JP3918644B2 - Facsimile device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that makes it easy to see a sender display.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When an image is transmitted by the facsimile apparatus, the name of the sender, the telephone number (or FAX number), and the transmission date / time are added as character image data to the original image data to form one page of image data. The character image data is called sender display or TTI, and is usually added to the top of the paper (the portion along the upper side). On the receiving side, this image data is printed, but since the resolution of the printer has increased in recent years, the resolution of the printer is higher than the resolution of the received facsimile image. For this reason, image data of a facsimile reception image is printed after resolution conversion.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, at the time of the above-described resolution conversion, if the resolution conversion is simply performed, the jaggedness of the outline becomes conspicuous in the hatched portion or the like in the image after printing, and therefore smoothing processing is also performed.
[0004]
However, although the sender display part depends on the font used by the manufacturer, it may be difficult to see characters if smoothing is applied.
[0005]
The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a facsimile apparatus that makes it easy to see the display of a caller.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention comprises a facsimile receiving means for receiving image data, a resolution converting means for converting and smoothing the resolution of the image data received by the facsimile receiving means, and a conversion by the resolution converting means. Smoothing prohibiting means for prohibiting smoothing by the resolution converting means for the transmission source display portion of the image data to be recorded by the image recording means The smoothing prohibition area by the smoothing prohibiting means is either the upper part, the central part or the lower part of the paper when the paper is in portrait orientation, or the left or right part when the paper is in landscape orientation. .
[0007]
In this facsimile apparatus, since the smoothing process is not performed on a predetermined area of the image data to be recorded by the image recording means, that is, the transmission source display portion, the transmission source display can be easily seen in the image recorded on the paper. .
[0008]
In the above configuration, if the smoothing prohibition means changes the smoothing prohibition area in accordance with the recording direction of the image on the paper (paper orientation), for example, the A4 portrait is received and the image recording means (printer) receives the image. When the paper is loaded on the side of A4, the image is rotated 90 ° and printed, but even in that case, an area for which smoothing is prohibited can be set according to the position of the transmission source display.
[0009]
Further, if the smoothing prohibiting means includes a counter that counts the horizontal synchronization signal and a counter that counts the video clock, the smoothing prohibiting means can be constituted by a counter, so that it can be easily implemented with a simple circuit. It is.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments.
[0011]
FIG. 1 (part) and FIG. 2 (remaining part) are block diagrams showing a configuration example of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, an MPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 has a function of controlling the entire apparatus.
[0013]
An NCU (Network Control Unit) 2 and a modem 3 are connected to the MPU 1. The NCU 2 is controlled by the MPU 1 to control the connection between the line L and the device, and has a function of sending a dial pulse corresponding to the telephone number of the communication partner and a function of detecting an incoming call. The line L is connected to a general public telephone network (PSTN). The modem 3 modulates / demodulates transmission / reception data, specifically, modulates transmission data, which is originally a digital signal, into an analog audio signal and sends it to the line L via the NCU 2, and conversely from the line L via the NCU 2. The received analog audio signal is demodulated into a digital signal. Here, the NCU 2 and the modem 3 constitute a facsimile receiving means.
[0014]
The MPU 1 includes a scanner image processing circuit 4, a reading / communication CODEC (Coder and Decoder) 6, a display unit 7, a keypad 8, and a LAN I / F (Local Area Network). Interface) 9, ROM 10, RAM 11, image memory 12, printer CODEC 13, resolution conversion circuit 14, and memory management 15 are connected.
[0015]
The scanner image processing circuit 4 processes a signal of an original image read by, for example, the CCD 5 to make one still image. The reading / communication CODEC 6 encodes the image data to be transmitted stored in the image memory 12, decodes the received image data, and stores the decoded image data in the image memory 12. The display unit 7 outputs various information such as a telephone number, a FAX number, and a toner remaining amount of the printer 18 which are input by operating the keypad 8 by soft copy output and displays them. As the display unit 7, a CRT display or an LCD (liquid crystal display device) is used.
[0016]
The keypad 8 includes a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number and a FAX number, a one-touch key for calling a destination telephone number with a single touch, a start key for instructing the start of a FAX, and the like. The LAN I / F 9 is for connecting to a LAN 20 to which a client PC (personal computer) 21 and a server 22 are connected. Here, the LAN 20 is further connected to the Internet 25 via a router 26.
[0017]
The ROM 10 stores in advance a program for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus. The RAM 11 stores data necessary for control by the MPU 1 and data that needs to be temporarily stored during the control operation, as well as the image size (A3, A4, B4, B5, etc.) of the image data, and the recording direction (paper orientation: portrait). A FAT (File Allocation Table) 11a for registering (direction, landscape) is provided.
[0018]
The image memory 12 stores the image data read by the CCD 5 and converted by the scanner image processing circuit 4 in a compressed state, and also compresses image data received from the outside via the line L and the modem 3 or the LAN I / F 9. Memorize in state. The printer CODEC 13 decodes the compressed encoded image data stored in the image memory 12.
