JP2004054742A - Image processing device and control method of image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device and a control method of the image processing device that reduce diversion of the throughput capacity of a main control part, for example, when a high resolution copying operation brings the throughput capacity of the image processing device to the limit. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing device has a recording means for recording image data on a recording member, a state information acquiring means for acquiring state information about the recording means at given time intervals, and a time interval controlling means for controlling the time intervals of the state information acquisition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing device and a control method of the image processing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional image processing apparatus, the main control unit acquires status information of the recording unit at regular intervals, regardless of the state of the image processing apparatus or the operation state of the recording unit. Further, the main control unit acquires the status information of the recording unit at regular intervals, regardless of whether the image processing apparatus is in the standby state.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional image processing apparatus, the main control unit acquires the status information of the recording unit at regular intervals regardless of the apparatus state of the image processing apparatus and the operation state of the recording unit. Thus, even when the processing capacity of the main control unit has reached the limit, there is a problem that a part of the processing capacity of the main control unit is consumed in order to acquire the status information of the recording unit.
[0004]
Further, in the above-described conventional example, even when a recording operation having a margin in the processing capacity of the main control unit is performed, the status information of the recording unit is acquired by the main control unit only at regular intervals. However, there is a problem that a delay occurs in the error detection of the above and the end detection of the recording operation.
[0005]
Furthermore, in the above conventional example, even when the image processing apparatus is not operating at all, the status information of the recording unit is obtained at regular intervals by the main control unit, so that the wasteful processing capacity of the main control unit is consumed. There is a problem.
[0006]
In the above-described conventional example, there is a problem that even if the operator wants to set the interval at which the main control unit acquires the status information of the recording unit, the operator does not have the means.
[0007]
The present invention provides, for example, an image processing apparatus which performs high-definition copy operation, and when the processing capacity of the image processing apparatus has reached its limit, the processing capacity of the main control unit is less likely to be lost. It is intended to provide a method.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a recording unit for recording image data on a recording member, a state information acquiring unit for acquiring state information of the recording unit at predetermined time intervals, and a time for adjusting the time interval for acquiring the state information. An image processing apparatus having an interval adjusting unit.
[0009]
Embodiments and Examples of the Invention
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010]
In the image processing apparatus 100, the CPU 101 is a main system control unit, and controls the entire image processing apparatus 100.
[0011]
The ROM 102 stores a control program executed by the CPU 101, an embedded operating system (real-time OS) program, and the like. In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 102 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 102. The control program also includes a program for acquiring status information from the recording unit 115 (described later) at variable intervals.
[0012]
The RAM 103 is configured by an SRAM (Static RAM) or the like that requires a backup power supply, and data is held by a data backup primary battery (not shown). The RAM 103 stores program control variables and the like. Further, a memory area for storing setting values registered by an operator, management data of the image processing apparatus 100, and the like is also provided.
[0013]
The image memory 104 is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) or the like, and stores image data. A part of the area is reserved as a work area for executing software processing.
[0014]
The data conversion unit 105 performs conversion of image data, such as analysis of a page description language (PDL) and the like, and expansion of character data into CG (computer graphics).
[0015]
The reading control unit 106 reads the image signal obtained by the reading unit 107 optically reading a document by a CIS image sensor (contact type image sensor) and converting the read image into electrical image data via an image processing control unit (not shown). And performs various image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing, and outputs high-definition image data.
[0016]
In the above-described embodiment, the reading control unit 106 supports both a sheet reading control method for reading while transporting a document and a book reading control method for scanning a document on a document table.
[0017]
The operation display unit 108 includes a numerical input key, a character input key, a one-touch telephone number key, a mode setting key, an enter key, a cancel key, and the like. The CPU 101 inputs a time interval value for acquiring status information of the recording unit, An operation unit for determining destination data and registering setting data, various keys, an LED (light emitting diode), an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the like are provided. A display unit for displaying the operation status, status status, and the like of 100.
[0018]
The communication control unit 109 includes a MODEM (modulator / demodulator), an NCU (network controller), and the like.
