JP2003125127A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader such as a digital composite machine 20 at which a user can confirm a read condition from a client device. SOLUTION: The digital composite machine 20 is provided with an image read section 2 for reading an original image, converting it into image data and outputting the data, a main control section 1 controls the image read section 2 to execute its processing in response to a start command signal including read condition information from each client PC30 (step S7 in Figure 5) and displays the read condition information on a display section 4 as shown in Figure 4 (step S5).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an original image and converting it into image data, such as an image scanner (hereinafter referred to as a scanner) or an image reading unit of a digital composite apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital multi-function peripheral, which is a facsimile machine with copy, printer and scanner functions, and a plurality of client machines, such as personal computers, are in a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LAN).
A LAN system that is connected via a network has been put to practical use.

In this prior art LAN system,
The scanner in the digital multifunction device responds to the start signal from the client device, converts the original image into the read image data, stores it in the memory box in the image memory corresponding to each client device, and stores it from each client device. In response to the transfer instruction request signal, the image data is read from the memory box in the image memory and transferred to the corresponding client device via the LAN. This operation is generally called "PC scan".

[0004]

In the case of PC scan,
In the start signal from the client device, the resolution, density, read size set in the client device,
Although the reading condition information such as the magnification is included, it was not possible to confirm on the digital multifunction device side whether the reading condition was set correctly and the image was read. Further, at the end of reading, the PC scan mode was still in place, which was inconvenient.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an image reading apparatus capable of confirming a reading condition from a client apparatus on the side of an image reading apparatus such as a digital multi-function apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an image reading apparatus capable of automatically shifting the operation mode to the original mode or a predetermined mode at the end of reading. To provide.

[0007]

An image reading device according to the present invention responds to an image reading device for reading a document image, converting the image into image data and outputting the image, and a start signal including reading condition information from an external terminal device. In the image reading apparatus, the control means displays the reading condition information on the display unit.

Further, in the image reading apparatus, the control means shifts the operation mode of the image reading apparatus to a preset standby mode at the end of the processing of the image reading means.

Further, in the image reading apparatus, the control means shifts the operation mode of the image reading apparatus to the operation mode immediately before the scan mode at the end of the processing of the image reading means in the scan mode. Is characterized by.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a LAN system equipped with a digital multi-function device 20 which is a facsimile device with a copy, printer and scanner function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The LAN system according to this embodiment includes a plurality of N client personal computers (hereinafter,
It is called a client PC. ) 30-1 to 30-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as reference numeral 30), the digital multi-function device 20 connected to the public telephone network 80 via the public telephone line L, and the router connected to the Internet 90. Device 6
0 is connected via a LAN 70.
By connecting from each client PC 30 to the Internet 90 via the router device 60 and the mail server device (not shown), it is possible to browse homepages and send and receive e-mails, and each client PC
A reference numeral 30 indicates a copy, printer, or
The functions of the scanner and the facsimile can be commonly used.

Digital multi-function apparatus 2 according to this embodiment
Reference numeral 0 denotes an image reading unit 2 that reads a document image, converts the image into image data, and outputs the image data. The main control unit 1 responds to a start command signal including reading condition information from each client PC 30, and the image reading unit 2 is provided. The process is controlled so as to be executed (step S7 in FIG. 5), and the reading condition information is displayed on the display unit 4 as shown in FIG. 4 (step S5).

In the digital composite device 20,
At the end of the processing of the image reading unit 2, the main control unit 1 sets the operation mode of the digital multifunction device 20 to a preset standby mode such as the default facsimile standby mode (which may be changed to the copy standby mode). (Step S12 in FIG. 6). Alternatively, the main control unit 1 shifts the operation mode of the digital multifunction device 20 to the operation mode immediately before the scan mode (facsimile mode or copy mode) at the end of the processing of the image reading unit 2 in the scan mode (FIG. 6 is step S14).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client PC 30 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the client PC 30 is
The external terminal device is a known personal computer and executes processes such as generation, recording, and storage of image data and character data. In the present embodiment, the client PC 30 is used as an external terminal device that receives image data scanned by a scanner, as an example. The main control unit 101 is specifically configured by a CPU, is connected to the following hardware units via a bus 113, controls them, and executes various software functions described later. This client PC30
In, the image reading unit and the image recording unit (not shown) are optionally provided. The display unit 104 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operating state of the client PC 30 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. The operation unit 105 is, for example, a keyboard, and is used to input character data and instruction commands.

