JP2965395B2 - Facsimile machine and handy scanner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus and a handy scanner, and more particularly, to a handy scanner for transmitting read image information to a facsimile apparatus by an optical signal and an image input from the handy scanner. The present invention relates to a facsimile machine as a host machine for transmitting information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus, a handy scanner for reading image information of a large manuscript such as a drawing or a newspaper or a thick book in order to transmit the image information of the manuscript is used. What is equipped is known. The handy scanner includes, for example, a contact image sensor and rollers and guides for sliding the image sensor on a document. The handy scanner is slid over a document to optically read image information, converts it to an electrical signal, and then transmits the signal via a signal line to a host machine, that is, a facsimile apparatus main body (hereinafter, referred to as a facsimile apparatus main body).
To the main unit). The main body that has received the image information from the handy scanner transmits the image information to a line and transmits it to another facsimile machine.

In such a conventional facsimile apparatus, a handy scanner and a main body are connected by a cable, so that power is supplied from the main body and the handy scanner is connected to the main body.
Transmission of signals from the scanner was performed by this cable. Therefore, there is a problem that the processing of the cable is troublesome and the usability is not good.

A device devised to solve this problem is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-193658. With this device, the battery is built into the handy scanner, eliminating the power cable and
The transmission and reception of signals are performed by infrared light emitting means as transmitting means provided in the handy scanner and light receiving means as receiving means provided in the main body.

A facsimile apparatus which does not read a document as in a handy scanner, but operates the operation of the main body by radio waves of a specific frequency emitted from a remote controller has been proposed (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Heisei 2).
-49264).

[0006]

The above-mentioned conventional apparatus has the following problems. That is, in the above-described apparatus, the image information and control signals transmitted from the handy scanner or the remote controller can be identified and analyzed by the main body, but the operation state of the main body is conversely determined by the handy scanner or the remote controller. The controller could not recognize it.

For example, the power of the main body is not turned on, the image information memory of the main body is full, communication with another facsimile apparatus is being performed, or information is being received from another handy scanner. May be. Since such a state is not recognized by the handy scanner, the image information transmitted from the handy scanner or the control signal from the remote controller may not reach the main unit or may not be stored in the memory even if it arrives. There was a point.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
A facsimile machine capable of reliably transmitting image information and control signals transmitted from a handy scanner or a remote controller as a terminal to a main body and reliably transmitting desired image information to a partner station, and a handy device for inputting image information. To provide a scanner.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the present invention provides a terminal-side light emitting means for transmitting image information and transmission information to a main body in the form of optical signals, and transmission from the main body. While the terminal side light receiving means for detecting the optical signal, means for analyzing the content of the optical signal detected by the terminal side light receiving means, and display means of the analysis result are provided in the terminal, A main body side light receiving means for detecting the transmitted optical signal, a means for analyzing the content of the optical signal detected by the main body light receiving means, and a main body side light emitting means for notifying the terminal of its own state are provided. There is a characteristic in the point.

[0010]

According to the present invention having the above-described features, the main body can transmit information indicating its current state to the terminal from the main body side light emitting means based on a command from the terminal or by its own judgment. On the other hand, in the terminal, an optical signal emitted from the main body side light emitting means is received by the terminal side light receiving means, and information contained in this optical signal can be analyzed to grasp the current state of the main body side, and The analysis result can be visually recognized by the display.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a handy scanner 1 as a terminal includes an image reading unit 6, an image information memory 10, an encoding unit 7, a terminal side light receiving unit 3, a terminal side light emitting unit 4, and an operation panel 8 for inputting transmission information and the like. And a display panel 9. Each of these components
According to a program stored in the ROM 11 in advance,
Central processing unit (CPU) 5 composed of a microcomputer
Is controlled by

Further, the terminal side light emitting section 4 includes a light emitting diode 40 and a light emitting diode driving section 41 for supplying a predetermined current to the light emitting diode 40 to generate light.
And a light emission synchronization control unit 42 for controlling the timing at which the light emitting diode 40 is energized by the light emitting diode drive unit 41. The light generated by the light emitting diode 40 is projected outside through the lens 30.

