acquires a peripheral image of each nozzle. Specifically, the third acquisition unit 205 acquires a peripheral image, in the image data of the print job, corresponding to the current nozzle position calculated by the posture and position calculation unit 204. Then, the process proceeds to S120.
In step S120, the print control unit 202 compares a print position of the image data to be printed on the print medium 20 and the current nozzle position, that is, the position of each nozzle of the recording head 104, calculated by the posture and position calculation unit 204.
In step S121, when the print position and the current nozzle position satisfy given conditions (i.e., discharge conditions) (YES in step S121), the process proceeds to step S122. On the other hand, when the print position and the current nozzle position does not satisfy the given conditions (i.e., discharge conditions) (NO in step S121), the process returns to step S115. Note that the given conditions (i.e., discharge conditions) are herein whether the print position and the current nozzle position coincide, or whether the print position and the current nozzle position are close to each other enough to be regarded as coincident positions.
In step S122, the print control unit 202 transmits a timing signal to the recording head drive circuit 103 to cause the recording head 104 to discharge ink from target nozzles of the recording head 104 onto the print position. Then, the process proceeds to S123.
In step S123, when all the image data (i.e., print data) of the print job is printed (or discharged) (YES in step S123), the process proceeds to step S124. On the other hand, when not all the image data (i.e., print data) of the print job is printed (or discharged) (NO in step S123), the process returns to step S115. By repeating steps S115 to S123 described above, the handheld printer 1 forms the print image on the print medium 20.
In step S124, the display unit 216 turns on the LED 8, for example, to display that the printing is complete. Note that, when the user determines that the printing is sufficient even when not all the image data is printed, the user may instruct, with the operation unit 214, the handheld printer 1 to stop printing. In this case, the handheld printer 1 determines that the printing is complete.
The handheld printer 1 executes the regular printing along the steps S101 to S124 described above.
Referring now to
Specifically,
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
On the other hand, in the example of
On the other hand, as illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
In light of the consideration as described above with reference to
As illustrated in
The area A corresponds to the first connection area 301 illustrated in
The area C corresponds to a lower, back side area on the left side face described above with reference to
The areas B and D correspond to a front side area on the left side face described above with reference to
The area I corresponds to the upper face of the comparative handheld printer 500 described above with reference to
When the USB connector 9 is disposed in the area E, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9 may interfere with the user's hand 50 holding the handheld printer 1 as analogized from
When the USB connector 9 is disposed in the area F, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9 does not interfere with the user's hand 50 holding the handheld printer 1. In addition, when the user moves the handheld printer 1 from back to front instead of a lateral scanning, or from the back side face 41 to the front side face 51 in the lateral scanning, an image is yet to be printed on the print medium 20 near the area F. That is, the USB cable 151 does not contact a printed image. Accordingly, the operability is maintained without difficulties in the scanning operation at the time of printing. The USB cable 151 apart from the printed image rarely stretches or rubs ink of the printed image, thereby preventing the image degradation. Accordingly, the area F is suitable as a location of the USB connector 9.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The area G is an area in which the user's hand 50 is not placed. In addition, when the USB connector 9 is disposed in the area G, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9 rarely contacts a printed image. Accordingly, the operability is maintained without difficulties in the scanning operation at the time of printing. The USB cable 151 apart from the printed image rarely stretches or rubs ink of the printed image, thereby preventing the image degradation. Accordingly, the area G is suitable as a location of the USB connector 9.
When the USB connector 9 is disposed in the area H, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9 does not contact a printed image immediately after the image is printed. However, since the USB connector 9 is located close to the print medium 20, the USB cable 151 may contact incompletely dried ink of the image. Such a contact may stretch or rub the ink, leading to the image degradation. Accordingly, the area H is unsuitable as a location of the USB connector 9.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The area J corresponds to the second connection area 302 illustrated in
When the USB connector 9 is disposed in the area L, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9 may contact a printed image immediately after the image is printed during a leftward movement of the handheld printer 1 for scanning. In other words, the USB cable 151 may contact incompletely dried ink of the image. Such a contact may stretch or rub the ink, leading to the image degradation. Accordingly, the area L is unsuitable as a location of the USB connector 9.
The areas K and M correspond to a front side area on the right side face described above with reference to
As described above, in the handheld printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the USB connector 9 is disposed in at least one of the areas A, F, G, and J, among the areas A to M illustrated in
Note that the lines defining the areas A to M in
Referring now to
Similar to
In this case, as described above, the USB cable 151 contacts incompletely dried ink of a printed image. Such a contact may stretch or rub the ink, leading to the image degradation. In addition, the USB cable 151 rubbing on the print medium 20 generates resistance that hampers the print scanning, thus causing an adverse effect. Such an adverse effect may also occur when the USB connector is disposed in an area, corresponding to the area L illustrated in
In this case, as described above, the USB cable 151 interferes with the user's hand 50. Such an interference disturbs the user to hold the comparative handheld printer 500, causing difficulties in print scanning. In addition, the USB cable 151 is connected to the USB connector at a right angle to the scanning direction. That is, the USB cable 151 may be excessively bent and broken, as an adverse effect. Such an undesirable bending state of the USB cable 151 is to be avoided because the comparative handheld printer 500 scans for a longer distance (e.g., 60 cm) than an operational distance of a mouse.
