JP2895560B2 - Control method of image reading device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control method of an image reading device, for example, a control method of an image reading device using an input / output interface.

[Prior Art] SCSI standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1986
(Small Computer System Interface) is a general-purpose computer system that can be used not only for various peripheral devices such as magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, optical disks, printers, and scanners but also for communication between systems. It is an input / output interface. With the progress of standardization, the momentum to adopt SCSI in various systems such as personal computers, minicomputers, and OA systems is increasing.

Up to eight host computers and peripheral devices can be connected to the SCSI bus. On the SCSI bus, there are magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, printers, optical disks, image readers, CDs (compact disks), and ROMs.
Various peripheral devices such as (read only memory) can be connected by the same control means. Usually, the host computer is called an initiator, and the peripheral device is called a target. Communication between the initiator and the target is called an SC.
This is the basis of interface operation in SI. Here, the initiator acquires the right to use the SCSI bus and
A SCSI device that requests the device (target) to do something. In a normal interface operation, the host computer becomes the initiator. The target is the SC that performs the action requested by the initiator.
It is an SI device, and usually peripheral devices operate as targets.

In many cases, an image reading apparatus also has a function of only a target for outputting image data to an initiator, which is a host computer, to the initiator.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described conventional example, even though a printer, a magnetic disk, a printer, and the like are connected on the SCSI bus, image reading is performed without control of the initiator as a host computer. Device to printer,
Alternatively, it is not possible to output image data to a peripheral device such as a magnetic disk, so that it is not functional or efficient.

In addition, when both the active operation from the own device and the passive operation according to the instruction from the outside are provided, it is not possible to appropriately perform processing simply by providing both functions, and various problems may occur. become.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to be able to execute both an active operation from an operation unit of an image reading device and a passive operation from an external device, It is another object of the present invention to provide a control method for an image reading apparatus capable of appropriately performing the switching and the respective operations.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a reading unit for reading an image and an input / output interface which is a SCSI bus connected to a host computer for communication. A method for controlling an image reading apparatus, comprising: an operation unit for inputting an instruction from an operator, wherein the image reading apparatus is passively controlled based on an instruction from a host computer via the input / output interface during standby. Performing a reading process by the reading unit and operating as a target for outputting image data from the reading unit to the host computer via the input / output interface; detecting an image reading instruction from the operation unit; The image reading device is an initiator that actively performs a reading process by the reading unit in response to the detection. Switch to an operating state, acquire the right to use the input / output interface, and after acquiring the right to use, output the image data of the image read by the reading unit via the input / output interface, and end the processing as the initiator. Thereafter, the use right of the input / output interface is released and the state is switched again to the state of operating as a target.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image reading apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a "scanner") of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of use of the scanner of the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 17 denotes a platen glass for mounting a document, 14 denotes an image forming lens for forming an image of reflected light from the document, and 12 denotes an image sensor (see FIG. CCD). 103 is CCD1
2 shows an amplifier (AMP) for amplifying the output signal, and 104 shows an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter for quantizing the amplified analog image signal. 105 indicates a selector for selecting a digital output from the A / D converter 104, 106 indicates an image processing circuit for switching the digital output resolution from the A / D converter 104, and processing whether to perform multi-value output or binary output, Reference numeral 107 denotes a SCSI interface circuit for transmitting signals to and from an external device, and reference numeral 108 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) such as a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the entire scanner. Reference numeral 108a denotes a ROM storing a control program, a program according to a flowchart shown in FIG. 5 described later, and the like, and reference numeral 108b denotes a work area of various programs. The ROM 108a and the RAM 108b are built in the CPU 108.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a fluorescent lamp for document illumination, and reference numeral 102 denotes a fluorescent lamp control circuit that controls the operation of the fluorescent lamp 101. 109 is a read start button for reading an image, 110 is a KB connector for connecting a keyboard (not shown), 111 is a CRT connector for connecting a CRT display (not shown),
Reference numeral 112 denotes a CRT control circuit for controlling a CRT display (not shown), and reference numeral 113 denotes a key pad connector for connecting a key pad 304 described later.

Further, in FIG. 2, the scanner 301 according to the present embodiment includes a key pad 304 provided with a key for inputting a default value to be described later and a display screen for displaying input key information on a right side surface 301a. Keypad connector 113
Connected to This keypad 304 is the book scanner 301
Has a function of issuing an instruction to operate as an initiator when a keyboard (not shown) or a CRT display (not shown) is connected.

