JP3204195B2 - Facsimile machine - 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 communication system using ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T Recommendation
Group 3 (hereinafter, referred to as “G3”) system based on ITU-T Recommendation T.4. A group 4 (hereinafter, referred to as “G4”) system conforming to No. 6 relates to a facsimile apparatus that can be selected in advance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Facsimile communication includes a G3 system using an analog line and a G4 system using a digital line. In the G3 system, digital facsimile data is converted into an analog voice signal by a modem. A general public switched telephone network (hereinafter, “PSTN”)
hed Telephone Network) ”), and the G4 system, on the other hand, uses digital data as it is, and converts it into an integrated service digital network (hereinafter“ IS ”).
And transmitted and received via an integrated services digital network (DN).

At present, generally, facsimile apparatuses perform G3 facsimile communication.
G4 facsimile communication using a digital network such as N is also becoming widespread. In order to perform G4 communication, basically, a facsimile machine capable of G4 communication is used in addition to the G3 communication. In some cases, a communication board (adapter) that performs the function of the G4 system is attached to enable communication in the G4 system.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, if a G4 communication board is optionally attached to the main body of the apparatus in order to enable G4 communication, the appearance of the apparatus deteriorates, and the complexity becomes complicated. There was a problem of giving an impression. A port can be provided in a G3 facsimile apparatus, and a G4 communication board can be added and mounted in the apparatus. However, when only G4 communication is performed, a circuit for G3 communication is used. Was not used and wasted.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in the case where a G4 communication board is mounted in an apparatus and only G4 communication is performed, a G3 communication circuit must be removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of performing the above.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a line interface board for connecting a communication line and a main board for performing a main function of the facsimile apparatus. And these substrates were separably accommodated in one housing .

Here, the main functions of the facsimile apparatus functioning with the main board include functions such as reading of a document image, recording of a received image, and input operation to the facsimile apparatus, other than the line control function performed by the line interface board. Say. In addition, an analog line is connected to the line interface board as a communication line, and a general public line network is connected .
There is a G3 communication board that enables communication, and a G4 communication board that connects a digital line as a communication line and controls G4 communication, and any one of these boards can be accommodated in the housing. I do. That is, as the line interface board, only one of the boards is accommodated together with the main board.

Further, each of the main board and the G4 communication board includes:
A connector for bus connection is provided, and when the G4 communication board is selectively accommodated as a line interface board, the connectors of the main board and the G4 communication board are connected to each other. When both substrates are connected in this manner, usually G
4 Data is transmitted and received via a dual port RAM provided on the communication board side. Also, the modem on the main board and G
4 Connect the communication board.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a G4 communication board housed in a facsimile apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of a main board housed in a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in which a G3 communication board is connected to the main board illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, as a line interface board, a digital line (for example, ISDN) is connected as a communication line, and a G4 communication board 1 for controlling G4 communication is provided. As shown, G3 connecting an analog line (for example, PSTN) as a communication line
Only one of the communication boards 3 is selected, and FIG.
The main board 2 shown in FIG. 3 is housed in one housing of the facsimile machine.

Further, line interface boards 1 and 3
Since it is separable from the main substrate 2 that performs the main function of the facsimile machine, the G3 system is changed to the G4 system, or
When changing from the G4 system to the G3 system, only the line interface boards 1 and 3 need to be replaced. less than,
The case where the G4 communication board 1 is selected as the line interface board and the case where the G3 communication board 3 is selected will be described.

First, the case where the G4 communication board 1 is selected and a digital line is connected as a communication line will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this case, the main board 2 and the G4 communication board 1 are connected.
Indicates that both connectors C2 and C1 are connected, and that both data buses DB2 and DB1 are connected to the DP-
It is connected via a RAM 15 (dual port RAM). The DP-RAM 15 performs buffering when transmitting and receiving digital data between the main board 2 and the G4 communication board 1. For example, the information of the telephone number (facsimile number) of the other party when performing facsimile transmission is DP-
The data is sent from the main board 2 to the G4 communication board 1 via the RAM 15.

