JPH0884229A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the probability of memory overflow on the way of memory storage of the reserved transmission information by decoding at least one page of stored image already coded when memory full overflow takes place on the way of reading of an original, reducing the resolution and coding the data again. CONSTITUTION: A reader section 1 is an image input device to convert an original into image data, and a printer 2 having plural kinds of recording paper cassettes is an image output device providing the image data to recording paper as a visual image by a print instruction. An external device 3 is connected electrically to the reader section 1 to enhance various functions. The device 3 is made up of a core section 10, a facsimile section 4 coupled therewith, a file section 5, a computer interface section 7, a formatter section 8, an image memory section 9 and each function controls the core section 10. Thus, when the memory stores information by transmission reservation and the memory is fully occupied, the resolution is revised again and trouble of rereading is omitted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to transmission reservation in an image forming apparatus having a facsimile function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, when a memory overflows during transmission reservation (during memory storage), a transmission operation is performed to cancel a read job until then, or until the overflow occurs. It is known to take a corresponding method such as one job.

[0003]

However, in the conventional transmission reservation, when the memory overflows, in the method of canceling the read job until then, the user erases unnecessary memory data or lowers the resolution. It is necessary to read the manuscript again. In this case, the larger the number of originals, the more complicated the re-reading is and the more the user is burdened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a facsimile function, which can reduce the probability that the memory will overflow during the storage of the transmission reservation memory and reduce the complexity of the work.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, when a memory full occurs during the reading of a document, at least one page (or all) of an image already encoded and stored can be decoded to obtain a resolution. By lowering and re-encoding, the memory capacity can be gained and the memory overflow during the job can be suppressed.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The reader unit 1 is an image input device for converting a document into image data, and the printer 2 has a plurality of recording paper cassettes, and outputs image data as a visible image on the recording paper according to a print command. It is an image output device.

The external device 3 is electrically connected to the reader unit 1 and has various functions. Specifically, the external device 3 uses a fax unit 4 for controlling facsimile communication and an image storage device for storing image file data. File part 5
A man-machine interface unit 6 connected to the file unit 5, a computer interface unit 7 for connecting to a computer, a formatter unit 8 for converting information from the computer into a visible image, and a reader unit 1. Image memory unit 9 for accumulating information of a computer or temporarily accumulating information sent from a computer
And a core unit 10 that controls each of the above functions. Hereinafter, the function of each unit will be described in detail.

First, a detailed description of the reader section will be given with reference to FIGS.
Using.

The originals stacked on the original feeding device 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the surface of the original glass 102. When the document is conveyed, the lamp of the scanner unit 103 lights up and the scanner unit 104 moves to irradiate the document. The reflected light of the original is reflected by the mirrors 105, 106, 10
After passing through the lens 108, the light is input to the CCD image sensor unit (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 109.

Next, the image processing in the reader 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image information input to the CCD 109 is photoelectrically converted here and converted into an electric signal.
The color information from the CCD 109 is transferred to the next amplifier 110.
The signals are amplified by R, 110G, and 110B according to the input signal level of the A / D converter 111.

The output signal from the A / D converter 111 is input to the shading circuit 112, where the lamp 10
The light distribution unevenness of No. 3 and the sensitivity unevenness of the CCD are corrected. The signal from the shading circuit 112 is input to the Y signal generation color detection circuit 113 and the external I / F switching circuit 119.

The Y signal generation color detection circuit 113 calculates the signal from the shading circuit 112 by the following equation and Y
Get the signal.

Y = 0.3R + 0.6G + 0.1B Further, it has a color detection circuit (not shown) for separating the R, G, B signals into seven colors and outputting the signals for the respective colors. The output signal from the Y signal generation color detection circuit 113 is input to the scaling / repeat circuit 114. Scaling in the sub-scanning direction is performed according to the scanning speed of the scanner unit 104, and scaling in the main scanning direction is performed by the scaling circuit 114. Further, the repeat circuit 114 can output a plurality of same images.