The terminal-side light receiving section 3 is a high-speed PIN photodetector 31 for converting an optical signal incident through the common lens 30 with the terminal-side light emitting section 4 into an electric signal, and an output signal of the high-speed PIN photodetector 31. It has a buffer 32 for accumulation, and a light reception synchronization control unit 33 for controlling the timing of taking a signal from the high-speed PIN photodetector 31 into the buffer 32.

On the other hand, the main unit 2 includes an image information memory 15, an encoding / decoding unit 18, a line control unit 16, and a main body side light emitting unit 1.
3. Central processing unit (CPU) 12 for controlling main body side light receiving unit 14, printer 17, RAM 20, and each component unit
Having. The ROM 19 stores a program for control by the CPU 12 and control information. Since the main body side light emitting section 13 and the main body side light receiving section 14 are configured in the same manner as the terminal side light emitting section 4 and the terminal side light receiving section 3, detailed illustration is omitted.

The facsimile apparatuses configured as described above are used by arranging them at positions where they can be easily seen from each other. The operation of transmitting image information from the handy scanner 1 to the main body 2 is performed as follows. The image information of the document read by the image reading unit 6 by sliding the handy scanner 1 on the document is compressed by the encoding unit 3 and stored in the image information memory 10. When reading of image information is completed,
The image information stored in the image information memory 10 is transferred to the light emitting diode driving unit 41 according to an instruction input from the operation panel 8. Based on the image information supplied from the image information memory 10, the light emitting diode driving unit 41 outputs an on / off signal corresponding to the image information to energize the light emitting diode 40. The on / off signal is output to the light emitting diode 40 according to the synchronization signal supplied from the light emission synchronization control unit 42. At this time, a hand-held device is used so that an optical signal generated by the light emitting diode 40 can be irradiated to the main body side light receiving unit 14.
The scanner 1 is directed toward the main body 2. The main body 2 temporarily stores the image information received from the handy scanner 1 by the main body side light receiving section 14 in the image information memory 15 and sequentially sends the image information to the line via the line control section 16.

When the image information is transferred from the handy scanner 1 to the main body, the status of the main body 2 can be confirmed on the handy scanner 1 side. That is, the main body 2 is informed of whether the power of the main body 2 is turned on, communication with another facsimile machine or handy scanner, whether the remaining capacity of the image information memory 15 is sufficient, and the like. Can be confirmed by Therefore, the operator of the handy scanner 1 can perform an operation of sending the image information read by the handy scanner 1 to the main body 2 after confirming this state by the display.

Next, the status notification operation of the main body 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the status notification operation of the main body 2. In the figure, in step S1, the power of the main body is turned on, and in step S2, the main body side light emitting section 1 is turned on.
3 to notify the handy scanner 1 that the power is turned on by an optical signal. Hereinafter, similarly, the notifications in steps S4, S6, S9 and step S11 all indicate optical signal notifications performed by energizing the main body side light emitting unit 13.

In step S3, it is determined whether a communication operation with a station other than the handy scanner 1 has been started, such as transmission of image information. If the determination in step S3 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the main body 2 notifies the handy scanner 1 that the main body 2 is communicating with another, that is, is in a busy state.

If the determination in step S3 is negative, the flow advances to step S6 to notify that the main body 2 is empty. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the communication operation with a device other than the handy scanner 1 has been completed. If this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S6 to notify that the main body 2 is empty. If the determination in step S5 is negative, the process proceeds to step S7, where the image information memory 1
5 is detected. The detected remaining memory is RAM2
0 is stored.

In step S8, it is determined whether or not the remaining memory capacity has changed. The presence or absence of this change is determined by R
This is the presence or absence of a change from the previous detection value stored in the AM 20. If there is a change from the previous detection, step S9
To notify the handy scanner 1 of the remaining memory. On the other hand, if there is no change in the remaining memory capacity, step S10
Then, it is determined whether or not the image information memory 15 has a remaining amount, that is, whether or not the memory is full. If it is determined that the memory is full, the process proceeds to step S11 to notify the handy scanner 1 that the memory is full.

