JP2000216992A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile equipment for saving a time and costs required for printing by printing only a necessary received image with a simple operation. SOLUTION: An image received via a network controller 12 and an modem 13 is stored in a color image storing device 15 by a controller 14, and the stored image is reduced, and the plural reduced images are developed in a storage device 18 for display, and the desired image in the plural images displayed on a single screen of the display device 10 is designated by an operation button 19, and the designated image is printed by equal magnification by a color printing device 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus capable of printing only a desired received image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus, in order to print long image data in a sub-scanning direction on a cut sheet, an image is reduced after reception so that the image can be accommodated in a standard size. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-307859 discloses that a reduction ratio is set by calculating the number of pages to be printed on one sheet based on the receiving screen size, printing paper size, receiving screen resolution, and printing resolution. A facsimile apparatus for reducing a reception screen and printing a plurality of pages on one sheet is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2-216971 discloses a facsimile apparatus in which image information is reduced on the transmitting side, a plurality of images are combined, and transmitted together with information such as the reduction ratio to the receiving side. Also, JP-A-8-331373 discloses that
2. Description of the Related Art A color image reducing apparatus for reducing a color image so as to reproduce image information as faithfully as possible has been disclosed.

[0004]

However, in general, although it takes a lot of time and cost to print, all the received images that are not always necessary have conventionally been printed, which is wasteful. Further, simply printing in a reduced size degrades the print quality and makes it difficult to read the contents. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to save time and cost required for printing by printing only a necessary received image with a simple operation. To provide a facsimile machine which enables the following.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention comprises a storage means for storing received images, a reduction means for reducing the stored images, and a method for displaying or printing a plurality of images reduced by the reduction means. Developing means for developing in a memory for use; image designating means for designating a desired image among a plurality of images in the memory displayed on a single screen or printed on a single sheet; And printing means for printing the designated image at the same magnification.

The image designating means designates a desired image by designating an index added to the image and displayed or printed, so that the required image can be designated by a simple configuration. Can be. Further, the storage means can store a color image, and the printing means prints a color image in a single color, so that high-speed and economical printing can be performed.

When the received image is a color image, the reducing means does not operate, and the printing means prints the received color image at the same magnification. Printing can be performed, and printing can be speeded up as a whole, and the quality of a color image can be improved. Further, since the reduction means reduces the image at a reduction rate corresponding to the number of pages of one communication received, it is possible to automatically select an image having good visibility according to the number of pages of one communication.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. The telephone network 11 and the facsimile machine are connected by a network controller 12, which is
The telephone network 11 is monitored, and the telephone network 11 is connected to the handset 9 and the modem 13 by switching. The modem 13 converts the digital signal of the image of the facsimile machine into an analog signal suitable for the telephone network 11 and converts the analog signal of the telephone network 11 into a digital signal of the image.

The control device 14, together with the storage device 18, indicates user input and instruction information from the operation buttons 19 and the dial buttons 8, information from the telephone network 11, and the status of each unit of the device. The operation of the apparatus is determined by a signal or the like, an operation instruction is issued to each unit, a necessary signal is transmitted to the telephone network 11, and an instruction to display information and guidance is given to the display apparatus 10.

Further, the control device 14 compresses and expands information of the image signal. This compression and decompression method is based on MH (Mo
In addition to compression and decompression of single-color images such as the Dified Huffman (MR) and Modified READ (MR) systems, JPEG (Joint Photographic E)
xperts Group) compression and decompression. In addition, the control device 14 controls a color image represented by three primary colors of R, G, and B, which are three primary colors of additive colors used when reading the image,
A color image expressed by the three primary colors C, M, and Y, which are the three primary colors used for printing, and a color image expressed by L ^* , a ^* , and b ^* color space coordinates used during transmission and reception are mutually converted. Have the ability to

The color image storage device 15 is a unit for storing a received image, an image read by the color image reading device 17, and the like. A facsimile device equipped with this unit has advanced functions such as image transfer and broadcast. Can be provided. The color printing device 16 prints a color image, and employs a printing mechanism capable of printing colors, such as a color inkjet printer, a color electrostatic printer, and a color thermal transfer printer.

The color image reading device 17 is for reading a color image of a document, and is a light source of three colors, for example, LE.
D, a method in which a fluorescent lamp or the like is sequentially turned on for each reading line to perform reading, or a method in which reading is performed using a photoelectric conversion sensor such as a CCD for three colors provided with three color filters, respectively. As a mechanism to print color images,
In the case where the three primary colors of each pixel have multi-step gradations, such as a silver halide film of a photograph or a sublimation type thermal transfer method,
There is a method in which each color can express only two gradations with or without dots as in a normal ink jet method. In the latter case, when expressing a halftone, a pseudo halftone expression such as a dither method or an error diffusion method is used. When the number of dots of the printer is larger than that of the received image, first, the density of the three primary colors (C, M, Y) is determined for each dot of the printer according to the resolution of the printer by interpolation. Thereafter, at the resolution of the printer, for each primary color, one of the two values, that is, with or without printing, is determined for each print dot by the pseudo halftone technique.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the received image 23 is printed on one page of the recording paper 21 on a plurality of screens. FIG. 2 shows an example in which nine pages of the received image 23, that is, images (1) to (9) are printed on one page of the recording paper 21. For example, if the received image is 200 ppi (pixels per pixel)
Inch) x 200 ppi and the resolution of the printing device is 600
In the case of ppi × 600 ppi, if one pixel of the received image is printed by one dot of the printing device in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the received image 23 of 3 × 3 pages, that is, nine pages is printed on one page of the recording paper 21. be able to.

