JP2002096508A - Image communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image communication unit in which a received document can be punctuated plainly when one image communication unit having one received document output tray is shared by a plurality of users. SOLUTION: The image communication unit comprises a laser printer outputting an image as a printer, a laser output period control means which sets a period for outputting 1 dot of image data to be overlaid shorter than a period for outputting 1 dot of a received image when the received image is outputted while being overlaid with specified image data, and means for switching the image data to be overlaid for each communication at the time of printing the received image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus for outputting an image using a laser printer as a printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile machines have become more and more pervasive in society, are closely connected to social life in various forms, and have established themselves as indispensable communication devices next to telephones.

[0003] At present, functions are being expanded and prices are being reduced, and various lineups such as facsimile machines with cordless telephones and facsimile machines with answering machine functions have been developed. In addition, multi-functioning with copiers and printers has progressed, and it is widely used as a communication means for business documents.

[0004]

Generally, most companies use one facsimile machine in a group. Some copier-based multifunction devices have a large number of trays, while most devices output received documents to a single tray. In this case, if a plurality of received documents are output to one tray, it is very inconvenient because the separation is difficult to understand.

[0005] This problem is not limited to facsimile machines.
This problem also occurs in image communication devices other than facsimile devices such as personal computers having an image communication function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image communication apparatus in which a plurality of users can share and use one image communication apparatus having one received document output tray so that the received document can be easily separated. It is assumed that.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a laser printer for outputting an image as a printing device, and outputs one dot of the overlaid image data when a predetermined image data is overlaid on a received image and output. A laser output period control means for outputting a laser output period shorter than a laser output period for outputting one dot of a received image, and a laser output period control means for outputting the received image,
An image communication device having an overlay image data switching unit for switching image data to be overlaid.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus FS1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The facsimile apparatus FS1 includes a control unit 11
An operation unit 12, a line control unit 13, a reading unit 14,
And a printing unit 15.

The control unit 11 controls the entire facsimile machine FS1, and includes a microprocessor, an RO
A microcomputer circuit including an M, a RAM, a clock IC, a DMA controller, a timer, and the like;
The software control of the microcomputer controls the operation of the entire apparatus and manages one-touch dial information and various data such as the name of the sender.

The operation unit 12 includes various keys, a display unit, and the like, and accepts key input by an operator and displays various information.

The communication control unit 13 includes a line interface,
It is constituted by a telephone circuit and the like, and performs transmission / reception of image data and communication control data, control of incoming / outgoing calls of the telephone, and the like.

The reading unit 14 is constituted by a CCD, an A / D (analog, digital) conversion circuit, an image processing circuit, and the like, and performs photoelectric conversion, A / D conversion, image correction, Image processing such as binarization processing is performed.

A printing unit (printer) 15 includes an image processing unit,
The LBP interface unit includes an LBP engine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the printing unit 15 in the above embodiment.

The printing section 15 has an image processing section 21, a printer I / F section 22, and a printer engine 23.

The image processing section 21 has a compression code decoding processing section 24, a smoothing processing section 25, an overlay image generation section 26, and an image OR processing section 27.

The image processing unit 21 decodes the received compressed code data and the read and encoded compressed code data, executes a smoothing process according to the resolution of the data, and generates the generated image data into a printer I / F unit. An image is formed by the printer engine 23 via the printer engine 22.

When overlay data is overlayed on the received image data, the overlay image generation unit 26
And the image data generated by the above and the received image data after smoothing are ORed and output.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the laser on time for the image data to be overlaid and the received image data after smoothing in the above embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the laser-on time of the image data to be overlaid is controlled to be shorter than the laser-on time of the smoothed normal image data (received image data). Thus, when the printer engine 23 develops image data on a drum by laser irradiation, normal image data (received image data)
It is possible to reduce the size of the image data to be overlaid. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reproducibility of normal image data from being deteriorated by overlaying images.

Next, an example of a method of generating image data to be overlaid will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data table of the overlay image and patterns 1 and 2 in the above embodiment.

