JPH04157978A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently perform the processing at the time of reception of data slightly exceeding a fixed size by determining whether the excess of data over a reference quantity should be printed out or not in accordance with this excess. CONSTITUTION:When data transfer to a recording paper 38 is terminated, a signal PRBLEND indicating the end of transfer to a printer block is outputted from a subscanning address counter 150-2 to a CPU 71. The CPU 71 detects the signal PRBLEND to expand next code data; and when transfer of expanded data to an empty buffer memory VB11 is terminated, data is transferred from a next buffer memory VB13 to the recording paper 38 in the same manner, and transfer of expanded data to a buffer memory VB12 is started after the end of this transfer. Consequently, the part which does not reach the picture data quantity corresponding to the discrimination criterion is not recorded and is omitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine that temporarily stores received data and then prints it using cut paper.

[Prior Art] In recent years, an increasing number of facsimile machines are using sheet-shaped cut paper instead of roll paper as recording paper for file convenience.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-242168 discloses a facsimile machine that performs print processing using cut sheets. This facsimile device has an image memory that can store data for one sheet of recording paper. When the received data is long, or when the received data becomes image data larger than normal cut paper due to printing from the sender or incoming printing, etc. For image data with a length of It is something to do.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional facsimile machine as described above, when oscillation light printing and incoming call printing are added, even if the original is a standard size at the sender, the original is a non-standard size at the receiver. must be treated as such. Therefore, even if such a small amount of information that is not very important is added, the image may be reduced in size and its resolution may be reduced, or two sheets of recording paper may be used, making it less efficient. It cannot be called image processing.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a facsimile device that can efficiently process even when the transmitted data slightly exceeds the standard size. shall be.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes: a data receiving means for receiving at least one group of encoded data; a data decompressing means for decompressing the received data into print data; a storage means for storing the decompressed print data; an output means for outputting the stored data for printing; and a storage means for comparing the stored data with a first predetermined amount for each group to which it belongs, A detection means for detecting the amount of excess data that has exceeded, and based on the output of the detection means, stored data that is less than a first predetermined amount is output for printing, but if the excess data is less than a second predetermined amount , the data is not output for printing, and when the excess data exceeds the second predetermined amount, the excess data is output at a predetermined timing after the output of the stored data below the first predetermined amount is completed. and control means for controlling the output means to output for printing.

[Operation] Depending on the amount of excess data that exceeds the first predetermined amount as a reference, whether or not to print out that data is controlled.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a document reading section for sending and a printing section for receiving in a laser facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a document reading section 1 is operated by a scanner 4 that moves a document placed on a platen 2 while irradiating the document with a light source 3 . The reflected light from the original is reflected by a mirror and enters a linear CCD sensor 6 (for example, 8 pixels/mm) via a lens 5. The output signal of the linear CCD sensor 6 is digitized and binarized as explained later. Although the document is fixed in this embodiment, the configuration can be further simplified if the reading operation is performed in a moving document type in which the document placed thereon moves.

In the printing section 1 , a laser optical system 2 controls the light emission of a laser diode based on a received signal, and laser light is incident on a photoreceptor 13 . Then, development, transfer, fixing, etc. are performed using well-known electrophotographic processes, and the received signal is printed on plain paper fed from the paper feed cassette 14a or 14b. Since the reading and printing operations described above are similar to those of conventional laser printers, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, an outline of the operation of the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.

First, the operation on the calling side will be explained.

A photoelectric conversion section 3 including a linear CCD sensor 6 of the document reading section 1 converts the document image into an electrical signal. Next, a predetermined binarization process (dither process, etc.) is performed in the processing unit 32, and the signal is converted into a binary time series signal. The converted data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40. Next, the data read out from the buffer memory 40 is encoded by the compression section 33 using a method such as MH or MR. Next, the encoded signal is transmitted to the transmission control unit 3 connected to the code memory 34.
Connection with the called party is established by 5, and 9 is connected in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
The data signal stored in the No. 1 memory 34 or the line connection section 3
6 to the line.

Next, the operation of the called party will be explained.

When the transmission control section 35 receives a connection request from the calling side via the line connection section 36, the line is connected, the received signal is received, and the signal is stored in the code memory 34. Extension part 37
expands and decodes the signal in the code memory 34, and the decoded signal is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40.

The signal output from the buffer memory 40 is sent to the recording section 38.
is converted into a signal that can be output. Note that the control unit 39 controls the above-mentioned signal processing in response to the display on the operation display unit 5.

Next, a signal compression method will be explained. Storing electrical signals as they are in a facsimile machine takes time and increases memory capacity, so electrical signals are compressed using patterns that tend to appear (continuous white signals, continuous black signals).

