JP4108283B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a backup function for various memories.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a memory used in a facsimile machine is roughly divided into a user information memory for storing user information such as registration information such as abbreviated dialing or information on the own machine, a document at the time of memory transmission, or a received document at the time of memory reception. There are three types of memory: an image information memory for storing image data and a program memory for storing various programs related to facsimile operations.
[0003]
Improvements and improvements for effectively using various memories as described above and suppressing current consumption have been conventionally performed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-57061 describes an invention that makes effective use of memory capacity, extends the life of a flash memory, and does not prolong the time required for access even when used for a long time. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-115494 discloses an invention in which, in a facsimile terminal, the same data as the facsimile data is transferred to an external device for storing the data and a backup of the data is requested. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-151943 discloses an invention that completely saves energy without erasing data even when data is stored in a flash memory of a facsimile machine. Are listed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the types of memory used in facsimile machines are low power consumption SRAM for user information memory, large capacity DRAM for image information memory, and non-volatile flash memory for program memory. Often done.
[0005]
Since the user information memory and the image information memory are volatile, a backup power source such as a battery is required to back up data when the power is turned off. The current consumption during the backup is not determined by the amount of data to be backed up, but depends on the characteristics of the mounted memory. That is, the current consumption is almost the same regardless of whether the amount of data required for backup is large or small, and the current consumption characteristic of the memory itself used is the current consumption during backup.
[0006]
For this reason, the conventional memory configuration in the facsimile apparatus still has a problem that the current consumption does not decrease even when the backup data is small.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus that can solve the above-described conventional problems and reduce the power consumption of a memory.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least two volatile memories for storing data, and when any of the memories has a free memory area, the capacity of each free memory area and each memory. A memory capacity comparing means for comparing the used capacity, a data transferring means for transferring data from one of the memories to an empty area in the other memory according to a comparison result of the memory capacity comparing means, and a memory by the data transfer. In a facsimile apparatus comprising a power management means for turning off the power of a memory whose area is no longer used, if the memories can transfer the data to another memory, the current consumption in each memory is reduced. Current consumption comparison means for detecting and comparing, and the memo of the other party to which data is transferred according to the comparison result of the current consumption comparison means Characterized by including a destination determining means for determining, by this arrangement, one if the free space of the memory data transfer are possible, turn off the memory emptied by transferring data As a whole system, the power consumption during backup can be reduced , and data can be stored in a memory with a small current consumption, and the power of a memory with a large current consumption can be turned off. , the system as a whole, Ru can achieve further reduction in power consumption.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a facsimile apparatus for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an SRAM (Static RAM) that stores user information such as registration information such as abbreviated dialing or own machine information. User information memory 2, an image information memory 2 such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) for storing a document at the time of memory transmission or a received document at the time of memory reception, 3 stores a program relating to a FAX (facsimile) system Program memory 4 is a first backup power source for backing up user information memory 1 which is a volatile memory when the system power is turned off, 5 is a second backup power source for backing up image information memory 2 which is a volatile memory, 6 is a CPU (central processing unit) that monitors and controls the entire system, 7 is system power off A third backup power supplies temporarily current CPU6 and program memory 3 in.
[0015]
Further, 8 is a reading unit that reads a transmission original and performs binarization processing, 9 is a recording unit that prints out a received document on recording paper, 10 is an image processing unit that performs various processing of images, and 11 is an LCD (liquid crystal display) ), LED (light emitting diode display), etc., an operation unit for displaying various operation inputs and operation states, 12 a communication control unit for performing modulation / demodulation or various tone control during G3 FAX transmission, and 13 for performing network control. NCU (Network Control Unit).