Bits 1 to 8, 11 to 1 in FIG.
8, 21 to 28 and 31 to 38 are repeated for each line, and the received image is overlaid. When the contents of this table are set, for example, as in pattern 1, the image to be overlaid is a diagonal line that descends to the right as shown in FIG.
Is set, the image to be overlaid looks like a diagonal line falling to the left. If the contents of this table are set to a desired pattern and are switched and output for each received document unit, the division of the received document is clear at a glance.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the overlay image is switched and output for each received document in the above embodiment.

The received document D1 shown in FIG. 5 is an image in which the pattern 1 shown in FIG. 4B is overlaid on the entire page.

The received document D2 shown in FIG. 5 is an image obtained by overlaying the pattern 2 shown in FIG. 4C over the entire page.

Next, the control operation in the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control operation in the above embodiment.

First, if it is necessary to output the received document (S1), the pattern table of the pattern n is set (S2), the pattern number is updated (S3), and the output of the received document is started (S4). . A plurality of contents of the pattern table are stored in, for example, the ROM in the control unit 11, and the contents are sequentially read and set. When the output of the received document of one communication is completed (S5), the image of the pattern n is overlaid on the received document, and the operation of outputting the image ends.

FIG. 7 shows the received document D in the above embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing D4.

The received document D3 is an example of an image output in which an overlay image (image of pattern 1) is overlaid only on the header portion. Like received document D3, 1
By overlaying the image only on the header portion without overlaying the image on the entire page, the breaks in the document can be easily understood.

The readability of the received document D3 is deteriorated as compared with the case where the image is overlaid on the entire page.
Reproducibility of the received data is maintained, and the amount of toner consumption can be suppressed. Although not shown, this can be easily realized by a line counter and a register for setting the number of print stop lines in the overlay image generation unit 26.

The received document D3 is obtained by overlaying a lower right diagonal line, and the received document D4 is obtained by overlaying a lower left diagonal line.

According to the above embodiment, in a facsimile apparatus which outputs an image by using a laser printer as a printing device, when a predetermined image data is overlaid on a received image and output, one dot of the image data to be overlaid is output. The output time is shorter than the laser output period for outputting one dot of the received image, and when printing the received image, the image data to be overlaid is switched for each communication. , 1
Even when a single facsimile apparatus having one received document output tray is shared and used by a plurality of users, the division of the received document is easily understood.

Further, by means for setting a section to be overlaid, for example, only in a received image header portion,
The overlay image can be overlaid, and the division of the received document can be easily understood while maintaining the reproducibility of the received image.

The above embodiment can be applied to other image communication devices such as a personal computer having an image communication function.

By the way, conventionally, in most cases, one facsimile is generally used in a group in a company.

In such a usage environment, when a plurality of documents are received, there is a problem that the urgency and the destination of the documents are difficult to understand.

The above problem is a problem that occurs in other image communication devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image communication apparatus in which the urgency and destination of a document can be easily understood even when a plurality of users share one facsimile as described above. Things.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus FS2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The facsimile system FS2 includes a control unit 111 for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus, and an operation unit 112.
, Line control unit 113, reading unit 114, and printing unit 11
And 5.

The control unit 11 includes a microprocessor, RO
A microcomputer circuit including an M, a RAM, a clock IC, a DMA controller, a timer, and the like;
The software control of the microcomputer controls the operation of the entire apparatus and manages one-touch dial information and various data such as the name of the sender.

The operation unit 112 includes various keys, a display unit, and the like, and accepts key input by an operator and displays various information.

The communication control section (communication control means) 113 is constituted by a line interface, a telephone circuit, and the like, and performs transmission and reception of image data and communication control data, and controls outgoing / incoming calls of the telephone.

The reading unit 114 is constituted by a CCD, an A / D (analog, digital) conversion circuit, an image processing circuit, and the like.
Image processing such as A / D conversion, image correction, and binarization processing is performed.

