JP2528448C - - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a facsimile apparatus capable of performing an operation test of a part whose operation is controlled by a control circuit during a normal operation. [Technical Background of the Invention and Problems Thereof] In recent years, facsimile machines have been widely used with the promotion of office automation. The control is performed by a control circuit having a microcomputer. For this reason, when performing an operation test on a relay or a switch, which is a control target of the microcomputer, at the time of device development or failure analysis, a test device dedicated to the microcomputer instead of the microcomputer is prepared, and a test device for the control target is prepared. It is necessary to provide a control instruction from the test apparatus and monitor the operation thereof. However, in such a method using a test device, it takes a lot of time and labor to connect the test device to the facsimile device to be tested, and generally requires a skill in the test work because handling operation is complicated, and Since it is expensive, it is difficult to sufficiently prepare the required number, and there is a disadvantage that the test cannot be performed efficiently. [Object of the Invention] The present invention provides a facsimile apparatus capable of performing operation tests of various internal hardware without using a dedicated test apparatus, thereby performing an efficient and accurate test. With the goal. [Summary of the Invention] The present invention, in order to achieve the above object, for example, a display means such as a liquid crystal display,
A mode designation input means comprising, for example, a test mode designation switch and a test mode release switch for accepting a designation of a test mode, and a test object designation consisting of, for example, a dial key group and an additional switch group for accepting designation of hardware to be tested. Along with providing input means, for example, a test control means is provided in a control means such as a control circuit, and when the test mode designation is received by the mode designation input means by the test control means and the test mode is set to the test mode, When the designation of the hardware (for example, a switch) connected to the input port is received by the test object designation input means, the facsimile operation is not performed from the hardware.
Upon receiving the output information, a test process for displaying the corresponding predetermined information on the display means is performed, and designation of hardware (eg, a relay circuit) connected to the output port is received by the test target designation input means. In such a case, a test process for driving the hardware is performed in the case of the above. [Embodiment of the Invention] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and 1 indicates a control circuit. An operation panel 2 is connected to the control circuit 1 via a signal line 1a, and an input / output circuit (I / O) is connected via a bus 1b. The input / output circuit 3 has a plurality of ports, and a predetermined port among them has a relay 42 to be controlled, its driving transistor 41 and a power supply 43.
, And a switch 5 are connected to each other. Here, for convenience of explanation, the case where only the relay circuit 4 and the switch 5 are connected as a control target is shown, but actually more control targets are connected. The operation panel 2 has a dial key group 21 as shown in FIG.
A liquid crystal display 23 for displaying information indicating the other party's telephone number and the operation state of the apparatus, and a switch group 25 for instructing a transmission / reception operation, etc., and an additional key group 22 for inputting hexadecimal numbers A to F; Switches 24a and 24b for designating and canceling the test mode are provided, respectively. On the other hand, the control circuit 1 includes a microcomputer as a main control unit. The control circuit 1 controls a facsimile operation such as a reading scan of an original, a recording scan of an image signal, and a transmission / reception operation. It has a designated input control means 11 and a test control means 12. The mode designation input means 11 is for inputting information when the test mode designation switch 24a and the test mode release switch 24b of the operation panel 2 are operated. When a test mode is designated, when a port number as a control address is input by operating the dial key group 21 and the additional key group 22 of the operation panel 2 when the test mode is designated, the input / output circuit 3 designated by the port number is used. Data is output or input from the port, and the operation test of the relay circuit 4 and the switch 5 is performed. Next, the operation of the device configured as described above will be described according to the control procedure of the control circuit 1. The control circuit 1 monitors whether or not the test mode is designated in step 4a as shown in FIG. In this state, when the tester operates the test mode designation switch 24a of the operation panel 2 to designate the test mode, the control circuit 1 detects the designation operation in step 4a and shifts to step 4b. Wait for input of port number as address. Then, in order for the tester to perform an operation test of the switch 5, the port number of the input / output circuit 3 to which the switch 5 is connected is set to the dial key group 21 and the additional key group 22 while the switch 5 is turned on. When operated and input, the control circuit 1 inputs this port number in the above step 4b, and inputs data from the input port of the input / output circuit 3 designated by this port number in step 4C. As a result, since the switch 5 has been turned on, the on data is introduced into the control circuit 1 through the input port of the input / output circuit 3. Then, when this data is introduced, the control circuit 1 outputs the input data to the liquid crystal display 23 of the operation panel 2 for display at step 4d. Therefore, by visually checking the data displayed on the display 23, the tester can determine whether or not the switch 5 and the connection line from the switch 5 to the input / output circuit 3 are normal. When the test of the information input control target connected to the input port is completed as described above, the control circuit 1 determines whether or not the test mode has been completed in step 4e, and at this time, the release switch 24b is operated. If not, it is determined that the test will be shifted to the next test, and the process proceeds to step 4f. In this step 4f, input of a port number is awaited. In this state, when the tester inputs, for example, the output port number of the input / output circuit 3 to which the relay circuit 4 is connected by operating the dial key group 21 and the additional key group 22 of the operation panel 2, the control circuit 1 In step 4f, input the output port number,
Then, in step 4g, the process waits for data input. When the tester operates the dial key group 21 and the additional key group 22 of the operation panel 2 to input data necessary for driving the relay circuit 4, the control circuit 1 inputs the drive data in step 4g. In step 4h, the output port of the input / output circuit 3 specified by the output port number input in step 4f is set in step 4g.
