JPH06105945B2 - Image transmitter - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image transmitting apparatus for transmitting image data, and more particularly to an image signal apparatus including a storage unit for storing image data.

<Prior Art> A facsimile apparatus with an image memory is conventionally known as such an image transmitting apparatus.

The image memory is extremely useful when the same image data is transmitted to various destinations, or the original image can be stored in the apparatus when it is not connected to the destination at the time of transmission.

However, since the image data once stored in the image memory is not erased unless the operator erases the image data, the image memory cannot be effectively used and the operation is troublesome.

It is also proposed that the image data be deleted after a certain period of time, but when performing time-specified transmission,
This is extremely inconvenient because the image data may be erased before the designated time.

<Purpose> In view of the above problems, the present invention prevents unnecessary images from remaining in the storage unit when the image is stored in the storage unit and then transmitted, and effectively uses the storage unit. The purpose is to prevent the inconvenience that a necessary image is cleared and the previously reserved transmission cannot be performed.

Therefore, in the present invention, storage means for storing the image signal,
Means for transmitting the image signal stored in the storage means,
When the image signal stored in the storage means is transmitted by the transmission means, a determination means for determining whether or not the transmission reservation of the image signal stored in the storage means is made, and a transmission reservation is made by the determination means. If it is determined that the image signal is not stored, the clearing means for clearing the image signal stored in the storage means is provided.

<Embodiment> An embodiment of a facsimile apparatus for realizing the present invention will be described in detail below.

(Mechanical System) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a facsimile apparatus. In the figure
41 is a CCD solid line image sensor, 42 is an imaging lens, 4
3 is a mirror, 44 is an original illumination lamp, 45 is an original feeding roller, 46 is an original discharging roller, 47 is an original feeding tray, and 31 is an original detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an original on the original tray. .

Further, 34 is a roll paper storage cover, 35 is roll paper, 36 is a discharge tray for originals and recording paper, 37 is a cutter, 38 is a roll paper discharging roller, 39 is a roll paper conveying roller, 40 is a recording head, and 33 is a recording head. A roll paper cover sensor that detects opening / closing of the cover 34.

In the figure, at the time of reading the original, the original on the original feeding tray 47 is conveyed by rollers 45 and 46. The original is illuminated by the lamp 44 at the reading position P, and the reflected light is reflected by the mirror 43 and the lens 42.
An image is formed on the image sensor 41 via the image sensor 41, and the image sensor 41 converts the image into an electric signal.

On the other hand, at the time of recording, the roll paper 35 is nipped by the roller 39 and the head 40 and conveyed, and at the same time, the head 40 is placed on the heat-sensitive roller paper 35.
An image is formed by. When the recording for one page is completed, the roll paper 35 is cut by the cutter 37 and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 36 by the rollers 38.

(Basic Block) FIG. 2 is a basic control block diagram of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a reading unit for reading a document image and converting it into an electric image signal, 3, 5, 7 are one of its modes, a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) functioning as a buffer for temporarily storing the image signal, and 9 is First-in first-out RAM (hereinafter FIFORAM) that functions as an image memory that stores several pages of image signals, 11 is a read-only memory that stores the MPU23 operation program (hereinafter
ROM), 13 is a RAM for storing flags, data, etc. necessary for the operation of the MPU, 15 is an operation unit having input keys, a display, etc., 17
Is a recording unit for recording copy images, received images and management data on thermal paper, 19 is a modem for modulating transmitted data and demodulated received data, 20 is a telephone, 21 is a communication line 22 and a modem 19
Alternatively, a network control unit for controlling connection to the telephone 20 (hereinafter NC
U) and 25 are character generators (hereinafter referred to as CG) that store character fonts for transmitting the transmission time and the name of the transmission source as image data in addition to the original image, and recording communication management data. 23 is an MPU that controls the entire system. In this embodiment, as the MPU 23, a 16-bit data bus 24,
The Intel 8086 that can directly access the memory space of up to 4 megabytes is used.