The G4 communication board 1 shown in FIG.
And an ISD serving as an interface between the facsimile machine and an ISDN line connected by a modular.
N interface unit 11 and an audio signal codec (CO) for mutually converting between an analog audio signal and digital data.
DEC) section 12 and a transformer 13 for separating line current between the audio signal codec section 12 and the main board 2 side.
And a G4 facsimile function unit 14.

The ISDN interface unit 11 has a S-in
terface function and LAP-D function.
-Interface means an interface at point S, which is a user network interface point, and includes a protocol processing function, a maintenance function, and an interface function. LA
The PD function controls the protocol for the ISDN D channel.

The voice signal codec section 12 performs a signal mutual conversion process when receiving a voice signal from a partner at the time of an incoming call or when receiving a voice signal from the main board 2 side. Enables voice calls with. The G4 facsimile function unit 14 includes a LAP-B function unit 14a connected to the data bus DB1, and an image codec unit 14b.
And an EP-ROM 14c and an S-RAM 14d. The LAP-B functional unit 14a
The actual data communication is performed by controlling the channel protocol. The image codec unit 14b compresses and expands image data during G4 communication. The EP-ROM 14c and the S-RAM 14d store operation programs of the CPU 10,
It stores control data, intermediate data, and the like.

In such a configuration, the G4 communication board 1
When the facsimile number is transmitted from the main board 2 via the DP-RAM 15 at the time of facsimile transmission, the LA10 of the ISDN interface 11
A call is made to the ISDN line using the PD function. Further, when there is an incoming call from the ISDN line, the transmitted progress identifier is checked to determine whether or not the incoming communication is a voice signal. Specifically, if the transmitted transmission capability (bearer capability: BC) is 3.1 kHz audio or voice, it is determined that the voice signal is an audio signal.
A signal is transmitted to the main board 2 via the audio signal codec unit 12.

On the other hand, when the transmission capacity is unlimited, the communication is facsimile communication (digital data communication).
The main board 2 and the ISDN via the 4 facsimile function unit 14
It sends and receives data to and from the interface unit 11. At this time, a packet disassembly / assembly of facsimile data is performed between the two by the LAP-B function unit 14a.

On the other hand, in the main substrate 2 shown in FIG.
0 connects and controls the following units via the bus 21.
From the reading unit 22, for example, image data read from a document using a CCD and converted into black and white binary is input. The recording unit 23 is connected to, for example, an electrophotographic printer, and prints out image data received by facsimile as a hard copy.

The ROM 24 stores in advance software programs necessary for operations other than line control in the facsimile machine. The RAM 25 is composed of an S-RAM or the like, and stores rewritable data necessary for operation and temporary data when executing software. The image memory 26 includes a D-RAM or the like, and stores image data of facsimile communication. The image codec unit 27
3 Compression and decompression of image data during communication. Operation unit 2
8 accepts operation inputs of various keys for controlling the facsimile machine.

The modem 29 performs mutual conversion (modulation / demodulation) between an analog signal and a digital signal during G3 communication described later. Although not shown here, the modem 29 and the G4
Voice communication via the voice signal codec unit 12 and the transformer 13 of the G4 communication board 1 is enabled by an attached telephone connected to the line connecting the communication board 1 (arrow A in the figure).

Next, G3 is used as a line interface board.
A case where the communication board 3 is selected and accommodated in a facsimile apparatus and an analog line is connected as a communication line will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a state is shown in which the G3 communication board 3 is connected to the MPU 20 and the modem 29 of the main board 2 shown in FIG. In this state, the main board 2
It has the same configuration as a normal G3 facsimile apparatus except that it has a connector C2 to which a data bus DB2 is connected, and its operation is not changed at all, and communication via a PSTN line (analog line) connected by a modular is performed. Make it possible.