The contour / edge emphasis circuit 115 obtains edge emphasis and contour information by emphasizing a high frequency component of the signal from the scaling / repeat circuit 114. The signal from the contour / edge emphasis circuit 115 is used for marker area determination /
It is input to the contour generation circuit 116 and the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117.

Marker area determination / contour generation circuit 116
Generates contour information of a reading marker of a portion written with a marker pen of a specified color on the document, and a patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 is used to thicken or mask the contour information. Trimming.
Further, patterning is performed by the color detection signal from the Y signal generation color detection circuit 113.

The output signal from the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 is input to the laser driver circuit and variously processed signals are converted into signals for driving the laser. The signal from the laser driver is input to the printer unit 2 and image formation is performed as a visible image.

Next, the external I / F switching circuit 119 for interfacing with an external device will be described. When outputting image information from the reader 1 to the external device 3, the external I / F switching circuit 119 outputs the image information from the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 to the connector 120. In addition, when the reader 1 inputs image information from the external device 3, the external switching circuit 1
19 inputs the image information from the connector 120 to the Y signal generation color detection circuit 113.

The above image processing is performed in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 122, and the area generation circuit 121 generates various timing signals necessary for the image processing based on the values set by the CPU 122. In addition, the CPU 122
Communication with the external device 3 is performed using the communication function built in the. The SUBCPU 123 controls the operation unit 124 and communicates with the external device 3 using the communication function built in the SUBCPU 123.

The memory 125 is a storage unit for forming an image, which is backed up by a battery and stores high-voltage data and the like and a personal identification number and the like.

Next, the printer section 2 will be described. The signal input to the printer unit 2 is the exposure control unit 201.
In accordance with the image signal converted into an optical signal in the photoconductor 20
Irradiate 2. The latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by the irradiation light is developed by the developing device 203. Further, the transfer paper stacking unit 20 is combined with the timing of the latent image.
The transfer paper is conveyed from 4 or 205, and the developed image is transferred in the transfer unit 206. The transferred image is fixed on the transfer target paper by the fixing unit 207, and then the paper output unit 2
It is discharged to outside the device from 08. The transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208 is discharged to each bin when the sort function is working in the sorter 220 or to the highest bin of the sorter when the sort function is not working. .

Next, a method for outputting sequentially read images on both sides of one output sheet will be described. Fixing unit 20
The output sheet fixed in 7 is once conveyed to the sheet discharge unit 208, and then the direction of the sheet is reversed to change the conveying direction switching member 20.
It is conveyed to the re-transferred transfer paper stacking section 210 via 9.
Then, when the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as the above process, but since the transfer paper is fed from the re-feed transfer target paper stacking section 210, in the end,
It is possible to output two document images on the front surface and the back surface of the same output paper.

Next, the function of each part of the external device 3 will be described.

First, the core portion 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The connector 1001 of the core unit 10 is connected to the connector 120 of the reader unit 1 by a cable. This connector 1
Three kinds of signals are built in 001, and the signal line 1054 is for an 8-bit multivalued video signal and a video control signal. The signal line 1051 communicates with the CPU 122 in the reader 1, and the signal line 1
052 communicates with the SUBCPU 123 in the reader 1. Signal line 1052 and signal line 105
3 is subjected to communication protocol processing by the communication IC 1002,
Communication information is transmitted to the CPU 1003 via the CPU bus 1053.

The signal line 1054 is a bidirectional signal line, and is capable of receiving information from the reader 1 in the core unit 10 and outputting information from the core unit 10 to the reader unit 1. The signal line 1054 is connected to the binarization circuit 1004, the connector 1010, and the connector 1013. The connector 1010 is connected to the file unit 5, and the connector 1013 is connected to the image memory unit 9.
Connected with.

