Abstract:
A stand-alone printer includes a storage module, a user interface module, a touch screen, a processing module, and a printing module. The storage module stores a digital image. The user interface module creates an adjusting scroll. The touch screen detects a slide operation and displays the digital image and the adjusting scroll. The processing module adjusts the digital image in response to the slide operation on the touch screen. The processing module outputs an adjusted digital image to the touch screen. The printing module prints the adjusted digital image.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a stand-alone printer and a method for processing a digital image in the stand-alone printer. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Typically, a printer is driven by a computer to print selected digital images. In this scenario, digital images are usually edited or manipulated by software processed by the computer prior to printing. 
         [0005]    Subsequently, stand-alone printers were developed which enabled the digital images to be input directly to the printer using flash memory cards, and editing, such as cropping, or framing of the digital images can be done directly in the printer bypassing the need for a computer. These kinds of printers usually have an input panel and a simple display for previewing the digital images before printing. However, the editing must be done by navigating multiple menus at different levels. It is easy for a user to become disoriented and lose track of all of the available options. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block view of a stand-alone printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a simplified depiction of an adjusting interface of a digital image in the stand-alone printer in an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for processing a digital image in a stand-alone printer in an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0012]    In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a stand-alone printer in an exemplary embodiment may include a card reader  10 , a wireless communication module  20 , a storage device  30 , a processing module  50 , a user interface module  60 , a touch screen  70 , and a printing module  80 . The printing module  80  includes a combination of electronic and mechanical systems, which can print the image. In one exemplary embodiment, the stand-alone printer is a laser printer. The printing module  80  may include a laser scanning device, a sensing drum, toner cartridges, imaging devices, static rollers, adhesive devices, paper transfer unit, cleaning blade, a paper feeder and a tray. 
         [0014]    The card reader  10  is electronically connected to the storage device  30 . The card reader  10  can directly read a storage card, such as Secure Digital (SD) card, Multi-Media (MMC) card, Compact Flash (CF) etc. 
         [0015]    The wireless communication module  20  can also be electronically connected to the storage device. Therefore, the storage device  30  may also receive digital images through the wireless communication module  20 , i.e., in addition or in place of the card reader  10 . 
         [0016]    The touch screen  70  is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The touch screen  70  can recognize a point operation or a slide operation performed with a finger or a stylus. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the user interface module  60  in an exemplary embodiment can be a software program stored in the storage device. When the user interface is processed by the processing module  50 , the user interface can create an adjusting scroll on the touch screen. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the adjusting scroll and a digital image from the storage device are displayed on the touch screen  70 . 
         [0018]    The processing module  50  can adjust one of more characteristics of the digital image, such as brightness, size, contrast, cropping position, arrangement direction of the digital image in response to the slide operation on the touch screen. In detail, the processing module  50  can calculate a percentage of a movement distance of the slide operation along a direction substantially parallel to the adjusting scroll with respect to a length of the adjusting scroll. Then the processing module  50  can adjust the desired characteristic of the displayed digital image according to the percentage. An adjusted digital image can be output to and displayed on the touch screen  70 . 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the processing module can adjust the desired characteristic of the digital image when the detected slide operation is substantially parallel to the adjusting scroll. 
         [0020]    The printing module can print the adjusted digital image. The storage device may record the adjusted distal image when the adjusted digital image is printed. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , steps S 10  to S 20  indicate a flowchart for processing a digital image in a stand-alone printer in an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0022]    In step S 10 , a digital image is received from the card reader  10  or through the wireless communication module  20 . The digital image is then stored in the storage device. 
         [0023]    In step S 12 , the digital image and an adjusting scroll are displayed on the touch screen. 
         [0024]    In step S 14 , a slide operation is detected by the touch screen  70 . 
         [0025]    In step S 16 , the digital image is edited by the processing module  50 . For example, a desired characteristic, such as brightness, of the digital image is adjusted by the processing module  50  in response to the slide operation on the touch screen  70 . In detail, a percentage of a movement distance of the slide operation along a direction substantially parallel to the adjusting scroll with respect to a length of the adjusting scroll is calculated. The processing module  50  adjusts the desired characteristic according to the percentage. 
         [0026]    In step S 18 , an adjusted digital image is output to the touch screen  70 . 
         [0027]    In step S 20 , the adjusted digital image is displayed on the touch screen. 
         [0028]    The adjusted digital image may be directly printed by the printing module  80 . The storage device can further record the adjusted digital image during or after the adjusted digital image is printed. 
         [0029]    Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps of methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps. 
         [0030]    It is also to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.