The modem 29 is connected to one switching terminal (terminal a) of the CML relay 31 via a line transformer 32, and is connected to the PSTN which is an analog line by controlling the switching of the CML relay 31. The other terminal (terminal b) of the CML relay 31 is connected to a paging signal detection unit 33 that detects a paging signal from a line, and when the paging signal is detected, notifies the MPU 20 of the detection.

The H relay 34 has a non-switching terminal connected to an attached telephone 35 and an off-hook detecting unit 36 for detecting an off-hook state of the telephone 35. Further, one switching terminal (terminal a) of the H relay 34 is connected to the telephone 3
DC-DC converter 3 for ringing the bell from 5
7 and a photocoupler 38 are connected, and a pseudo call signal of 16 Hz is transmitted by interrupting the output of the DC-DC converter 37 by the photocoupler 38.
Further, the other switching terminal (terminal b) is a CML relay 3
1 terminal b.

In the normal standby state, the CML relay 31 and the H relay 34 are on the terminal b side. On the other hand, if the telephone 35 rings a predetermined number of times (for example, twice), the CML relay 31 and the H relay 34 are switched to the terminal a to automatically receive a call. Then, while generating a pseudo ringback tone from the modem 29 to the line,
The pseudo bell is sounded from the telephone set 35 by the DC-DC converter 37 and the photocoupler 38.

On the other hand, the off-hook detection unit 36
If the off-hook of the telephone set 35 is detected, the telephone call by the telephone set 35 through the line is enabled. On the other hand, if the off-hook of the telephone set 35 is not detected even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the pseudo ringback tone and the pseudo bell are stopped, and the modem 2 is stopped.
9 starts the G3 facsimile reception. Also, when the modem 29 detects CNG (call tone) within the predetermined time, facsimile reception is started.

Although the case of the telephone / facsimile standby mode has been described here, the conventional G3 facsimile can be used in a facsimile standby mode in which facsimile communication is started immediately after an automatic incoming call, or in a telephone standby mode in which a call is not received until the telephone 35 answers. Works the same as the device.

[0027]

As can be understood from the above description, the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a line interface board for connecting a communication line and a main board for performing a main function of the facsimile apparatus. Are housed in one housing. Therefore, the G3 communication function has G
When adding four communication functions, it is not necessary to externally attach a G4 communication board, so that the appearance is not complicated and the appearance is good.

As a line interface board, G
Since either one of the three communication boards and the G4 communication board may be selectively housed, the other communication function is not wasted, the device can be downsized, and parts other than the interface board can be shared. Therefore, when manufacturing two models of the facsimile machines G3 and G4, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, G4 is used as a line interface board.
When the communication board is selectively housed, it is only necessary to connect the connectors of the main board and the G4 communication board.
Four communication functions can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a G4 communication board.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a main board.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of each board when a main board and a G3 communication board are accommodated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... G4 communication board 10 ... CPU 11 ... ISDN interface part 14 ... G4 facsimile function part 15 ... Dual port RAM (DP-RAM) DB1 ... Data bus C1 ... Connector 2 Main board 20 MPU 29 Modem DB2 Data bus C2 Connector 3 G3 communication board

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/32-1/36 101 H04M 11/00-11/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A line interface base for connecting a communication line.
Board and a main board that performs the main function of the facsimile machine.
Therefore, these substrates are housed in a single housing in a separable manner.
Facsimile machine characterized by the following:And  The line interface board has an analog
Connect the log line,Enables communication via general public network
To beG3 communication board and digital line as communication line
There is a G4 communication board that connects and controls G4 communication.
One of the boards selected from the above
Configuration that can be stored in the bodyAnd  Each of the main board and the G4 communication board has a bus connection.
Connector forProvided,The above line interface base
When the G4 communication board is selectively housed as a board,
Connects the connectors of the main board and the above G4 communication boardThen
Both connect the modem on the main board and the G4 communication board
ConfigurationFacsimile machine.