JP2006270445A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader capable of improving convenience, by setting a scanning size for reading according to the utilization environment of a connected external device. <P>SOLUTION: A hybrid machine 20 functions as a local scanner or a network scanner that a PC 30 and a PC40 which are connected share. The hybrid machine 20 acquires location data from the connected PC 30 or PC 40 and sets default values of the scanning size for reading an image of a document by a read section 2, based on the acquired location data. According to the default values set, the image of the document is read to generate image data, which are sent out to the connected PC 30 or PC 40. Thus, the image data of the proper scanning size, corresponding to the use environment of the PC 30 or PC 40, are sent out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads an image of a document to generate image data, and sends the generated image data to a connected external device.

  2. Description of the Related Art A complex facsimile apparatus that is connected to a public line and can be connected to other networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network) is known. In such a composite facsimile apparatus, facsimile communication can be performed via a public line, and image data from an external apparatus such as a PC (personal computer) connected to a network such as a LAN can be transferred to the public line. The image data received via the public line can be distributed to an external device on a network such as a LAN.

  In such a composite facsimile apparatus, a PC can be connected locally via a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a parallel cable, or the like, or a PC can be connected to a network via a LAN or the like. It can be used as a scanner. The complex facsimile apparatus stores image data generated by reading an image of a document in an image memory in accordance with an instruction from a connected PC. Then, the image data stored in the image memory is downloaded to the connected PC.

As a technique related to the present invention, there has been proposed an image recording apparatus that has a function of detecting a power supply voltage that is different for each region or each country, and that performs initial settings such as a paper size based on the detection information (for example, patents). Reference 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-219280

  The size of paper used when recording image data differs depending on the region and country where the PC as an external device is placed. For example, A4 size is often used in Japan and Europe, and letter size is often used in the United States. For this reason, conventionally, when the image data read and downloaded is recorded on the PC side, the size of the image data may have to be changed according to the usage environment of the PC, which is not convenient. There is a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image reading apparatus capable of improving convenience by setting a scanning size at the time of reading in accordance with a use environment of a connected external apparatus. With the goal.

  An image reading apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image reading apparatus that scans and reads an image of a document to generate image data, and sends the generated image data to a connected external device. An acquisition means for acquiring, and a setting means for setting a default value of a scanning size when reading an image of a document based on location data acquired by the acquisition means.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the location data of the connected external device is acquired by the acquisition means, and the default value of the scanning size when reading the image of the document based on the acquired location data is used as the setting means. To set. Accordingly, image data having a scanning size corresponding to the use environment of the external apparatus is sent to the external apparatus, and the convenience for the user is improved.

  An image reading apparatus according to a second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the setting means sets the default value of the scan size to either an A4 size system or a letter size system.

  In the image reading apparatus of the second invention, the default value of the scan size is set to A4 size system or letter size system according to the use environment of the external device. Therefore, when the usage environment of the external device is Japan or Europe, the A4 size system is used, and when the external device is the US, the letter size system is used. Is sent to.

  An image reading apparatus according to a third invention is characterized in that, in the first or second invention, the image reading apparatus further comprises means for storing image data generated according to the default value set by the setting means.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, image data generated by reading an image of a document is stored. Therefore, image data can be sent to an external device at an arbitrary timing.

  In the present invention, since the default value of the scan size when reading the image of the document is set based on the location data of the connected external device, the scan size image data corresponding to the use environment of the external device is set. The user convenience can be improved.

  In the present invention, the default value of the scan size is set to the A4 size system or the letter size system in accordance with the use environment of the external apparatus. Therefore, image data of an appropriate size according to the country and region is stored in the external apparatus. Can be sent to.

  In the present invention, since image data generated by reading an image of a document is stored, the image data can be sent to an external device at an arbitrary timing.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction peripheral (facsimile multifunction peripheral) 20 as an image reading apparatus of the present invention. In addition to the original scanner function, facsimile function, and copy function, the multifunction machine 20 has a function of receiving an e-mail from an external device such as a PC via a network and a printer function of printing out image data. This is a composite facsimile machine.

  The MFP 20 includes a control unit 1, a reading unit 2, a recording unit 3, a display unit 4, an operation unit 5, a ROM 6, a RAM 7, an image memory 8, a codec 9, a modem 10, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 11, and a local interface unit. 12, a network interface unit 13 and the like.

  Specifically, the control unit 1 is configured by a CPU, and is connected to the above-described hardware units of the multi-function device 20 via the bus 14. The control unit 1 controls them and controls stored in the ROM 6. Various software functions are executed according to the program.

  The reading unit 2 reads an original with an optical system using, for example, a CCD, and outputs the read image data. The recording unit 3 is an electrophotographic printer device, and responds to image data of a document read by the reading unit 2, image data received by facsimile communication, image data sent from another multifunction device, and the like. Print out the printed image on paper.

