JP2002232590A - Facsimile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile terminal having a power-saving mode function that stops a main power supply section when the facsimile terminal is not in use, uses a sub control section to monitor a call signal, uses a CPU operated by a low clock frequency for the sub control section, accurately discriminates even a call signal with a high frequency so as to eliminate malfunction due to noise or the like while reducing the power consumption and accurately receives an incoming call. SOLUTION: The facsimile terminal is provided with a main control section 2, a call signal detection section 3 that detects a call signal, a facsimile communication control section 4 that controls facsimile communication, a network control circuit section 6 that makes connection control to a channel 5, a main power supply section 7, a sub control section 8 that monitors the call signal from the channel 5 in the power-saving mode, and a sub power supply section 9. When the facsimile terminal judges that the sub control section 8 has detected the call signal in the power-saving mode, the main power supply section 7 and the main control section 2 are made to operate and the call signal detection section 3 again detects the call signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a power saving function, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus capable of accurately detecting a calling signal in a power saving mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a facsimile apparatus, it is necessary to constantly monitor a call signal from a line in order to respond to an incoming call from the outside. Therefore, a main power supply section is always operating. About 20 watts of power is consumed even when the apparatus is not in use. Therefore,
From the viewpoint of saving running costs of facsimile machines,
When the device is not in use, the main power supply unit is stopped and set to a standby mode, that is, a power saving mode.
2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus having a function of reducing wasteful power consumption has been conventionally known.

A conventional facsimile apparatus having such a power saving mode function includes a main control unit, a modem, and other components of a general device, and a main power supply unit for supplying power to the components of the device. In addition, it has a sub-control unit for monitoring a call signal from a line in the power saving mode in which the main power unit is stopped, and a sub-power unit for supplying power to the sub-control unit. When the facsimile apparatus is not used for transmission or reception for a certain period of time or more, the main power supply unit is stopped to set the power saving mode, and the supply of power to each component of the apparatus is stopped. In addition to suppressing unnecessary power consumption, for incoming calls from the outside, the sub-controller with low power consumption operates to monitor the calling signal from the line, thereby reducing power consumption and reducing running costs. It has a configuration that can save money.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, the power consumption of the sub-control unit must be kept low, and a CPU of relatively low performance which operates at a low clock frequency is used. Have been. Therefore, the sampling frequency of the signal for monitoring the call signal in the sub control unit is also low, and it has been difficult to accurately detect a call signal of a high frequency such as 1300 Hz by a facsimile communication network. For this reason, there is a problem in that the receiving operation may not be performed in spite of the presence of the calling signal, or the incoming operation may be performed erroneously with noise from the line or the like as the calling signal.
On the other hand, if a CPU operating at a high clock frequency is used as the sub-control unit, such a problem does not occur, but this does not meet the original purpose of suppressing power consumption and increases the cost of the facsimile apparatus itself. It is also a factor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a power saving mode function of stopping a main power supply unit when a device is not in use and monitoring a call signal by a sub control unit. In addition, the sub-control unit uses a CPU that operates at a low clock frequency to reduce power consumption, accurately determine a high frequency calling signal, eliminate malfunctions due to noise, etc., and perform an accurate incoming call operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine capable of performing such a function.

[0006]

Means for solving the above problems are as follows. That is, a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 includes a main control unit, a call signal detection unit that detects a call signal under the control of the main control unit, a facsimile communication control unit that controls facsimile communication, A network control circuit for controlling the connection between the facsimile communication control unit and the line, a main power supply for supplying power to the network control circuit, and monitoring of a call signal from the line in a power saving mode in which the main power supply is stopped A sub-control unit, and a sub-power unit that supplies power to the sub-control unit. When it is determined that the sub-control unit detects a call signal in the power saving mode, the main power unit and the main control unit operate. And the paging signal detecting section detects the paging signal again.

A facsimile apparatus according to claim 2 is
2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein when the paging signal detection section detects a paging signal, the main control section operates a network control circuit section to connect the facsimile communication control section to a line to perform facsimile communication. Is controlled.

[0008] A facsimile apparatus according to claim 3 is
The configuration according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sub-control unit also monitors a command signal by a key operation in a power saving mode.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main control unit 2, a call signal detection unit 3 that detects a call signal under the control of the main control unit 2, and a facsimile communication. Facsimile communication control unit 4 for controlling the facsimile communication control, a network control circuit unit 6 for controlling the connection between the facsimile communication control unit 4 and the line 5, a main power supply unit 7 for supplying power thereto, and a main power supply unit 7 The sub-control unit 8 monitors a calling signal from the line 5 in the power saving mode in which the power supply stops, and a sub-power supply unit 9 for supplying power to the sub-control unit 8. This will be described in more detail below.

