JP3295189B2 - 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 apparatus having a telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile apparatus for transmitting an image using a telephone line has been widely used in ordinary households due to the promotion of miniaturization and price reduction. The equipment used in ordinary households is usually a facsimile apparatus with a telephone. In this apparatus, one line is usually switched between a telephone and a facsimile apparatus. Therefore, when the user is at home, the facsimile apparatus is set to the manual mode, and when the user is away,
In general, a facsimile reception mode is set. In the above-described manual mode, the telephone rings when an incoming call is received, and for example, it is possible to manually switch from the telephone use state to the facsimile apparatus use state. On the other hand, in the facsimile reception mode, the facsimile apparatus is on standby in a reception state, and outputs a facsimile response signal to the calling side when a call is received. Therefore, when the calling side receives this signal, image transmission from the calling side is performed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when a facsimile apparatus with a telephone set calls another facsimile apparatus with a telephone set and a call is made by a telephone set, the other apparatus is called. When set to the facsimile reception mode, a facsimile response signal is transmitted from the device, so it is necessary to hang up the telephone once, make a telephone call again, and transmit a manuscript in which a message is written by the facsimile device. . In addition, when a call is made from a telephone that does not have a facsimile function to the above-described other device, the message cannot be transmitted, and the facsimile function as an answering machine function cannot be used effectively. ing. On the other hand, such a problem does not occur when a facsimile machine with an answering machine function is provided, but such a device is expensive, and this method cannot properly solve the above problem.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has a facsimile function of transmitting an image via a telephone line and a facsimile apparatus having a telephone call function. A fixed message storing means for storing a fixed message prepared in advance to be transmitted to the other party, a document sensor for determining the presence or absence of a document in a document placing portion on which a document for transmission is arranged, and a call to the other party operation is performed, by the upper SL document sensor, when it is determined that there is a document on the document placing portion, while setting the operation mode to the facsimile transmission mode for transmitting the document image, it is determined that no original document tray Automatically sends the operation mode
Mode, set this automatic message transmission mode
Is received, a facsimile response signal is
Message is returned, the fixed message storage
The fixed message stored in the column is sent to the facsimile
Control means for transmitting the data to the device on the other side by a function .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the fixed messages are stored in the fixed message storage means, and the other party is determined from the plurality of fixed messages. And a control unit for transmitting the fixed message selected by the selecting unit.

[0006]

[0007]

SUMMARY OF] According to the first aspect, when performing a call to the other party, the originals sensor, when it is determined that there is a document on the document placing portion, facsimile operation mode is to transmit a document image Set to transmission mode. On the other hand, if it is determined that no original document placing portion, the operation mode is automatic
Set to message transmission mode. This automatic message
When the transmission mode is set to
For protection, receive only faxes from the other
A facsimile response signal indicating the
The fixed message stored in the fixed message storage means.
Message is sent by the facsimile function
Transmitted to the device. As a result, the fixed message is transmitted to the other device. Thereafter, the above-mentioned fixed message is printed by the other party's facsimile machine. Therefore, it is not necessary to hang up the telephone once to transmit the message to the other party and then call the original again and transmit the original in which the message is written by the facsimile machine. Thus, a necessary message can be appropriately transmitted to the other party without providing an expensive facsimile apparatus with an answering machine function.

[0010] According to the configuration of claim 2, since a fixed message to be transmitted to the other party can be selected from a plurality of fixed messages, a more excellent message transmission function is provided.

[0009]

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a modem unit 5 functioning as an interface with a telephone line 27. A circuit current is supplied between the modem unit 5 and the telephone line 27 from the telephone line 27 side. A detection circuit 1, a CML circuit 2, a matching transformer 3, and a hybrid circuit 4 are provided. The modem unit 5 performs a predetermined demodulation process on image information received through the telephone line 27, and performs a predetermined modulation process on image information to be transmitted.

The CML circuit 2 includes a non-call receiving circuit 9, a CI detecting circuit 10, and a matching transformer 11
The matching transformer 11 is connected to the hybrid circuit 4 via an amplifier circuit 12.

Further, the facsimile apparatus includes a handset 6 which is a telephone having a built-in microphone and a speaker, and the handset 6 includes a telephone circuit 7 and a HOO.
It is connected to the above-mentioned non-call receiving circuit 9 via a K detecting circuit 8. The handset 6 is in an off-hook state detached from the apparatus main body when in use, and is in an on-hook state arranged at a predetermined position on the apparatus main body when not in use. These off-hook and on-hook states are detected by a HOOK detection circuit 8 having a hook switch (not shown).

