JP2008018560A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can well execute each processing. <P>SOLUTION: A selecting part 61 selects configuration data in accordance with the operating condition of an image forming apparatus 1 among the configuration data 13a stored in a flash ROM 13. A setting part 62 re-constitutes respective FPGA 22, 32 and 42 based on the configuration data selected by the selecting part 61 to enable to execute a prescribed process to respective FPGA 22, 32 and 42. The process in the image forming apparatus 1 can be efficiently executed thereby. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to optimization of processing executed in the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus using an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed based on configuration data is known (for example, Patent Document 1). A technique for changing an FPGA program in accordance with a motor control mode (for example, torque control, speed control, etc.) required by an application is also conventionally known.

JP 2004-343158 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-322078

  Here, in the image forming apparatus, for example, operation modes such as a scanner mode, a recording mode, and a facsimile communication mode can be executed. Further, the frequency of use of each operation mode generally varies depending on the usage status of the apparatus.

  As a result, when the FPGA program is changed each time the operation mode is switched as in Patent Document 2, there is a problem that the processing efficiency of the entire apparatus is lowered due to the influence of the operation mode switching time. . In particular, when only a part of the operation mode is used, this reduction in processing efficiency becomes a problem.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can execute each process satisfactorily.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is an image forming apparatus, wherein (a) a logic circuit programmable based on configuration data, and (b) a plurality of configuration data can be stored. A storage unit; and (c) a selection unit that selects configuration data corresponding to a use situation of the device from the storage unit among the plurality of configuration data; and (d) a configuration selected by the selection unit. And a setting unit that allows the logic circuit to execute the first process by reconfiguring the logic circuit based on data.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the storage unit causes the control unit to execute a process corresponding to at least one of the plurality of configuration data. A program can be further stored, the selection unit selects configuration data and a program according to the usage status of the device from the storage unit, and the setting unit selects the configuration data selected by the selection unit. The logic circuit is capable of executing the first process and the control unit is capable of executing the second process based on the configuration data and the program.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the apparatus is configured to be able to execute a plurality of operation modes, and the selection unit operates at a high frequency of use. For the process executed in the mode, configuration data corresponding to the process is selected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the selection unit uses the number of uses of each operation mode as the use frequency.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the selection unit uses a total processing time of each operation mode as the use frequency.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the selection unit uses a total processing data amount of each operation mode as the use frequency.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, at least one of the plurality of operation modes is a facsimile communication mode, and the selection unit is configured to perform the facsimile communication mode. It is characterized in that the total number of communication is used as the usage frequency.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of operation modes is a scanner mode for reading an image of a document, and the selection unit Is characterized in that the total number of read sheets is used as the frequency of use of the scanner mode.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the third, seventh, and eighth aspects, at least one of the plurality of operation modes has an image on a recording sheet. It is a recording mode for recording, and the selection unit uses a total number of recorded sheets as the use frequency of the recording mode.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: (a) a logic circuit programmable based on configuration data; (b) a storage unit capable of storing a plurality of configuration data; An input unit that accepts input of data, and (d) a selection unit that selects configuration data from the storage unit according to data input from the input unit among the plurality of configuration data, and (e) And a setting unit that allows the logic circuit to execute the first process by reconfiguring the logic circuit based on the configuration data selected by the selection unit.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of the logic circuits.

  According to the first to ninth aspects of the present invention, for example, the first process that is frequently used can be executed by the logic circuit in accordance with the usage status of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute processing in the image forming apparatus.

  In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, depending on the usage status of the image forming apparatus, for example, the first process having a high use frequency is assigned to the logic circuit, and the second process having a low use frequency is not as high as the first process. Can be executed by the control unit. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus while efficiently executing the processing in the image forming apparatus.

  In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cause the logic circuit to execute the process executed in the operation mode with high use frequency. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute processing in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, it is possible to set the first process executed by the logic circuit based on an instruction from the input unit. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the processing in the image forming apparatus based on the judgment of the user or maintenance person of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<1. Configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the image forming apparatus 1 is a scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a complex machine that combines these functions. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 mainly includes an NCU 21, a scanner unit 41, a recording unit 51, and a plurality (three in the present embodiment) of FPGAs 22, 32, and 42. .