An optical signal for notifying the state of the main body 2 is detected by the high-speed PIN photodetector 31 of the handy scanner 1, converted into an electric signal, and stored in the buffer 32. The data stored in the buffer 32 is analyzed and its contents are displayed on the display panel 9.

In the operation shown in the flowchart, the main body 2 issues a notification signal irrespective of the request from the handy scanner 1, but in response to the notification request from the handy scanner 1, The notification operation may be performed.

An example of an image information transmission procedure using the above-described state notification control will be described with reference to the operation of the handy scanner 1 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, in step S20, image information of an original is read by the handy scanner 1. If it is determined in step S30 that the reading of the image information has been completed, a display to that effect is made on the display panel 9 in step S40.

In step S50, the operation panel 8 is operated by the operator, and a request for notification of the state of the main body is made to the main body 2. When the status is notified from the main body 2 in response to the notification request, the result is displayed on the display panel 9, and the operator determines whether or not the main body 2 can be received based on the display (step S60). .

If the main body 2 is determined to be receivable, after the start of transmission is notified to the main body 2, the image information is read from the image information memory 10, and the terminal side light emitting section 4 is energized to cause the main body 2 to receive the image. The image information is transmitted to the light receiving unit 14 (Step S7)
0). In the above operation, the reading operation by the handy scanner 1 may be performed after the state of the main body 2 is confirmed.

Next, the functions of the CPUs 5 and 12 for performing the operations shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main functions of the present embodiment. In the figure, the state determination unit 50 of the main body 2 includes a busy detection unit 51, a change detection unit 52, a memory full detection unit 53,
And a power-on detection unit 54. The busy detection unit 51 detects that the main unit 2 is communicating with a partner other than the handy scanner 1 based on the state of the line control unit 16,
The detection signal is input to the main body side light emitting unit 13.

The remaining amount detecting section 55 detects the remaining amount of the image information memory 15 and stores it in the remaining amount storing section 56. When the present detection value is input from the remaining amount detection unit 55, the remaining amount storage unit 56 stores the previously stored previous detection value into the change detection unit 52.
Output to The change detection unit 52 compares the current detection value supplied from the remaining amount detection unit 55 with the previous detection value supplied from the remaining amount storage unit 56, and detects whether or not the memory remaining amount has changed. When a change is detected, in response to the detection signal,
The stored data from the remaining amount storage unit 56 is transmitted to the main body side light emitting unit 13.
Read out.

The memory full detector 53 includes a remaining amount detector 55
A memory full state is detected based on the value detected in step (1), and the detection signal is output to the main body side light emitting unit 13. Note that in this embodiment, memory full does not mean that the memory is completely full, but means that the storage amount has reached a predetermined threshold or more. Also, the power-on detection unit 54
Detects that the main body 2 is powered on, and outputs a signal indicating the state to the main body side light emitting unit 13.

The main body side light emitting section 13 responds to the detection signal input from each of the detection sections, and energizes a light emitting diode (not shown) with an on / off signal corresponding to the detection signal.
The light signal emitted from the light emitting diode is detected by the terminal side light receiving unit 3. Then, the optical signal is analyzed by the notification analyzer 21 in correspondence with the planned storage data, and is displayed on the display panel 9. In order to display the analysis result on the display panel 9, a conversion means such as a well-known character generator may be used.

Further, the handy scanner 1 is
When the status notification as described above is performed in response to a request from the handy scanner 1, the operation panel 8
The notification request generating unit 22 generates a signal for energizing the terminal side light emitting unit 4 based on the request input from the terminal. The light emitting diode 40 in the terminal side light emitting section 22 is energized by this signal, and the optical signal is received by the main body side light receiving section 14.
This optical signal is detected by the notification request detection unit 23. The notification request detection unit 23 detects the notification request by associating the received optical signal with the scheduled storage data, similarly to the notification analysis unit 21. The state determination unit 50 performs the detection operation in accordance with the detected notification request and outputs a result to the main body side light emitting unit 13. Note that the notification request may be a request for notifying all of the detection results, or may be an individual request.