In this case, as described above, the USB connector is located close to the print medium 20. The USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector contacts incompletely dried ink of a printed image. Such a contact may stretch or rub the ink, leading to the image degradation. In addition, the USB cable 151 is connected to the USB connector at a right angle to the scanning direction. That is, the USB cable 151 may be excessively bent and broken, as an adverse effect. Such an undesirable bending state of the USB cable 151 is to be avoided because the comparative handheld printer 500 scans for a longer distance than the operational distance of a mouse, as described above with reference to
In this case, as described above, the USB cable 151 interferes with the user's hand 50. Such an interference disturbs the user to hold the comparative handheld printer 500, causing difficulties in print scanning. In addition, the USB cable 151 is connected to the USB connector at a right angle to the scanning direction. That is, the USB cable 151 may be excessively bent and broken. Further, the USB cable 151 overlaps the user's eye line to the comparative handheld printer 500, disturbing, as an adverse effect, the user to see operation buttons (corresponding to the operation buttons 5 illustrated in
As described above, depending on the location of the USB connector 9 in the handheld printer 1, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9 may interfere with the user's hand 50 during printing and disturb the user to move the handheld printer 1 for print scanning, or may deteriorate the printed image. To address such a situation, in the handheld printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the USB connector 9 is located in at least one of the area A (i.e., the upper, back side area on the left side face 31), the area F (i.e., the lower area on the front side face 51), the area G (i.e., the upper area on the back side face 41), and the area J (i.e., the upper, back side area on the right side face 32) described above with reference to
Referring now to
In the first embodiment, the location of the USB connector 9 is described in consideration of which part or area of the handheld printer 1 is held by the user. Since it depends on the user how to hold the handheld printer 1, it is unclear whether the user places a finger with respect to some of the parts or areas of the handheld printer 1. According to the first embodiment, such parts or areas are described as unsuitable locations of the USB connector 9. In the second embodiment, the handheld printer 1a is provided with a recessed guide 2a for a user to hold the handheld printer 1a. The recessed guide 2a facilitates specification of possible (or suitable) locations and unsuitable locations of the USB connector 9.
Initially with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Referring now to
Among areas in the handheld printer 1a illustrated in
The area B is an upper, front side area on the left side face 31 of the handheld printer 1a. The area B corresponds to an area in which the recessed guide 2a is provided in
On the other hand, the area D is a lower, front side area on the left side face 31 of the handheld printer 1a. Since the user places a finger (e.g., right thumb) in the recessed guide 2a provided in the area B when holding the handheld printer 1a, the user places no fingers in the area D. When the USB connector 9 is disposed in the area D, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9 does not interfere with the user's hand 50 holding the handheld printer 1a. In addition, when the user moves the handheld printer 1a from back to front instead of a lateral scanning, or from the back side face 41 to the front side face 51 in the lateral scanning, an image is yet to be printed on the print medium 20 near the area D. That is, the USB cable 151 does not contact a printed image. Accordingly, the operability is maintained without difficulties in the scanning operation at the time of printing. The USB cable 151 apart from the printed image rarely stretches or rubs ink of the printed image, thereby preventing the image degradation. Accordingly, the area D is suitable as a location of the USB connector 9.
Note that, in the example illustrated in
The areas K and M correspond to the front side area on the right side face described above with reference to
As described above, in the handheld printer 1a according to the present embodiment, the USB connector 9 is locatable in at least one of the areas A, D, F, G, and J, among the areas A to M illustrated in
Referring now to
In the handheld printers 1 and 1a of the first and second embodiments, respectively, each of the left side face 31 and the right side face 32 is divided into four areas, to describe possible (or suitable) locations and unsuitable locations of the USB connector 9. In the handheld printer 1b of the third embodiment, each of the left side face 31 and the right side face 32 is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, to describe possible (or suitable) locations and unsuitable locations of a USB connector 9b.
Initially with reference to
As illustrated in
The main body 30 is further provided with a guide part 7b on one side face, in this case, on the left side face 31. With the guide part 7b, the user ascertains a print area (i.e., an area in which, e.g., an image is printed) on the print medium 20 upon printing. The guide part 7b and the guide part 7 described above with reference to
Substantially at the center portion, in a longitudinal (i.e., front-to-back) direction of the handheld printer 1b, in an area close to the upper face 22 on the left side face 31 of the main body 30, the USB connector 9b (also referred to as a USB port) is disposed to be connected to the USB cable 151. Note that
As illustrated in
Note that, similar to the handheld printer 1 described above with reference to
Referring now to
To address such a situation, the USB connector 9b is disposed on the left side face 31 of the handheld printer 1b. Specifically, as illustrated in
Accordingly, an area not covered by the user's hand 50 is secured in the area close to the upper face 22 on the left side face 31 of the main body 30. The USB connector 9b is disposed in the area thus secured. In the example illustrated in
Note that, in the example illustrated in
Another guide may be provided on the right side face 32 of the handheld printer 1b, as a second guide for placement of fingers other than the thumb of the user's hand 50 (e.g., middle finger, ring finger, little finger). In this case, the USB connector 9b may be disposed in an area other than the second guide (i.e., area in which the second guide is not provided) in the area close to the upper face 22 on the right side face 32. Since the user's hand 50 is not placed in the area. The USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9b disposed in the area does not interfere with the user's hand 50. Accordingly, the operability is maintained without difficulties in the scanning operation at the time of printing.