The binarization circuit 1004 uses the signal line 105.
It has a function of converting the 4-bit multi-level signal of 4 into a binary signal. The binarization circuit 1004 includes a multilevel signal line 10
Simple 2 to binarize 54 signal at fixed slice level
It has a binarizing function, a binarizing function by a variable slice level in which the slice level varies from the values of pixels around the pixel of interest, and a binarizing function by an error diffusion method. The output signal line 1055 of the binarization circuit 1004 is the rotation circuit 1
005 and the selector 1008.

The rotating circuit 1005 functions together with the memory 1006, and after converting the information output from the reader unit 1 into a binary signal in the binarizing circuit 1004 via the connector 1001, it is controlled by the rotating circuit 1005. Memory 10
Information from the reader is stored in 06. Next, the CPU 10
The rotation circuit 1005 causes the memory 1
The information from 006 is rotated and read. The output signal line 1056 of the rotation circuit 1005 is connected to the expansion circuit 10
It is input to 07.

Enlargement circuit 1007 uses signal line 1056.
First, the binary signal of is converted into a multi-valued signal. Signal line 1
When the signal of 056 is 0, it is converted into 00hex, and when the signal of the signal line 1056 is 1, it is converted into FFhex. The enlargement circuit 1007 is X
It is possible to set the enlargement ratio independently of the direction and the Y direction. The expansion method is a first-order linear interpolation method. The output signal line 1054 of the expansion circuit 1007 is connected to the CPU 1003.
Is input to the connector 1001, the connector 1010, or the connector 1013.

Output signal line 10 of binarization circuit 1004
55 and the output signal line 1056 of the rotating circuit 1005 are input to the selector 1008 and selected by the instruction of the CPU 1003. The output signal line 1058 of the selector 1008 has a connector 1009 and a connector 101.
0, and the connector 1012.

The CPU bus 1053 is connected to the CPU 1003,
Communication IC 1002, connector 1009, connector 101
0, connector 1011, connector 1012, connector 1
013 is connected. CPU 1003 is a communication IC
Communication with the reader unit 1 is performed via 1002. Also, C
The PU 1003 communicates with the fax unit 4 via the connector 1009. Similarly, communication is performed with the file unit 5 via the connector 1010, the computer interface unit 7 via the connector 1011, the formatter unit 8 via the connector 1012, and the image memory unit 9 via the connector 1013.

The signal flow of the core section 10 and each section will be described below.

First, the operation of the core unit 10 based on the information of the fax unit 4 will be described from the case of outputting the information to the fax unit 4.

The CPU 1003 communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication IC 1002 and issues a document scan command. The reader unit 1 causes the scanner unit 104 to scan the document according to this command,
The image information is output to the connector 120. The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and the information from the reader unit 1 is input to the connector 1001 of the core unit 10. The image information input to the connector 1001 is multivalued 8
Binarization circuit 100 through signal line 1054 of bit
4 is input.

The binarization circuit 1004 is connected to the signal line 105.
The 8-bit multilevel signal of 4 is converted into a binarized signal. This 2
The binarized signal is sent from the signal line 1055 to the selector 1008.
Alternatively, it is input to the rotation circuit 1005. Rotating circuit 100
The output signal line 1056 of No. 5 is also input to the selector 1008, and the selector 1008 selects either the signal line 1055 or the signal line 1056. The signal selection is
It is determined by the CPU 1003 communicating with the fax unit 4 via the data bus 1053. Selector 100
The binarized signal from 8 is sent from the signal line 1058 to the fax unit 4 via the connector 1009.

Next, the case of receiving information from the fax unit 4 will be described. The image information from the fax unit 4 is transmitted to the signal line 1058 as a binarized signal via the connector 1009. Selector 1008 is CP
According to the instruction of U1003, the input signal from the signal line 1058 is output to the signal line 1055 or the signal line 1056. When the signal line 1055 is selected, the binarized signal from the fax unit 4 is rotated by the rotation circuit 1005 and then input to the next enlargement circuit 1007.
The signal line 105 as an output signal from the selector 1008
When 6 is selected, it is directly input to the enlarging circuit 1007 without undergoing the rotation process. The enlarging circuit 1007 converts the binary signal into an 8-bit multivalue and then performs an enlarging process by a linear interpolation method of the first order.