The color image received from the telephone network 11 is stored in the color image storage device 15 and, as shown in FIG. 2, the received color image is printed on one page of the recording paper. The reduction ratio, that is, how many pages of the received image are to be printed on one page of recording paper is specified by the user using the operation buttons 19 in advance. Further, the reduction ratio can be automatically determined by comparing the resolution of the color printing device 16 with the resolution of the received image so that interpolation for resolution conversion is not performed. If the number of received pages in one communication is smaller than the number of pages that can be printed on one page of the recording paper at the specified reduction ratio, the reduction ratio is automatically corrected so that printing can be performed as large as possible within one page. It is also possible.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the reduced printing of a color image. From the standby state of step S1 to step S
The user specifies the reduction ratio in step 2 (however, the reduction ratio may be automatically corrected as described above). When the color image is received in step S3, the user already specifies the reduction ratio in step S4. The resolution of the received image is converted to the resolution of the printing device according to the given reduction ratio. This conversion is performed by interpolating the received image signal in accordance with the printing resolution. In this case, when the resolution of the color printing device 16 and the resolution of the received image can be expressed by a simple integer ratio, the conversion of the resolution is performed. Becomes easier.

According to this ratio, the reduction ratio can be set to be (1 / integer), and can be designated as a reduction ratio that does not require interpolation for resolution conversion. This eliminates the need for interpolation processing for resolution conversion, and speeds up the processing. The resolution of the received image may be different for each communication. In accordance with the communication resolution, the reduction ratio is automatically selected and set so as to be (1 / integer) as described above. The facsimile apparatus can select a reduction ratio that does not require interpolation of the facsimile.

Also, in contrast to this method, emphasis is placed on visibility,
By performing interpolation for resolution conversion, a plurality of sheets can be printed at a reduction ratio designated by the user as desired. After the received image is converted into the resolution of the color printing device 16, the three primary colors C, M, and Y are converted into pseudo halftones by, for example, an error diffusion method (step S5). Thereafter, the index 22 is inserted into the page of each received image as shown in FIG. 2 (step S6). The index 22 allows a designated page stored in the storage device 18 to be printed at the same magnification by a user inputting and specifying a necessary image.

In FIG. 2, for example, indexes 22 of 1-1 to 1-9 are added to the images (1) to (9), which are the received images 23, respectively. Here, the index 22 is
A number set for each communication and a page number within one communication are shown. However, the form of the index is arbitrary,
It is not limited to this example. Next, in step S7, the storage device 18 is set so that the reduced image is printed as shown in FIG.
Is re-arranged, and printing is performed in step S8. After the printing is completed, the process returns to the standby state (step S9).

FIG. 5 shows the method of printing a plurality of images on one page in more detail. The color image storage device 15 manages variable-length data and requires complicated management.
The image file management table 24 shown in FIG. 5A is obtained by extracting a part related to the present invention from the management table. The image file management table 24 includes a communication number 31 assigned a number for each communication, and an image number 3 assigned a serial number for each image.
2, a distinction 33 between color and single color, an image resolution 34, and an image storage address 35.

When the image is received, as shown in FIG. 5B, the received image (1), image (2),... Are stored in the color image storage device 15 and the image is stored in the image file management table. Store the information. When printing multiple screens, the image is reduced and further converted to pseudo halftone,
The print page memory 25 shown in (c) is rearranged and stored at a given address. At the same time, the communication number 31 and the image number 32 are called from the image file management table, and the numbers are converted into a dot pattern by using the character generator in the storage device 18, and the index 22 is stored in the page memory 25 at an address corresponding to each image. To be stored. Thereby, the arrangement of the index 22 is completed.
When the page memory 25 is completed, the image data of the image is sent to the color printing device 16 and printed.

The facsimile apparatus stores the designated image in a color image by inputting an index 22 of a received image requiring an equal-size image from the operation buttons 19 or the dial buttons 8 among the reduced images described above. Apparatus 1
5 and can be printed. After printing, the facsimile checks whether the printed image is
0, the user answers YES and NO from the operation buttons 19, and if there is an instruction for erasure, the image shown in FIG. The corresponding data is deleted from the image file management table of FIG.