The modem unit 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) via a data bus and an address bus.
13. ROM (Read On
ly Memory) 14, RAM (Random Access Memory) 1 as fixed message storage means and tone signal storage means
5, I / O port 16, CPU 13 and R
A fax control unit 22 that constitutes a control unit together with the OM 14 is connected. An LCD controller 17 is connected to the I / O port 16, and an LCD 18 is connected to the LCD controller 17.

The CPU 13 performs calculations based on a control program stored in the ROM 14 and performs control operations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described later.
In the RAM 15, a plurality of fixed messages are stored in addition to the transmission source information data such as the transmission date and time when transmitting an image by the facsimile function and the telephone number of the own station. This fixed message is a message to the transmission destination, which is composed of fixed phrases prepared in advance in various cases.

An operation panel 19, a reading unit 23, a recording unit 24, a buzzer ringer circuit 25, and a piezoelectric buzzer 26 are connected to the fax control unit 22. The fax control unit 22 controls operations of the reading unit 23, the recording unit 24, and the buzzer ringer circuit 25 based on a command from the CPU 13. Reading unit 2
Numeral 3 is for reading a document image by a configuration including a light emitting diode and a CCD sensor while transporting a transmission document placed on a document placing portion (not shown). Recorder 2
Reference numeral 4 is for printing the transmitted image information on a recording paper by a thermal head. The operation panel 19 is provided with a mode selection button (not shown) for selecting a manual mode or a facsimile reception mode. In the manual mode, when a call is received for a call,
That is, the bell of the telephone is turned on at the time of receiving a call, and it becomes possible to answer manually. In the facsimile reception mode, a facsimile response signal is output to the calling device when a call is received. The piezoelectric buzzer 26 notifies the start of transmission by the facsimile function and the end of transmission, and the start and end of incoming call.

A message selection button 20 and a dial button 21 are connected to the operation panel 19. The message selection button 20 is a button for selecting various fixed messages stored in the RAM 15. RAM is operated by operating the message selection button 20
15 are sequentially sent to the LCD 18
Will be displayed.

In the above configuration, first, the operation of the facsimile apparatus at the time of transmission will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in the standby state, the handset 6
Is off-hook (S1), and when a call is made to the other party by operating the dial button 21, that is, when a call is made (S2), the presence or absence of the original on the original placing portion on which the original for transmission is arranged is determined by a not-shown original The determination is made based on the detection operation by the sensor (S3). At this time, if there is a document for transmission on the document placing portion, the operation mode is set to the facsimile transmission mode for transmitting the document image (S
4). On the other hand, if there is no original for transmission on the original
Set the operation mode to the automatic message transmission mode (S
5).

Next, it is determined whether a facsimile response signal has been transmitted (S6). If the determination result is NO, it is further determined whether the handset 6 is in an on-hook state (S7). If the result of this determination is YES, S1
On the other hand, if NO, the process returns to S6.

If the result of the determination in S6 is YES, the hook switch is held off-hook (S6).
8) It is determined whether a predetermined fixed message has been selected (S9). If this determination is NO, RA
Of the fixed message data stored in M15,
For this case, the data selected in advance is selected as the transmission data (S10). On the other hand, if the determination result is YES, for example, data selected from the fixed message data 1 to the fixed message data N is set as transmission data (S11).

Further, the transmission source information data stored in the RAM 15 is set as transmission data (S1).
2) These transmission data are sent to the fax control unit 2
In step 2, the image data is expanded into fax image information (S13).

Thereafter, the transmission by the facsimile function is started (S14), the hold state of the hook switch to the on-hook state is released (S15), and when the above transmission is completed (S16), the process returns to the original standby state.

In the above operation, even if the other party who wants to talk is out of the office and the device is set to the facsimile reception mode, the call is temporarily hanged up to transmit a message to the other party. After that, it is not necessary to perform an operation of transmitting the original on which the message is written by calling the facsimile machine again by calling the telephone again. This allows
Necessary messages can be appropriately transmitted to the other party without providing an expensive facsimile machine with an answering machine function. In addition, since a fixed message to be transmitted to the other party can be selected from a plurality of messages, a more excellent message transmission function can be provided.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus at the time of reception will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the facsimile apparatus is called from a telephone having no facsimile function, an incoming signal transmitted from an exchange (not shown), that is, a CI signal is detected by the CI detecting circuit 10 (S21). It is input to the control unit 22. As a result, the CPU 13 controls the CML circuit 2 by the fax control unit 22, and connects the telephone line 27 to the modem unit 5 via the matching transformer 3 and the hybrid circuit 4. That is, the reception mode is set (S22).

