JP2015226173A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly detect an abnormality in the case where image transfer is not normally performed since an image synchronizing signal is properly detected.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes an image output device and an image transmitting device. The image output device receives an image by communicating the image synchronizing signal between the image transmitting device and an image receiving device and outputs the image onto recording paper as a visible image. The image transmitting device receives the image synchronizing signal and transmits an image synchronously with the signal. The image output device includes image synchronizing signal transmission report means for reporting the transmission of the image synchronizing signal to the image transmitting device. The image transmitting device includes image synchronizing signal reception status report means for reporting a state of whether the image synchronizing signal is being received in the case where the transmission of the image synchronizing signal is reported, to the image output device. In the case where it is reported by the image synchronizing signal reception status report means that the reception of the image synchronizing signal is failed, the image output device determines abnormal end and interrupts output. Thus, a page of which the transfer is failed in an image receiving source is defined as an error.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output device typified by a printer connected to a device, or a printer or a multifunction peripheral that can output image data as a visible image in accordance with a request from an operation unit of the device.

  In a system in which an image is transmitted and received between apparatuses, it is necessary to decide an image transfer method between an image transmission side and a reception side. In particular, when there is no intermediate buffer area such as a memory until the image received on the receiving side is output as a visible image, the image transmitted by the transmitting device is almost directly converted into the visible image by the receiving device. Because the output timing affects the position of the output image, when transferring the image, it is necessary to transfer the image while synchronizing based on the rules determined in advance on the sending side and the receiving side There is.

  When transmitting / receiving an image, a synchronization signal is generally provided for each of the vertical and horizontal directions of the image, and for the transfer of one page of the image, it means the head of the page (or plane) and a signal (hereinafter referred to as synchronization). , Vsync) and Vsync, a signal (hereinafter referred to as Hsync) for synchronizing each line in the vertical direction is transferred according to the number of lines.

  As a transfer procedure, first, an image transmission request (1a) is issued to the receiving side in a state where an image to be transmitted is prepared on the transmitting side. On the receiving side, Vsync (1b) is issued when it is ready to be received, and Hsync (1c) is output in a number sufficient for the number of lines of the page. At the timing when the receiving side seems to have output the image, for example, when printing on recording paper, the fact that the post-processing typified by paper discharge or staple processing has been completed normally is output. A method of notifying the transmission side as a result of the situation is generally performed (FIG. 1).

  Also, a device has been devised that samples an image to determine whether the image transfer itself has been completed normally, and determines whether the image transfer has been completed normally based on whether the image contains black pixels or not. Yes.

  As described above, image transmission / reception is performed by two-way synchronization signals of Vsync and Hsync as described above, but at present, the speed of a printer as an image output device has been increased, and the interval between pages has been shortened. In addition, there is a problem that signal transmission / reception is likely to fail because the signal transfer speed between images is improved and the accuracy and time interval of signals required for Vsync and Hsync are shortened.

  For example, in a high-speed printing device, in order to perform continuous high-speed image transfer, the image transmission side issues an image transfer request on the assumption that the next image after the image being transmitted can be prepared. High-speed image processing is realized by the device on the receiving side processing paper continuously (FIG. 5).

  In such a case, the image transfer request is issued when the next image being transmitted at the image transmission source is prepared in the memory, but in reality, when the transmission of the image being transferred is completed, the next image is transmitted. Image transfer preparation processing that must be performed after image transmission every page, such as resetting hardware for image transmission, is required. If the time required for this process is the image transfer preparation process, even if an image transmission request is issued because the next image is prepared as shown in FIG. When processing other than the image output processing (for example, FAX transmission / reception processing in a printer multifunction peripheral) must be executed, there is a possibility that a delay occurs in processing on the image transmission side. In the multi-function peripheral, there is a possibility that a problem that Vsync cannot be correctly detected on the transmission side due to such a delay on the transmission side. In addition, there may be a case in which Vsync or Hsync cannot be correctly received on the transmission side due to electrical noise due to problems such as the usage environment of the apparatus, and image transfer fails. In such a case where the image transfer fails, there is no way for the image receiving side to know whether the synchronization signal (Vsync / Hsync) for image transfer is correctly received on the transmitting side. Output or page missing occurs, and there is a discrepancy between the number of images transferred on the receiving side and on the transmitting side.