The 8-bit multilevel signal from the expansion circuit 1007 is sent to the reader unit 1 via the connector 1001.
The reader unit 1 inputs this signal to the external I / F switching circuit 119 via the connector 120. The external I / F switching circuit 119 inputs the signal from the fax unit 4 to the Y signal generation color detection circuit 113. The output signal from the Y signal generation color detection circuit 113 is subjected to the above-described processing and then output to the printer unit 2 to form an image on an output sheet.

Next, the core section 10 based on the information of the file section
First, the operation of outputting information to the file unit 5 will be described.

The CPU 1003 communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication IC 1002 and issues a document scan command. In the reader unit 1, this command causes
By scanning the document with the scanner unit 104,
The image information is output to the connector 120. The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and the information from the reader unit 1 is input to the connector 1001 of the core unit 10.

The image information input to the connector 1001 is input to the connector 1010 or the binarization circuit 1004 through the multi-level 8-bit signal line 1054. When the file unit 5 compresses 8-bit multivalued information for filing, the information on the signal line 1054 is input to the connector 1
It is sent to the file unit 5 via 010. File part 5 is 2
When compressing and filing the value information, the binarization circuit 1004 performs binarization. The binarization process and the rotation process are the same as those in the case of the fax unit 4 described above, and will be omitted. Binary signal line 1 from selector 1008
058 is sent to the file unit 5 via the connector 1010.

Next, the case of receiving information from the file unit 5 will be described. The image information from the file unit 5 is sent via the connector 1010 to the signal line 1054 in the case of an 8-bit multilevel signal and the signal line 1 in the case of a binary signal.
058 is transmitted. The signal on the signal line 1054 is sent to the reader unit 1 via the connector 1001. The signal on the signal line 1058 is input to the selector 1008.

The selector 1008 sends the signal on the signal line 1058 to the signal line 105 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003.
5 or signal line 1056. When the signal line 1055 is selected, the signal line 1055 is rotated and then input to the next enlargement circuit 1007. Further, when the signal line 1056 is selected as the output signal from the selector 1008, the enlargement circuit 100 is directly subjected to no rotation processing.
Input to 7. The 8-bit multilevel signal from the expansion circuit 1007 is sent to the reader unit 1 via the connector 1001. The information of the file section sent to the reader section 1 is output to the printer section 2 and image formation is performed on the output paper, similarly to the fax section 4 described above.

Next, details of the fax unit 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

The fax unit 4 is connected to the core unit 10 by the connector 400 and exchanges various signals. The signal on the signal line 451 is a bidirectional binarized image signal and is connected to the buffer 401. The buffer 401 outputs the bidirectional signal on the signal line 451 to the output signal line 452 from the fax unit 4 and the input signal line 453 to the fax unit 4.
To separate. The signals on the signal line 452 and the signal line 453 are input to the selector 402, and the selector 402
Is selected by an instruction from the CPU 412.

That is, when the binary information from the core unit 10 is stored in any of the memories A405 to D408, the selector 402 selects the signal line 453. When data is transferred from one memory (any one of A405 to D408) to another memory, the selector 402 selects the signal line 452.
The output signal (signal line 453) of the selector 402 is input to the scaling circuit 403 and subjected to scaling processing.

When the read resolution of 400 dpi of the reader unit 1 is transmitted by fax, the scaling circuit 403 converts the resolution according to the fax on the receiving side. Magnification circuit 403
Output signal (signal line 454) is input to the memory controller 404, and under the control of the memory controller 404, the memory A 405, the memory B 406, and the memory C 40.
7. Any of the memories D408 or two sets of memories connected in cascade.