The merit of using this MPU is that it has a 16-bit data bus, which makes it easy to handle encoded image data. For example, run length code 2048
12bit data is required to handle bit data, 8b
Access using it's MPU must be performed twice, but with 16 bits, it only needs to be accessed once.

In addition, since a large capacity memory space can be directly accessed, it is possible to use the system memory as an image memory and provide a broadcasting function. In the conventional device, an external memory unit or a memory that the MPU cannot access directly via the bus even within the device was used to have a broadcast function as an image memory, but the circuit became complicated,
There was a problem of increasing the size of the device.

First, FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c) show flowcharts of the determination algorithm of the MPU 23 used when the present apparatus determines the above-mentioned 14 operation modes M1 to M14.

In this embodiment, the start key 51, the one-touch dial key 54, and the speed dial key 5 on the operation panel 50 shown in FIG. 4 are used.
3. Start up with the memory key 52.

Further, judgment / branching is performed based on the outputs of the sensor 31 for detecting the presence or absence of the document shown in FIG. 2, the sensor 32 for detecting the ON / OFF state of the telephone hook, and the roll paper cover sensor 33.

In addition, the number of messages (image data) for facsimile communication is changed to G3 by the communication of the pre-procedure signal that precedes
You can know the mode or G2 mode. At the same time, it is possible to know whether the partner machine has the MR coding function or only the MH coding function.

Further, it is possible to determine whether or not the FIFORAM 9 can be used at the time of message communication based on the usage state of the image memory of the own device.
If the memory is stored in the RAM 9, the RAM 9 cannot be used, and if the memory is not stored, the RAM 9 can be used.

The 14 operation modes determined by this flow are added with item numbers M1 to M14.

First, when the start key is pressed, it is checked whether the receiver is off-hook or on-hook as shown in FIG. 3 (a). If it is on-hook, the original copy mode M14 is entered if the original is at the transmission position. Then, when there is no document and the roll paper cover is closed, the roller paper cutter operates, and when the cover is open, the roller paper is fed by a predetermined amount.

On the other hand, in the case of off-hook, if there is a document, the transmission mode will be set, and M1, M will be set according to the mode of the partner machine and the availability of RAM9.
Move to 2, M3, M6. If there is no document on the off-hook, the routine proceeds to the receiving mode sorting routine of FIG. 3 (b). In FIG. 3B, M7 to M11 are selected in accordance with the partner machine mode and the availability of RAM9.

FIG. 3C shows a mode distribution routine when the memory key 52 is pressed.

When the memory key 52 is pressed, a software timer is activated, and when a document is placed on the reading section 1 during this timer, the memory storage mode M12 is entered and the image data of the document is stored in the RAM 9.

If the start key 51 is pressed when the document is not placed on the reading unit 1, if the hook is on-hook at this time, the memory copy mode M13 in which the image data in the RAM 9 is recorded in the recording unit 17 is entered.

If it is off-hook at this time, the memory transmission mode is entered. When the one-touch key 54 or the speed dial key 53 is pressed, the memory transmission mode is entered regardless of the state of the hook. The memory transmission mode is divided into a G3 memory transmission mode M4 or a G2 memory transmission mode M5 depending on whether the partner machine is a G2 or G3 machine.

When the memory key is pressed and the document is not placed on the reading section and there is no other key operation, the display 55 (Fig. 4) is displayed.
Displays the amount of image data stored in RAM9 and returns to the standby mode when the software timer expires.

The flow of image data according to each mode M1 to M14 will be described below.

(Mode M1) G3 Original Transmission, MH, RAM9 Available The flow of image data in mode M1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The reading unit 1 converts the image data for one line into a run length code RL and writes the run length code RL in the RAM 3 in response to a read command from the MPU 23. Then, the MPU 23 transfers the data in the RAM 3 to the two line buffers RAM5 and RAM7 as they are, alternately by one line, and encodes the run length code RL read from the two line buffers into the MH code and writes it into the FIFORAM9. . Then, in response to the data request interrupt from the modem 19, the MPU 23 transfers the MH code from the FIFORAM 9 byte by byte to the modem. At this time, the minimum transfer time is calculated for each line and the fill bit is inserted.

