JPH02184167A - Portable picture transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a portable picture transmitter and to attain the transmission/reception of picture information from a visiting place by storing picture information to be sent/received into an external storage means removable from the transmitter main body and using a voice coupler so as to send the picture information. CONSTITUTION:When a read means 20 reads a picture on an original face, the read picture is resolved into picture elements by a code conversion means 21 and encoded and then stored in an external storage means 6 connecting to the code conversion means 21. In the case of sending the picture information, a read/write means 22 reads the encoded picture information from the external storage means 6 and transfers it to a transmission control means 24, which modulates the encoded picture information into a voice signal and sends the modulated voice signal to a transmission line by the sound coupling system. In the case of receiving the picture information, the picture information decoded via the transmission control means 24 is stored in the external storage means 6 by the read/write means 22. Thus, the portable picture transmitter which is able to be carried and able to send and receive the picture information at the visiting location is obtained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an image transmission device, and more specifically, image information obtained by converting pixels separated from an image into electrical signals is stored in a storage means. The present invention relates to a portable image transmission device that transmits data using an acoustic coupling method.

(B) Conventional technology Normally, a facsimile machine as an image transmission device is used while being installed on a desk, and when transmitting data, a scanning unit reads the image on the document surface and encodes the read image. It converts the image signal into an image signal and transmits the image signal to the destination facsimile via the modem. When receiving, the image signal transmitted from the destination facsimile is reproduced into an image by the demodulation circuit, and the reproduced image is operated to be printed by the printing device within the apparatus. In this manner, conventional stationary facsimile machines are configured to directly transmit read information and visually output received information using a printing device within the device.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with conventional stationary facsimiles, the power to drive the printing device must be supplied from a commercial power source, making it impossible to carry and use the facsimile. Furthermore, even if the power used to drive the printing device was replaced with a battery, it would consume too much power, making it impossible to print a large number of pages, making it impossible to construct a practical portable facsimile. Therefore, even if you obtain the information you want to transmit,
This has caused inconvenience in an information society where information is handled in real time, as users always have to go up to the location where the facsimile machine is installed.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a portable image transmission device that is portable and capable of transmitting and receiving image information at a destination.

(d) Means for Solving the Problem This invention comprises a reading means for reading image information such as characters and figures, and decomposing the image information outputted from the reading means into pixels and converting the decomposed pixels into code information. code converting means for outputting the code;
an external storage means for readably storing the code information output from the code conversion means when connected to the code conversion means; and an external storage means for reading the code information from the external storage means at the time of transmission, and storing it in the external storage means at the time of reception. a continuous output/writing means for writing code information, a code information read from the external storage means at the time of transmission, which is modulated into an audio signal and sent to the transmission path by acoustic coupling, and an audio signal received from the transmission path at the time of reception; This is a portable image transmission device comprising a transmission control means for demodulating code information and inputting it to a reading/writing means.

In this invention, the acoustic coupling may consist of an audio coupler.

(E) Function According to this invention, when an image on the document surface is read by the reading means, the read image is decomposed into pixels and encoded by the code conversion means, and this encoded image information f
μ is stored in external storage means connected to the sign conversion means. When transmitting image information, the output/writing means reads the encoded image information from the external storage means and transfers it to the transmission control means, and the transmission control means modulates the encoded image information into an audio signal. Then, the modulated audio signal is sent out to the transmission path using an acoustic coupling method. When receiving image information, the image information decoded via the transmission control means is read out/
The information is stored in the external storage means by the writing means.

(F) EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples shown in the figures. Note that this invention is not limited by this.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable facsimile device which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is provided with a transmission mode button for selecting a transmission mode (fine mode, standard mode, etc.), a communication button for executing transmission, and a character input key for inputting a file name manually. 3
is the document insertion slot, 4 is the CD display that displays the transmitted content, 5 is the audio cover, and 6 is the R that can be inserted and removed from the main body of the device.
The AM card 7 is a rechargeable battery that supplies power to the device main body 1 when stored in the device main body 1, and 8 is a main body cover.