The ROM 106 is for the client PC 3 concerned.
Various software programs necessary for the operation of 0 and executed by the main control unit 101 are stored in advance.
The RAM 107 is SRAM, DRAM, SDRA.
It is composed of M and the like, is used as a working area of the main control unit 101, and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed. In addition, hard disk drive 1
A storage device 08 has a built-in recording medium and stores an application program to be executed and an image memory.

A client PC configured as described above
30, the main control unit 101 of the client PC 30
Sends a start command signal including the reading condition information to the digital multi-function peripheral 20, sets the scan mode, causes the digital multi-function peripheral 20 to execute a so-called "PC scan" process, and is scanned by the image reading unit 2 for conversion. After transferring the image data stored in the corresponding memory box in the memory box area 8a to the own device, a transfer instruction request signal including instruction data for instructing the corresponding memory box is sent to the LAN interface 112.
And the image data transmitted from the digital composite device 20 via the LAN 70 to the main controller 1 in the digital composite device 20 via the LAN 70 and received by the hard disk drive 9. Store.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital compound device 20 of FIG.

In FIG. 3, the digital composite device 20 is shown.
Has a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function in addition to the conventional facsimile communication function such as the G3 method. The main control unit 1 is specifically configured by a CPU, is connected to the following hardware units via a bus 13 and controls them, and also executes various software functions described later. The image reading unit 2 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like and outputs dot image data converted into monochrome binary. The image recording unit 3 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer device, and the image reading unit 2
The image data scanned and converted by or the image data received by facsimile communication from another facsimile apparatus is printed out and recorded as a hard copy, or character data is recorded.

The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operation state of the digital multi-function device 20, image data of an original to be transmitted, and received image data. Is displayed. The operation unit 5 includes character keys, a numeric keypad for dialing, a speed dial key, a one-touch dial key, and various function keys necessary for operating the digital multifunction device 20. The display unit 4 may be of a touch panel type so that some or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 may be substituted.

The ROM 6 is the digital composite device 20.
Programs of various software required for the operation of the main control unit 1 are stored in advance, and in the present embodiment, at least the "multifunction machine control process" of FIG. 5 and FIG.
Including programs. RAM7 is SRAM, DRA
It is composed of M, SDRAM, etc. and is used as a working area of the main control unit 1 to store temporary data generated when the program is executed. When a flash memory is used as the RAM 7, the content of the data is not lost even when the power is cut off due to a power failure, movement of the device, or the like.

The image memory 8 is composed of a DRAM or the like and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data, or image data scanned and converted. here,
The image memory 8 includes a memory box area 8a divided into a plurality of memory boxes corresponding to a plurality of client PCs 30. Each client PC 30 transfers temporarily the image data transmitted / received by the facsimile function, the image data scanned and converted by the scanner function or the copy function, the image data when the printer function is used to the corresponding memory box, and temporarily. Stored in
When reading from the memory box, a transfer instruction request signal is transmitted to read from the corresponding memory box and transfer. Further, the hard disk drive 9 is a storage device having a built-in recording medium, and stores various data and programs.

The fax modem 10 is a public telephone line L.
Is a modem that has the function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. An NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 is a hardware circuit that performs an operation of closing and opening a DC loop of an analog public telephone line L and has an automatic dialing function, and if necessary, the fax modem 10 To the public telephone line L. Here, the NCU 11 detects an ID receiving terminal activation signal and a normal telephone ringing signal in the originating telephone number notification service, and transmits a primary response signal and a secondary response signal in the originating telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 may be connected to a digital line (for example, ISDN line) of a baseband transmission system via a predetermined terminal adapter and a DSU (subscriber line terminating device: Digital Service Unit).