Next, the CPU 13 controls the modem unit 5 based on the message data stored in the ROM 14,
The speech synthesis signal is converted into a speech synthesis message on the telephone line 2
7 (S23).

The speech synthesis message is, for example, as follows.

"I'm away now. If you are a customer, your phone number will be recorded. Please press ♯ and send the phone number as a tone signal. If you are a facsimile, please send it as it is. Then, it is determined whether or not the modem unit 5 has detected the ♯ signal from the calling side (S2).
4) If the determination result is not YES within a predetermined time, or if the calling side detects a busy tone signal indicating that the telephone line 27 has been cut off (S25),
The telephone line 27 is released, and the process returns to S21.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S24 is YES, the CPU 13 starts a timer (S2).
6) Following the signal ♯, a tone signal that can identify the source is received (S27), and when this signal is transmitted through the fax control unit 22, the code number of the tone signal is stored in the RAM 15. (S2
8). At this time, the time when the tone signal is received is also stored. Thereafter, when the code number reaches the predetermined number of digits, the process proceeds to S31 (S29), waits for the timer to expire (S31), ends the tone signal reception mode (S32), and releases the telephone line 27. . Also, S27
Similarly, when the tone signal is interrupted and the busy tone is detected (S30), similarly, S31 and S
32 operation is performed.

Thereafter, the fax control unit 22
The information indicating the caller's telephone number and its reception time stored in the RAM 15 is read out, formatted for printing (S33), the recording unit 24 is controlled, and the recording unit 24 stores the information in a predetermined format. Print (S3
4).

In the above operation, even when there is an incoming call requesting a call from a telephone having no facsimile function in the state where the facsimile reception mode is set, the above-described low-cost configuration enables It is possible to know that there is an incoming call.

[0030]

As described above, the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises: a fixed message storage unit for storing a fixed message prepared in advance to be transmitted to the other party;
A document sensor determines the presence or absence of the document in the document placing portion for transmitting original is placed, a call is made operational for the call partner, the upper SL document sensor, when it is determined that there is a document in the document tray, while setting the operation mode to the facsimile transmission mode for transmitting a document image, if it is determined that no original document stack section, the automatic operation mode message
Set the automatic message transmission mode
If set to facsimile,
When a response signal is returned, the fixed message
The fixed message stored in the storage means
And a control means for transmitting the data to the above-mentioned device by a simmig function .

Thus, when a call is made to the other party in a telephone call and the other party is out of the office, even if the other party's device is in a state capable of receiving only a facsimile, the call is temporarily made. Properly transmit necessary messages to the other party without performing an operation such as sending a manuscript on which a message is written over a telephone call again by using a facsimile machine and without having a facsimile machine with an expensive answering machine function This has the effect that it can be performed.

The facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein a plurality of the fixed messages are stored in the fixed message storage means, and the other party is determined from the plurality of the fixed messages. And a selection means for selecting a fixed message to be transmitted to the control unit, and the control means transmits the fixed message selected by the selection means.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select a fixed message to be transmitted to the other party from a plurality of fixed messages, and to provide a better message transmission function. To play.

[0034]

[0035]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus in a case where a facsimile apparatus of the other party is set to a facsimile reception mode when a call is made by a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus when an incoming call is received from a telephone having no facsimile function when a facsimile reception mode is set.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an overall configuration of the facsimile apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 Handset 13 CPU (control means) 14 ROM (control means, request message storage means) 15 RAM (fixed message storage means, tone signal storage means) 20 Message selection button (selection means) 22 Fax control section (control means) 24 recording Section (printing means) 27 telephone line

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/32-1/34 H04M 11/00-11/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a facsimile function of transmitting an image via a telephone line and a telephone function of a telephone, wherein a fixed message storage means for storing a previously created fixed message to be transmitted to the other party. , a document sensor determines the presence or absence of the document in the document placing portion for transmitting original is placed, the calling operation to the other party is performed, by the upper SL document sensor, when it is determined that there is a document in the document tray While the operation mode is set to the facsimile transmission mode for transmitting the original image, if it is determined that there is no original on the original placing portion, the operation mode is set to the automatic message transmission mode,
When this automatic message transmission mode is set,
A facsimile response signal is returned from the other device.
Is stored in the fixed message storage means.
The fixed message that is
A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit for transmitting the data to a hand-side apparatus. 2. The fixed message storage means stores a plurality of fixed messages. The fixed message storage means includes a selection means for selecting a fixed message to be transmitted to the other party from the plurality of fixed messages. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed message selected by said selecting means is transmitted.