The printing section (printer) 115 includes an image processing section, an LBP interface section, and an LBP engine.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the printing unit 115 in the facsimile machine FS2.

The printing unit 115 has an image processing unit 121, a printer I / F unit 122, and a printer engine 123.

The image processing section 121 has a compression code decoding section 124, a smoothing processing section 125, an overlay image generation section 126, and an image OR circuit 127.

The image processing unit 121 decodes the received compressed code data or the read and encoded compressed code data, executes a smoothing process according to the resolution of the data, and outputs the generated image data to the printer I / O. F part 12
2, an image is formed by the printer engine 123.

When overlay data is overlaid on the image data, the image data generated by the overlay image generation unit 126 and the image data after smoothing are ORed and output.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the laser-on time of the received image data after smoothing and the laser-on time of the image data to be overlaid in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

As shown in FIG. 10, the image data to be overlaid is controlled to be shorter than the laser-on time of the smoothed normal image data (received image data). By doing so, when developing an image on a drum by laser irradiation in the printer engine 123, the size of the image data to be overlaid can be smaller than the size of normal image data.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reproducibility of normal image data (received image data) from being deteriorated by overlaying images.

Next, a method of generating image data to be overlaid in the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing line buffers 141 and 142 and a selector 143 for outputting an overlay image in the facsimile machine FS2.

The line buffers 141 and 142 are switched and output in units of lines to form an overlay image. The control unit 111 sequentially rewrites the contents of the line buffers 141 and 142, so that the image data to be overlaid can be set freely.

Further, by adopting such a line buffer configuration, it is not necessary to provide an extra DMA (direct memory access) for forming an overlay image, and a desired overlay can be obtained without greatly changing the system. Can be formed.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the overlay image output in response to the designation of the overlay image output on the transmission side in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

First, it is necessary to output the received document (S11), and if there is a designation from the transmitting side to output an overlay image (S12), the designated image data is set in the line buffers 141 and 142 (S12). S13). When specifying the overlay image from the sending side, for example,
U standard T. The 30th non-standard device setting uses the NSS FIF 4th and subsequent bytes.

Here, if the overlay image is output or not, the type of image data to be output is set in advance, and the receiving side selects and outputs the overlay image according to the content. When the output of the received document starts, the control unit sequentially
The line buffer is updated to form an overlay image (S14). The control ends when the output of the received document ends (S15).

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which an image is overlaid in the facsimile apparatus FS2 according to the above control.

The image example shown in FIG. 13 is an example in which the character “urgent” is overlaid. However, in addition to the character “urgent”, various images such as “confidential” can be overlaid.

Next, the control operation of the overlay image output in response to the designation of the overlay image output by the transmission side sub address in the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the overlay image output in response to the designation of the overlay image output by the subaddress of the transmission side in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

First, it is necessary to output the received document (S21), and if there is an overlay image output designation by the sub address from the transmission side (S22), the image data designated by the sub address is set in the line buffer (S23). . In the subaddress, a recipient can be specified, and image data according to the recipient can be overlaid.

When the output of the received document starts, the control unit 111
Sequentially update the line buffer to form an overlay image (S24). When the output of the received document ends, the control ends (S25).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a received document on which an image is overlaid according to the above control in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

The received document D5 is “to Sales D
The word “vision” is overlaid only on the first page of the received image.
The characters "to Make Division" are overlaid only on the first page of the received image.

According to the facsimile apparatus FS2, in a facsimile apparatus which outputs an image by using a laser printer as a printing device, when outputting image data over an output image, one dot of the image data to be overlaid is output. Set the laser output period to 1
It has a means for outputting shorter than the laser output period for outputting dots, has a plurality of dedicated line buffers for storing the image to be overlaid, and uses the image data stored in the line buffer as an overlay image. By outputting, image data can be freely overlaid without adding a DMA or the like.