  The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT display, and displays an operation state of the multi-function device 20 or displays a screen for prompting the user to input an operation or a screen for issuing a warning to the user. The operation unit 5 includes character keys, numeric keys, abbreviated dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the multifunction machine 20. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 by using the display unit 4 as a touch panel.

  The ROM 6 stores various software control programs necessary for the operation of the multifunction machine 20. The RAM 7 stores temporary data generated when the software is executed. The image memory 8 is constituted by a DRAM or the like, and stores image data obtained by reading an image of a document, image data received from an external device such as another facsimile machine, and the like. The codec 9 compresses image data to be transmitted according to a predetermined compression method, and decompresses received image data according to a predetermined compression method.

  The modem 10 is connected to the bus 14 and is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication. Similarly, the modem 10 is directly connected to the NCU 11 connected to the bus 14. The NCU 11 is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening the public line 23 with a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and connects the modem 10 to the PSTN as necessary. The multi-function device 20 is connected to another facsimile machine by the PSTN so that normal facsimile communication can be performed.

  A PC 30 as an external device is locally connected to the local interface unit 12 via the USB 21, and an image of a document is read and generated by the reading unit 2 according to an instruction from the connected PC 30. The image data is sent to the PC 30.

  A PC 40 as an external device is network-connected to the network interface unit 13 via a communication line 22 such as a LAN or the Internet. A document is read by the reading unit 2 in accordance with an instruction from the connected PC 40. These images are read and the generated image data is sent to the PC 40.

  The local interface unit 12 and the network interface unit 13 function as an acquisition unit that acquires the location data of the external devices (PC30, PC40). Further, the control unit 1 functions as a setting unit that sets a default value of a scanning size when reading an image of a document by performing an operation process described later. The image memory 8 functions as means for storing the generated image data.

  The multi-function device 20 of the present invention having the above-described configuration functions as a local scanner or a network scanner shared with the connected PC 30 or PC 40. The multi-function device 20 acquires location data from the connected PC 30 or PC 40, and sets a default value of a scan size when the reading unit 2 reads an image of a document based on the acquired location data. Then, according to the set default value, the image of the original is read to generate image data, and the generated image data is sent to the connected PC 30 or PC 40. Therefore, it is possible to send image data having an appropriate scan size according to the usage environment of the PC 30 or 40.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure of the setting process of the default value of the scan size in the multifunction machine 20 of the present invention.

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not a reading instruction has been input (step S1). If no reading instruction is input (S1: NO), monitoring of the input is continued. When the reading instruction is input (S1: YES), the control unit 1 acquires the location data of the locally connected PC 30 (step S2), and whether the acquired location data is information suggesting the US region. It is determined whether or not (step S3).

  When the acquired location data is information suggesting the US region (S3: YES), the control unit 1 sets the default value of the scan size to the letter size system (step S4) and ends the operation. On the other hand, when the acquired location data is not information suggesting the US region (S3: NO), the control unit 1 sets the default value of the scan size to the A4 size system (step S5) and ends the operation.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of a document image reading process in the multifunction machine 20 of the present invention.

  First, a document to be read is set in the reading unit 2 (step S11), and the reading unit 2 starts reading an image of the set document (step S12). After the reading unit 2 reads an image for one line of the document (step S13), the control unit 1 determines whether or not the sub-scanning length of the read document has reached the preset scanning size default value. Judgment is made (step S14).

  When the sub-scanning length of the read original does not reach the default value of the scanning size (S14: NO), the operation returns to S13 and the next line reading process is performed. On the other hand, when the sub-scan length of the read document reaches the default value of the scan size (S14: YES), the control unit 1 stores the read image data for one page in the image memory 8 (step S14). S15), the operation is terminated.

  In the above-described operation example, the case where the external device to be connected is the locally connected PC 30 has been described, but it goes without saying that the same can be applied to the PC 40 connected to the network. When a PC (external device) that is a transmission destination of image data is specified at the time of reading a document image, the present invention can be applied to the PC (external device).

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine as an image reading apparatus of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of the setting process of the default value of scanning size in this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of a document image reading process according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Control unit (setting means)
2 Reading unit 6 ROM
8 Image memory 12 Local interface (Acquisition means)
13 Network interface (acquisition means)
20 MFP (image reading device)
30 PC (external device)
40 PC (external device)

Claims (3)

  In an image reading apparatus that scans and reads an image of a document to generate image data, and sends the generated image data to a connected external device, an acquisition unit that acquires location data of the external device, and the acquisition unit An image reading apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a default value of a scanning size when reading an image of a document based on location data acquired in this way.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets a default value of a scanning size to either an A4 size system or a letter size system. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing image data generated according to the default value set by the setting means.

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