The state of the main body 2 is defined as an image information memory 1.
Handy scanner 1
When the image information sent from the printer cannot be stored in the image information memory 15, a memory full notification may be made. The operation of this memory full notification will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the operation of the handy scanner 1 will be described first. In step S80, the image information reading unit 6 reads the image information and stores it in the image information memory 10. In step S81, a transmission request input from the operation panel 8 is sent to the main body 2. In step S82, the amount (information amount) of the image information stored in the image information memory 10 is transmitted.

In step S83, it is determined whether or not image data can be received by the main body 2 based on the light receiving signal of the terminal side light receiving section 3. If this judgment is negative, that is, body 2
If the reception is impossible, the process proceeds to step S87, and the display panel 9 displays that the reception is impossible.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S83 is affirmative, the flow advances to step S84 to read image information from the image information memory 10 and transmit it. In step S85, it is determined whether or not all the image information has been transmitted. If all scheduled image information transmissions have been completed, a signal indicating the end of image information transfer is transmitted in step S86. Step S8
It goes without saying that the signal transmissions in 1, S82, S84 and S86 are all transmissions by optical signals from the terminal side light emitting unit 3.

Next, the operation of the main body 2 corresponding to FIG. 4A will be described with reference to FIG. First, step S9
At 0, the transmission request from the handy scanner 1 is identified. If a transmission request is detected, the process proceeds to step S91.
In step S91, the information amount from the handy scanner 1 is received and stored.

In step S92, the remaining amount of the image information memory 15 is detected and compared with the information amount. If the remaining memory is smaller, the process proceeds to step S93, and a signal indicating that image information cannot be received is transmitted.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S92 is negative, the flow advances to step S94 to transmit a signal indicating that image information can be received. In step S95, the handy scanner 1
Receives image information from. In step S96, reception is continued until the image information transfer end signal from the handy scanner 1 is detected.

The functions of the CPUs 5 and 12 for performing the memory full notification operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main functions of the present embodiment. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or equivalent parts. In the figure, the amount of information stored in the image information memory 10 of the handy scanner 1 is detected by an information amount detecting section 24, and the detected value is converted into an optical signal by the terminal side light emitting section 4 and transmitted.

The optical signal indicating the information amount is transmitted to the light receiving section 1 on the main body side.
After being detected at 4 and converted into an electric signal, it is supplied to the comparison unit 56. The remaining amount of the image information memory 15 detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 55 is supplied to the comparing unit 56, and is compared with the information amount supplied from the handy scanner 1. As a result of the comparison, if the remaining amount of memory is larger than the amount of information read by the handy scanner 1, a signal indicating that reception is possible is output to the main body side light emitting unit 13; Is output.

This signal is converted into an optical signal by the main body side light emitting section 13 and transmitted, detected by the notification analyzing section 21 of the handy scanner 1, and displayed on the display panel 9.

As described above, in this embodiment, after confirming the state of the main body 2 such as memory full or busy, the image information is sent to the main body. In this embodiment, only the operation up to transmission of image information from the handy scanner 1 to the main body 2 has been described, but the main body 2 has a transmission / reception function similar to that of a known facsimile apparatus. That is, the image information transmitted from the handy scanner 1 to the main body 2 is transmitted to the line and transmitted to a desired partner station in the same manner as in the related art.
The image information captured by the main unit 2 via the line is decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 18 and then printed by the printer 17.