  Here, the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 are logic circuits that can be programmed based on the configuration data. That is, a plurality of logic blocks are provided inside each of the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42. Further, when the configuration data is downloaded to each of the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42, the internal logical blocks are electrically connected based on the configuration data. Therefore, each FPGA 22, 32, 42 can realize various functions (for example, a modem function, a communication CODEC function, etc.) based on the configuration data.

  The NCU 21 is a device that is required when the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the public switched telephone network, and performs outgoing / incoming calls and dial control. The analog front end 23 converts communication data from an analog signal to a digital signal, or from a digital signal to an analog signal when communication is performed between the image forming apparatus 1 and an external device via a public switched telephone network. Convert.

  The first FPGA 22 implements a modem function or operates as a RAM (Random Access Memory) by downloading predetermined configuration data. For example, when the modem function is realized by the first FPGA 22, the first FPGA 22 executes processes such as modulation, demodulation, compression / decompression, and error correction. When the modem function is not realized in the first FPGA 22, the MPU 11 executes processing such as modulation, demodulation, compression / decompression, and error correction.

  The communication unit 25 is a LAN interface capable of data communication with other image forming apparatuses and information processing apparatuses connected via a network such as the Internet.

  The second FPGA 32 realizes functions of communication CODEC, JPEG CODEC, and PDL decoding by downloading predetermined configuration data.

  Here, the communication CODEC is used for reversible compression processing of an image transmitted by facsimile communication. The JPEG CODEC is used to compress an image by the JPEG method. Further, PDL decoding is performed by converting a print image created in accordance with PDL (page-description language) into bitmap data in an apparatus (for example, an information processing apparatus) provided outside the image forming apparatus 1. Convert.

  When the second FPGA 32 does not realize the communication CODEC, the JPEG CODEC, and the PDL decoding function, the MPU 11 realizes each function according to the program.

  The scanner unit 41 is a reading unit that reads image data from a document. The image data read by the scanner unit 41 is compressed by, for example, the JPEG method and stored in the image memory 16.

  The third FPGA 42 realizes a predetermined image conversion function by downloading predetermined configuration data. For example, in the third FPGA 42, a binarization process using a dither method or an error diffusion method, and a grayscale image correction process using γ correction, shading correction, or the like are executed. On the other hand, when the image conversion function is not realized in the third FPGA 42, the MPU 11 executes image conversion processing according to the program.

  The recording unit 51 is an image forming unit that records a toner image based on an electrostatic latent image on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method. For example, the recording unit 51 forms a toner image based on the image data read by the scanner unit 41 on a photosensitive drum (not shown). The formed toner image is transferred to a recording sheet.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions realized by the first to third FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 in each operation mode. Here, the image forming apparatus 1 can execute a plurality of operation modes such as a facsimile communication mode, a scanner mode for reading an image of a document, and a recording mode for recording an image on a recording sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the facsimile communication mode, each of the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 realizes a modem function, a communication CODEC function, and an image conversion function by a dither method. In the scanner mode, each of the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 realizes a RAM function, a JPEG CODEC function, and an image conversion function using an error diffusion method. Further, in the recording mode, each of the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 realizes a RAM function, a PDL decoding function, and an image correction function such as shading correction and γ correction.

  The selection unit 61 selects configuration data from the flash ROM 13 according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1 among the configuration data 13 a stored in the flash ROM 13. For example, when the frequency of facsimile communication is high in the image forming apparatus 1, “facsimile communication mode” is selected as the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1. Then, configuration data for realizing the “modem” function, the “communication CODEC” function, and the image conversion function by the “dither method” are selected as the configuration data of the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42, respectively.