The main control section 2 is a section for controlling the overall operation of the facsimile machine 1, and has a CPU (Central
Processing Unit: Central Processing Unit). The main control unit 2 has a timer 10 built therein.
Further, the facsimile machine 1 has the following main body mechanism 11 in order to fulfill its function. That is, the ROM 12 in which programs necessary for controlling the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 are stored, and the setting data by the user such as abbreviated dialing, data obtained by executing a program such as reservation transmission, and the like are temporarily stored. RAM to do
13, image data received by facsimile and reading unit 1
7, an image memory 14 for temporarily storing the image data read, and a codec (CODEC: CODEC) for encoding and decoding the image data during transmission and reception.
d DECoder) 15, a recording unit 16 for recording image data received by facsimile on recording paper, a reading unit 17 for reading an image to be transmitted by facsimile, and a facsimile of the transmission destination by the user performing key operations. And an operation unit 18 for inputting instructions such as numbers and various settings. These are all controlled by the main control unit 2.

The call signal detecting section 3 detects a call signal under the control of the main control section 2. That is, the paging signal detection unit 3 detects the presence or absence of a paging signal by sampling a signal transmitted from the line 5 via the tone transformer 19 of the network control circuit unit 6, and detects the presence of the paging signal. Outputs a signal to that effect to the main control unit 2. As the calling signal detecting unit 3, a unit operating at a high clock frequency and having a high sampling frequency is used. As a result, it is possible to accurately determine a call signal having a high frequency such as 1300 Hz.
Here, as a communication network using a ringing signal of a high frequency of 1300 Hz, a facsimile communication network of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), which has a non-ringing incoming call and a communication data storage function, is applicable. The facsimile communication control section 4 is a section that controls facsimile communication under the control of the main control section 2. That is, the facsimile communication control unit 4 transmits and receives a procedure signal in facsimile communication. The call signal detector 3 and the facsimile communication controller 4 are both provided in the modem 20. The modem 20 also modulates image data for facsimile transmission and demodulates image data for facsimile reception.

The network control circuit 6 controls connection between the facsimile communication control unit 4 provided in the modem 20 and the line 5. In the network control circuit 6, the line 5 is a line transformer 2 for facsimile communication.
1 and 13 connected to a facsimile communication network.
A part connected to a tone transformer 19 for monitoring a call signal of a high frequency such as 00 Hz, and a part connected to a photocoupler 22 for monitoring a call signal of a low frequency such as 16 Hz by a normal telephone network. Is divided into The line transformer 21 is connected to the facsimile communication control unit 4, and the line transformer 21 has a line 5 connected thereto.
CML (Connect Modem to Lin) for switching connection and disconnection between the facsimile communication control unit 4 and the line 5
e) Relay 23 is connected. The tone transformer 19 is connected to the call signal detector 3. The photo coupler 22 is connected to the sub control unit 8. In addition, tone transformer 1
9 and the photocoupler 22 on the line 5 side, a capacitor 24 for passing only the AC component of the signal from the line 5
Is connected.

The sub-control unit 8 is a part for monitoring a call signal from the line 5 and a command signal by a key operation in the power saving mode in which the main power supply unit 7 is stopped. That is,
The facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the state in which the facsimile apparatus 1 is not used due to facsimile transmission / reception or the like continues for a predetermined set time T or more, the main control unit 2
By starting the sub-control unit 8 and stopping the main power supply unit 7 to stop supplying power to the main control unit 2, the main body mechanism unit 11 and the modem 20, useless power consumption is suppressed. To the standby power saving mode. Therefore, in the power saving mode, the sub control unit 8 operable with low power consumption monitors the calling signal from the line 5 instead of the calling signal detecting unit 3 provided in the modem 20. Further, since it is necessary to return from the power saving mode even when the user performs a key operation, the sub control unit 8 also monitors a command signal by the key operation at the same time. As a result, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the facsimile machine 1 during standby and save running costs.

Here, the sub-control unit 8 is constituted by a CPU. This CPU uses a CPU that can operate with low power consumption in order to reduce the power consumption of the facsimile machine 1 during standby. Therefore, a relatively low performance CPU which normally operates at a low clock frequency is used. Therefore, the sampling frequency of the signal for monitoring the call signal is also low,
It is difficult to accurately detect a call signal of a high frequency such as 1300 Hz by a facsimile communication network. Therefore,
When the sub-control unit 8 detects a signal considered to be a high-frequency calling signal, the sub-control unit 8 returns the facsimile machine 1 from the power saving mode, and the calling signal detecting unit 3 detects the calling signal again, thereby reducing the noise. This prevents an erroneous incoming call operation from being performed. The operation at this time will be described later in detail. Although not shown, the sub-control unit 8 also has a ROM in which programs and the like necessary for the operation of the sub-control unit 8 in the power saving mode are stored. The sub control unit 8 monitors the calling signal from the line 5 by constantly sampling the signal sent from the line 5 via the tone transformer 19 or the photocoupler 22 to detect the presence or absence of the calling signal. At this time, the signal sent via the photocoupler 22 is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by the photocoupler 22, but the signal sent via the tone transformer 19 remains an analog signal. Therefore, an AD (analog-digital) converter 25 is further provided in the middle to convert the signal into a digital signal and then send the signal to the sub control unit 8. The monitoring of the command signal by the key operation in the sub-control unit 8 is performed by constantly monitoring the input of the command signal due to the operation unit 18 performing any key operation. When determining that these call signals or command signals have been detected, the sub control unit 8 operates the main power supply unit 7 to supply power to the main control unit 2, the main body mechanism unit 11, and the modem 20. The facsimile machine 1 is resumed from the power saving mode.