[0019]
In the above embodiment, the communication control unit 109 is connected to the analog communication line (PSTN) 131, and performs communication control according to the T30 protocol, and line control such as calling and receiving a call to the communication line.
[0020]
The resolution conversion processing unit 110 performs resolution conversion control such as millimeter-inch resolution conversion of image data. Note that the resolution conversion unit 110 can also perform image data scaling processing.
[0021]
The encoding / decoding processing unit 111 performs encoding / decoding processing on image data (MH, MR, MMR, JBIG, JPEG, etc.) handled by the image processing apparatus 100, and executes scaling processing.
[0022]
The recording control unit 112 performs various image processing such as smoothing processing, recording density correction processing, and color correction via an image processing control unit (not shown) on the image data to be printed, and converts the image data into high-definition image data. Output to USB host control unit 114 (described later). In addition, by controlling the USB host control unit 114, it also plays a role of periodically acquiring status information data of the recording unit 115.
[0023]
The USB function control unit 113 performs communication control of the USB interface, performs protocol control according to the USB communication standard, converts data from a USB control task executed by the CPU 101 into a packet, and converts the data into a packet. A USB packet is transmitted from the external information processing terminal, and conversely, the USB packet is converted into data and transmitted to the CPU 101. The USB communication standard is a standard capable of performing bidirectional data communication at high speed, and a plurality of hubs or functions (slaves) can be connected to one host (master). The USB function control unit 113 has a function function in USB communication.
[0024]
The USB host control unit 114 is a control unit that performs communication using a protocol defined by the USB communication standard. The USB host control unit 114 has a host function in USB communication.
[0025]
The recording unit 115 is a printing device having a laser beam printer, an inkjet printer, or the like, and prints color image data or monochrome image data on a printing member. An EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory, a ROM capable of electrically rewriting contents) that does not require a backup power supply (not shown) is connected to the recording unit 115, and recording control parameters and the like are stored therein. I have. The USB host control unit 114 performs communication according to a protocol defined by the USB communication standard. In particular, the recording unit 115 has a function function.
[0026]
In this embodiment, the USB communication of the recording function uses a one-to-one connection mode.
[0027]
The components 101 to 106 and 108 to 114 are interconnected via a CPU bus 121 managed by the CPU 101.
[0028]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
[0029]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 101 for acquiring the status of the recording unit 115 in the above embodiment.
[0030]
It is assumed that the initialization of the CPU 101 and peripheral circuits has already been completed.
[0031]
First, in step 301, the CPU 101 monitors whether or not a recording operation has been started during the standby state. When the recording operation is started, the process proceeds to step 302. If the recording operation has not been started, the standby state is maintained and step 301 is repeated.
[0032]
The recording operation can be roughly classified into a recording operation started manually by an operator and a recording operation started automatically. The operation manually started by the operator includes the start of copying by the operator, the start of recording of a communication management report, the printing instruction from an external information processing terminal, and the like. On the other hand, the operation that is automatically started includes the start of recording of a received image accompanying facsimile reception.
[0033]
In step 302, the CPU 101 initializes the setting of the time interval of the status information acquisition processing performed on the recording unit 115 to the shortest value. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 303. This initial set value is stored in a work area in the image memory 104. Further, the initial setting value may be input in advance from the numerical input key, the enter key, and the cancel key of the operation display unit 108 by the intervention of the operator.
[0034]
In step 303, the CPU 101 acquires status information for notifying an operation status from the recording unit 115. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 304. Status information includes “standby”, “printing”, “feeding”, “discharging”, “cancelling”, various errors, ink out error, recording paper out error, recording paper jam. Information such as an error and an operation index value obtained by converting the operation state of the recording unit 115 into an index.
[0035]
In step 304, an operation index indicating the operation state of the CPU 101 is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the operation index value is smaller than a certain threshold. When the operation index value is smaller than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step 308. When the operation index value is larger than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step 305.
[0036]
The operation index value can be calculated, for example, by the following method. Embedded software that operates under the control of the real-time OS registers a task for executing various processes when the image processing apparatus is powered on and initializes the apparatus, and executes the task when all tasks are not activated. Idle tasks are also registered.