  As a means for detecting such an image transfer error, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 has devised a configuration for determining whether a transfer image includes black pixels or not, whether normal or abnormal.

JP-A-11-208068

  In the example of the above-mentioned patent document 1, since it is necessary to always transfer black images that are originally unnecessary for printing even when the image is normal, there is a possibility that the system may cause a performance delay. . Moreover, since there is no guarantee that black pixels will not occur at the time of abnormality, there is a possibility that the abnormality cannot be detected correctly.

In order to solve such problems in the present invention,
An image output device that receives an image by communicating an image synchronization signal between the image transmission device and the image reception device, and outputs the image as a visible image on recording paper;
In an image forming apparatus configured to receive an image synchronization signal and to transmit an image in synchronization with the signal,
The image output device has an image synchronization signal transmission notification means for notifying the image transmission device that an image synchronization signal has been transmitted,
An image synchronization signal for notifying the image output device of whether or not an image synchronization signal is received when the image transmission device is notified by the image synchronization signal transmission notifying means that the image synchronization signal has been transmitted. A reception status notification means, and when the image synchronization signal reception status notification means is notified that reception of the image synchronization signal has failed, the image output device suspends output as an abnormal end. Providing means for notifying the image receiving side from the image transmitting side that the image transfer has not been normally performed when the synchronization signal is not correctly detected on the image transmitting side by providing the image processing apparatus having the feature The device that recovers normally by redoing the operation of sending the image from the image transfer source again with the page that failed to transfer at the image receiving source as an error It is realized.

  According to the present invention, even when image transfer is not normally performed due to an image synchronization signal not being correctly detected, the device can correctly detect an abnormality and does not bother the user. The convenience of the user can be improved by increasing the chances of normal recovery.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a conventional image transfer sequence that is a problem in the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a command sequence for image transfer proposed in the present invention. 2 illustrates an example of a command sequence for image transfer described in the embodiment. 2 illustrates an example of a command sequence for image transfer described in the embodiment. 2 shows an example of a normal timing chart of an image transfer method as a subject of the present invention. 6 shows an example of a timing chart when an abnormality occurs in the image transfer method as a subject of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a controller unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the printer apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall view of an image input / output system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image input / output device (data processing device) equipped with a controller unit as an electronic component according to the present invention. It is connected to a host computer (first and second host computers 3 and 4 in this embodiment) in a LAN (Local Area Network) 400 such as a registered trademark.

  In other words, the image input / output system (device) 1 includes a reader unit 2 that performs image data reading processing, a printer unit 6 that performs image data output processing, a keyboard that performs image data input / output operations, and image data. And an operation unit 7 having a liquid crystal panel for displaying various functions and the like, and a hard disk drive 8 in which a control program, image data, etc. are written in advance, are connected to these components and connected to the components. The controller unit 110 includes a single electronic component that controls the constituent elements.

  Further, the reader unit 2 includes a document feeding unit (unit) 10 that transports document paper, and a scanner unit 11 that optically reads a document image and converts it into image data as an electrical signal, and the printer unit 6 records. Sorting and stapling processing is performed on a paper feed unit (part) 12 having a plurality of paper feed cassettes for storing paper, a marking unit (part) 13 for transferring and fixing image data to recording paper, and printed recording paper. And a paper discharge unit (part) 14 for discharging to the outside.

  In the present embodiment, the controller unit 110 in FIG. 9 is the image transmission side, and the printer device 6 is the image reception side, and a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The controller unit 110 is equipped with a CPU 1101 for controlling itself. Further, the printer unit controls the marking unit 13, communicates with the paper discharge unit 14 and the paper feed unit 12, and a CPU 1301 is mounted on the marking unit as a CPU that controls the entire printer unit. The paper discharge unit 14 and the paper supply unit 12 are also equipped with CPUs 1401 and 1201 for controlling them. The CPU 1101 and the CPU 1301 communicate with each other using a printer I / F 1113, and transfer of images is performed using a video bus 11132. Further, the CPU 1301 of the marking unit 13 and the CPU 1401 of the paper discharge unit 14 communicate with each other through the Finisher I / F 1314, and the CPU 1301 and CPU 1201 of the paper feed unit 13 communicate with each other through the Input I / F 1312.