Electrical signal compression methods include the MR method as shown in Figure 3;
There are three types: MR method and MMR method.

One-dimensional encoding is a method of encoding the continuous length (run length) of pixels of the same color, white pixels and black pixels, that appear alternately on one line. A method of encoding based on the positional relationship between the position of each changed pixel on a line (encoding line) and the corresponding changed pixel on a reference line immediately before the encoding line. Here, the changed pixel refers to the first pixel that changes from white to black or from black to white.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram centered on the CPU 71 included in the three control units shown in FIG. In the figure, the CPU 71 has
RAM72 for work, clock IC7B for timer,
ROM74 and PIO75 are connected. Also,
The CPU 71 includes a key matrix 52 of the operation display section 51.
58 and an LCD display section 59 are connected.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the main flow of the CPU 71 in FIG.

In step S1, initial settings after resetting the CPU 71 are performed. In step S2, input/output processing of the CPU 71 is performed. In step S3, the control mode that changes according to the input signal from the PIO 75 is checked and branched into each mode. Control mode value is “0”
Then the program goes to standby mode in step S4, "1"
If it is "2", the process advances to the receiving mode in step S5, and if it is "2", the process advances to other processing in step S6. In the standby mode of step S4, the CPU 71 waits for an incoming signal due to key operation input or reception operation. When the device is performing reception processing, the program performs reception mode processing in step S5. When processing other than standby mode or reception mode, such as transmission mode or one-touch dial registration, other processing S
6 subroutine is executed. After each process ends, the program returns to step S2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing specific details of the processing in the standby mode (step S4) in FIG.

In step 5101, the input of an incoming signal is checked. If an incoming call signal is being input, the control mode is set to "1" in step 5102 and the process returns. If no incoming signal is input, the program proceeds to step S], 0B, performs other processing, and returns.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the main blocks in FIG. 2.

In the figure, data received via the line connection unit 36 and transmission control unit 35 is stored in the code memory 34. The encoded data stored in the code memory 34 is decompressed by the decompressing section 37 upon receiving a print command. The decompression unit 37 includes the code memory 34
a restoring circuit 101 that restores encoded data outputted from the printer to print data; and a line end detector that can detect line end data indicating the end of one line by expanding the encoded data. circuit 1
02, and a line number counter 103 that counts the number of lines detected by the line end detection circuit 102. That is, the code data is expanded in the expansion section 37, and the number of data lines constituting the received data can be detected along with the expansion operation. The image data expanded and restored by the expansion section 37 is first written to the buffer memory VBII. Note that the order in which data is written to the buffer memory does not necessarily have to be the buffer memory VBII first, but any one of the buffer memories VB12, VB13, and VB14 may be used. When the image data has been written to the buffer memory VBII, the decompression unit 37
Next, starts writing the expanded image data in the buffer memory VB12 in the same manner. Next, buffer memory VB
12, the buffer memory V
Data is written to B13. In this embodiment, the buffer memory is composed of four blocks, so when the writing of data to the buffer memory VB13 is completed, the CPU 71 detects the end of writing and sends a recording start signal to the recording section 38. In response to the signal, the recording section 38 feeds the recording paper from the cassette 14a or 14b, and when the recording paper reaches the predetermined position to start printing, the print start signal is sent to the CPU 71 with the next code stored in the code memory 34. send. Upon receiving this signal, the CPU 71 selects the buffer memory V.
Transfer of image data from the BII to the recording unit 38 is started.

At the same time, the decompression unit 37 decompresses the next code data held in the code memory 34, and similarly
Image data is written to 14. In this case, gate 2 provided for each buffer memory VBll to VB14
Among the gates 21 to 224, only the gate 224 is enabled for the operation of the buffer memory VB14, and the other gates 221 to 224 are disabled. The gates 229 to 232 on the recording section 38 side are operated as shown below.

When data is being read from buffer memory VBII, only gate 229 is enabled and gates 230-232 are disabled. Further, since the gate 220 is enabled only when the CPU 71 accesses the buffer memory, it is in a disabled state at this time. In addition, the selector 200
and 201 select respective addresses of the buffer memory for transfer to the recording unit 38. Selector 202
selects the address of buffer memory VBII, and selector 203 selects the address of buffer memory VB12,
Selector 204 selects the address of buffer memory VB13. Also, in this case, since no read operation is being performed, gates 225-228 are in a disabled state. Latch 210. The path buffer 211 is provided in the decompression unit 37 and the compression unit 33 to share a data bus and an address bus and perform time-division processing.