[0016]
A control operation related to the memory power supply according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0017]
In FIG. 2, when the system power supply is turned off for some reason, the first to third backup power supplies 4, 5, and 7 shown in FIG. 2 is supplied with current. The CPU 6 checks the status (used capacity and free capacity) of the memory areas of the user information memory 1 (denoted as SRAM in FIG. 2) and the image information memory 2 (denoted as DRAM in FIG. 2) (S1). -1). Next, the free capacity (Mse) of the user information memory 1 and the used capacity (Mdu) of the image information memory 2 are compared (S1-2), and Mse ≧ Mdu (YES in S1-2), that is, the image information. If it is possible to transfer the data in the storage memory 2 to the user information memory 1, the opposite Mde ≧ Msu is checked (S1-3), and Mde ≧ Msu (YES in S1-3), that is, the user information If the data in the image memory 1 can be transferred to the image information memory 2, it is determined that the data in the user information memory 1 and the image information memory 2 can be transferred in both directions.
[0018]
Next, the consumption current (Is) of the user information memory 1 and the consumption current (Id) of the image information memory 2 are checked (S1-4). This operation may be checked in advance when the apparatus is turned on, and the check result may be held. In any case, it is compared whether the current consumption of the user information memory 1 or the image information memory 2 is smaller, and the current consumption of the user information memory 1 is smaller (Id ≧ Is, S1-5 YES). Causes the data in the image information memory 2 to be transferred to the user information memory 1 (S1-6), and vice versa, the data in the user information memory 1 is transferred to the image information memory 2 (S1-10). . When the transfer is completed (S1-7, S1-11), the CPU 6 uses the first backup power source 4 or the second backup of the user information memory 1 or the image information memory 2 in which the entire memory area is vacated by the transfer. Is turned off (S1-8, S1-12). Thereafter, when the memory transfer control is completed, the role of the CPU 6 is ended, and the power supply of the third backup power supply 7 is turned off.
[0019]
If the comparison of the memory status in step (S1-2) is Mse <Mdu (NO in S1-2), the CPU 6 does not perform the data transfer to the user information memory 1 because the free space is small. Then, in order to determine whether or not data transfer to the image information memory 2 is possible, Mde and Msu are compared (S1-9). If Mde <Msu (NO in S1-9), the data transfer to the image information memory 2 is not performed because it is determined that the free area is small, and the user information memory 1 and the image information memory 2 are not transferred. Both data transfers are disabled, and both backup power supplies 4 and 5 remain ON. Then, normal control by the CPU 6 is performed.
[0020]
If Mde ≧ Msu (YES in S1-9), the CPU 6 transfers the data in the user information memory 1 to the image information memory 2 (S1-10), and when the transfer is completed (S1-11), the user The power supply of the first backup power supply 4 of the information memory 1 is turned off (S1-12), and the operation described above is performed hereinafter.
[0021]
As another flow pattern, the CPU 6 has Mse ≧ Mdu (YES in S1-2) and Mde <Msu (NO in S1-3), that is, the data in the image information memory 2 is stored in the user information memory 1. If it is determined that transfer is possible and data in the user information memory 1 cannot be transferred to the image information memory 2, the data in the image information memory 2 is transferred to the user information memory 1 (S1). -6). When the transfer is completed (S1-7), the CPU 6 turns off the backup power supply 5 of the image information memory 2 (S1-8), and performs the above-described operation.
[0022]
A control operation related to the memory power supply according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0023]
3, when the system power supply is turned off for some reason as described in the first embodiment, the first to third backup power supplies 4, 5, and 7 shown in FIG. Current is supplied to the user information memory 1 and the image information memory 2. The CPU 6 has a memory status between a user information memory 1 such as SRAM (Static RAM) (referred to as SRAM in FIG. 3) and an image information memory 2 such as DRAM (Dynamic RAM) (referred to as DRAM in FIG. 3). In addition, the memory status (free capacity) of a program memory (referred to as flash in FIG. 3) such as a flash memory is checked (S2-1). Next, the CPU 6 compares the free capacity (Mf) of the program memory 3 and the used capacity (Msu) of the user information memory 1 (S2-2), and Mf ≧ Msu (YES in S2-2), that is, If the data in the user information memory 1 can be transferred to the program memory 3, the free capacity (Mf) of the program memory 3 and the used capacity (Mdu) of the image information memory 2 are further compared (S2- 3) If Mf ≧ Mdu (YES in S2-3), it is determined that the data in the user information memory 1 and the image information memory 2 are both in a state that can be transferred to the program memory 3. To do.