  Next, the normal image transfer sequence of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the command sequence diagram of FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 which is a flowchart of the CPU 1101 and FIG. 8 which is a flowchart of the CPU 1301.

  In step S7001 in FIG. 7, the CPU 1101 develops the data received from the external PC 3 and PC 4 or the image data received from the scanner unit 11 into bitmap data that can be printed by the printer device 6 in the controller unit. After the completion of the development, in step S7002, an image transfer request 201 is first issued through the printer I / F 1113 as shown in FIG. Immediately thereafter, the CPU 1101 confirms the end state of the previous image transfer in S7003, and if the transfer of the previous image is completed, the process proceeds to S7004 to prepare for the next image transfer.

  The CPU 1301 waits for the reception of an image transmission request in S8001, and when the image transmission request is received, the process proceeds to S8002. The CPU 1301 issues Vsync 211 while taking the timing with the conveyance control of the marking unit. After issuing Vsync 211, the CPU 1301 issues a Vsync transmission notification 202 in S8003, and waits for a Vsync reception notification in S8004.

  When the CPU 1301 has issued Vsync in S8002 and the CPU 1101 has completed the image transfer preparation in S7004 and is waiting for a Vsync transmission notification in S7005, the CPU 1101 confirms that Vsync has been received in S7006. Assume that Vsync is received and the image is correctly transmitted from the controller unit 6 to the printer device 6 via the VideoBus 11132 at 212.

  Since the CPU 1101 has correctly received Vsync in step S7006, the process advances to step S7008, and the Vsync reception notification 203 issues that the result is normal via the printer I / F 1113 and notifies the CPU 1301.

  In step S8004, the CPU 1301 waits for a Vsync reception notification, and if received, advances the processing to step S8005. In step S8005, the status of the Vsync reception notification is confirmed. If normal, the process advances to step S8006.

  If the image input / output system 1 is a system that also transmits / receives a status in the Hsync direction, the CPU 1301 switches processing in S8006, and the CPU 1101 switches processing in S7009.

  Whether the status in the Hsync direction is also checked depends on information determined in advance by the system, so the CPU 1101 and the CPU 1301 make a determination based on the same standard.

  If the CPU 1101 determines in step S7009 that Hsync is also detected, the CPU 1101 checks in step S7010 whether the Hsync is normally received.

  Whether the system is capable of detecting an abnormality of Hsync mainly depends on the hardware circuit configuration of the controller unit. In the case of a system capable of counting the number of times Hsync is received, it is possible to confirm whether or not Hsync exceeding the number of lines of the image to be transferred has been correctly received. Further, as an example, a method of determining whether or not all images have been transferred correctly based on the relationship between the time of Hsync and the transfer time of the image and the time when the hardware detects the end of the transfer of the image can be considered. .

  If it is determined in step S7011 that the Hsync has been received normally, the process advances to step S7011 to notify the CPU 1301 of the Hsync reception notification 204 normally.

  In step S8007, the CPU 1301 waits for reception of the Hsync reception notification 204. In step S8008, the Hsync reception notification 204 is confirmed. If there is no problem, the process proceeds to step S8009, the print status notification 205 is issued to the CPU 1101, and the process ends. In step S <b> 7013, the CPU 1101 receives the print status notification 205 and similarly ends the processing.

  Although the normal operation has been described with reference to FIG. 2, an example of an abnormal system that can obtain the effects of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 describes processing when Vsync cannot be detected correctly.

  The processing up to the point where the CPU 1301 issues the Vsync transmission notification 302 in FIG. 3, that is, S7005 in the flowchart of the CPU 1101 and S8003 in the flowchart of the CPU 1301, is the same as FIG.

  If the CPU 1101 was in the middle of S7004 when the CPU 1301 issued Vsync in S8002, the CPU 1101 cannot receive Vsync correctly. The same applies when Vsync is not correctly detected due to an inhibition factor such as noise. In such a case, since the CPU 1101 has not correctly detected the Vsync reception in S7006, the CPU 1101 advances the processing to S7007, and the fact that there is an abnormality in the Vsync reception notification 303 as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained via the Printer I / F 1113. Is issued and notified to the CPU 1301.