[0037]
When the image processing apparatus is operating, a task switch occurs due to the scheduling specified by the real-time OS, and apparently, the processing tasks seem to be operating simultaneously. However, when there is no event to be processed, all the processing tasks are set to a sleep state, and at that moment, the idle task is executed. By calculating the time ratio at which the idle task is executed, an operation index value indicating the operation state of the CPU 101 can be obtained.
[0038]
In step 305, the CPU 101 sets the time interval of the status information acquisition processing performed on the recording unit 115 to an intermediate value longer than the shortest value. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 306. This set value is stored in a work area in the image memory 104. Further, the set value may be input in advance from the numerical input key, the enter key, and the cancel key of the operation display unit 108 by the intervention of the operator.
[0039]
In step 306, the CPU 101 acquires an operation index indicating the operation state of the recording unit 115, and determines whether or not the operation index value is smaller than a certain threshold. If the operation index value of the recording unit 115 is smaller than the certain threshold, the process proceeds to step 308. If the operation index value is larger than the threshold, the process proceeds to step 307. The operation index value can be obtained from the status information of the recording unit 115 obtained in step 303.
[0040]
In step 307, the CPU 101 sets the time interval of the status information acquisition process performed on the recording unit 115 to the longest value longer than the intermediate value. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 308. This set value is stored in a work area in the image memory 104. Further, the set value may be input in advance from the numerical input key, the enter key, and the cancel key of the operation display unit 108 by the intervention of the operator.
[0041]
In step 308, the wait is performed while the time interval for acquiring the status information stored in the work area in the image memory 104 is set. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 309.
[0042]
In step 309, it is determined whether or not the recording operation performed by the image processing apparatus 100 has been completed. If completed, the process proceeds to step 310, and if not completed, the process returns to step 302.
[0043]
In step 310, the CPU 101 stops acquiring status information for notifying the operation status from the recording unit 115.
[0044]
According to the above-described embodiment, for example, when a high-definition copy operation is performed and the processing capability of the image processing apparatus has reached its limit, the main control unit acquires the status information of the recording unit. Is not taken away.
[0045]
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the main control unit performs a recording operation with a sufficient processing capacity, the main control unit may delay the error detection of the recording unit or the detection of the end of the recording operation. Absent.
[0046]
Further, according to the above embodiment, when the image processing apparatus is not operating at all, the main control unit does not consume useless processing capacity, and the main control unit acquires the status information of the recording unit. Since the interval can be set by the operator, a flexible image processing apparatus can be constructed.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, for example, when a high-definition copy operation is performed and the processing capability of the image processing apparatus has reached its limit, the main control unit obtains status information of the recording unit. This has the effect that the processing capacity is not deprived.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in which a CPU 101 acquires a status of a recording unit 115 in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 image processing device,
101 ... CPU,
102 ... ROM,
103 ... RAM,
104 ... Image memory,
105: data conversion unit,
106: reading control unit,
107: reading unit,
108 ... operation display section,
109 ... communication control unit,
110 ... resolution conversion processing unit
111 ... code decoding processing unit,
112: recording control unit,
113 ... USB function control unit,
114 ... USB host control unit,
115 recording unit.

Claims (6)

Recording means for recording image data on a recording member;
State information acquisition means for acquiring the state information of the recording means at predetermined time intervals;
Time interval adjusting means for adjusting the time interval for acquiring the state information;
An image processing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time interval adjusting means is means for adjusting the time interval according to a state of the image processing apparatus. In claim 1,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time interval adjusting unit is a unit that adjusts the time interval according to a state of the recording unit. In claim 2 or claim 3,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the time interval adjusting means is means for making the time interval infinite. In claim 1,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time interval adjusting means is means capable of adjusting the time interval by an operator. A recording step of recording image data on a recording member;
A state information acquiring step of acquiring the state information in the recording step at predetermined time intervals;
A time interval adjusting step of adjusting the time interval for acquiring the state information;
A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:

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