JP2008277949A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain secure energy-saving effects, when a telephone set is not connected in a facsimile apparatus to which the telephone set can be connected. <P>SOLUTION: A ringing detector 3 detects a ringing from a line 1. A facsimile communication controller 5 starts operating, in response to the ringing to control facsimile transmission and reception to and from the line 1. A telephone set input/output unit 9 connects the telephone set 15 via a switching unit 11 and a telephone set detector 13. The switching unit 11 selectively switch the telephone set 15 between the telephone line 1 and telephone set input/output unit 9 which is under the control of the facsimile controller. The ringing detector 13 detects whether the telephone set 15 is connected. When nonconnection of the telephone set 15 is detected, the facsimile communication controller 5 performs stop control over the operation of the telephone set input/output unit 9 with the telephone set 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement of a facsimile apparatus that can be connected to a telephone and has an energy saving mode (energy saving mode).

  In recent years, in facsimile machines, for example, power is supplied to a minimum necessary circuit during standby and power supply to other circuits is stopped, and a transition is made to an energy saving mode to detect a call signal, set a document on a document table, An apparatus having a configuration in which the energy saving mode is canceled by pressing a specific key has been proposed.

  For example, the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-32398 (Patent Document 1) is of this type.

That is, this patent document 1 has means for detecting a call signal and canceling the energy-saving mode, and means for detecting whether or not the telephone is connected. Based on whether or not the telephone is connected, energy is saved based on detection of the call signal. The release condition from the mode can be changed, and the release from the energy saving mode can be quickly performed based on whether or not the telephone is connected.
JP 2003-32398 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 described above, since the energy-saving mode is canceled immediately after detecting the ringing signal once or twice regardless of whether the telephone is connected or not, a circuit that operates the telephone even when the telephone is not connected works. Therefore, there is room for improvement in order to secure the effect of the energy saving mode.

  In other words, in a facsimile machine to which a telephone is connected, power is supplied from the facsimile machine body to the telephone, a signal notifying the arrival of a ringing signal, or a circuit that detects an off-hook of the telephone operates to operate the power. I was consuming.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus in which a reliable energy saving effect can be obtained even when the telephone is disconnected, in a facsimile apparatus to which the telephone can be connected.

  In order to solve such a problem, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes a call signal detection unit that detects a call signal from a line, and a facsimile that starts an operation based on the detected call signal and communicates with the line. A facsimile communication control unit for controlling reception, a telephone input / output unit to which the telephone is connected, and the telephone and the telephone input / output unit inserted between the telephone input / output unit and the telephone by the control of the facsimile control unit. A switching unit for selectively switching connection between the telephone and a telephone detecting unit for detecting whether or not the telephone is connected to the telephone input / output unit, and when the telephone detecting unit detects disconnection of the telephone, The communication control unit is configured to stop and control the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone.

  In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the facsimile communication control unit controls to stop the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone when the telephone detection unit detects disconnection of the telephone when the calling signal is detected by the calling signal detection unit. Is possible.

  In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the telephone detector may be configured to detect the presence / absence of a telephone connection by detecting the presence / absence of a signal flowing between the telephone input / output unit and the telephone.

  In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, a configuration in which the telephone detector detects the start of connection of the telephone to the telephone input / output unit is also possible.

  The facsimile apparatus of the present invention has an operation unit for registering connection / non-connection of the telephone, and when the non-connection is registered, the facsimile communication control unit controls to stop the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone. Configuration is also possible.

  Such a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, the call signal detection unit detects a call signal from the line, the facsimile communication control unit starts control of facsimile reception with the line based on the detected call signal, A telephone input / output unit to which the telephone is connected and a switching unit inserted between the telephones are selectively switched between the line and the telephone input / output unit under the control of the facsimile control unit. When the telephone detector detects whether the telephone is connected or not, and when the telephone detector detects the disconnection of the telephone, the facsimile communication control unit controls the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone so that the telephone If the telephone is disconnected, the operation of the telephone input / output unit is stopped, and a reliable energy saving effect can be obtained when the telephone is disconnected.

  In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when the telephone detection unit detects disconnection of the telephone when the call signal is detected by the call signal detection unit, the facsimile communication control unit controls to stop the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone. In particular, a reliable energy saving effect can be obtained after the call signal arrives.

  In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, in the configuration in which the telephone detection unit detects the presence / absence of a signal flowing between the telephone input / output unit and the telephone to detect the presence / absence of connection of the telephone, the telephone detection unit is connected to the telephone input / output unit. Since it can be detected simply by inserting it between the telephones, the configuration is simple.

  In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, in the configuration in which the telephone detection unit detects the start of connection of the telephone to the telephone input / output unit, the detection is possible even when the telephone is physically connected during the operation.

  The facsimile apparatus of the present invention has an operation unit for registering connection / non-connection of the telephone, and when the non-connection is registered, the facsimile communication control unit controls to stop the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone. In the configuration, the energy saving effect can be controlled also by a user operation.