  If the CPU 1301 is notified of the abnormality by the Vsync reception notification, the CPU 1301 advances the processing to S8010 and executes error processing. For example, the error processing communicates with the CPU 1401 of the paper discharge unit 14 and the Finisher I / F 1314 to output a recording paper corresponding to an image in which the paper discharge tray is different from the normal one. Alternatively, the printer I / F 1113 communicates with the CPU 110 to display on the operation unit 7 that an abnormality has occurred. Etc. are considered. If an abnormality has occurred, the CPU 1301 notifies the CPU 1101 that there was an abnormality in the print status notification 305 in step S8011. At this time, the status of error processing such as execution of error processing such as discharge to another tray is notified.

  In step S <b> 7013, the CPU 1101 receives the print status notification 305, performs processing such as notifying the operation panel 7 of an abnormality as necessary, or restarts the image transfer sequence without displaying it. Re-execute the page sequence and recover.

  In FIG. 3, an example in which Vsync cannot be received correctly has been described. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where Hsync cannot be received. As described above, whether or not to confirm the status in the Hsync direction is determined according to the same standard in the CPU 1101 and the CPU 1301 because it follows information predetermined as a system.

  If the CPU 1101 determines in step S7009 that Hsync is also detected, the CPU 1101 checks in step S7010 whether the Hsync is normally received.

  Since the sequence up to 403 in FIG. 4, that is, the processing of CPU 1101 is the same as the above-described sequence up to S 7010 and the processing of CPU 1301 up to S 8008, the description is omitted. If the CPU 1101 determines in step S7010 that the Hsync has not been received normally, the CPU 1101 advances the process to step S7012. In step S7012, the CPU 1301 is notified of the abnormality by the Hsync reception notification 404, and the print status notification is received in step S7013. The CPU 1301 moves the process to S8010. Subsequent processing is the same as described above.

  As described above, the controller on the image transmission side detects both Vsync and Hsync, and informs the status to the image receiving side printer device to determine whether or not the image transfer has been completed normally, and that page. It is possible to recover normally by performing an operation such as transmitting an image again in the apparatus.

110 controller unit, 1101 CPU of controller unit, 6 printer device,
13 Marking unit, 1301 Marking unit CPU

Claims (4)

An image output device (6) for receiving an image by communicating an image synchronization signal between the image transmitting device and the image receiving device and outputting the image as a visible image on recording paper;
In the image forming apparatus configured to receive the image synchronization signal and to transmit the image in synchronization with the image transmission apparatus (110),
The image output device includes image synchronization signal transmission notifying means (1113/202) for notifying the image transmission device that an image synchronization signal has been transmitted,
An image synchronization signal for notifying the image output device of whether or not an image synchronization signal is received when the image transmission device is notified by the image synchronization signal transmission notifying means that the image synchronization signal has been transmitted. A reception status notification means (1113/203), and when the image synchronization signal reception status notification means notifies that the reception of the image synchronization signal has failed, the image output device outputs an abnormal end. An image forming apparatus characterized by interrupting the operation. An image output device (6) for receiving an image by communicating an image synchronization signal between the image transmitting device and the image receiving device and outputting the image as a visible image on recording paper;
In the image forming apparatus configured to receive the image synchronization signal and to transmit the image in synchronization with the image transmission apparatus (110),
The image output device has a plurality of recording paper discharge trays,
The image output device includes image synchronization signal transmission notifying means (1113/202) for notifying the image transmission device that an image synchronization signal has been transmitted,
An image synchronization signal for notifying the image output device of whether or not an image synchronization signal is received when the image transmission device is notified by the image synchronization signal transmission notifying means that the image synchronization signal has been transmitted. A reception status notification means (1113/203), and when the image synchronization signal reception status notification means is notified that reception of the image synchronization signal has failed, the image output device outputs it in a normal state. An image forming apparatus, wherein the recording paper is discharged to a tray different from the tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image synchronization signal is a synchronization signal in the same direction as a recording paper conveyance direction. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image synchronization signal is a synchronization signal in two directions, ie, a synchronization signal in the same direction as the recording paper conveyance direction and a synchronization signal in the vertical direction.