Character information such as the originator and origination time added to the beginning of the image is transferred to the FIFORAM 9 using the raw image data 25 output from the CG 25 and the conversion function from raw data to MH code.

Except for the case of the reading unit 1 → RAM 3 and the modem 19 → NCU 21 in the figure, all other data transfers are performed via the bus 24 of the MPU 23.

The interrupt interval of the data request interrupt from the modem 19 changes depending on the transmission rate. Since data transfer is done in byte units, 8/9600 = 9600bps
An interrupt occurs every 0.83 × 10 ^-3 sec.

Further, when the data transfer from RAM3 to RAM5, RAM7 is completed, the MPU 23 outputs a read command to the reading unit. While the MPU 23 is performing the encoding process ENC and the interrupt process, the reading unit 1 reads the document and converts the raw data to the run length data.

(Mode M2) G3 original transmission, MR, RAM9 can be used. Figure 6 (A) shows the flow of image data. The data flow is almost the same as in mode M1. The difference is ENC23
The code after -1 is the MR code. However, the data from CG25 is output from ENC23-1 in MH code. For example, if a 24 x 16 dot character is added to the beginning, data for 24 lines will be sent in MH code.

RAM9 for CG data and MR for image data in Fig. 6 (B)
Show the program to store in. First, the line number L of CG data is initialized, the data of each line is called from the beginning, and from raw data to run length RL code From RL code
Convert to MH code and store in RAM9 for each line.

When 24 lines are completed, the image data of the RL code is read from the RAM 5 or 7 this time, and each line is converted into the MR code according to the MR encoding routine and stored in the RAM 9.

(Mode M3) G3 original transmission, MR, RAM9 unusable The flow of image data is shown in FIG. It was used as a line buffer, unlike when RAM9 in Figure 5 can be used.
RAM7 is used as a buffer memory for MH code. Therefore, there is only one line buffer RAM5, and the encoder ENC23-1 can handle only one line of data.
If 9 is unavailable, MR transmission cannot be performed.

The reason for this is that in order to perform MR coding, a line buffer for the current coded line and two reference lines is required.

(Mode M4) G3 memory transmission MH ... FIGS. 8 (A), (B) and (C) FIG. 8 (A) shows the flow of image data in the case of mode M4. Image data obtained by reading the fine mode or the standard mode is stored in the FIFO RAM 9 in the form of MH code. Further, various information of the image data is stored as a label at the head of the page as shown in FIG. As information, the reading size (number of main scanning dots) SZ of the image data,
Fine or standard (scan line density) F / S, number of FOL on the page
There are PLN etc.

Therefore, if the size of the recording paper of the partner machine is smaller than the reading size SZ, it is necessary to perform the main scanning dot number conversion described above.Although the partner machine stores it in RAM9 in the fine mode, When only the standard mode is provided, it is necessary to perform the above-mentioned scanning line density conversion.

FIG. 8 (B) shows the distribution routine. In FIG. 8B, first, the EOL counter EOC is set to 0, and the recording sheet size ASZ of the partner machine is sensed in the previous procedure. Then, as compared with the label SZ, if ASZ is greater than or equal to SZ, the mode M4-1 or M4-2 is selected. In this case, it is not necessary to convert the number of main scanning dots.

If ASZ is smaller than SZ, mode M4-3, M4-4
Is selected. In this case, conversion of the number of main scanning dots is required.

If the other device does not have the fine recording mode and the RAM 9 records in the fine mode, the sub-scanning linear density conversion is further required, and the mode M4-2 or M4-4 is selected.

That is, M4-1 does not require both main scanning dot number conversion and sub-scanning density conversion. M4-2 requires only sub-scanning density conversion, and M4-3 requires only main-scan dot number conversion.
Also, M4-4 requires both conversions.