In light of the consideration as described above with reference to
As illustrated in
The area AB, as an area close to the upper face 22 on the left side face 31, includes the unobstructed area as described above with reference to
The area CD is substantially the same as the areas C and D described above in the first and second embodiments.
When the USB connector 9b is disposed in the area E, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9b may interfere with the user's hand 50 holding the handheld printer 1b as analogized from
The areas F and I are as described above in the first and second embodiments. Referring now to
As illustrated in
The area G is an area in which the user's hand 50 is not placed. In addition, the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9b disposed in the area G rarely contacts a printed image. Accordingly, the operability is maintained without difficulties in the scanning operation at the time of printing. The USB cable 151 apart from the printed image rarely stretches or rubs ink of the printed image, thereby preventing the image degradation. Accordingly, the area G is suitable as a location of the USB connector 9b.
The area H is as described above in the first and second embodiments.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
The area JK, as an area close to the upper face 22 on the right side face 32, includes the unobstructed area as described above with reference to
The area LM is substantially the same as the areas L and M described above in the first and second embodiments.
As described above, in the handheld printer 1b according to the present embodiment, the USB connector 9b is located in the unobstructed area in the area close to the upper face 22 on at least one of the left side face 31, the right side face 32, the back side face 41, and the front side face 51. For example, when the recessed guide 2b is provided in the front side area on the left side face 31 of the main body 30 of the handheld printer 1b, an area not covered by the user's hand 50 is secured in the area AB. The USB connector 9b is providable in the area thus secured. Since the user's hand 50 is not placed in the area G (i.e., upper area on the back side face 41), the USB connector 9b is providable in the area G. When the second guide is provided on the right side face 32 of the main body 30 for placement of fingers other than the thumb of the user's hand 50 (e.g., middle finger, ring finger, little finger), for example, the USB connector 9b is providable in the area other than the second guide in the area JK. Thus, when the handheld printer 1b is held and moved for scanning as a print operation with the USB cable 151 connected to the USB connector 9b located in a suitable area, the USB cable 151 does not disturb the print operation or contact a printed image. That is, the USB cable 151 apart from the printed image prevents deterioration of the printed image. Note that the location of the USB connector 9b is not limited to one location. Alternatively, a plurality of USB connectors 9b may be located in the above-described possible (or suitable) locations.
Note that in the embodiments described above, when at least one of the functional units of the handheld printers 1, 1a, and 1b is implemented by execution of a program, the program is incorporated in advance in a read only memory (ROM) or the like, thus being provided. The program executed in the handheld printers 1, 1a, and 1b according to the embodiments described above may be recorded on or stored in a computer-readable recording or storage medium such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a flexible disk (FD), a compact disc recordable (CD-R), or a digital versatile disk (DVD), in a file in installable or executable format, thus being providable. Alternatively, the program executed in the handheld printers 1, 1a, and 1b according to the embodiments described above may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network, thus being providable. Alternatively, the program executed in the handheld printers 1, 1a, and 1b according to the embodiments described above may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. The program executed in the handheld printers 1, 1a, and 1b according to the embodiments described above has a module configuration including at least one of the functional units described above. As an actual hardware configuration, the CPU of the controller 101 reads the program from the storage device (e.g., memory 102) described above and executes the program, thereby loading and generating the functional units described above on a main memory.
According to the embodiments described above, a handheld printer prevents degradation of a printed image while a cable connected to the handheld printer does not disturb the operation of the handheld printer.
Although the present disclosure makes reference to specific embodiments, it is to be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the details of the embodiments described above. Thus, various modifications and enhancements are possible in light of the above teachings, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. For example, elements and/or features of different embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present disclosure. The number of constituent elements and their locations, shapes, and so forth are not limited to any of the structure for performing the methodology illustrated in the drawings.
Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from that described above.
Any of the above-described devices or units can be implemented as a hardware apparatus, such as a special-purpose circuit or device, or as a hardware/software combination, such as a processor executing a software program.
Further, each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented by one or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitry includes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. A processing circuit also includes devices such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA) and conventional circuit components arranged to perform the recited functions.
Further, as described above, any one of the above-described and other methods of the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of a computer program stored on any kind of storage medium. Examples of storage media include, but are not limited to, floppy disks, hard disks, optical discs, magneto-optical discs, magnetic tapes, nonvolatile memory cards, read only memories (ROMs), etc.
Alternatively, any one of the above-described and other methods of the present disclosure may be implemented by the ASIC, prepared by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits or by a combination thereof with one or more conventional general-purpose microprocessors and/or signal processors programmed accordingly.
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JP2018-168914 | Sep 2018 | JP | national |
JP2018-213335 | Nov 2018 | JP | national |
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