The state to be notified from the main body 2 to the handy scanner 1 is not limited to the state shown in the present embodiment. The state of the printer 17 in the main body 2 during printing, such as paper jam, paper shortage, and toner shortage. Even when the reception failure based on the operation is detected, a modification can be made so that the fact can be notified to the handy scanner 1. The point is that the status of the main body 2 is notified to the handy scanner 1 by an optical signal output from the light emitting means, and the handy scanner 1 may be configured so that the notification can be detected and displayed by the light receiving means. .

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the state of the main body can be recognized on the handy scanner side, the usability is improved as shown in the following example. (1) Since it is possible to avoid transmitting image information from the handy scanner to the main body communicating with the other, unnecessary operation of the handy scanner is eliminated. (2) Even if the power is interrupted during transmission from the handy scanner to the main unit and the information previously transmitted from the handy scanner to the main unit may be lost, the fact can be recognized and the transmission is performed again. It can be performed. (3) Since it is easy to determine whether image information read by a handy scanner can be stored in the memory of the main body, if the remaining memory capacity is likely to be insufficient, the image information is surely provided when the memory capacity is sufficient. Can be sent to the main unit. (4) Recognition of the state of the main unit and operation corresponding to the state
It can be done while staying at the operation position of the handy scanner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a main part of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of notifying a state of a main body.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the handy scanner.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main part function of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Handy scanner, 2 ... Main body, 3 ... Terminal side light receiving part, 4 ... Terminal side light emitting part, 8 ... Operation panel, 9 ...
Display panel, 13: main body side light emitting section, 14: main body side light receiving section, 15: image information memory, 21: notification analysis section,
22: notification request generator 23: notification request detector 5
0 ... state judgment unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Taiji Yamamoto 3-7-1, Fuuchi, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office (72) Inventor Toshitaka Nakagawa 3-7-1, Fuuchi, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama No. Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office (56) References JP-A-5-22486 (JP, A) JP-A-4-299645 (JP, A) JP-A-63-212948 (JP, A) JP-A-58 -68361 (JP, A) JP-A-63-9265 (JP, A) JP-A-63-284962 (JP, A) JP-A-63-28163 (JP, A) JP-A-58-37259 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising a terminal and a main body, configured to convert image information read by the terminal into an optical signal and transmit the optical signal to the main body, and transmit the image information to another facsimile apparatus therefrom. In the apparatus, the terminal includes: a terminal-side light emitting unit for transmitting image information and transmission information to the main unit as an optical signal; a terminal-side light receiving unit for detecting an optical signal transmitted from the main unit; A means for analyzing the content of the detected optical signal; and a means for displaying the result of the analysis, wherein the main body includes a main body side light receiving means for detecting an optical signal transmitted from the terminal, and a main body side light receiving means for detecting the light signal. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a means for analyzing the content of the obtained optical signal; a state determining means for detecting its own state; and a main body side light emitting means for notifying the terminal of its own state. 2. The terminal has a request signal generating means for requesting a status notification of the main body, and the main body has a notification request detecting means for detecting a status notification request from the terminal. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile apparatus is configured to notify a terminal of a determination result of the state determination means in response to a detection signal of the notification request detection means. 3. A facsimile apparatus for transmitting image information supplied from a terminal, a light receiving means for detecting an optical signal transmitted from the terminal, a means for analyzing the content of the optical signal detected by the light receiving means, A facsimile apparatus comprising: a state determining unit that detects a state of the terminal; and a light emitting unit that notifies a terminal of the state of the terminal. 4. A notification request detecting means for detecting a status notification request signal supplied from a terminal, and in response to a detection signal from the notification request detecting means, notifies a result of the determination by the state determining means to the terminal. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the facsimile apparatus is configured to perform the following. 5. A handy scanner for transmitting image information and transmission information to a main body by an optical signal, comprising: a reading unit for image information; and a light emitting unit for transmitting the read image information and transmission information to the main unit by an optical signal. A handy scanner comprising: light receiving means for detecting an optical signal from a main body; means for analyzing the content of the optical signal detected by the light receiving means; and means for displaying an analysis result. 6. The handy scanner according to claim 5, further comprising request signal generating means for requesting a status notification of the main body.