 Next, the system of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of a system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 302 denotes a personal computer as an external device as an initiator, 303 denotes a laser beam printer (LBP) as an external output device, and 304 denotes a CRT display as an external output device. Reference numerals 305 to 307 denote SCSI buses.

According to this system, the scanner 301 and the external devices 302, 3
Output of the image signal to 03 and 304 is performed via the above-mentioned SCSI interface circuit 107.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of the system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3B shows the KB connector 110, CRT of the scanner 301.
A system in which a keyboard 309 and a CRT display 308 are connected to the connection connector 111 via buses 310 and 311 respectively is shown.

According to this system, the user can set parameters (default values) used when reading an image from the keyboard 309 with respect to the scanner 301.

Next, the internal configuration of the scanner 301 of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4A is a side sectional view showing an internal function of the scanner 301 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a top view of a main part showing a position of a document placed on the scanner 301 of this embodiment. 4A and 4B, reference numeral 10 denotes a reference density object, 11 denotes a control unit equipped with the block shown in FIG. 1, 13 denotes a CCD driver, and 1 denotes a CCD driver.
5 is a fluorescent lamp unit for document illumination, 16 is a reflection mirror, 18
Denotes a document placing portion, and 19 denotes a platen cover.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the image reading operation of this embodiment.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, the original on the platen glass 17 is irradiated by the fluorescent lamp 101 in the fluorescent lamp unit 15, and the reflected light of the original is guided onto the CCD 12 by the imaging lens 14. Then, the image of the original image is formed. At this time, the original is placed on the platen glass 17 such that the right end is the front end of the original as shown in FIG. 4B. In FIG. 4A, the right end of the fluorescent lamp unit 15 serving as the scanning optical system has an initial value, and the initial position is confirmed by an optical position sensor (not shown).

In addition, in the state where the document 18 is placed on the platen glass 17, instructions of various processing modes are input to the scanner 301 from the initiator, that is, the personal computer 302.
The instruction in this mode is, for example, only the content such as whether the image density is 300 dpi (dots / inch), 200 dpi, or 150 dpi, or whether the image signal is binary or multi-level. The CPU 108, which has received the instructions of the various processing modes via the SCSI interface 107, issues a control signal for switching modes in advance according to the instruction mode, and explains the processing of the pixel density and the image signal to the image processing circuit 106. I do.

Accordingly, when a document reading start command is input from the personal computer 302 (step S1), the CPU 108
Drives the fluorescent lamp unit 15 (step S2). When the fluorescent lamp unit 15 is scanned by a motor (not shown) and reaches the above-described original leading edge position (step S3), the CPU 1
08 outputs a control signal (output permission signal) of an image signal output patent to the SCSI interface circuit 107 (step S4), whereby document scanning is started and the image signal read by the CCD 12 is output to the external device 302. (Step S5). Since the scanning length of the optical system is uniquely determined by the number of pulses for driving the optical system driving motor (not shown) by the CPU 108, the CPU 108 outputs the required number of pulses corresponding to the document size to the motor. At this point, it is determined that the reading of the original has been completed (step S6), and the fluorescent lamp is turned off via the fluorescent lamp control circuit 102 (step S7). Further, the CPU 108 outputs a control signal (output disable signal) of image signal output disable to the interface circuit 107 (step S8), controls the motor to reverse (step S9), and outputs a document detection end signal. The scsi
Output to the external device 302 via the interface circuit 107 (step S10).

By the above-described motor inversion control of the CPU 108, the fluorescent lamp unit 15 advances in the direction of arrow 1A shown in FIG. 4A. And
When it is detected by an optical position sensor (not shown) that the fluorescent lamp unit 15 has reached the initial position (home position), the unit is stopped. In the return section of this optical system, the external device 30
If the next document reading start command does not come from 2, the fluorescent lamp unit 15 stops at the initial position and the document reading operation ends.

Next, an operation when the image reading start button 109 is pressed will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow between phases in this embodiment.

First, when the image reading start button 109 is pressed, the CPU 10
8 detects that it has been pressed. Then, the CPU 108 switches the scanner 301 from the target to the initiator.

Therefore, the flow of outputting image data to the LBP 303 when the LBP 303 is connected as a peripheral device on the SCSI bus 306 will be described.