[0019]
The resolution conversion circuit 14 serving as a resolution conversion means performs resolution conversion and smoothing on the image data received via the NCU 2 and the modem 3, and corrects the jaggedness of outlines appearing in characters using dot fonts. A smoothing circuit 14a for smoothing the outline, a selection circuit 14b for selecting either the output of the smoothing circuit 14a or an output to which smoothing processing is not performed, and a predetermined area (source display portion) of image data to be printed by the printer 18 Is constituted by a smoothing range control circuit (smoothing prohibiting means) 14c for prohibiting smoothing by the resolution conversion circuit 14. As will be described later, the selection circuit 14b selects either the output of the smoothing circuit 14a or the output that is not subjected to the smoothing process based on the output from the smoothing range control circuit 14c.
[0020]
The memory management 15 has a function of outputting the output (image data) selected by the selection circuit 14 b of the resolution conversion circuit 14 to the printer I / F 17 via the bit image of the image data stored in the page memory 16. .
[0021]
A printer 18 serving as an image recording unit is connected via a printer I / F 17 and records received image data, image data read by the CCD 5, or image data stored in the image memory 12 by printing on paper. Perform hard copy output.
[0022]
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a detailed configuration example of the resolution conversion circuit 14 in the above configuration. The video signal is divided into an output on which smoothing processing is performed by the smoothing circuit 14a and an output on which smoothing processing is not performed, and is input to the selection circuit 14b. The smoothing range control circuit 14c includes a counter that counts the horizontal synchronization signal, a comparator (COMPARE) that receives the smoothing OFF signal and ON signal related to the horizontal synchronization signal, and a counter that counts the video clock signal (vertical synchronization signal). And a comparator (COMPARE) for receiving a smoothing OFF signal and an ON signal related to the video clock signal, respectively.
[0023]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the predetermined area (source display portion) of image data to be printed by the printer 18 varies depending on each manufacturer and model. FIG. 4A shows a case where the paper 30 is in a portrait orientation, and a transmission source display (TTI) is printed on the upper part (left figure), the central part (middle figure), and the lower part (right figure) of the paper 30. Is done. FIG. 4B shows a case where the paper 30 is in landscape orientation, and TTI is printed on the left part (left figure) and right part (right figure) of the paper 30 respectively.
[0024]
In this way, assuming the portion of the paper 30 on which the TTI is printed, the hatched portion 31 of the paper 30 is set as a smoothing prohibition area as shown in FIG. The other portion 32 is an area where image data other than TTI is printed, and is an area where smoothing processing is performed. In FIG. 5, the hatched portion 31 is shown wide, but this is for convenience and is actually narrower.
[0025]
Here, the operation of the resolution conversion circuit 14 will be described. If the smoothing prohibition area 31 is set as shown in FIG. 5, the count of the horizontal synchronization signal specifying the smoothing prohibition area 31 and the count of the video clock signal are as follows. It is set in advance. Of course, the smoothing prohibition area 31 is set in advance based on each image size and recording direction.
[0026]
The horizontal synchronization signal and the video clock signal are sequentially scanned and counted by a counter, and the smoothing is turned off until reaching the set value, and the smoothing is turned on when the set value is reached. Then, the smoothing range control circuit 14c outputs smoothing OFF as a combination when both the smoothing related to the horizontal synchronization signal and the video clock signal are OFF or one of them is OFF, and the smoothing related to both signals is both Outputs smoothing ON only when ON. Upon receiving the signal from the smoothing range control circuit 14c, the selection circuit 14b selects a video signal that is not subjected to the smoothing process when the smoothing is OFF, and selects the video signal that has passed through the smoothing circuit 14a when the smoothing is ON. select.
[0027]
Next, in the facsimile apparatus, an operation of developing a bit image on the page memory 16 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. First, in step ST1, it is determined whether or not an unprinted page is registered in the FAT 11a of the RAM 11. If the page is not registered, the process waits. However, this standby is for convenience. Actually, this processing is in a subroutine in the overall operation, and is performed, for example, at a constant cycle.
[0028]
If an unprinted page is registered, the printer 18 is activated in step ST2, and the image size (A3, A4, B4, B5, etc.) and recording direction (paper orientation: portrait orientation) from the FAT 11a in step ST3. , Landscape). In step ST4, a smoothing prohibition range is set according to the read image size and recording direction. This setting is set in advance according to various image sizes and recording directions as described above, and a matching one is selected from them.
[0029]
Next, in step ST5, the printer CODEC 13 is activated to decode the image data, and in step ST6, the resolution conversion circuit 14 starts resolution conversion of the image data. In the next step ST7, it is determined whether the range is a smoothing prohibition range in resolution conversion. If it is the prohibition range, only the resolution conversion is performed in step ST8, and if it is not the prohibition range, smoothing and resolution conversion are performed in step ST9.