Generally, the decompression speed by the decompression unit 38 is faster than the transfer speed to the printer, so the buffer memory VBII
From the operation of transferring data, the buffer memory VB14
The operation of decompressing and writing the encoded data ends faster. When the writing of the image data into the buffer memory VB14 is completed, the operation of the decompression unit 37 goes into a standby state. and,
When the transfer of data from the buffer memory VBII to the recording section 38 is completed, that is, when the sub-scanning address counter 150-2 that counts the sub-scanning address of the data transferred to the recording section 38 counts a predetermined address, PRBLEN indicating the end of transfer to printer block
The D signal is sent from the sub-scanning address counter 150-2 to the CPU.
71. As a result, next the buffer memory V
Similarly, data begins to be transferred to the recording unit 38 from B12.

Upon detecting the PRBLEND signal, the CPU 71 decompresses the next coded data and starts transferring the decompressed data to the empty buffer memory VBII. When the transfer to the buffer memory is completed, the data is similarly transferred from the next buffer memory VB13 to the recording unit 38, and after the transfer is completed, the expanded data is transferred to the buffer memory VB12. Thereafter, data expansion and transfer processing is performed one after another in the same manner.

The above is the general operation of each component in the receiving operation.

Next, specific processing operations in the reception mode as an embodiment of the present invention will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG.

When the control mode becomes "1" and the reception mode is entered, the reception data is stored in the -H code memory 34 in step S51. Next, in step S52, it is determined whether one page of transmission data has been written into the code memory. Note that this determination is made by detecting a code indicating the page end of the received data. After the writing of one page of received data to the code memory is completed, it is determined in step 853 whether or not the printer has finished printing out the previous page. After waiting for the printout of the previous page to finish, in step S54, the code data stored in the code memory 30 is decompressed by the restoration circuit 101, and all the received data for one page is configured by the line end detection circuit 102. Count the number of data lines. And based on the number of data lines counted, 1
Determine how many pages of print paper to output the received data for pages.

For example, the number of prints P can be determined by the following equation.

P=INT(α/ (297+30)l +1 where,
gun is the received data length, in mm. For example, with standard data, 1 mm corresponds to 3.85 lines, but in fine mode, 1 mm corresponds to 7.7 lines.

Also, in this case, the cut paper is assumed to be A4 size,
297 mm indicates the length in the vertical direction of A4 size paper. Note that 30 mm takes incoming printing and sender printing into consideration, and if the data exceeds this range, the number of sheets P is determined so that it is output on one sheet.

Note that in step S54, after decompressing the data stored in the code memory 34, it is written to the buffer memory in the manner described above, but since the purpose of this step is to count the number of data lines, No printing operation is performed. Therefore, the decompressed image data does not necessarily need to be written to the buffer memory.

Next, in accordance with the number of print sheets determined in step S55, an operation is performed to print the code data of the number of data lines for one sheet of print paper. Specifically, in the manner described above, the code data stored in the code memory 34 is temporarily transferred to the buffer memory 40 (VBII, VB12.VBl).
B, VB14) and transfer it to the recording unit 38.

In step S56, it is determined whether the number of prints P is 1 or not. If the number of prints is plural, the number of prints P is not l, so the process advances to step S58, where the number of prints P is decremented by one. And step S59
Wait until printing for one page is finished, and then proceed to step S.
Return to 55.

Subsequently, a printing operation is performed for the number of data lines for the second print sheet.

In this way, the operations of step 358 and step S59 are repeated until the number of prints P becomes 1, and when the number of prints reaches P=1, the process proceeds to step S57.
It is determined whether new received data is stored in the code memory 34.

If new received data is stored, step S5
Returning to step 2, the same operation as above is repeated, but if no new received data is stored in the code memory 34, the operation in this reception mode ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing specific contents of the receiving mode shown in FIG. 5, according to another embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 0 is a diagram showing an example of received data for explaining this flowchart.

This flowchart will be explained below with reference to the specific example shown in FIG.

When the control mode becomes "1", the reception mode program is executed, and the received data is first stored in the code memory 30 in step 5301. In this example, two pages of received data are stored in the code memory 30. In step 5302, it is determined whether writing of one page of received data into the code memory has been completed.

If writing for one page has been completed, step 8303
Then, it is determined whether printing out of the previous page of data that has already been received has been completed. If the previous page has been printed out, in step 5304, the receiving boot 1
The code data of the page is expanded and the number of data lines constituting the data is counted. The decompressed image data is then transferred to the buffer memory, and then transferred from the buffer memory to the recording section.