The main power supply section 7 is a section for supplying power to the main control section 2, the main body mechanism section 11, and the modem 20. For this reason, the main power supply unit 7 is connected to a commercial power supply, and supplies DC power of a stable voltage by rectifying fluctuations in the voltage of the AC power supply. The sub power supply unit 9 is a part that supplies power to the sub control unit 8. For this reason, the sub power supply unit 9 is connected to the commercial power supply similarly to the main power supply unit 7, and supplies a stable DC power by rectifying the voltage fluctuation of the AC power supply. However, since the power consumption of the sub control unit 8 is small, the power supplied by the sub power supply unit 9 can be considerably smaller than the power supplied by the main power supply unit 7.

Next, operation control when the facsimile apparatus 1 detects a call signal or a command signal from the power saving mode and returns from the power saving mode will be described with reference to a flowchart.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when the sub control unit 8 detects a call signal or a command signal in the power saving mode. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 after returning from the power saving mode due to the detection of the call signal or the command signal by the sub control unit 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the power saving mode,
The sub-control unit 8 constantly monitors a call signal from the line 5 and a command signal by a key operation on the operation unit 18. That is, first, it is determined whether or not a call signal of a low frequency such as 16 Hz by a normal telephone network is detected (S1). This determination is made by constantly sampling the signal sent from the line 5 via the photocoupler 22 to detect the presence or absence of a calling signal. If a low-frequency calling signal is not detected (S1: NO), it is determined whether a high-frequency calling signal such as 1300 Hz by the facsimile communication network is detected (S1).
2). This determination is made by constantly sampling the signal transmitted from the line 5 via the tone transformer 19 and the AD converter to detect the presence or absence of a calling signal. As described above, since it is difficult to accurately detect a high-frequency calling signal in the sub-control unit 8, a signal considered to be a high-frequency calling signal including a case where there is a suspicion of noise or the like is detected here. In this case, it is determined that a high frequency calling signal has been detected. Then, when the high frequency calling signal is not detected (S2: NO), it is determined whether or not the command signal by the key operation on the operation unit 18 is detected (S3). This determination is made by constantly monitoring the input of a command signal resulting from any key operation performed on the operation unit 18. Then, when the command signal by the key operation is not detected (S3: N
O), the process returns to S1, and continues to monitor the calling signal and the command signal.

On the other hand, when a low frequency calling signal is detected (S1: YES), when a high frequency calling signal is detected (S2: YES), and when a command signal by key operation is detected (S3). : YES), the operation of the main power supply unit 7 is started (S4), and the supply of power to the main control unit 2, the main body mechanism unit 11, and the modem 20 is restarted. Thereafter, a reset signal is transmitted from the sub control unit 8 to the main control unit 2 (S
5). The reset signal causes the main control unit 2 to return from the power saving mode and resume operation. After that, the sub control unit 8
A return type signal containing a signal indicating whether the signal detected in the above is a low frequency or high frequency calling signal or a key operation command signal is transmitted to the main control unit 2 (S6). Thus, the processing in the sub control unit 8 ends.

As described above, after the main power supply unit 7 starts operating, the main control unit 2 returns from the power saving mode in response to the reset signal from the sub control unit 8, and restarts its operation. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the main control unit 2 is reset (S11), and then it is determined whether or not the content of the return type signal transmitted from the sub control unit 8 is a call signal (see FIG. 3). S12). If the content of the return type signal is a call signal (S12: YES), the call signal detection unit 3 provided in the modem 20 detects the call signal again (S13). Then, it is determined whether or not the result is a low frequency calling signal (S14). If the result is a low frequency calling signal (S14: YE
S), the CML relay 23 of the network control circuit 6 is switched to the connection side (S15), and facsimile reception is performed (S1).
6). Then, after receiving all the received data, the CM
The L relay 23 is switched to the disconnection side (S17), and the facsimile reception ends. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S23 (FIG. 4).