A detailed description of the data flow in each mode will be given later, but when transmission of one line is completed, modes M4-1 and M4-3
Then, EOL counter EOC is incremented by 1, and EOC is incremented by 2 in M4-2 and M4-4. And EOC is a PL that indicates the EOL number of the page in RAM9.
Move to the page end subroutine that matches N.

The page end subroutine is shown in FIG. 8 (C), and the label GE indicating the last page of the group stored in the RAM 9 together with the series of pages is looked at, and if the page is the last page of the group, it is transmitted to the partner machine. The EOP indicating the end of is output and the transmission ends. On the other hand, if it is not the last page of the group, the next page SZ, F / S is read, and if F / S, SZ is the same as the previous page, the MPS signal indicating that the next page is also sent in the same mode is output. If they are different, the EOM signal indicating that the pre-procedure is repeated from the beginning is sent to the other device.

The flow of image data in each mode of M4-1 to M4-4 will be described below.

(M4-1) Main scanning dots, sub-scanning line density conversion not performed Image data in RAM9 is added with fill bits by Fill23-3 and sent from NCU21 via modem 19. Also, CG2
5 output raw data is MH coded by ENC23-1, and direct fill
Not transferred to.

(M4-2) With sub-scan line density conversion The MPU23 converts the MH output of RAM9 from the fine to the standard by F / S23-4 with the MH code as it is, that is, deletes every other data, RAM3, 5, Output to 7. MH data in RAM3,5,7 is
A fill bit is added in Fill23-3 and transferred to the modem 19. Also, output raw data of CG25 is ENC23-1, RAM3,
It is output to Fill 23-3 via 5, 7.

(M4-3) With main scanning dot number conversion MPU23 extracts MH image data from RAM9, and DEC23-2
Convert to run length code RL with and convert B4 to A4 in the state of RL. Then at ENC23-1, return to MH code again and FiF
o Output to RAM3,5,7 used as memory. Then F
A fill bit is added in ill23-3 and transferred to the modem 19. Output raw data of CG25 is also converted to MH code by ENC23-1, and then transferred to Fill23-3 via RAM3, 5, and 7.

(M4-4) With both conversions MPU23 performs F / S conversion of MH data in FIFORAM9 as MH.
After converting to DEC23-2 run length code RL, B4 / A4
Convert and convert the converted run length code RL to ENC23-1
Return to MH code with and transfer to RAM3,5,7. Similarly, the output of CG25 is transferred to Fill via ENC23-1, RAM3, 5, and 7.

(Mode M5) G2 memory transmission ... Fig. 9 The MPU 23 extracts the MH code from the FIFORAM9, decodes it into the run length code RL, converts it to raw data RAW, and transfers it to the RAM5, 7 alternately line by line. And sequentially RAM
Raw data is extracted from 5, 7 and transferred to the modem 19. Also, when performing a mode conversion from fine to standard, RA
F / S23-4 conversion is performed between M9 and DEC23-2, and B4 / A423-5 conversion is performed between two DEC23-2 in the case of performing minute amount.

The output data of the CG 25 is transferred to the modem 19 via the RAMs 5 and 7 in the form of raw data RAW. However, at that time, the data of CG25 is sent twice at 7.71ine / mm in the sub-scanning direction without skipping the scanning lines, thereby doubling the character size vertically as compared with the G3 mode. This is done to ensure that the source information can be read even in the G2 mode because the image quality of the G2 is greatly deteriorated due to the analog transmission of the G2.

(Mode M6) G2 Original transmission ... Fig. 10 All data is transferred in the form of raw data. The reading unit 1 writes the image data for one line as raw data into the RAM 3 in response to a read command from the MPU 23. Then, the MPU23 directly transfers the data of RAM3 to the two line buffers RAM5 and RAM7.
Transfer lines line by line. Then, in response to the data request interrupt from the modem, the raw data is transferred to the RAM 5 byte by byte.
Or, transfer from RAM 7 to modem 19.

