JP2574817B2 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus, and more particularly, to an image communication apparatus which receives image data of a size larger than a predetermined size of recording paper loaded in a recording output unit of the apparatus, and receives the received image. The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus that divides data into a plurality of recording papers and prints out.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has been known as an apparatus for transmitting and receiving image information via a telephone line.

In a facsimile apparatus, the number of scanning lines for a standard original size and resolution to be transmitted or received is specified in CCITT Recommendation T5 and other recommendations.

However, since the size of the transmitted / received document is not limited to the standard size, various processes such as automatic reduction and enlargement are performed in transmission / reception of a document image that does not match the nominal value. These processes are performed by a transmitting device or a receiving device.

Regarding a long document whose length in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the standard size, image output is easy regardless of the number of scanning lines as long as the recording paper type of the receiving device is a roll type. Conventionally, most facsimile apparatuses have the roll-shaped output paper, and few facsimile apparatuses have cut paper as output paper.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in recent years, the facsimile of cut paper type tends to increase due to the ease of image quality and handling.
Cut paper does not have the problem of curl, which is common with roll paper, and if a recording method that can use plain paper (such as a laser beam printing method) is used, recording paper can be copied without performing operations such as copying paper. Can be handled in the same way as ordinary documents.

However, when cut paper is used as recording paper,
There are the following inconveniences related to the problem of the long document.

Conventionally, when a long document is transmitted to a facsimile machine that has cut paper as output paper, the long document is divided and transmitted by the transmitting device, or the long document is processed on the receiving side. Also, a method is used in which the received band-compressed encoded data is decoded once, stored as a raw image in a memory, and then processed.

Among the above methods, in the method of dividing and transmitting a long document by the transmitting device, the image reading device of the transmitting device is controlled, and a reading operation is performed on one document every predetermined number of scanning lines. Processing such as stopping halfway and operating again is required, complicated control is required, and the reading device also needs to have high accuracy. In addition, the processing of a long document performed by the above-described receiving apparatus has a problem that the efficiency of the memory is greatly deteriorated.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention,
An image communication apparatus for receiving image data of a size larger than a predetermined size of recording paper loaded in a recording output unit of the apparatus, dividing the received image data into a plurality of recording papers, and recording and outputting the image data. Decoding means for decoding image data compressed in real time in synchronization with a line synchronizing signal output from the section, and first scanning of image data output from the decoding means with a scanning line for starting recording and outputting of an image Means for controlling by the counting result of the first counter means for counting from the line, and controlling by the counting result of the second counter means for counting the scanning line for stopping the recording output of the image from the recording output start scanning line; The number of scanning lines of the image data decoded by the decoding means is counted by the second counter means. Means for detecting that the image data has passed, and means for moving the scanning line for starting recording and outputting backward according to the count result of the first counter means when decoding and outputting the same compressed image data again. In the case where a series of image data is divided and output on a plurality of recording papers, the recording output on the first recording paper is stopped according to the output of the detecting means, and then the next recording is performed by the moving means. A configuration is adopted in which image data after the image data recorded in the previous recording output is recorded and output by determining the recording output start scanning line for paper.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, the decoded raw data is arranged in the memory and the position of the scanning line for performing the divided output is not determined, so that the divided output of the image can be performed without lowering the memory efficiency. Further, since no special processing of image data is required on the transmission side, no load is imposed on the transmission side apparatus.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings.

In the following embodiment, a fixed-size (for example, ISOA4) cut sheet is used for recording output at a device on the image receiving side, and when an image exceeding this size is received and recorded, a compression-encoded one-page image is used. Is output on a plurality of cut sheets.
As for the image data, the necessary part of the encoded image data is decoded and used a plurality of times instead of expanding the decoded image data in the memory.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a decoding device used in a facsimile receiving device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an image memory constituted by a semiconductor memory or the like in which a compressed code is stored, and stores encoded image data transmitted through a telephone line or the like using a known facsimile procedure. Image memory 11
The compression code 16 prepared therein is decoded by the decoding device 12, and is recorded and output by the recording output unit 14 configured by a predetermined recording method such as a laser beam printing method.

A decoded image control device is provided between the decoding device 12 and the recording output unit 14.
13 are provided. This device 13 comprises a decoding device 12 and a recording output unit.
Codes 17, 18, 19, 110, 111 and 1 exchanged between 14
Each control signal indicated by 7 ', 18', 19 ', 110', 111 'is processed and input / output. Reference numerals 17 and 17 'are output from the recording output unit 14 in order to synchronize the decoding and output operations of the image bit data with the clock signals (CLK1 and CLK2). Reference numerals 18 and 18 'denote line synchronization signals (BD1 and BD2) for synchronizing scanning lines, which are also output from the output unit 14 side. On the other hand, reference numerals 19 and 19 'denote decoded image signals (VIDEO
O1, VIDEO2), reference numerals 110 and 110 'denote line enable signals (VEN1, VEN2) indicating the data width of one scanning line, and reference numeral 111 denotes a vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC1, VSYNC2) indicating one page length.
Output from the decoding device 12 side.

The control of each unit described above is performed by the control unit 15 including a microcomputer and the like connected to the ROM 15a and the RAM 15b. The control program of the control unit 15 is stored in the ROM 15a. The RAM 15b is used as a work area of the control unit 15, for example.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the decoded image control device 13 in FIG. 1 in detail.

The line enable signal 110 is input to two D flip-flops 21 and 22 connected in series. The preset terminals of these flip-flops are connected to a high level, and the respective outputs are input to the AND gate 230. The output (EOS signal) of the AND gate 230 is input as an enable signal of the counter 24 used as a line counter for controlling the image output start line.

The vertical synchronization signal 111 is input to the LD terminal of the counter 24 and the counter 25 for stopping image output. The scanning line data (DATA1, 2) 212, 213 of the image is input to the preset data input terminals of the counters 24, 25.

Counter 24 carry (overflow) output is AND
The logical product with the previous EOS signal is obtained via the gate 231, and the logical product is input to the J terminals of the JK flip-flops 26 and 27.

The preset terminal and the K terminal of the flip-flop 26 are connected to a high level. The output of the JK flip-flop 27 is connected to one input terminal of the AND gates 216a to 216c.

The data (DATA2) 111 and the image signal (VIDEO1) 19 are input to the AND gates 216b and 216c, respectively.
Outputs of 16a to 216c are a vertical synchronizing signal 111 ', a line enable signal 110', and an image signal 19 ', respectively.
Output to 4.

The K terminal of the JK flip-flop is connected to the output terminal of the NAND gate 233. The line synchronization signal (BD1) 17 is input to one input terminal of the NAND gate 233, and the other input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the JK flip-flop. The K terminal and the preset terminal of the flip-flop 28 are connected to a high level.

The output of the JK flip-flop 26 is input to the AND gate 232, and the logical product output with the EOS signal becomes the enable signal of the counter 25. The output of the counter 25 is the image data (DATA
3) Input to the comparator 210 together with 214, and the carry output to the JK flip-flop 28 through the AND gate 234.
Is input to the J terminal. The other EOS signal is input to the other input terminal of the AND gate 234.

The output of the AND gate 234 is input to the J terminal of the JK flip-flop 28.

The inverted output of comparator 210 is an AND gate with negative logic input
236 is input to one input terminal. The EOS signal is inverted by the inverter 235 and input to the other input terminal of the AND gate 236.

The output of the AND gate 236 is input to the J terminal of the JK flip-flop 29. The K terminal and the preset terminal of the flip-flop 29 are connected to a high level.

The output of the JK flip-flop 29 is output to the image recording unit 14 as a flag signal 215.

The reset signal 211 is input from the control unit 15 to the reset terminal of each of the flip-flops and counters.

FIG. 3 shows input / output signals of the decoding device 12. As shown in the figure, the decoding device 12 converts image data for one dot and one line into an image signal 19 in synchronization with the processed clock signal 17 'and the line synchronization signal 18' input from the decoded image control device 13, respectively. Output. The length of an image signal for one scanning line is indicated by a line enable signal 110, and the length of one page of data is indicated by a vertical synchronization signal 111.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a decoded image data sequence. 4th
In the drawing, the horizontal row indicates one scan line dot data (binary data of 1, 0 indicating a white or black dot), and the end of one page of data indicates the end of the page by a bit pattern as shown. An EOFB code is added.

The control unit 15 controls the decoding device 12 via the decoded image control device 13 as shown in FIG.

First, the control unit 15 resets the decoded image control device 13 by the reset signal 211 in steps S1 and S2, and sets a predetermined operation mode in the decoded image control device 13. Next, in step S3, the process waits until the decoded image control device 13 becomes operable, and when a start command is input to the decoded image control device 13 in step S4, the decoding process is started in step S4.

In step S4, the decoding device 12 receives the synchronization clock (CLK) 18 and the line synchronization signal (BD) 17
The compression codes are sequentially read from the image memory 11 and the decoding process is executed for each line, and a page enable signal, a vertical synchronization (VSYNC) signal 111, and a line enable signal (VEN) 11
0, the decoded image signal (VIDEO1) 19 is output as shown in FIG. 3, and when the EOFB code indicating the end of one page is detected in step S5, the decoding process ends.

The decoded image control device 13 includes a vertical synchronization signal 111, a line enable signal 110, and an image signal output from the decoding device 12.
19, the operation is performed as shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the basic operation of the decoded image control device 13 and FIG.
FIGS. 8A and 8B show the operation of the decoded image control device 13 for the first and second pages when a long document of one page is recorded.

In FIG. 6, the counter 24 starts counting operation from the 2's complement value of the number of image output start lines. As shown in FIG. 6, when printing is performed from the first line, -1 to 1
Count up for each line.

The JK flip-flop 26 and the JK flip-flop 27 are the carry output from the counter 24 and the D flip-flop.
21 and the output of the D flip-flop 22 (FIG. 6 VE
N ") is turned on by an EOS signal which is a logical sum signal from the AND gate 230. When the JK flip-flop 27 is on, the AND gates 216a to 216c are on, the vertical synchronizing signal 111 'and the line enable signal are turned on. Signal 110 ', image signal
19 'is enabled, and each input signal 110, 110,
19 is output as it is.

When the JK flip-flop 26 is turned on, the counter 25 performs a count-up operation for each line by the EOS signal. In FIG. 6, the counter 25 starts counting operation from −4677, which is the cut sheet size of the recording output unit 14. 4 in ISOA4 version specified in CCITT Recommendation T.5
This is the nominal number of scanning lines for a 00 dpi original.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the counter 25 counts the scanning lines of one page of the cut sheet of the output unit 14 and outputs the carry,
The JK flip-flop 28 is turned on, and the JK flip-flop 27 is turned off in synchronization with the BD signal. When the JK flip-flop 27 is turned off, the vertical synchronizing signal 111, the line enable signal 110, the image signal
19 becomes disabled. Therefore, these signals are not output to the recording output unit 14 thereafter.

Even if the decoding process by the decoding device 12 is continued in this state, no image signal is recorded and output. If there is decoded image data that has not been recorded for a certain number of lines or more, a portion that has not been output needs to be separately output in order to prevent loss of information transmission. This is necessary, for example, when an image longer than the cut sheet of the recording output unit 14 is received. Therefore, the comparator 210 and the JK flip-flop 29 determine whether or not the page data is the remaining page data.

As shown in FIG. 7, when an image that is not recorded and output exceeds three lines, the flag signal 215 output from the JK flip-flop 29 is turned on (timing t1). The control unit 15 reads the flag signal 215, and if ON, performs control to decode the same compressed code data again.

FIG. 8 shows how image data not output on the first page is output as the second page.

As shown in FIG. 8, the data output from the decoding device 12 is the same as in FIGS. 6 and 7, but the image output start line of the second page is 4677 to record the continuation of the first page.
From the line, the control unit 15 loads the initial value 212 so that the counter 24 counts up from −4677. The end of recording on the second page is also determined by the carry output of the counter 25.

Thereafter, when the decoded image data covers the nth page of the cut sheet, the above processing is repeated.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the entire output control procedure. 9 is controlled by the control unit 15.

In step S11 in FIG. 9, the output address of the image memory 11 and other conditions are set so that the compressed image signal is input to the decoding device 12 and decoded.

Subsequently, in step S12, the recording output unit 14 is started, an initialization operation is performed, and predetermined parameters are set.

In step S13, the decoding device 12 and the decoded image control device 13 are activated to perform the above-described decoding processing. Each of the counters 24 and 25 of the decoded image control device 13 performs the above-described counting process to control the image output start and stop lines.

In a succeeding step S14, it is determined whether or not the image output of one page is completed. If it is determined by the counting of the counter 24 that the output of the image of one page has been completed, step S15 is performed.
Then, by determining the state of the flag signal 215, it is determined whether or not there remains image data to be recorded and output for a plurality of divided pages. When step S15 is affirmed, the process returns to step S11, changes the initial value of the counter 24, and repeats the above operation. If step S15 is denied, the process ends.

By performing the above processing, for example, the tenth
Even when receiving compressed image data of the original 300 longer than the nominal main scanning line number Std of the standard original as shown in the upper part of the figure,
The image data can be divided and output on recording papers 301 and 302 as shown in the lower part.

According to the above-described embodiment, in the case of the divided output, the decoded raw data is not developed in the image memory as in the related art, so that the memory efficiency does not decrease and it is necessary to perform special data processing on the transmission side. Absent. The scanning line position of the division point of the image to be divided into a plurality of pages can be easily performed by the above-described counting process.

Although the configuration using cut paper as the recording paper has been illustrated above, the same applies to the case where the size of the recording paper, the cutting state, and other configurations are different, the case where roll paper is used, or the case where recording paper having a plurality of different configurations is used. Of course, the technology can be implemented.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above, according to the present invention, image data having a size larger than a predetermined size of recording paper loaded in the recording output unit of the apparatus is received, and the received image data is divided into a plurality of pieces. In an image communication apparatus that divides and outputs the image data on a recording sheet, decoding means for decoding image data compressed in real time in synchronization with a line synchronization signal output from the image recording output unit; The scanning line to be started is controlled by the counting result of the first counter means for counting from the first scanning line of the image data output from the decoding means, and the scanning line for stopping the recording output of the image is changed to the recording output starting scanning line. Means for controlling based on the counting result of the second counter means for counting the number of scanning lines of the image data decoded by the decoding means before counting by the second counter means. Means for detecting that the number of scanning lines has exceeded the number of scanning lines at which the recording of the recorded image is stopped, and means for detecting and outputting the same compressed image data again by the first counter means. Means for moving the scanning line for starting recording output in accordance with the counting result to the rear, and when a series of image data is divided and outputted on a plurality of recording papers, the first data is outputted in accordance with the output of the detecting means. The recording output on the recording paper is stopped, and then the moving means determines the recording output start scanning line for the next recording paper, thereby recording and outputting the image data after the image data recorded by the previous recording output. Even if the image communication apparatus uses a cut sheet as a recording sheet, the image data decoded at the time of recording and output determines whether or not the received original is a long original. And the number of scanning lines Once example, can be performed easily determined by dividing the output by comparison with a fixed number of scan lines is the control unit sets. The divided output processing can be executed easily and at high speed only by operating the image output start line. Also, since no special processing of image data is required on the transmission side, no load is imposed on the transmission side device. Furthermore, even in the case of performing divided output, processing can be performed without using decoded raw data as in the related art, so that there are various excellent advantages such that the use efficiency of the image memory is not reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image decoding unit and an image output unit of an image communication device employing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a decoded image control device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing signals output by the decoding device in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing composite image data, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a control unit at the time of decoding processing. 6 to 8 are timing charts showing the operation of the decoded image control device in FIG. 1, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the entire flow of image output control,
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an output image. 11 ... Image memory, 12 ... Decoding device 13 ... Decoded image control device 14 ... Recording output unit, 15 ... Control unit 16 ... Compression code 17 ... Line synchronization signal 18 ... Clock signal, 19 ... Image signal 21 D flip-flop 22 D flip-flop 24 Counter 25 Counter 26 JK flip-flop 27 JK flip-flop 28 JK flip-flop 29 JK flip-flop

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image communication apparatus for receiving image data of a size larger than a predetermined size of recording paper loaded in a recording output unit of the apparatus, dividing the received image data into a plurality of recording papers, and recording and outputting the divided image data. Decoding means for decoding image data compressed in real time in synchronization with a line synchronization signal output from the image recording output unit; and a scanning line for starting recording and outputting of an image, the image being output from the decoding means. The control is performed by the counting result of the first counter means for counting from the first scanning line of data, and the control is performed by the counting result of the second counter means for counting the scanning line for stopping the image recording output from the recording output start scanning line. The number of scanning lines of the image data decoded by the decoding means is larger than the number of scanning lines for stopping the output of the image, which is counted by the second counter means. Means for detecting that the number of scanning lines has exceeded the predetermined number of scanning lines; and, when decoding and outputting the same compressed image data again, the scanning line for starting recording and outputting based on the count result of the first counter means is shifted backward. Means for moving, when a series of image data is divided and output on a plurality of recording papers, the recording output on the first recording paper is stopped according to the output of the detecting means, and then the moving An image communication apparatus characterized in that a recording output start scanning line for the next recording paper is determined by means, and the second image data subsequent to the image data recorded in the previous recording output is recorded and output.