Further, the LAN interface 12 is
While being connected to the LAN 70 and receiving signals and data from the LAN 70, it transmits signals and data to the LAN 70 and executes interface processing related to LAN communication such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.

In the facsimile communication function of the digital multi-function device 20 configured as described above, the dot image data transferred from each of the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N or the dot image data read by the image reading unit 2 is M defined by the facsimile communication standard
After being encoded by software according to an encoding method such as H, MR, MMR, etc., it is transmitted to the facsimile machine of the other party, while the encoded data received from the facsimile machine of the other party is also decoded into image data by the software. After being converted, it is stored in the image memory 8 and printed by the image recording unit 3 as needed.

FIG. 4A is a view showing the first reading condition displayed on the display unit 4 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is FIG.
It is a figure which shows the 2nd reading condition displayed on the display part 4 of this. In the present embodiment, the first reading condition of FIG. 4A and the second reading condition of FIG. 4B are alternately displayed on the display unit 4 (step S5 of FIG. 5). In addition,
The present invention is not limited to this, and these reading conditions may be simultaneously displayed on the display unit 4.

In the display of the first reading condition, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the file number, page number, enlargement / reduction ratio, remaining memory, document type (text (including line drawing), black and white photo, color photo, etc.), resolution, and read density of the stored document are displayed. It Further, in the display of the second reading condition, as shown in FIG. 4B, the file number of the stored document, the page number, the enlargement / reduction ratio, the remaining memory amount,
The size of the read document (automatic, A4, B5, etc.) is displayed.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts showing the multi-function peripheral control processing executed by the main control section 1 of FIG.

In FIG. 5, first, the scan mode is set using the operation unit 5 in step S1, the original is set on the original plate of the image reading unit 2 in step S2, and then the start command signal from the client PC 30 in step S3. Is judged whether or not is received, and YES
Until step S3, the process of step S3 is repeated, and when YES, the process proceeds to step S4. Then, step S
In step 4, the start command signal from the client PC 30 is analyzed, and the first condition included in the read condition information stored in the start command signal received in step S5.
And the second reading condition are alternately switched for 5 seconds and displayed on the display unit 4, and then in step S6, a status display signal indicating that "PC scanning is in progress" is transmitted to the client PC 30. Then, it is displayed on the display unit 104 of the client PC 30. Further, the original is read using the image reading unit 2 under the reading conditions stored in the start command signal received in step S7, the image data is stored in the image memory 8, and the page number is displayed on the display unit 4 in step S8. indicate. Then, in step S9, it is determined whether or not there is a document of the next page on the document table of the image reading unit 2. If YES, the process returns to step S5, and if NO, the process proceeds to step S11 of FIG.

In step S11 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the return standby mode is set. If NO, the process proceeds to step S12, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S12, the default facsimile standby mode is set and the multifunction peripheral control process ends. On the other hand, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the setting returns to the operation mode before the scan mode, and Y
If it is ES, the operation mode (facsimile mode or copy mode) before the scan mode is returned in step S14, and the multifunction peripheral control process is ended. If NO in step S13, step S1
In 5 the mode is returned to the predesignated mode (facsimile mode or copy mode) and the multifunction peripheral control process is terminated.

After this processing, the client PC 30
When the image data stored in the corresponding memory box in the memory box area 8a after being scanned and converted by the image reading unit 2 is transferred to its own device, the transfer including the instruction data for instructing the corresponding memory box An instruction request signal is transmitted to the main control unit 1 in the digital multi-function peripheral 20 via the LAN interface 112 and the LAN 70, and in response to this, image data transmitted from the digital multi-function peripheral 20 via the LAN 70 is transmitted. It is received and stored in the hard disk drive 9.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the digital multi-function device 20 includes the image reading unit 2 that reads a document image, converts the image into image data, and outputs the image data. The image reading unit 2 responds to the start command signal including the reading condition information from the PC 30.
Is controlled so as to be executed (step S in FIG. 5).
Along with 7), the reading condition information is displayed on the display unit 4 as shown in FIG. 4 (step S5). Therefore, since the reading condition information set by the client PC 30 is displayed on the display unit 4 of the digital multi-function device 20, it can be confirmed on the digital multi-function device 20 side, and there is no need to go to the client PC 30 side for confirmation.