  The setting unit 62 allows the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 to execute a predetermined process (first process) by reconfiguring the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 based on the configuration data selected by the selection unit 61. Let

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1, for example, the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 can execute, for example, a frequently used process (first process) according to the use status of the apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute the processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

  The display unit 63 is configured by a so-called liquid crystal display, and has a function as a “touch panel” that can specify a position on the screen by touching the screen with a finger or a dedicated pen. Therefore, a user of the image forming apparatus 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “user”) gives an instruction using the “touch panel” function of the display unit 63 based on the content displayed on the display unit 63, thereby The image forming apparatus 1 can execute a predetermined operation. Thus, the display unit 63 is also used as an input unit.

  The operation unit 64 is an input unit configured by a so-called keypad. The user can cause the image forming apparatus 1 to perform a predetermined operation by performing an input operation based on the display content of the display unit 63.

  The RAM 12 is a readable / writable volatile memory (storage unit). In the RAM 12, for example, mode history data 12a indicating the usage status of each operation mode can be stored. The mode history data 12a may be stored in the flash ROM 13. Similarly to the RAM 12, the image memory 16 is a readable / writable memory, and stores image data read by the scanner unit 41, for example.

  The flash ROM 13 is an electrically rewritable memory (storage unit), and the data on the flash ROM 13 continues to be retained even when the power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is cut off. In the flash ROM 13, for example, a plurality of configuration data 13a and a program 13b can be stored. The MPU 11 executes control according to the program 13b stored in the flash ROM 13. Further, the MPU 11, the RAM 12, the flash ROM 13, the selection unit 61, the setting unit 62, etc. are electrically connected via the signal line 15. Therefore, for example, the MPU 11 can execute configuration data selection processing by the selection unit 61 at a predetermined timing.

  Here, the flash ROM 13 can store a program that causes the control unit to execute the process corresponding to at least one of the plurality of configuration data 13a.

  Therefore, the selection unit 61 may select the configuration data 13a and the program 13b according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, for the first process that is frequently used, the selection unit 61 selects configuration data 13 a corresponding to the first process from the flash ROM 13. On the other hand, for the second process that is less frequently used than the first process, the selection unit 61 selects the program 13b corresponding to the second process from the flash ROM 13.

  Based on the configuration data 13a and the program 13b selected by the selection unit 61, the setting unit 62 can execute the first process on the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 and execute the second process on the MPU 11. Let me.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 determines, for example, the first processing that is frequently used in each FPGA 22, 32, 42, and the second processing that is not executed in each FPGA 22, 32, 42 depending on the usage status. Each of the MPUs 11 can be executed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus 1 while efficiently executing the processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

<2. Setting procedure of each FPGA>
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the setting procedure of the first to third FPGAs 22, 32, and 42. When the image forming apparatus 1 is activated by a user or the like, the selection unit 61 selects default configuration data 13 a from the flash ROM 13. Then, the setting unit 62 reconfigures the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 based on the default configuration data 13a (S101). Subsequently, “1” is substituted into the variable “n”, and the value of the variable “n” is initialized (S102).

  Subsequently, when the job is executed in the image forming apparatus 1 (S103), the mode history data of the operation mode corresponding to the executed job is updated (S104), and the value of the variable “n” is set to “1”. "Is added (S105). Then, the processes in steps S103 to S105 are repeatedly executed until the value of the variable “n” becomes larger than “n0” (S106).

  When the number of repetitions of steps S103 to S105 is equal to or greater than the predetermined number “n0” (S106), the most frequent operation mode (the operation mode with the high usage frequency) is extracted based on the data stored in the mode history data 12a (S107). .

  It should be noted that the most frequent operation mode is extracted by using the number of times each operation mode is executed while steps S103 to S105 are repeated a predetermined number of times “n0”. In other words, in the present embodiment, the number of uses in each operation mode is used as the use frequency.

  Subsequently, when the most frequent operation mode extracted in step S106 is different from the current operation mode and the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 need to be reconfigured (S108), the selection unit 61 switches to the most frequent operation mode. The corresponding configuration data 13a is selected (S109).

  In other words, the selection unit 61 selects the configuration data corresponding to the processing executed in the frequently used operation mode (mode operation mode) from the flash ROM 13, so that each of the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 is assigned. A predetermined function is realized.

