JP2002218116A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that lessen the software processing load and also reduces the cost. SOLUTION: In the print processing, first a flag n is set to 1 (ST1), 1st image data of a 1st image, parameters for image data processing and the number of lines of the image are set to a printer image processing circuit (ST2), a CODEC and a DMAC are started (ST3) and the 1st image is printed out. When a count-up signal by a line counter 12 is given to a CPU as an interruption signal (ST4), whether or not a succeeding image exists is discriminated (ST5). When the image exists, the flag n is set to n+1 (ST6), the processing restores to the ST2, image data of a 2nd image, parameters for the image data processing and the number of lines of the image are set (ST3) and the similar processing is repeated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus used for a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, or the like, or a composite device thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In so-called page combining in which images of a plurality of pages are recorded on one recording sheet, the resolution and magnification of each combined page may be different. Conventionally, one page of image data synthesized on a page memory is created, and then
Since the data is transferred to the printer, conversion processing of the resolution and the magnification is performed when writing to the page memory.

In this prior art, in order to reduce the cost, when printing a combined image without using a page memory, the end of one image is determined by software while outputting image data to a printer. If it is determined that the processing has been completed, the resolution and magnification parameters are changed by software processing.

[0004]

However, when the parameters of resolution and magnification are changed by software processing, the resolution of the next image is changed after printing of one image is completed and before printing of the next image is started. Since the magnification parameter must be changed by software processing, not only is the system required to operate at high speed, but also it is necessary to monitor by software whether or not the printing of the previous image has been completed. However, in the worst case, the processing cannot be performed in time, which may adversely affect the printed image, and may not be established systematically.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus which reduces software processing and also reduces cost.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image forming section, an image data processing section for processing image data supplied to the image forming section, and an image processing section. A data processing unit having a system for supplying original image data and parameters for image data processing, wherein the image data processing unit is provided with an image end detecting unit for detecting the end of one image; The next image data and the parameters of the image data processing are supplied to the image data processing unit based on the detection output of the end detection unit.

In this device, the system sets the parameters of the next image data processing and starts the processing of the next image data based on the signal from the image end detecting section of the image data processing section. It is not necessary to monitor the end of the previous image, the processing by software is reduced, the page memory is not required, and the cost is reduced.

[0008] In this device, the image end detecting section includes:
The end of the image is detected, and specifically, for example, a line counter is used. In the case of a line counter, for example, when the line of one image is 700 lines, 700
When the processing of the image data of the line is completed, it is detected that the processing of one image is completed, and the data processing of the next image is started.

That is, as a specific configuration, the system includes a control unit. The control unit receives a count-up signal from a line counter as an interrupt signal.
Based on this interrupt, the parameters of the next image data processing are set in the image data processing unit, and the supply of the next image data to the image data processing unit is started.

In the present invention, the parameters of the image data processing include resolution (magnification) conversion, presence / absence of smoothing, and the like.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction device having an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment and having both a copy function and a facsimile function. This composite device is C
PU (control unit) 1, NCU 2, modem 3, scanner 4,
Operation unit 5, ROM 6, RAM 7, image memory (DRA
M) 8, a CODEC 9, a DMAC (direct memory access controller) 10, a printer image processing circuit (image data processing unit) 11 having a line counter (image end detection unit) 12, a line memory (FIFO) 13,
A DMAC 14 and a printer (image forming unit) 15 are provided.
These elements are connected to the system bus 20 and the image bus 2
1 is connected.

The CPU 1 controls each unit constituting the apparatus. Further, the CPU 1 receives a count-up signal from the line counter 12 as an interrupt signal, sets a parameter for the next image data processing in the printer image processing circuit 11 based on the interrupt, and sets a printer image processing circuit for the next image data. 11 has a function of starting supply to the power supply 11.

The NCU 2 controls a connection with a telephone line (not shown), and has a function of transmitting a dial signal corresponding to a telephone number (including a FAX number) of a destination and a function of detecting an incoming call. Have. Modem 3 uses IT
U (International Telecommunication Union) -T Recommendation 30 based on a facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30. 17, V.I. 27
ter. Modulation of the transmission data and demodulation of the reception data according to 29 or the like.

The scanner 4 reads image data of a document when performing facsimile transmission and copying. The operation unit 5 is for the user to instruct facsimile transmission / reception, printing, and the like when using the facsimile function and the copy function.

The ROM 6 stores a program for controlling this device. The RAM 7 temporarily stores data and the like. The image memory 8 temporarily stores received image data and image data read by the scanner 4 in a compressed state. The CODEC 9 encodes (reads) the read image data by MH, MR, MMR or the like in order to transmit the decoded image data, and decodes (decodes) the received image data. D
The MAC 10 is for transferring image data stored in the image memory 8 to the CODEC 9 and is started by the CPU 1.