[0024]
Next, the CPU 6 checks the current consumption (Is) of the user information memory 1 and the current consumption (Id) of the image information memory 2 (S2-5). This operation may be checked in advance when the apparatus is turned on, and the check result may be held. In any case, the current consumption of the user information memory 1 and the image information memory 2 is compared. If the current consumption of the user information memory 1 is smaller (YES in S2-5), the image information If the data in the memory for memory 2 is transferred to the program memory 3 (S2-6), and vice versa (NO in S2-5), the data in the user information memory 1 is transferred to the program memory 3 (S2- 9).
[0025]
When each transfer is completed (S2-7, S2-10), the CPU 6 turns off the backup power sources 4 and 5 of the memories 1 and 2 in which the entire memory area is vacated by the transfer (S2-8). , S2-11). After that, when the memory transfer control is completed, the role of the CPU 6 is terminated, so the power supply of the third backup power supply 7 is turned off.
[0026]
If Mf <Msu (NO in S2-2) in the comparison of memory conditions in step (S2-2), the data in the user information memory 1 is transferred to the program memory 3 because there is little free space. First, the CPU 6 compares Mf and Mdu to determine whether or not the data transfer of the image information memory 2 is possible (S2-12). If Mf <Mdu (NO in S2-12), the data transfer of the image information memory 2 is not performed because the free space of the program memory 3 is small, and the user information memory 1 and the image information memory are not transferred. Since both data transfer of 2 is impossible, both backup power supplies remain ON. Then, normal control by the CPU 6 is performed.
[0027]
If Mf ≧ Mdu (YES in S2-12), the CPU 6 transfers the data in the image information memory 2 to the program memory 3 (S2-6), and when the transfer is completed (S2-7), The backup power supply 5 of the image information memory 2 is turned off (S2-8), and the operation described above is performed.
[0028]
As another flow pattern, Mf ≧ Msu (YES in S2-2) and Mf <Mdu (NO in S2-3), that is, data in the image information memory 2 may be transferred to the program memory 3. If it is not possible and the CPU 6 determines that the data in the user information memory 1 can be transferred to the program memory 3, the CPU 6 transfers the data in the user information memory 1 to the program memory 3 (S2-9). When the transfer is completed (S2-10), the backup power supply 4 of the user information memory 1 is turned off (S2-11), and the operations described above are performed.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus having at least two volatile memories for storing data, such as a user information memory or an image information memory, data is transferred to an empty area of one memory. Can be turned off by performing data transfer, the power consumption during backup can be reduced as a whole system.
[0030]
Moreover, to store data in a small memory consumption current, it is possible to turn off the large memory power supply current consumption, the system as a whole, Ru can achieve further reduction in power consumption.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a facsimile machine for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation related to a memory power supply in the first embodiment. Flow chart showing control operation related to memory power supply [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User information memory 2 Image information memory 3 Program memory 4, 5, 7 Backup power supply 6 CPU (central processing unit)

Claims (1)

At least two volatile memories for storing data, and memory capacity comparing means for comparing the capacity of the free memory area with the used capacity of each memory when any of the memories has a free memory area; and the memory Data transfer means for transferring data from one of the memories to an empty area in the other memory according to the comparison result of the capacity comparison means, and power management for turning off the power of the memory whose used area is no longer used by the data transfer in full Akushimiri and means,
When each of the memories can transfer the data to another memory, consumption current comparison means for detecting and comparing the consumption current in each memory;
Transfer destination determining means for determining a memory to which data is transferred according to a comparison result of the current consumption comparing means;
A facsimile apparatus comprising:

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