To output the input drive data. Then, if the relay circuit 4 is normal,
The drive transistor 41 of the relay circuit 4 is turned on by the drive data, and the relay 4
2 is supplied with a drive current from a power supply 43, and as a result, the relay 42 operates. Therefore, the tester can determine whether or not the relay circuit 4 is normal by monitoring the operation of the relay after inputting the data. When the operation test of the output control target connected to the input / output circuit 3 is completed, the control circuit 1 determines whether or not the test mode is completed in step 4i. If the test mode release switch 24b is not operated, it is determined that the test is to be continued, and the process returns to step 4b to repeat the test control. On the other hand, if the test mode release switch is operated, it is determined that the test has been completed, and the test mode is released to return to the initial state. As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the test mode for each input / output operation component connected to the input / output circuit 3 is provided, it is not necessary to use a dedicated test apparatus. The operation test can be performed easily and in a short time without the need of an expert because adjustment and the like are unnecessary. In addition, since the processing for the test is made different depending on the test object, it is possible to test not only a single test object but also various test objects having different functions. Further, since a control target can be selected by inputting a desired port number, it is possible to arbitrarily test only hardware that requires a test. Also, it is not necessary to create and prepare a test program for each control object, and a common test program can be prepared for each input and output control object. There is an advantage that can be performed. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the procedure of the program is set so that the test on the control target for input and the test on the control target for output are alternately performed. May be selectable. In the above embodiment, the operation panel
Although the additional key group 22 for inputting hexadecimal numbers A to F is provided, the configuration may be such that the keys A to F can be input by the dial keys 21. This can be input, for example, by a combination of the * key or the # key and another numeric keypad. In the above-described embodiment, the case where a test is performed on a so-called hardware control target connected to the input / output circuit 3 has been described. However, for example, a program test may be performed by rewriting program data managed on a RAM. May be performed. In addition, the type of the control target, the configuration of the operation panel, the control procedure and the control content of the control circuit, and the like can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a mode designation input including, for example, a display means such as a liquid crystal display and a test mode designation switch and a test mode cancel switch for accepting designation of a test mode. Means and test object designation input means for receiving, for example, a dial key group and an additional switch group for receiving designation of hardware to be tested, and for example, a test control means provided in control means such as a control circuit. When the control unit receives the designation of the test mode by the mode designation input unit and sets the test mode, the designation of the hardware (for example, a switch) connected to the input port is accepted by the test target designation input unit. Output from the hardware without performing facsimile operation.
Predetermined information corresponding receiving information force were tested process of displaying on the display unit, also designated hardware connected to the output port (e.g., a relay circuit) is accepted by the test subject specification input means In such a case, a test process for driving the hardware is performed, so that a facsimile that can efficiently and accurately perform various internal hardware operation tests without using a dedicated test device. An apparatus can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a main part of the apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control function of the control circuit, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure and control contents of the control circuit. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control circuit, 11 ... Mode designation input control means, 12 ... Test control means, 2 ... Operation panel, 21 ... Dial key group, 22 ... Additional key group, 23 ... Liquid crystal display, 24
a: test mode designation switch, 24b: test mode release switch, 3: input / output circuit, 4: relay circuit, 5: switch.

Claims (1)

A control target hardware for outputting predetermined information necessary for realizing various operations related to facsimile transmission / reception is provided via an input port and for realizing various operations relating to facsimile transmission / reception. Control target hardware that performs a predetermined operation is connected to the control unit via an output port, and the control unit transmits the predetermined information output from the control target hardware connected via the input port. A facsimile apparatus that realizes various operations related to facsimile transmission and reception by controlling the operation of the control target hardware connected via the output port while receiving the display means; A mode designation input means and a test for accepting designation of the control target hardware to be tested. And a test object designation input means. When the test mode is received by the mode designation input means and the test mode is set, the control object means connected to the input port. When the specification of the hardware is received by the test target specification input means, the predetermined information output without performing the facsimile operation from the specified control target hardware is received to indicate the content. A test process for causing the display means to perform a predetermined display is performed, and when the designation of the control target hardware connected to the output port is received by the test target designation input means, the designated designation is performed.
Facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising a test control means for performing a test process of controlling to operate the control target hardware.