The memory controller 404 is the CPU 41.
According to the instruction No. 2, a mode for exchanging data with the memory A 405, the memory B 406, the memory C 407, the memory D 408 and the CPU bus 462, and a mode for exchanging data with the CODEC bus 463 of the CODEC 411 having an encoding / decoding function. , Timing generation circuit 40
Binary video input data (signal line 45
4) has the four functions of the mode of storing in any of the memories A405 to D408 and the mode of outputting the memory contents from any of the memories A405 to D408 to the read signal line 452. Memory A405,
The memory B406, the memory C407, and the memory D408 are
Each has a capacity of 2 Mbytes and stores an image corresponding to A4 at a resolution of 400 dpi.

The timing generation circuit 409 is connected to the connector 400 by a signal line 459, and has control signals (HSYNC, HEN, VSYN) from the core section 10.
C, VEN) to generate signals to achieve the following two functions. One is one of the memory A405 to the memory D408 for the image signal from the core unit 10.
The function of storing in one memory or the two memories, and the function of transmitting to the read signal line 452 from any one of the memories A405 to D408.

The dual port memory 410 is connected to the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via a signal line 461 and the CPU 412 of the fax unit 4 via a signal line 462. Each CPU exchanges commands via the dual port memory 410. SCSI
The controller 413 interfaces with a hard disk connected to the fax unit 4. Stores the data when sending a fax and when receiving a fax.

The CODEC 411 reads out the image information stored in any of the memories A405 to D408, encodes it according to a desired method of the MH, MR, and MMR systems, and then stores it in one of the memories A405 to D408. Is stored as encoded information. Also, the memory A4
05 to the memory D 408, the coded information stored in the memory D 405 is read and decoded by a desired method of MH, MR, and MMR, and then stored in any of the memories A 405 to D 408 as the decoded information, that is, image information. .

The MODEM 414 has a function of modulating the coded information from the hard disk connected to the CODEC 411 or the SCSI controller 413 for transmission on the telephone line, and demodulating the information sent from the NCU 415 to obtain the coded information. And the encoded information is transferred to the hard disk connected to the CODEC 411 or the SCSI controller 413.

The NCU 415 directly exchanges information with a telephone exchange directly connected to a telephone line and installed in a telephone office or the like according to a predetermined procedure.

Next, an example of control in fax transmission will be described. The binary image signal from the reader unit 1 is sent to the connector 4
00 and the signal passes through the signal line 451 and the buffer 40.
Input to 1. The buffer 401 outputs the signal of the signal line 451 to the signal line 453 according to the setting of the CPU 412. The signal on the signal line 453 is input to the selector 402.
Then, it reaches the scaling circuit 403.

The scaling circuit 403 has a resolution of 4 in the reader unit 1.
Convert from 00 dpi to fax transmission resolution. The signal on the output signal line 454 from the scaling circuit 403 is stored in the memory A 405 by the memory controller 404. The timing stored in the memory A 405 is generated by the timing generation circuit 409 according to the timing signal (signal line 459) from the reader unit 1.

The CPU 412 is the memory controller 40.
4 memory A 405 and memory B 406 are CODEC
It is connected to the bus line 463 of 411. CODEC41
1 reads the image information from the memory A405,
Encoding is performed by the R method, and the encoded information is written in the memory B406. CODEC41 for A4 size image information
When 1 is encoded, the CPU 412 connects the memory B 406 of the memory controller 404 to the CPU bus 462.

The CPU 412 sequentially reads the coded information from the memory B 406, and the SCSI controller 4
13 and stores it in the hard disk 11. The above operation is repeated to store one document in the hard disk 11.

At the time of transmission, the hard disk 11
The coded data is sequentially called and written in the memory A 405 of the memory controller 404, and the CODEC 411
The decoded data is expanded in the memory B 406 via. Here, header information of the transmission time is added, and if resolution conversion / magnification is necessary in accordance with the receiving capability of the partner device, the magnification circuit 7-3 magnifies the designated image. Further, the data is encoded according to the capability of the partner device and written in the memory B406.

The CPU 412 switches to the CPU bus 462 and transfers the encoded information to the MODEM 414. MODEM 414 modulates the encoded information,
The fax information is transmitted on the public line via the NCU 415.