Next, in step 5306, it is determined whether or not the printing unit has finished outputting the first print sheet.

In this example, the image data up to the part indicated by the broken line ■ corresponds to the output of the first print from the recording section. Wait for this first print to finish outputting,
In step 5307, the code memory of the first page of the reception boot after the broken line ■ is expanded and the number of lines is counted. Similarly, the image data decompressed in step 8308 is transferred to the buffer memory.

Next, in step 5309, it is determined whether or not a predetermined amount of image data serving as a determination criterion exists in the transferred buffer memory. In this embodiment, one buffer memory has the capacity for the determination criterion. but,
The capacity of one buffer memory does not necessarily have to be the capacity of the determination criterion, and it is sufficient to separately provide means for detecting whether or not there is image data with the capacity of the determination criterion.

In this example, the amount of image data enclosed between the broken line (■) and the dashed-dotted line (■) corresponds to the determination criterion.

If there is data for the judgment standard, the data for the judgment standard is transferred to the recording unit in step 8310, and the data for the judgment standard is transferred to the recording unit in step 530.
Return to 4. That is, if there is data for the determination standard in the buffer memory, the processing from step 8304 onwards will be performed to output that portion of image data.

In this example, the image data between the broken line ■ and the remaining part of the first page of the receiving boot is larger than the judgment standard, so that part of the image data is sent to the printer section to be output as the second print page. It will be transferred. Therefore, in this case, the same processing as the image processing for the first print is performed as the image processing for the second print. In other words, the dashed line ■
The last code data of the first page of the received boot is expanded and the number of data lines is counted and transferred to the buffer memory. The data from the last part of the first page of the receive boot to the last part of the second print, that is, the part marked with a broken line ■, is not included in the first page of the receive boot, so the white data for that part is stored in the buffer memory. and then transferred to the recording unit.

When the processing of the image data up to the part indicated by the broken line ■ is completed, the second print does not contain the data for the judgment base, so the process advances from step 8309 to step 5311, and the image of the second print is processed. Processing ends. In this example, since the received data includes the second page, wait for the recording output of the first page to be completed in step S3]1.
Proceed to step 5312. Then, the process returns to step 5302 to process the second page of received data.

As for the processing for the second page of received data, the same processing as described above is performed as the image processing for the third print sheet up to the portion indicated by the broken line ■. After the output of the third print sheet is completed, in step 5307, the code data after the broken line ■ is expanded, and the number of data lines is counted and transferred to the buffer memory. In this case, the dashed line ■
The part of the second page of the received data sandwiched between and the one-dot chain line ■, that is, the amount that exceeds the image data of the third print does not reach the image data amount of the determination standard. Therefore, the image data of that portion is not transferred to the recording unit, and the process proceeds to step 5311, and as a result, that data is not recorded and is discarded. In this way,
The processing of the second page of received data is also completed, and the image processing in the reception mode is completed.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in this invention, whether or not to print out the data is controlled depending on the amount of excess data that exceeds the first predetermined amount as a reference. If data is received that slightly exceeds
Efficient processing becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing various compression methods. 4 is a circuit diagram centered on the CPU included in the three control units in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the main flow of the CPU 71 in FIG. 4.
6 is a flowchart showing the specific contents of the standby mode in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the specific configuration of the main blocks in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is a specific diagram of the reception mode in FIG. 5. A flowchart diagram according to one embodiment showing the content of the
FIG. 10 is a flowchart according to another embodiment showing specific contents of the reception mode shown in FIG. In the figure, 33 is a compression unit, 34 is a code memory, 35 is a transmission control unit, 36 is a line connection unit, 37 is an expansion unit, 38 is a recording unit, 3 are control units, 40 is a buffer memory, and 41 is an image mode. A detection unit, 7] is a CPU, 1.01 is a restoration circuit, 102 is a line end detection circuit, 103 is a line number counter, and VBl, 1 to VB14 are buffer memories. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or corresponding parts. 1'24 - Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] Data receiving means for receiving at least one group of encoded data; data decompression means for decompressing the received data into print data; and storing the decompressed print data. storage means; output means for outputting the stored data for printing; and comparing the stored data with a first predetermined amount for each group to which the stored data belongs, and determining whether the stored data exceeds the first predetermined amount. a detection means for detecting the amount of data; and based on the output of the detection means, stored data that is less than the first predetermined amount is output for printing, but the excess data is less than or equal to the second predetermined amount. In this case, the data is not output for printing, and when the excess data exceeds the second predetermined amount, at a predetermined timing after the output of the stored data below the first predetermined amount is completed. and control means for controlling the output means to output the excess data for printing.