The printer image processing circuit 11 includes the printer 1
5 is converted into image data corresponding to the resolution of the printer. The line counter 12 provided in the printer image processing circuit 11 counts the lines of one image, and when the count value reaches the number of lines of one image, inputs the count-up signal to the CPU 1 as an interrupt signal. The line memory 13 includes, among image data of one image,
Several lines are stored and updated sequentially. The data stored in the line memory 13 is cleared when the parameters of the image data processing are set in the printer image processing circuit 11.

The DMAC 14 transfers the image data decoded into a bit image by the CODEC 9 to the printer image processing circuit 11, and is started by the CPU 1. The printer 15 is a printer image processing circuit 1
The image data supplied from 1 is printed on recording paper.

Next, the operation of the multifunction apparatus configured as described above will be described. However, this multifunction apparatus is characterized by a page synthesizing process of printing a plurality of images on one sheet of recording paper. Therefore, the printing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and the timing chart of FIG.

First, when the printing process starts, step S
At T1, a flag (variable) n = 1. This flag n represents an integrated value of a plurality of images. In the next step ST2, for the image of n = 1 (first), in addition to the image data, a parameter of image data processing and the number of lines of the image are set in the printer image processing circuit 11. At this time, the number of lines of the first image is set in the line counter 12. Subsequently, in step ST3, C
The ODEC 9 and the DMACs 10 and 14 are activated, and the first line of image data is sent from the printer image processing circuit 11 to the printer 15, and the printer 15 prints the first line of image data.

When the printing of the first line is completed, it is determined in the next step ST4 whether or not there is an interruption. That is, it is determined whether or not the number of lines counted by the line counter 12 has reached the total number of lines of the first image. If this determination is NO, all lines of the first image are printed with the same parameters.

When the counted number of lines reaches the total number of lines of the first image, that is, when the printing of the first image is completed, a count-up signal from the line counter 12 is input to the CPU 1 as an interrupt signal. So
The determination in step ST4 becomes YES, and the next step S4
Move to T5.

In step ST5, it is determined whether there is a second image. If there is no second image, only the first image needs to be printed on one sheet of recording paper, and the process ends.

If there is a second image, step S
At T6, n = n + 1, and the process returns to step ST2.
In step ST2, for the image of n = 2 (second), the image data, image data processing parameters, and the number of lines of the image are set in the printer image processing circuit 11. That is, the print parameters are reset. At this time, the number of lines of the second image is set in the line counter 12. Further, the line memory 13 is cleared. This is because if the first image data remains in the line memory 13, the resolution conversion and the smoothing process of the second image data are adversely affected.
Then, in step ST3, CODEC9 and DM
The ACs 10 and 14 are activated, and the first line of image data is sent from the printer image processing circuit 11 to the printer 15, and the printer 15 prints the first line of image data.

In the next step ST4, when the printing of the second image is completed, an interrupt signal is also output, so that the process proceeds to step ST5. Step ST
At 5, it is determined whether there is a third or subsequent image. If there is a third or subsequent image, step ST6
In step S1, the flag n is incremented by one.
Return to T2. Then, the same processing as described above is repeated. On the other hand, when there is no next image, the process ends.

According to such a printing process, when the count-up signal of the line counter 12 is input to the CPU 1 as an interrupt signal, the parameters of the next image data processing are set in the printer image processing circuit 11, and the parameters are set by the parameters. Since the printing is performed, it is not necessary to monitor the end of the printing of the previous image by software, the software processing is reduced, the page memory is not required, and the cost can be reduced.

[0027]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the system sets the following image data processing parameters based on the signal from the image end detecting unit of the image data processing unit. Since the processing of the next image data is started, it is not necessary to monitor the end of the previous image by software, the software processing is reduced, the page memory becomes unnecessary, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction device having a copy function and a facsimile function provided with an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a print operation process in the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart in a printing operation process in the multifunction peripheral.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU (Control Unit) 6 ROM 7 RAM 8 Image Memory 9 CODEC 10, 14 DMAC 11 Printer Image Processing Circuit (Image Data Processing Unit) 12 Line Counter (Image End Detection Unit) 13 Line Memory 15 Printer (Image Forming Unit)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming section, an image data processing section for processing image data supplied to the image forming section, and a system for supplying original image data and parameters for image data processing to the image data processing section. In the image forming apparatus, the image data processing unit is provided with an image end detection unit that detects the end of one image, and the system sends the next image to the image data processing unit based on a detection output of the image end detection unit. An image forming apparatus for supplying data and parameters for image data processing. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image end detecting section comprises a line counter. 3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit receives a count-up signal from the line counter as an interrupt signal, and transmits the next image data processing parameter to the image data processing unit based on the interrupt. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is set to start supplying the next image data to the image data processing unit.