In the digital compound device 20,
At the end of the processing of the image reading unit 2, the main control unit 1 sets the operation mode of the digital multifunction device 20 to a preset standby mode such as the default facsimile standby mode (which may be changed to the copy standby mode). (Step S12 in FIG. 6). Therefore, by setting the operation mode of the transfer destination to an operation mode with a high frequency of use, the operation automatically shifts to the standby mode, so that no operation is required and the operability can be greatly improved.

Further, the main control section 1 shifts the operation mode of the digital multi-function apparatus 20 to the operation mode immediately before the scan mode (facsimile mode or copy mode) at the end of the processing of the image reading section 2 in the scan mode. (Step S14 of FIG. 6). Therefore, by setting the operation mode of the transfer destination to the operation mode of the immediately preceding operation, the operation mode is automatically transferred to the operation mode, so that no operation is required and the operability can be greatly improved.

<Modification> In the above embodiment, an example of the digital composite device 20 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to an image reading device having a scanner function.

[0037]

As described above in detail, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading unit for reading an original image, converting it into image data, and outputting the image data, and reading condition information from an external terminal device. In the image reading apparatus including a control unit that controls the image reading unit to execute the process in response to the activation signal, the control unit displays the reading condition information on the display unit. Therefore, since the reading condition information set by the external terminal device is displayed on the display unit of the image reading device, the image reading device side can confirm it, and it is not necessary to confirm it by going to the external terminal device side at the time of confirmation.

In the image reading device, the control means shifts the operation mode of the image reading device to a preset standby mode at the end of the processing of the image reading means. Therefore, by setting the operation mode of the transfer destination to an operation mode with a high frequency of use, the operation automatically shifts to the standby mode, so that no operation is required and the operability can be greatly improved.

Further, in the image reading apparatus, the control means shifts the operation mode of the image reading apparatus to the operation mode immediately before the scan mode at the end of the processing of the image reading means in the scan mode. Therefore, by setting the operation mode of the transfer destination to the operation mode of the immediately preceding operation, the operation mode is automatically transferred to the operation mode, so that no operation is required and the operability can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a LAN system including a digital multi-function peripheral 20 which is an embodiment of the present invention and which is a facsimile machine with a copy, printer and scanner function.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client PC 30 of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital multifunction device 20 of FIG.

4A is a diagram showing a first reading condition displayed on the display unit 4 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a display unit 4 of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the 2nd reading condition displayed on.

5 is a flowchart showing a first part of a multi-functional peripheral control process executed by the main control unit 1 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a second part of the multi-functional peripheral control process executed by the main control unit 1 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main control part, 2 ... Image reading part, 4 ... Display part, 5 ... Operation part, 6 ... ROM, 7 ... RAM, 8 ... Image memory, 8a ... Memory box area, 9 ... Hard disk drive, 10 ... Fax modem , 11 ... NCU, 12 ... LAN interface, 13 ... Bus, 20 ... Digital compound device, 30, 30-1 to 30-N ... Client personal computer (client PC), 70 ... Local area network (LAN).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading an original image, converting it into image data and outputting the image data, and a process for executing the processing of the image reading unit in response to an activation signal including reading condition information from an external terminal device. An image reading apparatus having a control unit for controlling, wherein the control unit displays the reading condition information on a display unit. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit shifts the operation mode of the image reading apparatus to a preset standby mode at the end of the processing of the image reading unit. . 3. The control means shifts the operation mode of the image reading apparatus to the operation mode immediately before the scan mode at the end of the processing of the image reading means in the scan mode. 1. The image reading device described in 1.