In a facsimile apparatus which outputs an image by using a laser printer as a printing device, when an image data is overlaid on an output image and output, a laser output period for outputting one dot of the overlaid image data is set as follows. Means for outputting shorter than the laser output period for outputting one dot of the received image, and when printing the received image, by overlaying and outputting the image data designated by the transmitting side, Documents to be conveyed or important documents can be distinguished from other documents.

Further, in a facsimile apparatus which outputs an image by using a laser printer as a printing device, when the image data is overlaid on the output image and output, the laser output period for outputting one dot of the overlaid image data is set as follows. A means for outputting shorter than the laser output period for outputting one dot of the received image, and selecting and outputting the image data to be overlaid according to the subaddress sent from the transmitting side, thereby enabling the destination of the document to be output. Can be clarified.

[0075]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when a plurality of users share one image communication apparatus having one received document output tray, the received document can be separated. It has the effect of being easy.

According to the third to sixth aspects of the present invention, even when a single facsimile is shared and used by a plurality of users, it is possible to easily understand the urgency and destination of a document.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile machine FS1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of a printing unit 15 in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of overlay image data and smoothed received image data in the above embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between laser on times.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data table of an overlay image and patterns 1 and 2 in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an overlay image is switched and output in units of a received document in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing received documents D3 and D4 in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus FS2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a printing unit 115 in the facsimile apparatus FS2.
It is a figure which shows the specific example of.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a laser-on time of received image data after smoothing and a laser-on time of image data to be overlaid in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

FIG. 11 shows line buffers 141 and 14 for outputting an overlay image in the facsimile apparatus FS2.
2 is a diagram showing a selector 143. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control operation of overlay image output in response to designation of overlay image output on the transmission side in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which an image is overlaid in the facsimile apparatus FS2 according to the above control.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation of controlling the overlay image output in response to the designation of the overlay image output by the sub address on the transmission side in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a received document in which an image is overlaid according to the above control in the facsimile apparatus FS2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 FS1, FS2: facsimile machine, 11, 111: control unit, 12, 112: operation unit, 13, 113: line control unit, 14, 114: reading unit, 15, 115: printing unit. 21, 121: Image processing unit, 22, 122: Printer I / F unit, 23, 123: Printer engine.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C062 KA07 2C087 AA03 AC08 BC02 BD01 BD08 BD40 CA05 CB03 CB13 2C187 AC07 AD03 5C074 AA13 BB03 CC26 DD05 DD07 DD16 DD30 5C076 AA12 BA02 BA06

Claims (7)

[Claims] A laser printer for outputting an image as a printing device; one of image data to be overlaid when a predetermined image data is overlaid on a received image and output;
Laser output period control means for outputting a laser output period for outputting dots shorter than a laser output period for outputting one dot of a received image; and for printing a received image, And an overlay image data switching means for switching image data to be overlaid. 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for setting a section in which an image to be overlaid is to be overlaid. 3. A laser printer for outputting an image as a printing device; one of image data to be overlaid when a predetermined image data is overlaid on a received image and output.
Laser output period control means for outputting a laser output period for outputting dots shorter than a laser output period for outputting one dot of a received image; and a plurality of line buffers for accumulating an overlay image; Output control means for outputting the image data stored in the plurality of line buffers as an overlay image. 4. A laser printer for outputting an image as a printing device; and a laser output period for outputting one dot of the image data to be overlaid when the image data is overlaid on a received image. Laser output period control means for outputting shorter than the laser output period for outputting one dot; and output control means for overlaying and outputting image data specified by the transmission side when printing a received image. An image communication device comprising: 5. A laser printer for outputting an image as a printing device; and a laser output period for outputting one dot of the image data to be overlaid when the image data is overlaid on the received image. Laser output period control means for outputting shorter than the laser output period for outputting one dot; selecting and outputting image data to be overlaid in accordance with a subaddress sent from the transmission side when printing a received image Means to do;
An image communication device comprising: 6. The image communication device according to claim 4, wherein the image is overlaid only on the first page of the received image. 7. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the image communication device is a facsimile device.