Next, an example of control in fax reception will be described. The information sent from the public line is NCU415
To the MODEM 414 and demodulated. CP
U412, through the CPU462, MODEM414
Write information from memory to memory C407.

When the information for one page is stored in the memory C407, it is transferred to the SCSI controller 413 and stored in the hard disk 11. The above operation is repeated to store one document.

In the immediate print mode, the encoded data once stored in the hard disk 11 is transferred from the SCSI controller 413 to the memory C407 and the CO
It is decoded through the DEC 411 and expanded in the memory D408.

Further, if necessary according to the size of the output paper, the magnification is changed through the magnification changing circuit 7-3.

The CPU 412 is the dual port memory 4
The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 communicates with the printer unit 2 via the memory D 408 through the core unit 10.
Make settings to print out the image. Upon completion of this setting, the CPU 412 causes the timing generation circuit 4
09 is activated, and a predetermined timing signal is output from the signal line 460 to the memory controller. The memory controller 404 reads the image information from the memory D 408 in synchronization with the signal from the timing generation circuit 409 and transmits it to the signal line 452. The signal on the signal line 452 is input to the buffer 401, and the signal line 451
Is output to the connector 400 via. The description up to the output from the connector 400 to the printer unit 2 is omitted because it has been described in the description of the core unit 10.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of the operation panel provided in the reader unit 1 of this embodiment.

In the figure, a display unit 601 displays the operating state of the apparatus and various messages. The surface of the display unit 601 is a touch panel, and when the surface is touched, it operates as a selection key.

Further, the ten-key pad 602 is for inputting numbers when dialing or the like is performed. A start key 603 is pressed when instructing the start of various operations.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the transmission reservation operation of this embodiment.

Here, a case will be described in which the user makes a transmission reservation for a document of a plurality of pages by designating fine. First, the scanner encodes each page and stores it in the memory (S1), but at this time, the remaining memory capacity is the specified value α.
If it is less than (S2), it is confirmed that the resolution is not the lowest (S3), the image data once encoded is decoded, and the resolution is lowered (S4). Then, the resolution is lowered by one rank (S5). In this example, since it is initially set to fine, it becomes normal.

As a result, encoding is performed again with the amount of information reduced (S6). Under the control of the memory controller 404, these are the scaling circuit 7-3 and the CODEC 4
Via 11.

If the minimum resolution is obtained in S3, a warning message of memory over is displayed in S7, as in the conventional case.

As described above, by lowering the resolution depending on the remaining capacity of the memory, the memory capacity can be saved and all pages can be efficiently stored.

In the above embodiment, all the pages whose resolution is to be reduced are set uniformly, but it is easy to add control to keep the pages to the minimum necessary.

However, when the remaining capacity becomes insufficient when the resolution of all pages reaches the minimum, a warning message indicating that the memory is over is displayed.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention,
If the memory becomes full during the storage of the memory due to the transmission reservation, it is possible to save the trouble of resetting the resolution and reloading.

There is also an effect that the process of designating and transmitting the resolution can be realized with the most efficient combination without the user being aware of it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a mechanical portion in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing circuit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fax unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a transmission reservation operation of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Reader unit, 2 ... Printer unit, 3 ... External device, 4 ... Fax unit, 7 ... Computer interface unit, 8 ... Formatter unit, 9 ... Image memory unit, 10 ... Core unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a facsimile function having a transmission reservation function for transmitting after storing all originals in a storage means, and encoding / decoding control means for encoding and decoding an image,
An original document having a scaling control unit for converting a magnification and a resolution of an image, a resolution designating unit for designating a transmission resolution, a storage unit for storing an image, and a determination unit for determining an unused capacity of the storage unit. In the process of reading, when the unused capacity of the storage means falls below a predetermined threshold value, means for decoding at least one page of the image data that has already been decoded and stored, and lowering the resolution and re-encoding. An image forming apparatus comprising: