JP2770036B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus including an image storage unit using a memory to which a capacitor for power supply backup is added.

[Prior Art] In general, in a facsimile apparatus, a storage device using a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) is used as a small-capacity image memory. This causes a problem that the stored contents are erased when the power supply is abnormal, for example.

To solve such inconveniences, for example, SRAM (static type RA
M) may be used to construct a non-volatile image memory.
And the cost of the facsimile apparatus is increased.

For these reasons, in recent years, a facsimile apparatus in which a nonvolatile image memory is configured using a pseudo SRAM in which a power supply is backed up using a capacitor has been put to practical use.

This pseudo SRAM is provided with a storage cell having the same configuration as that of the DRAM and a self-refresh circuit for refreshing the stored contents. The self-refresh circuit is activated by the power supply, and the stored contents are refreshed. Therefore, the stored contents are retained even when the power supply is momentarily interrupted or a short-term power failure occurs, and the cost is lower than that of the SRAM. Therefore, the cost of the image memory is reduced.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, such a conventional apparatus has the following disadvantages.

For example, in the case where the facsimile machine has some abnormality and is to be repaired, the power may be temporarily turned off.

When such repairs were made, the time required for such repairs was short, and the pseudo SR
Even if the memory contents of AM are sufficiently retained,
Since the serviceman or the like who has performed the repair erases the stored contents of the image memory, there has been a problem that it takes time and effort to store the image information again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve such a problem of the conventional apparatus and to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of retaining the contents of an image memory when the contents are completely held.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus including an image storage unit using a memory to which a power supply backup capacitor is added, and a nonvolatile storage unit in which a backup available time of the capacitor is stored in advance. A power-off time detecting means for detecting a power-off time, a correction means for correcting the backup available time based on an operation time at the time of power-on, and a power-on time when image information is stored in a memory at power-on. An image information control means for comparing the power interruption time detected by the power interruption time detecting means with the backup available time corrected by the correction means and erasing the image information stored in the memory based on the comparison result; is there.

[Operation] Therefore, when the stored content of the pseudo SRAM is held, the stored content can be used as an effective one, so that the trouble of re-reading the document can be reduced to some extent.

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

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 1 is for performing an operation control process of the facsimile device and a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure process, and a ROM 2 is a control program executed by the CPU 1 and an execution of the control program. The SRAM 3 is for storing various kinds of information necessary at times, and the SRAM 3 is for storing information unique to the facsimile apparatus and management information of image information stored in an image memory (described later). The power of the SRAM 3 is backed up by a battery 4.

The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image such as a received image at a predetermined resolution, and the clock circuit 7 is for outputting current time information. It is for output.

The operation display unit 8 is used to operate the facsimile machine, and includes various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding unit 9 encodes and compresses an image signal, and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into an original image signal.

The pseudo SRAM 10 constitutes an image memory for storing image information in a coded and compressed state, and is backed up by a backup capacitor 11. The voltage detector 12 is for detecting the terminal voltage of the backup capacitor 11.

The modem 13 performs a predetermined modulation / demodulation process so that digital data can be transmitted using an analog line.The network control device 14 connects the facsimile device to an analog line network such as a public telephone line network. belongs to.
Further, the network control device 14 has an automatic transmission / reception function.

These CPU 1, ROM 2, SRAM 3, scanner 5, plotter 6, clock circuit 7, operation display unit 8, encoding / decoding unit 9, pseudo SRAM 10, voltage detector 12, modem 13, and network control device 14 It is connected to a bus 15, and exchanges of various kinds of information between these elements are mainly performed via the system bus 15.

The AC power supply 16 is applied to a power supply 18 and a power supply monitoring circuit 19 via a main switch 17.
Forms a power supply required for an internal circuit of the facsimile machine based on the AC power supply 16 and outputs the power supply to each unit. Further, the power supply monitoring circuit 19 detects that the AC power supply 16 has been turned on to the facsimile apparatus, and outputs a detection signal indicating the rise of the power supply to the CPU 1.

A backup capacitor 11 is simulated in ROM2.
The time t ₁ during which the SRAM 10 can be backed up, the date / time information t ₄ at which the facsimile apparatus started operating, the life t ₅ of the backup capacitor 11, and the terminal of the backup capacitor 11 that can back up the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 the voltage value L ₁ are stored.

The facsimile apparatus, for example, when time designation transmission or the like is set, encodes and compresses the image signal read by the scanner 5 by the encoding / decoding unit 9 and stores the image information obtained thereby in the pseudo SRAM 10. At the same time, file management information FM for accessing the image information accumulated at that time is formed, for example, in the format shown in FIG. 2A, and the file management information FM is stored in a predetermined storage area of the SRAM 3. I do.

The file management information FM includes a file number for identifying each piece of image information, destination information storing destination information and a transmission result for one or more destinations, and a transmission mode indicating a transmission mode when the image information is transmitted. It consists of mode information and image storage area information representing information on a storage area occupied by the image information in the pseudo SRAM 10.

Such file management information FM is formed when image information is accumulated in the pseudo SRAM 10, and is stored in the SRAM 3.
For example, it is formed when a memory transmission mode other than the above is set and its transmission image information is stored, or when receiving image information is stored at the time of confidential reception or alternate reception, the transmission operation is terminated, When the extraction of the received image information is completed, the respective transmitted image information and received image information are deleted from the pseudo SRAM 10, and the corresponding file management information FM is deleted from the SRAM 3.

In addition, the CPU 1 stores new image information in the pseudo SRAM 10, or deletes the processed image information to
Changing the stored contents of AM10, all of the contents of the pseudo SRAM10 Accumulates in bytes, stores the low-order two bytes of the result to the reference sum values S ₁ as SRAM 3, during operation, for a predetermined time Ti The time information at that time is input from the clock circuit 7 at intervals, and the time information is stored in the SRAM 3 as power-off time information SP as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Here, the time Ti is set to a value smaller than one second.

By the way, as described above, when the facsimile apparatus is powered on and operating, when the image information is stored in the pseudo SRAM 10, the facsimile apparatus forms the file management information FM of the image information and generates the SR.
Stored in AM3, stores calculated by the SRAM3 the reference sum value S _1, and stores samples the time information in the time interval time Ti in SRAM3 as power failure time information SP.

Then, when the power supply is turned on and a detection signal is applied from the power supply monitoring circuit 19, an initial process at the time of power-on as shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

That is, first, it is checked whether or not one or more file management information FM is stored in the SRAM 3 (decision 101).

If the result of step 101 is YES, reads the current time t ₃ from the clock circuit 7 (process 102), the time difference between the current time t ₃ and power-off time information SP, i.e., power is turned on again after being turned off It calculates the power-off time t ₂ to that (process 103), the power-off time t ₂ it is checked whether in backup possible time t ₁ or stored in the ROM 2 (decision 104).

When the result of the determination 104 is YES, the effective image information is stored in the pseudo SRAM 10 immediately before the power is turned off, and the power is turned off for more than the time when the backup capacitor 11 can be backed up. Since the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 at that time cannot be handled as valid image information, all the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 are cleared (step 105), and a power-off report in a format as shown in FIG. Is formed and recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 106).

This power-down report records the title at the top,
The date / time information obtained from the clock circuit 7 is recorded in the column R1.
The contents of the power-off time information SP are recorded in R2 as the date / time of power-off, and the fields R3, R4, R5, and R6 are based on the contents of the respective file management information FM, and the file number, transmission mode, In addition, a list of contents of the destination information is displayed.

When the recording of such a power-off report is finished,
At that time, all the file management information FM stored in the SRAM 3 is deleted (process 107), and a system process for operating the facsimile apparatus is started (process 108).

Thereafter, a process of reading out the current time information from the clock circuit 7 and updating the contents of the power-off time information SP is performed at intervals of a predetermined time Ti (processing loop of processing 109 and judgment 110).

The file management information FM is stored in SRAM3 when the power is turned on.
Is not stored and the result of determination 101 is NO, the process proceeds to step 108 to start the system processing. Further, when the result of the determination 104 is NO, the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 can be handled as valid image information, so that the processing shifts to the processing 108 to start the system processing.

In this way, when the power is turned on, if one or more pieces of image information are stored in the pseudo SRAM 10 immediately before the power is turned off and the power-off time is longer than a certain time, the pseudo SR
The image information stored in the AM 10 is determined to be invalid and its contents are deleted, and a power-off report is recorded and output to the operator as an alarm.

Also, when the storage content of the pseudo SRAM 10 is valid, the storage content is retained and can be used.
There is no need to read the transmitted document again.

By the way, it is considered that the backup capacitor 11 has a life, and therefore, as the operation period of the facsimile apparatus elapses, the discharge characteristic changes and the backup available time decreases.

Therefore, it is necessary to set the time during which the backup can be performed in consideration of the life of the backup capacitor 11, and in this case, an example of a process executed when the power is turned on is shown in FIG.

In this process, first, the backup available time t ₁ stored in the ROM 2, the date / time information t _{4 of} the operation start, and the life t ₅ of the backup capacitor 11 are extracted, and the following equation (I) is obtained.
Based on, to correct the time t _1, to obtain a corrected time t ₁ '(step 201).

t ₁ ′ = (((SP) −t ₄ ) · t ₁ ) / t ₅ ... (I) Then, a process 202 similar to the processes 101 to 110 in FIG.
Execute decision 211. Also, at this time, in decision 205,
Power-off time t ₂ is compared with the correction time t ₁ '.

As a result, taking into account the influence of the deterioration of the backup capacitor 11 due to the operation of the facsimile machine,
The validity / invalidity of the image information stored in 10 can be determined.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the initial processing when the power is turned on.

In this case, first, the detection value of the voltage detector 12, that is,
Enter the terminal voltage value L ₂ of the backup capacitor 11 (process 301), one or more file processing information FM on SRAM3 determine whether stored (decision 302).

When the result of the determination 302 is YES, the pseudo SR
The stored contents of the AM10 removed terminal voltage value L ₁ of the backup can back-up capacitor 11, the terminal voltage value L ₂ determines whether it is the terminal voltage value L ₁ or more (decision 303).

When the result of the determination 303 is YES, since the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 at that time cannot be handled as valid image information, all the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 are cleared (process 304), and the same as described above. A power off report is formed and recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 305).
At that time, all the file management information FM stored in the SRAM 3 is deleted (process 306), and a system process for operating the facsimile apparatus is started (process 307).

When the result of the determination 302 is NO, and when the determination 3
When the result of 03 is NO, the processing shifts to step 307 to start the system processing.

As described above, in this embodiment, the terminal voltage of the backup capacitor 11 is inspected to determine whether the image information stored in the pseudo SRAM 10 is appropriate or not. Decisions can be made.

FIG. 7 shows still another example of the initial processing when the power is turned on.

In this case, first, it is checked whether or not one or more file management information FM is stored in the SRAM 3 (decision 401), and when the result of the decision 401 is YES, the pseudo SRAM at that time is determined.
The stored contents of 10 accumulates the byte to calculate the lower 2 bytes of the total value as the current sum value S ₂ (processing 402).

Then, the reference sum values S ₁ stored in the SRAM3 checked whether the current sum value S ₂ do not match (decision 403), determines 403
Is YES, the image information stored in the pseudo SRAM 3 has been destroyed, and the pseudo SRAM
Since the storage contents of 10 cannot be handled as valid image information, all the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 are cleared (process 404), and a power-off report similar to that described above is formed and recorded and output from the plotter 6 ( (Process 405), deletes all the file management information FM stored in the SRAM 3 at that time (Process 406), and starts a system process for operating the facsimile machine (Process 407).

Thereafter, every time the storage content of the pseudo SRAM 10 is updated, the reference sum value S1 of the pseudo SRAM ₁₀ is calculated and stored in the SRAM 3 (decision 408, processing loop of process 409).

When the result of the judgment 401 is NO, and when the judgment 4
When the result of 03 is NO, the processing shifts to step 407 to start the system processing.

In this way, in this embodiment, since the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 are actually inspected, the storage contents of the pseudo SRAM 10 can be inspected more strictly.

Incidentally, the operation of calculating the reference sum values S ₁ in the operation description of the above-described facsimile machine, it may be performed only when performing initial processing of the embodiment of FIG. 7. In addition, the voltage detector 12
Need only be provided when executing the initial processing of the embodiment of FIG.

In the above description, only parts directly related to the present invention are described in detail, and description of other parts is omitted.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus including an image storage unit using a memory to which a power supply backup capacitor is added, a non-volatile memory in which a backup available time of the capacitor is stored in advance. Storage means, power-off time detecting means for detecting a power-off time, correction means for correcting the backup available time based on the operation time at power-on, and image information stored in a memory at power-on. The power-off time detected by the power-off time detection means is compared with the backup available time corrected by the correction means, and the image information control means for erasing the image information stored in the memory based on the comparison result. If the stored contents of the memory are retained, use the stored contents as valid Therefore, it is possible to obtain an effect that labor for re-reading the document is greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic diagram showing an example of file management information, and FIG. 1 (b) shows an example of power-off time information. Schematic diagram, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an initial process executed at power-on, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a power-off report, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a modification of the process of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the initial processing executed at power-on, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the initial processing executed at power-on. 1 CPU (Central Processing Unit), 2 ROM (Read Only Memory), 3 SRAM (Static RAM (Random Access Memory)), 4 Battery, 7
Clock circuit, 10 ... Pseudo SRAM, 11 ... Capacitor for backup, 12 ... Voltage detector.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/21 H04N 1/00 G06F 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising an image storage means using a memory to which a power supply backup capacitor is added, a non-volatile storage means in which a backup available time of the capacitor is stored in advance, and a time when the power is turned off is detected. Power-off time detection means, correction means for correcting the backup available time based on the operation time at power-on, and power-off time detection means when image information is stored in the memory at power-on. A facsimile apparatus comprising: an image information control unit that compares a power-off time with a backup available time corrected by the correction unit and deletes image information stored in a memory based on a result of the comparison.