Character information such as a source record added to the beginning of the image is transferred from the CG 25 to the RAMs 5 and 7 as raw data.

In the G2 mode, 1728-bit image data including a synchronization signal is written in RAM5 and RAM7. The image signal corresponding to this synchronizing signal is created by the MPU 23.

(Mode M7, M8) G3 reception MR mode, RAM9 can be used (impossible) ... Fig. 11 When the MPU23 receives the MR code from the line via NCU21 and modem 19, first the fill bit is deleted and the data is stored in RAM9. If there is no, go to RAM9, if there is data in RAM9, go to RAM3 MR
Transfer the code as it is. And MR sequentially from RAM9 or RAM3
The code is extracted, decoded into the line length code RL, and then alternately transferred to the RAM5 and RAM7 line by line. At the same time, the line length code RL is transferred to the recording unit 17 and recorded. The decoded line length code RL is transferred to and stored in RAM5 and RAM7 because it is used as previous line information when MR coding is performed.

(Mode M9, M10) G3 reception MH mode RAM9 usable (impossible) ... Fig. 12 When MPU23 receives MR code from line via NCU21 and modem 19, first fill bit is deleted and RAM9 is usable. If so, transfer to RAM9, if not possible, transfer to MH3,5,7 as MH code. Then, the MH code is sequentially extracted from the RAM 9 or 3, 5, and 7, converted into the line length code RL, transferred to the recording unit 17, and recorded.

(Mode M11) G2 reception ... Fig. 13 Since uncompressed raw data is sent in G2 mode, MPU2
When the raw data 3 is received from the line through the NCU 21 and the modem 19, the raw data 3 is transferred to the line buffers RAM5 and RAM7 alternately line by line. Then, the raw data is sequentially extracted from the RAM5 and RAM7, transferred to the recording unit 17, and recorded.

The image signal 1728 bits for one line demodulated by the modem 19 is written in the RAM5 and RAM7. This includes the image signal obtained by demodulating the synchronization signal, so the MPU23
When transmitting to the recording unit 17, the image signal corresponding to the sync signal is excluded.

(Mode M12) Memory storage Fig. 14 It is almost the same as mode M1 until it is stored in FIFORAM9 with MH code, except that there is no data from CG25, and when transferring to RAM9, from RAM13 to the top of the page It is to add the label LB for file management.

Here, the label will be described.

The label consists of 24 bytes as shown in Fig. 15. 1
At the 3rd byte, there is an LPM indicating that the labeled data is the last page and an NPA indicating where the start address of the next page is. Information for each page is entered in the 4th byte. In the 4th byte MSB, when the data is divided into not only page units but also group units, information GE indicating whether or not it is the last page of the group is entered. The F / S contains data on whether the scanning line density is standard (3.85 lines / mm) or fine (7.7 lines / mm).

The MD stores information indicating in which state the data in the RAM 9 is stored as MH, MR, RL, RAW or ASCII code. In SZ
Information on whether the data in the RAM9 is the reading width A4, B4 or A3 is entered.

The fifth byte is the GPC, which indicates the page number within the group when the data is divided into groups. The 6th to 9th bytes contain the total line number PLN of the page, the 10th to 14th bytes contain the time when the memory was stored, and the 10th byte contains "minutes".
The 11th byte stores "hour", the 12th byte stores "day", the 13th byte stores "month", and the 14th byte stores "year". Further 15th
The file name PFN of the page is entered as a code in the ~ 24th byte.

Then, at the time of memory transmission and memory copy, the mode is determined and information is added based on the information in this label. Is printed, the information in the label LB is ignored during memory transmission and the transmission time is sent. When time specified transmission is performed, the time printed on the received image is not the time stored in RAM9,
This is taken into consideration so that the actual time of transmission is reached.