Further, FIG. 2 shows a printer prepared independently of the portable facsimile A, and this printer B is used as necessary when visually outputting the image information stored in the rZAM card 6. be.

In the figure, reference numeral 9 denotes operation keys including a start button for executing printing, which instructs the file name, page number, etc. of the file to be read from the INAM card 6. I0 is L that displays the file name to be read, etc.
CD display, l! I2 is a paper sheet on which the received image information is printed, and I2 is a power cord.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the main parts of the portable facsimile A and the structure of the main parts of the printer 13. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a CCD sensor as a reading means, which reads images such as characters, figures, photographs, etc. from the surface of a document which is set in the document insertion slot 3 of the portable facsimile machine and which mainly contains black and white information. Reference numeral 21 denotes an image information processing section as a code conversion means, which includes a clock generation circuit 21a, a sampling circuit 21b, a binarization circuit 21c, and a DMA circuit 2.
It is composed of Id and line memory 21e.

The image processing unit 21 decomposes the image read by the CCD sensor 20 into pixels, and encodes the decomposed pixels into binary values of white and black.

22 is a CPU as a continuous output/writing means, which is also composed of a microprocessor, reads encoded image information from the RAM card 6 at the time of transmission, and demodulates and encoded image information at the time of reception. Write. A RAM card 6 serving as an external storage means is detachably connected to the main body of the device via an I10 port 23.
When connected to the CPU 22, code information output from the image processing section 21 is stored in a readable manner.

This RAM card 6 also stores image information that is combined upon reception. 24 is an image information transmission unit as a transmission control means, which includes a modem 24a and a network control II l
? The L I U circuit 24b, which is a circuit, and the audio coupler 24
At the time of transmission, the image information read from the +1 AM card 6 is modulated into an audio signal by the modem 24a, and this audio signal is sent to a telephone line (not shown) as a transmission path by the acoustic coupler 24c. . Also, when receiving audio signals sent from the telephone line, the modem 24a
The image information is demodulated into image information and input to the CPU 22.

25 shows the main circuit of printer B, in which only the RAM card 6 in which image information is stored is removed from the device main body I and set in the I10 port 26 of printer B, and then the LCD
While looking at the display IO, press the operation key 9 to input the desired file number, and press the start button to print the received image information. This printer circuit 25 includes a print control circuit 25a and a line head 25.
It is composed of b.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of data stored in the RAM card 6 mentioned above. The flAM RAM card 6 only needs to have a memory structure, and data is written for each address via the I10 port 23.

The control area 6a stores data for managing files, and manages pages and one document using header information. Therefore, RAM card 6
When reading out image information from a file, it is possible to output even one image by specifying the file name and page.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained by dividing it into "reading image information,""transmitting image information,""receiving image information," and "transmitting image information from the telephone box."

Reading image information In FIG. 3, when the image on the document surface is read line by line by the CCD sensor 20 and the sampling circuit 21b, the read image is converted into black and white by the binarization circuit 21c.
The encoded image information is digitally encoded into a value, and the encoded image information is DM
It is transferred to the line memory 21e by the A circuit 21d.

Next, the CPU 22 transfers the encoded information temporarily stored in the line memory 21e to the RAM via the I10 port 23.
Store it in card 6. The procedure for writing image information into the RAM card 6 is as follows.

(1) Enter data related to image information to be read into the control area 6a of the IIAM card. The data includes an address (indicated by AI and A2 in FIG. 4), a file name set at the time of image input, date and time, and the sender's telephone number at the time of reception. (2
) Insert header information before image information. Header information is data related to the image encoding method, that is, MH (Mo
divided IIufTman) method or M
n (Modified Read) method, or MMIt (the same algorithm as the M11 method,
These include encoding method data indicating whether the encoding method is an encoding method that has increased the maximum compression efficiency or another method, image quality data such as "Standard" or "Fine", the number of pages in the l file, etc. In this embodiment, the information stored in the RAM card 6 is generally MMl'? It is encoded using the following method.