Here, a method of limiting the reduction ratio to a simple integer ratio will be described. The storage device 1 is configured as an allowable reduction ratio list in ascending order of reduction ratios permitted by a simple integer ratio, starting from the smallest.
8 is stored. The reduction ratio of the received image printing is obtained from the resolution of the received image, the size of the received image, the number of images to be printed on one designated page, the image resolution and the image size of the color printing device 16. The closest reduction ratio having a larger reduction ratio than the obtained reduction ratio is obtained from the above-described allowable reduction ratio list, and this is determined as the print reduction ratio. Thus, a simple integer ratio reduction ratio can be specified.

The reduction of the image is achieved by setting the ratio of the number of dots of the image viewed from the resolution of the printer to the number of dots of the received image to 1:
In the case of 1, 1: 2, 1: 3, etc., this can be achieved by thinning out the received images at that ratio. If the reduction ratio is not (1 / integer), image reduction becomes complicated. Even in this case, the reduction process is relatively simple by setting the reduction ratio to a simple integer ratio.

FIG. 6 shows a method for reducing an image when the image reduction ratio is a simple integer ratio. The reduction ratio is selected so as to have a simple integer ratio as described above. The example in FIG.
The case where the reduction ratio is 2: 3 is shown. In FIG. 6, circles indicate pixels 41 of the received original image, and squares indicate pixels 42 of the reduced image to be printed. The received pixels are arranged in the X direction as X1, X2, X3,... And in the Y direction as Y1, Y2, Y3,. On the other hand, the pixels to be printed are XA, XB, X in the X direction.
C, ‥‥‥, and YA, YB, YC,
They are arranged like ‥‥‥. As is clear from this figure, the received image pixel is used as it is for the print pixel overlapping the received image. Print pixels that do not overlap with the received image pixels are determined by interpolating surrounding pixels. For example, the print density of the pixel of (XB, YA) is (X2, Y
Take the average of the pixels 1) and (X3, Y1). (XB,
YB) pixels are (X2, Y2), (X3, Y2),
It is equidistant from the four pixels (X2, Y3) and (X3, Y3), and is determined by the average of these four pixels.

In the above description, since the printing pixels are equidistant from each of the receiving pixels, a simple average may be used.
When the distance from the surrounding receiving pixels differs depending on the receiving pixels, it is necessary to take a weighted average inversely proportional to the distance to determine the density by interpolation. This interpolation is performed for each of the three primary colors for each pixel.

A single-color printing can be performed by instructing a single-color printing from a color image printed with a plurality of pages to which the index 22 has been added from an operation button. In this case, as a single color, a method of using an L ^* component (representing brightness) of a color image represented by L ^* , a ^* , b ^* color space coordinates is most appropriate, but approximately R , G, and B additional colors can be used instead. By printing in a single color, for example, in the case of an ink jet printer, the time and cost required for printing are reduced by using only black ink.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for reducing a monochromatic image. The facsimile machine in the standby state in step S10 enters the reception mode by the incoming call in step S11, receives information on whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image in phase B of the pre-procedure, and determines in step S12 whether the image is a color image. It is determined whether or not the image is a color image. If YES, the process proceeds to step S14, and the color image is printed at the same magnification. If NO in step S12 and the image is a single-color image, the process proceeds to step S13, where the image is reduced and a plurality of received images are printed on one page of recording paper. In the case of a single color, even if the size is reduced, the information does not decrease much.Especially, when no resolution conversion is required, the information is saved and printed as it is, which is an effective method for speeding up printing and eliminating waste of cost. Means. Printing on one page of a plurality of screens in the case of a single color can be realized by exactly the same means as in the case of a color.

If the number of pages in one communication is small and all received pages can be printed on one sheet of recording paper even if the reduction ratio is equal to or less than a value set in advance by the user, the facsimile apparatus automatically sets the minimum possible number. It may be modified to the reduction ratio. In this case, the maximum number of pages that can be printed on one page is limited to 1, 4, 9, 16 and the like. When all pages can be printed at a reduction ratio one step smaller than the designated reduction ratio, the reduction ratio is set to 1 It can be easily realized by reducing the number of stages. By enabling or disabling each of the modes with the operation button 19, it is possible to respond more frequently to the needs of the user.

[0029]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a received image is stored in an image storage device, the image is reduced, and images for a plurality of pages are displayed on a single screen or displayed on a single screen. By printing on paper and printing the necessary images, it is possible to save the time and cost required for printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of printing a plurality of images on recording paper.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of color image reduced printing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for reducing a monochromatic image.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of printing a plurality of images on one page.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for reducing an image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 9 handset 15 color image storage device 16 color printing device 17 color image reading device 21 recording paper 22 index

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing received images, a reduction unit for reducing the stored images, a development unit for developing a plurality of images reduced by the reduction unit in a display or print memory, Image designating means for designating a desired image from the plurality of images in the memory displayed on a single screen or printed on a single sheet, and printing for printing the image designated by the image designating means at the same magnification And facsimile apparatus. 2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image designating means designates a desired image by designating an index which is added to the image and displayed or printed. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is capable of storing a color image, and said printing means prints the color image in a single color. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the received image is a color image, said reducing means does not operate, and said printing means prints the received color image at the same magnification. Facsimile machine. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reduction means reduces the data at a reduction rate corresponding to the number of pages of one received communication.