[0030]
That is, when receiving the smoothing OFF from the smoothing range control circuit 14c, the selection circuit 14b selects an output (image data) that is not subjected to the smoothing process. When the selection circuit 14b receives the smoothing ON from the smoothing range control circuit 14c, the smoothing circuit 14a The processed output (image data) is selected.
[0031]
After that, in step ST10, the bit image of the image data is developed in the page memory 16, and in step ST11, it is determined whether resolution conversion or smoothing and resolution conversion of one page, and development of the bit image have been completed. Returning to step ST7, processing for one page is continued. When the processing for one page is completed, it is determined in step ST12 whether or not there is a next page.
[0032]
If there is a next page, the process returns to step ST3, and the processes in steps ST3 to ST11 are repeated in the same manner for the next page and thereafter. That is, for all pages of the image data (document), the image size and recording direction are read out for each page, smoothing prohibition range setting, resolution conversion or smoothing and resolution conversion, and bit image development are performed.
[0033]
Next, the transfer operation of the bit image to the printer 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step ST41, it is determined whether a bit image for one page has been developed in the page memory 16, and the process waits until the bit image is developed. When the bit image is developed, in step ST42, the bit image is read from the page memory 16, and Output to F17. In step ST43, the image data is transferred to the printer 18 in synchronization with the transfer clock. In step ST44, it is determined whether the transfer for one page is completed. If not, the process returns to step ST42. Repeat reading and transfer of bit image. When the transfer for one page is completed, the process returns to step ST41 to determine whether or not the bit image for the next page is expanded in the page memory 16, and when it is expanded, the processing for the next page is repeated in the same manner.
[0034]
Next, a block diagram according to a modification of the resolution conversion circuit 14 is shown in FIG. The circuit according to this modification has a photo resolution conversion processing function. In the case of pseudo halftone image data such as a photograph, the image data (binary image data) decoded by the printer CODEC 13 is simply enlarged (integer multiple) by the simple enlargement circuit 40 and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 41. Store. Next, the binary image data in the buffer memory 41 is converted into a multi-value by the multi-value / resolution conversion operation circuit 42 and subjected to interpolation operation processing to perform resolution conversion (decimal multiple), and is temporarily stored in the multi-value memory 43. . Normally (when smoothing processing is performed), the multilevel image data read from the multilevel memory 43 is subjected to error diffusion processing by the error diffusion circuit 44 to be binarized. A visual effect similar to that obtained by smoothing by this error diffusion process can be obtained.
[0035]
On the other hand, in the TTI portion (see FIG. 5), the binarization circuit 45 binarizes the output from the multilevel memory 43 with a predetermined threshold. This provides a visual effect similar to not smoothing.
[0036]
As in the above embodiment (see FIG. 3), the selection circuit 47 is controlled by the smoothing range control circuit 46, the output of the binarization circuit 45 is selected in the TTI portion, and the error diffusion circuit in the document image portion. 44 outputs are selected.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, since the predetermined area of the image data to be recorded by the image recording means, that is, the transmission source display portion is not subjected to the smoothing process, It is possible to make it easier to see the sender display in the recorded image.
[0038]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the recording direction when received and the direction of the paper set in the image recording means are different, the smoothing prohibition area is set according to the position of the transmission source display. be able to.
[0039]
Furthermore, if it is set as the structure of Claim 3, since a smoothing prohibition means can be comprised with a counter, implementation | achievement with a simple circuit is also easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a part of a configuration example of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a remaining part of a configuration example of the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a resolution conversion circuit in the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing various positions of a transmission source display (TTI) printed on paper.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a smoothing prohibition area (sender display portion) on a sheet.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a bit image expansion operation to a page memory in the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a bit image transfer operation to a printer in the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a modification of the resolution conversion circuit in the facsimile apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 MPU
2 NCU (facsimile receiving means)
3 Modem (facsimile reception means)
11 RAM
11a FAT
12 Image memory 13 CODEC for printer
14 Resolution conversion circuit (resolution conversion means)
14a Smoothing circuit 14b, 47 Selection circuit 14c, 46 Smoothing range control circuit (smoothing prohibition means)
16 page memory 18 printer (image recording means)
44 Error diffusion circuit

Claims (3)

Facsimile receiving means for receiving image data, resolution converting means for converting and smoothing image data received by the facsimile receiving means, and image recording means for recording the image data converted by the resolution converting means on paper In the facsimile machine
For the source display portion of the image data to be recorded by said image recording means is provided with a smoothing inhibiting means for inhibiting the smoothing by the resolution conversion means, smoothing forbidden area by the smoothing inhibiting means, when the sheet is portrait Is a facsimile apparatus characterized in that it is an upper part, a central part, a lower part of the paper, or a left part or a right part when the paper is in landscape orientation . 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smoothing prohibition unit changes the smoothing prohibition area in accordance with a recording direction of an image on a sheet.   3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smoothing prohibiting unit includes a counter for counting a horizontal synchronizing signal and a counter for counting a video clock.

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