(3) Image information is stored following the header information. (
4) Jl'l'C signal (6 indicating the last line of one page)
The storage operation is terminated by the EOL signal). (4) If there is next image information, enter the header information and repeat the above procedure. Next, if there is no image information, control area 6
Store the bottom address in a and end.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing various data related to image information stored in the RAM card 6. In the same figure, the control area 6a contains the current bottom address Ax, the address A1 related to the transmission data, the file name, the transmission time,
Address A2 regarding received data. The reception time and the recipient's telephone number are registered. Also, each address AI, A
2 stores the number of pages of image information, encoding system, and image quality data.

Transmission of image information When transmitting image information from the RAM card 6 in FIG. Refer to the control area 6a of
Search for the address of the specified file, and then read the image information of the specified file. (2) Image information is once decoded line by line on the line memory 21e based on the header information. (3) Furthermore, it is encoded again using the set encoding method to create 1942 worth of image information, and the created image information is transferred to the modem 24a. (4) Modem 24
a sends out the transferred image information to the telephone line via the LIU circuit 24b.

Reception of image information (1) Image information is received by decoding every line using the same procedure as in a conventional fixed-type facsimile.

However, the received image information is printed again instead of being printed.
11 encoding and stored in the rtAMRAM card 6.

(2) By referring to the bottom address of the control area 6a, header information and image information are stored after this address. Further, the destination number, reception time, and address are set in the control area 6a. (3
) The decoding, MMR encoding, and RAM card storage processing of image information are performed simultaneously. (4) Set header information each time the page changes and receive the next image information. (5
) When the image information is finished, the bottom address is set in the control area 6a and the reception is finished. The received image information is printed by replacing the RAM card 6 with printer B, then inputting the file number using the operation keys of printer B, and pressing the start button.

Sending image information from the telephone box (1) Portable facsimile A 1. : Connect RAM card 6 and set it to read mode. (2) After inputting the file name, the image of the manuscript is read into the RAM card 6. (3) Go to the telephone box. (4) Set the receiver on the audio coupler 5 of the portable facsimile A. (
5) Enter the file name. (6) Call the other party,
Check the answer tone of the recipient's fax machine. (7) Press the communication button on the operation panel 2.

(8) Image information corresponding to the designated file is read from the RAM card 6 and transmitted to the destination facsimile. (9) When the transmission is finished, a buzzer will sound the end. (lO) Remove the receiver from the audio coupler 5 and complete the transmission of the image information.

Note that the reading operations in steps (1) and (2) described above may be performed when necessary. Further, the end notification in step (9) may be visually outputted on the LCD display 4.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to this invention, the printing section is separated from the main body of the apparatus and becomes independent. Image information to be transmitted and received is stored in an external storage means that can be connected to the main body of the apparatus in a detachable manner, and the image information is stored in an external storage means that can be connected to the main body of the apparatus in a detachable manner. Since it is configured to transmit information, a portable image transmission device can be provided, and image information can be transmitted and received from a moving destination. According to this invention, image information can be carried around by removing the external storage device, and by replacing a plurality of external storage devices, it is possible to transmit and receive a plurality of types of image information.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external view of a portable facsimile machine that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an external view of a printer used for printing image information, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. , FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the RAM card shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the data contents stored in the RAM card shown in FIG. 3. 20... Reading means, 21... Code conversion means, 6... External storage means, 22...
- Reading/writing means, 24...Transmission control means. Fig. 3 Fig. 2 Fig. 5 Consilo → L area

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading image information such as characters and figures, a code conversion means for decomposing the image information outputted from the reading means into pixels and converting the decomposed pixels into code information and outputting the code information, and the code conversion means an external storage means that is detachably connected to the code converter and stores code information outputted from the code converter in a readable manner when connected to the code converter;
At the time of transmission, the code information is read from the external storage means,
A reading/writing means writes code information to the external storage means at the time of reception, modulates the code information read from the external storage means at the time of transmission into an audio signal, sends it to the transmission line by acoustic coupling, and sends it from the transmission line at the time of reception. A portable image transmission device comprising a transmission control means for demodulating a received audio signal into code information and inputting it to a reading/writing means.