Here, the SCSI ID number of LBP303 is 5 and the scanner is
6th SCSI ID number of 301, host computer 302
SCSI ID number 7

The bus free phase is used for all SCSI devices (scanner 301, personal computer 302, LBP303, CRT in Figure 3A).
The display 304) is not using the bus. When the image reading start button 109 of the scanner 301 is pressed, the scanner 301 switches to the initiator, and the phase shifts to the arbitration phase. This arbitration phase is a SISI device (here, Scanana
301) is a phase for acquiring the right to use the bus. S
SKYANA 301, which has obtained the right to use the CSI buses 305 to 307, enters the Selection Phase. The selection phase is a phase for the initiator (here, the scanner 301) to select a SCSI device to be operated as the target (here, the LBP 303). SKYANA 30 in this phase
1 selects LBP303. In this phase, the LBP3 set in the built-in ROM of the scanner 301 with the default value is used.
The SCSI ID number 5 of 03 is output, and the scanner 301 as the initiator selects the LBP 303 on the SCSI bus. Also, L set as the default value in the scanner 301
The SCSI ID number of the BP 303 can be changed by the key pad 304 or the personal computer 302.

The next command phase is a command for setting various parameters to the LBP 303. Various parameters set at this time are default values in the ROM 108a built in the CPU 308. Alternatively, the setting can be made directly by the personal computer 302. It is also possible to connect a keyboard to the KB connector 110 and set parameters from the keyboard. When the parameter setting for the LBP 303 is completed in this way, the process enters the data phase. Here, the image data is transferred from the scanner 301 to the LBP 303.
Next is the status phase.

The status phase is a phase in which information as to whether image data has been transmitted as set in the command phase is transmitted from the LBP 303 to the scanner 301. The next message phase is a phase that accepts messages from LBP303, and a status phase.
The content when NG (no good) is output from the LBP 303 is output. After passing through the message infuse, go to the bus-free phase and end the sequence. At this time, SKYANA 301 returns from the initiator to the target.

Here, the case where the LBP 303 is selected as the target has been described. However, the CRT display 304 and the like can be selected, and the flow of the phase is the same, so the description is omitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the start button of the image reading is pressed in the scanner having the SCSI interface, the external device connected to the host computer, that is, the initiator, is connected by the SCSI interface. And the image data can be directly output to an external device (such as a printer), so that the SCSI bus can be used efficiently without the control of the external device (host computer).

In addition, various parameters required at the time of image reading can be set in advance as default values by keypads, and can also be set by a host computer of an external device connected by a SCSI interface. Furthermore,
A keyboard can be connected to the scanner, so parameters can be set from the keyboard.

In the above-described embodiment, the optical system moving type has been described. However, the optical system fixed type (original moving type) can be similarly implemented.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in an image reading device that can be connected to a SCSI bus, switching from a state of operating as a target to a state of operating as an initiator in response to an instruction from an operation unit, Image data output processing for outputting image data read after acquiring the right to use the input / output interface to an apparatus operating as an external target can be performed, and operates as a target during standby and after processing as an initiator is completed. Since the state is set, it is possible to appropriately respond to an instruction from the host computer, and to pass the image data read by the instruction from the host computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scanner of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of use of the scanner of the present embodiment, FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of a system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of a system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a side sectional view showing an internal mechanism of the scanner 301 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a position of a document placed on the scanner 301 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an image reading operation of the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow between phases in the present embodiment. In the figure, 101: fluorescent light, 102: fluorescent light control circuit, 103 ...
... AMP, 104 ... A / D converter, 105 ... selector, 106
…… Image processing circuit, 107 …… SCSI interface circuit, 1
08 ... CPU, 108a ... ROM, 108b ... RAM, 109 ... Start button, 110 ... KB connector, 111 ... CRT connector, 112 ... CRT control circuit, 113 ... Key pad connector, 301 ... Skyana, 302 ... Personal computer, 303 ... LBP, 304 ... CRT.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for controlling an image reading apparatus, comprising: reading means for reading an image; an input / output interface as a SCSI bus connected to a host computer for communication; and an operation unit for inputting instructions from an operator. During standby, the image reading apparatus passively performs reading processing by the reading unit based on an instruction from the host computer via the input / output interface, and performs the reading to the host computer via the input / output interface. Operating as a target for outputting image data from the unit, detecting an image reading instruction from the operation unit, and in response to the detection, the image reading apparatus actively performs a reading process by the reading unit. Switch to the state of operating as an initiator and acquire the right to use the input / output interface After obtaining the use right, the image data of the image read by the reading means is output via the input / output interface, and after the processing as the initiator is completed, the use right of the input / output interface is released and the target is again set as the target. A method for controlling an image reading apparatus, comprising switching to an operating state. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein parameters of the target external device are registered in advance when the image reading device operates as an initiator, and when an image reading instruction is input from the operation unit, the reading is performed in accordance with the registered parameters. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the image read by the means is output through the input / output interface. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the registration of the parameter can be performed through the operation unit or the input / output interface.