On the other hand, if the result of the detection of the call signal again by the call signal detecting section 3 is not a low frequency call signal (S14: YES), then whether the result is a high frequency call signal or not. (S1)
8). If the result is not a high frequency calling signal (S1
8: NO), it is possible to determine that the signal detected by the sub-control unit 8 is not a calling signal but a noise or the like, so that facsimile reception is not performed, and the process proceeds directly to S23 (FIG. 4). On the other hand, if the result of the paging signal detection performed by the paging signal detection section 3 again is a high frequency paging signal (S18: YES), the CML relay 23 of the network control circuit section 6 is switched to the connection side (S1).
9) Facsimile reception is performed (S20). And
After receiving all the received data, the CML relay 23 is switched to the disconnection side (S21), and the facsimile reception ends. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S23 (FIG. 4).

On the other hand, if the content of the return type signal is not a call signal (S12: NO), it can be determined that the sub-controller 8 has detected a command signal by a key operation. The predetermined operation designated by is performed (S22). After the end of this predetermined operation, the process proceeds to S23 (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 4, after the facsimile reception is completed in step S17 or S21, or after a predetermined operation is completed in step S22, the main power supply unit 7 is in a standby state while operating, and the timer is stopped. Operation 10 is started (S23). The timer 10 ends when a predetermined time T elapses after activation. The set time T of the timer 10 can be set to an appropriate time according to the frequency of use of the facsimile machine 1.
In this state, the main control unit 2 monitors a call signal from the line 5 and a command signal by a key operation. That is, first, it is determined whether or not a call signal is detected (S24). If a calling signal is detected (S24: Y
ES), the process returns to S14 (FIG. 3) to perform facsimile reception. If no call signal is detected (S24:
NO) Next, it is determined whether or not a command signal by a key operation has been detected (S25). If a command signal due to a key operation is detected (S25: YES), the process proceeds to S2.
2 (FIG. 3), and executes a predetermined operation instructed by a key operation. When the command signal by the key operation is not detected (S25: NO), it is determined whether or not the timer 10 has expired (S26). If the timer 10 has not expired (S26: NO), the process returns to S24. When the timer 10 has expired (S26: YE
S) Since it can be determined that the state where the facsimile machine 1 is not used has continued for a predetermined set time T or more,
The main control unit 2 is stopped and the main power supply unit 7 is stopped to shift to the power saving mode (S27), and the process ends.

[0023]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the facsimile apparatus according to the above, when it is determined in the power saving mode that the sub control unit has detected the call signal, the main power supply unit and the main control unit are operated, and the call signal detection unit detects the call signal again. By using a CPU that operates at a low clock frequency in the sub control unit, the power consumption in the power saving mode can be suppressed low, and a paging signal of a high frequency can be accurately determined by the paging signal detection unit to prevent a malfunction due to noise or the like. It is possible to perform an accurate incoming call operation.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, when the call signal detecting section detects the call signal, the network control circuit is operated to connect the facsimile communication control section to the line. , And the main control unit controls to perform facsimile communication, so that the facsimile reception operation can be performed immediately after returning from the power saving mode.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, the sub-controller also monitors the command signal by the key operation in the power saving mode, so that the user can operate the operation unit. In this case, it is possible to immediately return from the power saving mode even when a key operation is performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention when a sub-control unit detects a call signal or a command signal in a power saving mode.

FIG. 3 is a first half of a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus after returning from the power saving mode by detecting a call signal or a command signal in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a second half of a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus after returning from the power saving mode due to the detection of the call signal or the command signal in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 facsimile apparatus 2 main control unit 3 call signal detection unit 4 facsimile communication control unit 5 line 6 network control circuit unit 7 main power supply unit 8 sub-control unit 9 sub-power supply unit 10 timer 11 main body mechanism unit 18 operation unit 19 Tone Transformer 20 Modem 21 Line Transformer 22 Photocoupler 23 CML Relay

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A main control unit, a call signal detection unit for detecting a call signal under the control of the main control unit, a facsimile communication control unit for controlling facsimile communication, and a line connected to the facsimile communication control unit. A network control circuit for controlling connection with the main power supply, a main power supply for supplying power to the network control circuit, a sub-controller for monitoring a call signal from a line in a power saving mode in which the main power supply is stopped, A sub-power supply unit that supplies power to the control unit, and when it is determined that the sub-control unit has detected a call signal in the power saving mode, the main power unit and the main control unit are operated, and the call signal detection unit is Wherein the call signal is detected again. 2. When the paging signal detection section detects a paging signal, the main control section controls a network control circuit section to connect the facsimile communication control section to a line to perform facsimile communication. Claim 1 characterized by the following:
A facsimile machine as described. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sub control unit also monitors a command signal by a key operation in a power saving mode.