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

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

  In FIG. 1, a telephone line 1 is a publicly known communication line such as a public line or a dedicated line, and is connected to a call signal detection unit 3 and a facsimile communication control unit 5 which constitute a main part of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. Yes. The facsimile communication control unit 5 is abbreviated as a FAX communication control unit in the figure.

  The call signal detection unit 3 is a known circuit that detects a call signal transmitted from the calling side (not shown) via the telephone line 1 and outputs it to the facsimile communication control unit 5.

  The facsimile communication control unit 5 includes a CPU, a ROM storing an operation program for the CPU, and an input / output interface unit. The facsimile communication control unit 5 starts an operation based on a call signal from the call signal detection unit 3, and then performs facsimile processing. Controls transmission / reception of communication, and is connected to the operation unit 7 and the telephone input / output unit 9.

  The facsimile communication control unit 5 is also connected to and controls a facsimile signal decoding unit, a facsimile signal encoding unit, a facsimile transmission document reading unit, a facsimile reception image printing unit, and the like for performing facsimile transmission / reception. Description and illustration are omitted because it is not the main part of. Other functions of the facsimile communication control unit 5 will be described later.

  The operation unit 7 is a keyboard switch or the like that receives transmission / reception instructions for performing facsimile transmission / reception, various operation settings, for example, setting input such as a communication partner telephone number.

  The operation unit 7 also has a function of accepting setting registration of connection / disconnection to the telephone input / output unit 9 of the telephone 15 to be described later.

  The telephone input / output unit 9 supplies a DC drive power to the telephone 15 connected thereto, outputs an incoming signal to the telephone 15 by an activation control signal from the facsimile communication control unit 5, or off-hooks the telephone 15 And the off-hook detection signal and the like are output to the facsimile communication control unit 5.

  A switching unit 11 and a telephone detection unit 13 are inserted and connected between the telephone input / output unit 9 and the telephone 15.

  The switching unit 11 includes a mechanical switch such as a relay having a two-circuit two-contact configuration in which the movable contact side is connected to the telephone line 1 and the telephone input / output unit 9 and the fixed contact side is connected to the telephone 15 via the telephone detection unit 13. A non-contact switch such as a semiconductor switch has a function of selectively switching between the telephone line 1 and the telephone input / output unit 9, and the movable contact selects the telephone input / output unit 9 during standby.

  The switching unit 11 is configured so that the movable contact is switched from the telephone input / output unit 9 to the telephone line 1 by the facsimile communication control unit 5 based on the off-hook detection signal from the telephone input / output unit 9. The movable contact is returned to the telephone input / output unit 9 by shutting off.

  The telephone detector 13 detects whether or not the telephone 15 is connected to the telephone input / output unit 9, and as shown in FIG. 2, a bidirectional light emitting diode 17a inserted in one line and a predetermined power source Vcc. And a photocoupler 17 including a light receiving transistor 17b inserted between a resistor R having one end connected to the ground and a ground.

  When a signal flows between the telephone input / output unit 9 and the telephone 15, the light emitting diode 17a emits light and is received by the light receiving transistor 17b. A current flows from the power source Vcc to the ground via the resistor R and the light receiving transistor 17b, and the resistor R The voltage Vout at the other end of the terminal is lowered from the H level to the L level, and the connection state of the telephone 15 can be detected.

  For this reason, the level of the voltage Vout at the other end is detected by the facsimile communication control unit 5, and whether or not the telephone 15 is connected through the operation of the telephone detection unit 13 due to the presence or absence of current flowing between the telephone input / output unit 9 and the telephone 15. It is detected by the facsimile communication control unit 5.

  When the telephone set 15 is physically connected from the state in which the telephone set 15 is not connected, a current flows between the telephone input / output unit 9 and the telephone set 15, so that the presence or absence of the telephone set 15 can be similarly detected. is there.

  The telephone 15 connected to the telephone detection unit 13 is a conventionally known telephone, so detailed description is omitted.

  The facsimile communication control unit 5 controls the telephone input / output unit 9 when the telephone detection unit 13 detects the disconnection of the telephone 15 in a state where the call signal detection unit 3 detects the calling signal. For example, supply of DC drive power to the telephone 15, output of an incoming signal to the telephone 15, or an off-hook detection operation of the telephone 15.

  The facsimile communication control unit 5 also has a function of canceling the operation stop in the telephone input / output unit 9 when the telephone detection unit 13 detects the start of connection of the telephone 15 to the telephone input / output unit 9.

  In addition to detecting the start of connection of the telephone set 15, the operation stop in the telephone input / output unit 9 can be automatically canceled when the call signal detection period elapses.

  Further, the facsimile communication control unit 5 also has a function of stopping and controlling these operations in the telephone input / output unit 9 when the disconnection of the telephone 15 is registered from the operation unit 7 described above.

  Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the program is started, the call signal detection process is performed in step S1, and step S1 is repeated until it is detected. When the call signal is received and step S1 becomes YES, it is determined whether or not the telephone 15 is connected in step S2. Is done.

  If the connection of the telephone 15 is detected and step S2 is YES, the telephone input / output unit 9 is operated in step S3, and the process proceeds to step S4.

  If the connection of the telephone 15 is not detected and step S2 is NO, the operation of the telephone input / output unit 9 is stopped in step S5, and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the operation with the calling signal, for example, facsimile communication Processing is executed.

  In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the operation in which the telephone 15 is physically connected to the telephone input / output unit 9 via the telephone input / output unit 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4A.

  In this operation, whether or not the telephone 15 is connected is determined in step S10. If it is not detected, step S10 is repeated until it is detected. If the connection of the telephone 15 is detected and step S10 is YES, step S11 is performed. The telephone input / output unit 9 is operated to perform off-hook detection processing of the telephone 15.

  Further, the operation of registering connection / disconnection of the telephone 15 in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4B.

  In this operation, whether or not there is a setting input to the operation unit 7 is determined in step S20, and when the connection of the telephone 15 is registered, the operation process of the telephone input / output unit 9 is performed in step S21, and the connection is disconnected. If registered, in step S22, a process for stopping the operation of the telephone input / output unit 9 is performed.

  As described above, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the call signal detection unit 3 that detects a call signal from the telephone line 1 and the facsimile communication that starts operation based on the detected call signal and controls facsimile transmission / reception with the line. The control unit 5, the telephone input / output unit 9 to which the telephone 15 is connected, and the telephone 15 is inserted between the telephone input / output unit 9 and the telephone 15 and controlled by the facsimile control unit. A switching unit 11 for selectively switching connection between the telephone input / output unit 9 and a telephone detection unit 13 for detecting a connection between the telephone 15 by detecting a signal flowing between the telephone input / output unit 9 and the telephone 15. When the detection unit 13 detects the disconnection of the telephone set 15, the facsimile communication control unit 5 has a configuration for controlling to stop the operation of the telephone input / output unit 9 with the telephone set 15. .

  Therefore, if the telephone 15 is not connected to the telephone input / output unit 9, the operation of the telephone input / output unit 9 is stopped, and there is an advantage that a reliable energy saving effect can be obtained when the telephone 15 is disconnected. The connection / disconnection of the telephone set 15 is detected simply by detecting the signal between the telephone input / output unit 9 and the telephone set 15, and the configuration is simple.

  Moreover, since the telephone set detection unit 13 detects the connection / disconnection of the telephone set 15 when the call signal is detected by the call signal detection unit 3, a reliable energy saving effect can be obtained particularly after the call signal is received.

  Furthermore, even if the telephone 15 is physically connected during the operation, the telephone detector 13 can detect it, so the operation of the telephone input / output unit 9 with the telephone 15 is canceled using this detection. It becomes possible.

  Furthermore, since the connection / disconnection of the telephone 15 can be registered by the operation unit 7, there is an advantage that the energy saving effect can be controlled by a user operation.

  By the way, the telephone input / output unit 9 described above supplies DC drive power to the telephone 15, outputs an incoming signal to the telephone 15, and is not limited to the detection of an off-hook of the telephone 15, but inputs or outputs any signal with the telephone 15. Any circuit having a function of performing the operation can achieve the object of the present invention.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a telephone set detection unit of the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 line (telephone line)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Call signal detection part 5 Facsimile communication control part 7 Operation part 9 Telephone input / output part 11 Switching part 13 Telephone detection part 15 Telephone 17 Photocoupler 17a Light emitting diode 17b Light receiving transistor

Claims (5)

A call signal detector for detecting a call signal from the line;
A facsimile communication control unit which starts operation based on the detected call signal and controls facsimile reception with the line;
A telephone input / output unit that performs input / output operations with a connected telephone;
A switching unit that is inserted between the telephone input / output unit and the telephone and selectively switches and connects the telephone between the line and the telephone input / output unit under the control of the facsimile control unit;
A telephone detector for detecting whether the telephone is connected to the telephone input / output unit; and
A facsimile machine comprising:
The facsimile apparatus, wherein the facsimile communication control unit controls to stop the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone when the telephone detection unit detects disconnection of the telephone. The facsimile communication control unit controls to stop the operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone when the telephone detection unit detects disconnection of the telephone when the calling signal is detected by the calling signal detection unit. 1. The facsimile apparatus according to 1. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the telephone detection unit detects the presence / absence of a signal flowing between the telephone input / output unit and the telephone to detect whether the telephone is connected. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the telephone detection unit detects a start of connection of the telephone to the telephone input / output unit. 2. The operation unit for registering connection / non-connection of the telephone, and the facsimile communication control unit controls stop operation of the telephone input / output unit with the telephone when the non-connection is registered. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to item 2.

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