  Then, the FPGA 22, 32, 42 is reconfigured based on the configuration data 13 a selected by the setting unit 62, and this setting procedure ends. When step S110 is completed, the procedure may return to step S102 and this setting procedure may be repeated.

<3. Advantages of information processing apparatus of this embodiment>
As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can cause the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 to execute, for example, frequently used processing according to the usage status. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute the processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 can cause the FPGAs 22, 32, and 42 to execute processing with high usage frequency in hardware and the MPU 11 to execute processing with low usage frequency in software. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus 1 while efficiently executing the processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

<4. Modification>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  (1) In the selection part 61 of this Embodiment, although the frequency | count of use of each operation mode is used as usage frequency, it is not limited to this. For example, the total processing time and total processing data of each operation mode may be used as the usage frequency.

  Further, as the frequency of use of the facsimile communication mode, the scanner mode, and the recording mode, the total communication number, the total reading number, and the total recording number may be used, respectively.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as having three FPGAs 22, 32, and 42. However, the number of FPGAs is not limited to this. For example, the number of FPGAs may be one, two, or four or more.

  (3) In this embodiment, an FPGA is used as a programmable logic circuit, but the usable logic circuit is not limited to this. For example, a SPLD (Simple Programmable Logic Device) may be used as the logic circuit, or a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) may be used.

  (4) Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it has been described that each configuration data 13a is selected according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1, but the selection method of the configuration data 13a is not limited to this. For example, the selection unit 61 may select the configuration data 13a from the flash ROM 13 according to data input from the display unit 63 or the operation unit 64 that can be used as an input unit. Thereby, the processing in the image forming apparatus 1 can be optimized based on the judgment of the user or maintenance person of the image forming apparatus 1.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the function implement | achieved by 1st thru | or 3rd FPGA in each operation mode. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting procedure of the 1st thru | or 3rd FPGA.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 12 RAM
12a Mode history data 13 Flash ROM
13a Configuration data 22 1st FPGA
32 Second FPGA
41 Scanner unit 42 3rd FPGA
51 Recording unit 61 Selection unit 62 Setting unit

Claims (11)

An image forming apparatus,
(a) a logic circuit that can be programmed based on configuration data;
(b) a storage unit capable of storing a plurality of configuration data;
(c) Of the plurality of configuration data, a selection unit that selects configuration data according to the usage status of the device from the storage unit;
(d) a setting unit that enables the logic circuit to execute the first process by reconfiguring the logic circuit based on the configuration data selected by the selection unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The storage unit is capable of further storing a program for causing the control unit to execute the process for a process corresponding to at least one of the plurality of configuration data.
The selection unit selects configuration data and a program according to the usage status of the device from the storage unit,
The setting unit enables the logic circuit to execute the first process and the control unit to execute the second process based on the configuration data and the program selected by the selection unit. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The apparatus is capable of executing a plurality of operation modes,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the selection unit selects configuration data corresponding to a process executed in an operation mode having a high use frequency. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit uses the number of uses of each operation mode as the use frequency. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the selection unit uses a total processing time of each operation mode as the use frequency. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the selection unit uses a total processing data amount of each operation mode as the use frequency. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
At least one of the plurality of operation modes is a facsimile communication mode;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit uses a total number of communication sheets as the use frequency of the facsimile communication mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 7, wherein:
At least one of the plurality of operation modes is a scanner mode for reading an image of a document,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit uses a total number of read sheets as the use frequency of the scanner mode. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3, 7, and 8.
At least one of the plurality of operation modes is a recording mode for recording an image on recording paper,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit uses a total number of recorded sheets as the use frequency of the recording mode. An image forming apparatus,
(a) a logic circuit that can be programmed based on configuration data;
(b) a storage unit capable of storing a plurality of configuration data;
(c) an input unit that accepts data input;
(d) a selection unit that selects, from the storage unit, configuration data corresponding to data input from the input unit among the plurality of configuration data;
(e) a setting unit that enables the logic circuit to execute the first process by reconfiguring the logic circuit based on the configuration data selected by the selection unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of the logic circuits.

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