In addition, the image data and label LB once stored in RAM9
Are cleared manually by the operator and automatically. The flow of automatic clear is shown in Fig. 16. That is, it is determined whether or not the memory transmission is completed, and when the memory transmission is completed, it is determined whether or not the transmission reservation of the image data is made. If the image data is not reserved for transmission, the image data is cleared from the RAM 9 and returns to the standby mode. On the other hand, when the memory transmission is not completed or when the transmission of the image data is reserved, the image data is not cleared and the process returns to the standby mode.

Note that memory clear is not performed after memory copy.

(Mode M13) Memory copy ... FIG. 17 (A) The MPU 23 sequentially extracts the MH code from the DRAM 9, converts it into a line length code, and transfers it to the recording unit 17 for recording. Further, the header information is converted from the character code into raw data via the MPU, transferred to the recording unit 17, and recorded. Regarding the time in the header, the time when the memory storage in the file management label LB stored in the RAM 9 is performed is converted into an image by the CG 25 and recorded in the recording unit 17.

FIG. 17 (B) shows a time management subroutine. First, in the transmission mode, the clock 27 managed by the MPU 23 (Fig. 1)
The date and time data of is output to CG25, and the transmission time is transmitted together with the image. At the same time, the T
Memorize the time with ELNO. Also, the date and time data TD in the label is output to the CG25 when copying the memory. When the memory is stored, the date and time data of the above clock is stored in RAM9 as data TD
Output as. Also, at the time of reception, the data of the clock 27 is stored in the RAM 13 together with the other party's TELNO. In the case of the manuscript copy mode, the time data has no influence.

(Mode M14) Original copy ... Fig. 18 The reading unit 1 writes the data for one line which receives the read command from the MPU 23 to the RAM 3 in the form of raw data RAW. And MPU23
Sequentially extracts the raw data from the RAM 3, transfers it to the recording unit 17, and records it. The CG25 output data is recorded in the form of raw data in the recording unit 17
Will be transferred to and recorded.

<Effect> As described above, when the image signal stored in the storage means is transmitted, the image transmitting device of the present invention determines whether or not the transmission reservation of the stored image signal is made, and if the transmission reservation is not made. Since the stored image signal is cleared, the necessary image signal is not cleared, and
The image signal can be erased without bothering the operator, and a new image signal can be stored in the erased portion, so that the storage means can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a basic control block diagram of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, and FIGS. 3 (a), (b), and (c) are 14 types of MPU23. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the operation unit 50, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of image data in the mode M1, and FIG. 6 (A) is a flow of image data in the mode M2. FIG. 6 (B) is a flow chart for storing CG data in MH code and MR data in MR9 for image data, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the flow of image data in mode M3, FIG. 8 ( FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the flow of image data in mode M4, and FIG. 8B shows mode M4 depending on the partner machine.
FIG. 8 (C) is a diagram showing a page end subroutine, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of image data in mode M5, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing image data in mode M6. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of image data in modes M7 and M8, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of image data in modes M9 and M10, and FIG. 13 is a flow of image data in mode M11. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of image data in mode M12, Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the structure of a file management label attached to the top of the page when image data is stored in RAM 9, Fig. 16 Is a flow chart for automatically clearing the image data in RAM9. Fig. 17 (A) is a diagram showing the flow of image data in mode M13. Fig. 17 (B) is a diagram showing a time management subroutine. It is a figure which shows the flow of the image data of M14. 1 ... Reading unit 3,5,7 ... RAM 9 ... FIFORAM used as image memory 23 ... MPU 25 ... CG

Front page continued (72) Inventor Motoaki Yoshino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yasuhide Ueno 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Nobuhiro Watanabe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inoue Yosei 3-30-3 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) ) Inventor Ken Ono 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shigeo Miura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References Special Kaisho 58-184866 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Storage means for storing an image signal, means for transmitting the image signal stored in the storage means, and storage means for transmitting the image signal stored in the storage means by the transmission means Determination means for determining whether or not the image signal stored in the storage means is reserved, and clear means for clearing the image signal stored in the storage means if the determination means determines that the transmission signal is not reserved. An image transmitting apparatus comprising: