JP3387864B2 - Reading system, control method thereof, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reading system having a print function and a document reading function, a control method therefor, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a scanner having a function of reading an image as a peripheral device of a personal computer is generally a flatbed type. Further, recently, a scanner device adopting a sheet reading method has been developed. Further, as a new type of scanner device, a device that realizes a reading function by improving an inkjet recording type printer device has been developed. This printer device is configured to realize a reading function by attaching a detachable scanner cartridge instead of the detachable inkjet cartridge.

In these scanner devices, a scanner driver dedicated to the scanner device, which is usually installed in a personal computer, controls the scanner device to read an image.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional scanner device, the user first activates the scanner driver dedicated to the scanner device on the personal computer, prepares a document, and operates the scanner driver. With this, the image of the original can be read at last, so the operation for reading the image required by the user is very complicated.

In order to solve this problem, the user interface of the above scanner device is improved daily. For example, in the flatbed type scanner device, a hardware switch for activating a scanner driver is provided in the scanner device body, and the scanner driver is activated when the switch is pressed after a document is prepared. .

Further, the sheet reading type scanner device is provided with a document detecting sensor (switch), and when a document is inserted, the scanner driver uses the detection of the document by this sensor as a starting factor. It is configured to boot.

However, in the case where the ink jet recording type printer device described at the end of the above-mentioned conventional example is improved to realize the reading function, it is difficult to improve such a user interface because of its structure, and the scanner is difficult. When used as a device, the user had to perform the following operations. (1) Replace the ink jet cartridge with the scanner cartridge (2) Start the scanner driver on the personal computer (3) Prepare the original document (4) Operate the scanner driver to read the image of the original document The operation to read the required image was very complicated.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image reading system which has both a printer function and an image reading function and which is simple in operation for reading an image. The control method and the storage medium are provided.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, a reading system according to the present invention is a printing apparatus having a scanner function that enables a recording operation and a reading operation by selectively mounting a recording head and a reading head on a head mounting portion. When,
A host computer having a scanner driver capable of controlling the reading operation of the printing apparatus, the host apparatus being communicatively connected to the printing apparatus; Communication is performed between the host computer and the host computer and the scanner driver is activated,
The WAIN controller is configured to start ,
Device, the reading head is mounted on the head mounting portion.
When loaded, the scanner starts up on the host computer
Is configured to emit a signal and said
The scanner driver is a detection unit that detects the scanner activation signal.
And the printing device does not run as a scanner.
In the standby state, the detector is operating.
Therefore, the TWAIN control unit is not operating, and the detection unit is
When the scanner activation signal is detected, the TWA
It is characterized in that the IN control unit is activated .

[0010]

Further, in the reading system according to the present invention, in the state where the entire scanner driver is activated, the work area of the host computer is sufficiently small in the detection section as compared with the other sections. It has a feature.

[0012]

Further, the reading system according to the present invention is characterized in that the image of the original is read by the scanner driver when the original for reading is prepared in the printing apparatus.

A reading system according to the present invention
Attach the recording head and the reading head to the head mounting part.
Recording and reading operations by selectively mounting
And a printing device having a scanner function that enables
It is connected to the printing device so that it can communicate with the printing device.
Equipped with a scanner driver that can control the reading operation of the device
And a host computer, and the head mounting part
If the reading head is attached to the
Communication between the device and the host computer
And the scanner driver starts up,
User interface is configured to launch
In the printing apparatus, the reading unit is attached to the head mounting portion.
When the battery is attached, the host computer scans the host computer.
Is configured to emit a cana activation signal, and
The scanner driver detects the scanner activation signal.
The printer is activated as a scanner.
In the standby state where it is not operating,
And the user interface is working
If the detection unit detects the scanner start signal,
Includes that the user interface is launched
It has a feature. Further, the reading system according to the present invention
Document on the printing device
If prepared, by the scanner driver
It is characterized in that the image of the document is read. Further, a control method of a reading system according to the present invention includes a printing apparatus having a scanner function that enables a recording operation and a reading operation by selectively mounting a recording head and a reading head on a head mounting portion, A method for controlling a reading system, comprising: a host computer that is communicatively connected to the printing apparatus and has a scanner driver capable of controlling a reading operation of the printing apparatus; when mounted, the communication between the printing apparatus and the host computer is performed by the scanner driver is activated, TWAIN control unit is configured to control so as to start the printing device
Is the reading head mounted on the head mounting part.
The scanner start signal to the host computer.
Is configured to transmit and the scanner
Driver is Bei a detection unit for detecting the scanner start signal
If the printing device is not running as a scanner,
In the standby state, the detection unit is operating,
The TWAIN control unit is not operating, and the detection unit is
When the scanner start signal is detected, the TWAIN
The control unit is activated .

Further, in the control method of the reading system according to the present invention, when the reading original is prepared in the printing apparatus, the image of the original is read by the scanner driver.

Further, the storage medium according to the present invention is a printing apparatus having a scanner function that enables a recording operation and a reading operation by selectively mounting a recording head and a reading head on a head mounting portion, A storage medium that stores a control program for controlling a reading system that is communicatively connected to the printing apparatus and includes a host computer that includes a scanner driver capable of controlling the reading operation of the printing apparatus. According to the control program, when the reading head is mounted on the head mounting unit, communication is performed between the printing apparatus and the host computer, and the scanner driver is activated to activate the TWAIN control unit. have a code of a process for controlling such, the pre
And the read head is attached to the head mounting portion.
When installed, the scanner is launched on the host computer.
Is configured to emit a motion signal and
The canner driver detects the scanner start signal.
And the printing device is started as a scanner
In the standby state, the detection unit operates
The TWAIN control unit is not operating, and the detection unit
Detects the scanner activation signal, the TW
It is characterized in that it has a code of a process in which the AIN control unit is activated .

Further, in the storage medium according to the present invention, the control program further has a code of a step of reading an image of the original by the scanner driver when the original for reading is prepared in the printing apparatus. It is characterized by that. The present invention also relates to
The control method of the reading system is:
Selective mounting of recording head and reading head
Enables a recording operation and a reading operation
Communication with a printing device that has functions and the printing device
Connected to the printer, and the reading operation of the printing device is internally performed.
Host computer with controllable scanner driver
A method of controlling a reading system comprising:
When the reading head is mounted on the head mounting portion,
Between the printing device and the host computer
Communication is performed and the scanner driver can be started.
To launch the user interface
And the printing device is configured to
When the reading head is mounted on the head mounting portion,
Send a scanner start signal to the host computer
And the scanner driver is
A detector is provided for detecting the scanner activation signal,
Standby state where the lint device is not started as a scanner
In this state, the detection unit is operating and the user interface
Interface is not operating and the detector is
When the canner activation signal is detected, the user interface
The feature is that the interface is activated. Also,
In the control method of the reading system according to the present invention
The document to be read is prepared in the printer.
The scanner driver,
It is characterized by reading images. In addition, in the present invention
The storage medium involved is a recording head and a reading head.
Recording operation is possible by selectively mounting the picking head
And a scanner with a scanner function that enables reading operations.
Connected to the print device so that the print device can communicate with the print device.
The scan unit that can control the reading operation of the printing device.
With a host computer equipped with a driver
Stores the control program to control the picking system
A storage medium, the control program
When the reading head is mounted on the head mount,
Communication between the printing device and the host computer
Is performed and the scanner driver is activated.
Control the user interface to start
The printing device has a code for the
When the reading head is mounted on the head mount,
The scanner start signal is sent to the host computer.
And the scanner driver is
The scanner is equipped with a detector for detecting a start signal,
Standby device is not started as a scanner
, The detection unit is operating and the user
Interface is not working, and the detection unit
If a user activation signal is detected, the user interface
Interface has a process code to start
I am trying. In addition, the storage medium according to the present invention
Is read by the control device.
If the original document for the
The code for the process of reading the image of the original document
It is further characterized by having.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a display-integrated personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as personal computer), and the installed OS is Microsoft Windows 95. Reference numeral 2 denotes an ink jet recording type printer in which the head-integrated ink cartridge 8 is attachable / detachable, and the ink cartridge 8 is attached to the carriage 6. Further, 2 is configured so as to exert a scanner function by attaching a scanner cartridge 9 to the carriage 6 instead of the ink cartridge 8 (hereinafter, 2 is referred to as a scanner printer).

Reference numerals 4 and 5 are bidirectional parallel interface ports, and bidirectional parallel communication is performed between the personal computer 1 and the scanner printer 2 via the parallel interface cable 3.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a cartridge exchange button used when exchanging the ink cartridge 8 or the scanner cartridge 9. When the button 7 is pressed, the carriage 6 moves to the cartridge exchange position, and in this state, the user exchanges the cartridge. Can be done freely.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a sensor for detecting a recording paper or an original. When the ink cartridge 8 is mounted on the carriage 6 in the printer mode, the presence or absence of the recording paper is checked, and the scanner cartridge 9 is mounted on the carriage 6. In the mode, the presence / absence of a document is detected (the paper path is the same). The carriage 6 moves in the X direction in the figure and performs a recording or reading operation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the scanner printer 2.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a CPU composed of a microprocessor, etc., and a RAM 12, a non-volatile RAM 13 for storing user data and other most important data, a character generator (CG) 14, an operation according to a program stored in a ROM 11. Part 15, communication unit 1
6, the carriage control unit 17, the display unit 42 including an LED, a buzzer and the like is controlled.

In the carriage controller 17, the cartridge attached to the carriage 6 is the ink cartridge 8
I or the scanner cartridge 9 are stored in the ink cartridge 8 and the scanner cartridge 9, respectively.
The ink cartridge 8 is identified by detecting D.
If the is installed, the recording control unit 19 controls the recording operation (printer mode), and the scanner cartridge 9
If is installed, the read control unit 18 controls the read operation (scanner mode).

The port 5 shown in FIG. 1 is included in the communication unit 16, and the communication unit 16 uses the Standard Signaling Method for a Bi.
-directional Parallel Peripheral Interface for Per
The bidirectional parallel communication between the personal computer 1 and the scanner printer 2 is controlled according to IEEE P1284 which is a standard of sonal Computers.

The RAM 12 stores the print data sent from the personal computer 1 or the image data read by being controlled by the read control unit 18 via the scanner cartridge 9 and sent from the carriage control unit.

The nonvolatile RAM 13 is the scanner printer 2
Power supply (the power supply section is omitted in this embodiment)
Even when the data is blocked, the most important data to be stored (for example, the ink remaining amount data etc. of the ink cartridge 8) is surely stored.

The character generator 14 is a ROM for storing characters such as JIS code and ASCII code and various fonts. Under the control of the CPU 10, 1 byte or 2 bytes of data is used to generate character data corresponding to a predetermined code. Take it out.

The read controller 18 is a DMA controller,
It is composed of an image processing IC, a CMOS logic IC, and the like, and under the control of the CPU 10, the data read using the scanner cartridge 9 is converted into a multi-valued or binarized data, and the data is sequentially sent to the RAM 12.

The recording control unit 19 is composed of a DMA controller, an ink jet recording control IC, a CMOS logic IC, etc., and takes out the recording data stored in the RAM 12 under the control of the CPU 10 and outputs it as a hard copy.

The carriage control unit 17 is provided with the sensor 41 shown in FIG. 1, which detects the presence or absence of a recording sheet or a document, and controls recording or reading based on the detection result.

The operation section 15 is composed of a power switch (not shown), a reset switch (not shown) cartridge replacement button 7, etc., and can be freely operated by the user.

The display section 42 is composed of an LED (not shown) and the like, and informs the user of the state of the scanner printer 2 during operation.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a scanner driver and its interface for controlling the scanner printer 2 from the personal computer 1 in the scanner mode.

In FIG. 3, the OS is originally present, but it is omitted in this embodiment. In the figure, 20
Is a scanner driver for controlling the scanner printer 2 in the scanner mode.
It is composed of an I manager 23 and a TWAIN controller 24.

The port driver 21 is a module provided by the OS and controls the port 4 shown in FIG. 1 to send and receive data. The port manager 22 mainly follows the instructions of the UI manager 23 and
Control 1 Also, as will be described later, the port driver 2
1 to monitor the asynchronous status sent from the scanner printer 2, and when the scanner activation status is received, the UI manager 23 and the TWAIN controller 2
Start 4. Here, the asynchronous status is a status command that is unilaterally sent from the scanner printer 2 to the personal computer 1 (actually, the scanner driver 20) when the scanner printer 2 has any state change.

The port manager 22 is another module (UI manager 23, T manager) in the scanner driver 20.
Regardless of the activation state of the WAIN control unit 24), it is activated immediately when the OS is activated and resides in the memory of the personal computer 1. Further, since the port manager 22 only performs simple processing, the size of the module is very small, and even if it resides in the memory, it will not adversely affect other applications.

The UI manager 23 is a module which has an interface with the user and controls the user interface, and which controls the scanner printer 2 by sending and receiving commands to and from the scanner printer 2. The user interface (Main Dialog Box described later) and the scanner printer 2 are controlled based on the information from 22.

The TWAIN control unit 24 uses the TWAIN Working
The image data read from the scanner printer 2 to the scanner driver 20 is transferred to the TWAIN-compliant application 25 in accordance with the API (TWAIN) between the application and the image input device, which is standardized by group. It is also possible to activate the scanner driver 20 from the TWAIN compatible application 25 via the TWAIN control unit 24. Furthermore, the TWAIN control unit 2
4 can recognize the environment under the TWAIN environment in which the TWAIN-compliant application 25, which will be described later, is activated, and can transmit this environment information to the UI manager 23 under the control of the UI manager 23.

The TWAIN compatible application 25 is an arbitrary image editing application that supports the TWAIN, and in the present embodiment, TWAIN Work.
I use TWAIN_32 Twacker provided by inggroup.

In this embodiment, the UI manager 23
There are roughly two environments for activating the TWAIN control section 24. One is TWAIN compatible application 2
5 is in an activated environment (called a TWAIN environment), and the other is an environment in which a TWAIN-compatible application is not activated (called a non-TWAIN environment).

FIG. 4 is a user interface Main
It is a figure which shows Dialog Box.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 26 is a Main Dialog Box which is operated by the user to determine the image reading method, resolution, etc. in the scanner printer 2 and to start or stop the reading operation. 27, reading range 28, Scanning Mode adjustment unit 29, Con
trast adjustment slider 30, Contrast adjustment text box 31, Brightness adjustment slider 32, Brightness adjustment text box 33, Resolution adjustment unit 34, Image
The size display section 35, the Memory Size display section 36, a prescan check box 37, a Cancel button 38, a Save button 39, and a Scan button 40 are included.

In the preview area 27, a prescan image or a read image is displayed. The reading range 28 is a range designation tool for arbitrarily setting the actual reading range within the readable range.

The scanning mode adjusting section 29 is composed of a pop-up menu, and the scanning method is 24-bit color,
You can select from 8-bit gray scale and monochrome binary. In the figure, 24-bit color is selected.

The Contrast adjustment slider 30 can adjust the contrast of the read image by adjusting the slider. Further, the contrast adjustment value at this time is displayed in the Contrast adjustment text box 31. It is also possible to adjust the contrast by directly inputting the adjustment value in the text box 31, and in this case, the slider 30 can be adjusted according to the input adjustment value.
The position of moves. In the figure, it is in the default state (no adjustment).

The brightness adjustment slider 32 can adjust the brightness of the read image by adjusting the slider. Further, the brightness adjustment value at this time is displayed in the Brightness adjustment text box 33. It is also possible to adjust the brightness by directly inputting the adjustment value in the text box 33. In this case, the slider 3 is adjusted according to the input adjustment value.
The position of 2 moves. In the figure, it is in the default state (no adjustment).

The resolution adjusting section 34 is composed of a pop-up menu, and has a reading resolution of 90 dpi, 180 dpi.
It can be selected from pi and 360 dpi. In the figure, 180 dpi is selected.

The image size display section 35 has a reading range 28.
The horizontal x vertical length (in inches) specified by is displayed.

The Memory Size display section 36 displays the size of the image data when the image is actually read with the respective set values.

The Prescan time check box 37 is a check box for determining whether or not to perform the prescan, and the check box 3 is selected when the Scan button 40 is pressed.
If 7 is checked, prescan is performed, and if not checked, prescan is not performed. If the check box 37 is checked when the Scan button 40 is pressed, the check box 37 is grayed out after the prescan operation is completed, and the check box 37 is disabled.

The Scan button 40 is a button for starting the prescan or the main scan.

The Cancel button 38 is a button for canceling the prescan or the main scan. When the button 38 is pressed during the prescan or the main scan, the prescan or the main scan is stopped.

The Save button 39 is a button that may be effective only in a non-TWAIN environment, and is effective when the main-scanned image is displayed in the preview area 27 (in other cases, it is grayed out). Invalid)
Is. When the button 39 is pressed while the main-scanned image is displayed in the preview area 27, the main-scanned image is saved in a file.

FIG. 5 shows a TWAIN compatible application 2
5 is a diagram showing a File menu when TWAIN_32 Twacker of 5 is activated, and the operation from the TWAIN-compliant application to the activation of the TWAIN-compliant device will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, by clicking Select Source ... in advance, the scanner driver 20 is set to TWA.
Select as IN compatible device. Usually, then Aq
By clicking uire ..., the scanner driver 20 is started as a TWAIN-compatible device. Or later,
In the present embodiment, the scanner driver 20 is set to T from the Select Source ... under the TWAIN environment.
It is assumed that the device is selected as a WAIN compatible device.

FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing the operation of this embodiment, and the operation will be described with reference to these drawings.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the detection of the scanner cartridge 9 in the scanner printer 2 and the subsequent operation.

In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the ink cartridge 8 is attached to the carriage 6 at the time of start (S601). When the user presses the cartridge exchange button 7 (S602), the ink cartridge 8 is removed, and the scanner cartridge 9 is mounted on the carriage 6, the carriage control unit 17 detects the ID stored in the scanner cartridge 9,
Recognizing that the cartridge attached to the carriage 6 is the scanner cartridge 9 (S603),
The scanner printer 2 sends the scanner activation status as an asynchronous status to the personal computer 1 (actually the scanner driver 20).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation in the port manager standby state. In the port manager standby state, only the port manager 22 of the scanner driver 20 is activated after the OS is activated (S70
1) The UI manager 23 and the TWAIN controller 24 are not activated.

In FIG. 7, when the asynchronous status is confirmed by controlling the port driver 21 (S702), if there is an asynchronous status (S703), if the asynchronous status is the scanner start status (S704),
The UI manager 23 is started (S705), and TWAIN
The control unit 24 is activated (S706) and the communication standby state (S709) is entered. If there is no asynchronous status in S703, after waiting for 3 seconds (S708), the port driver 21 is controlled again to confirm the asynchronous status (S702). If the scanner activation status is not found in S704, a process suitable for the received status is performed (S707), and after waiting for 3 seconds (S70).
8) Then, the port driver 21 is controlled again to check the asynchronous status (S702).

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the port manager in the communication standby state. In the figure, when the port manager 22 is in the communication standby state (S801 (= S709)), the UI manager 23
The port driver 21 according to the instruction (S8).
02).

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation when the UI manager is activated. In the figure, S705 of FIG.
When the UI manager 23 is activated by (S90
1) In response to a status request command from the scanner driver 20 (actually instructed by the UI manager 23), the synchronization status returned from the scanner printer 2 is confirmed (S902), and if there is a document (S9).
03), if the Prescan check box 37 is checked (S904), the scanner driver 20
A prescan command is sent from (instructed by the UI manager 23) to the scanner printer 2 to perform prescan (S905).

After the completion of the prescan, the scanner printer 2
An image pre-scanned based on the image data sent from the scanner driver 20 to the scanner driver 20 is displayed in the preview area 27 (S906). After that, it shifts to the Main Dialog Box standby state (S913).

In S904, when the Prescan time check box 37 is not checked, a main scan command is sent from the scanner driver 20 (actually instructed by the UI manager 23) to the scanner printer 2 to perform main scan ( S907).

After the end of the main scan, the TWAIN controller 24
Environmental information is received from the server (S908). As described above, since the TWAIN environment is currently present (S909), the main scan image is transferred to the TWAIN compatible application 25 (S910), the TWAIN control unit 24 is terminated (S911), and the UI manager 23 is terminated (S91).
4).

In S903, if there is no document, Main
The process shifts to the Dialog Box standby state (S913).

Here, although different from the above-mentioned assumption, the operation under the non-TWAIN environment in FIG. The operation from S908 in FIGS. 6 to 9 is TWAI.
It is the same as under N environment. After receiving the environment information from the TWAIN control unit in S908, the main scan image is displayed in the preview area 27 (S912) because it is in the non-TWAIN environment (S909), and the main dialog box standby state is set (S913). .

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation in the Main Dialog Box standby state. In the figure, Ma
When in Dialog Box standby state (S100
When the Scan button 40 is pressed in 1) (S100)
2) In response to the status request command from the scanner driver 20 (actually instructed by the UI manager 23), the synchronization status returned from the scanner printer 2 is confirmed (S1003), and if there is a document ( (S1004), if the main scan image is displayed in the preview area (S1005), the message "Are you sure you want to discard the image in the preview area?"("O
A dialog box having a "K" button and a "Cancel" button is displayed (S1006) When the "OK" button is selected in the message (S10)
07), and proceed to A in FIG. When the "cancel" button is selected in S1007, the process returns to S1002.

When the main scan image is not displayed in the preview area in S1005, the process proceeds to A in FIG.

If there is no manuscript in S1004, a message "Please check the manuscript" (dialog box having only "OK" button) is displayed (S1004).
8) After selecting the "OK" button, the process returns to S1004.

When the Scan button 40 is not pressed in S1002 and the main scan image is displayed in the preview area (S1009), the TWAIN environment is present as described above, so the Save button 39 is grayed out. Since it has been invalidated, it returns to S1002.

If the main scan image is not displayed in the preview area in S1009, the process returns to S1002.

Although different from the above assumption, the operation under the non-TWAIN environment in the figure will be described. The operation from FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 is as described above. Also in FIG. 10, the operation up to S1008 is T
This is the same as under the WAIN environment. When the main scan image is displayed in the preview area in S1009,
When the Save button 39 is pressed (S1010), the main scan image is saved in a file (S1011), and S10
Return to 02. If the Save button 39 is not pressed in S1010, the process returns to S1002.

The operation in each state of the present embodiment has been described above, but in the present embodiment, when the scanner cartridge 9 is mounted on the carriage 6 as described above, the scanner printer 2 causes the personal computer 1 (actually, Is sent to the scanner driver 20) as an asynchronous status, and the port manager 22 detects this and the UI manager 23 and TWAIN controller 24
To start the scanner driver 20 completely. Further, if the original is set at this time, the UI manager 23 receives the synchronization status indicating that the original is present from the scanner / printer 2 and performs a prescan or a main scan. Further, if the main scan is performed at this time and the TWAIN environment is set, the UI manager 23 controls the TWAIN control unit 24 to make the TWAI
The main-scanned image is transferred to the N-compatible application 25.

As described above, only by mounting the scanner cartridge 9 on the scanner / printer 2, the scanner driver 20 is automatically activated, and the main scan operation and the automatic transfer to the application 25 are performed. It will be easy. Moreover, since no special hard switch or the like is required to realize this, it can be easily realized.

In this embodiment, as an example, O
Although Microsoft Windows 95 is used for S, the present invention is not limited to this OS and can be realized in any OS by adopting a similar configuration.

In the present embodiment, as an example,
TWAIN as API between application and image input device
Although TWAIN standardized by the Working Group is used, the present invention is not limited to this API and can be realized in any API by adopting a similar configuration.

Further, in this embodiment, as an example,
As an interface between the personal computer 1 and the scanner printer 2, the Standard Signaling Method for a Bi-direc
tional Parallel Peripheral Interface for Personal
Although a parallel interface compliant with IEEE P1284, which is a Computers standard, is used, the present invention is not limited to this interface and can be realized in any interface by adopting a similar configuration.

[0082]

[Other Embodiments] An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus. It is needless to say that it can be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD
-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It is needless to say that this also includes a case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The operation required for the user to use the scanner function is very simple because the read head is simply attached to the printer device. (2) The operation required for the user to read the image is very simple because the manuscript is prepared and the reading head is mounted on the printer device.

Further, when an application capable of editing an image read from a printer device having a scanner function is being activated in the host computer when the scanner driver is activated, the scanner driver detects this and performs control suitable for it. Since this is done, the following effects can be obtained. (3) The operation required for the user to read the image into the application is very simple, since the application is started, the document is prepared, and the reading head is mounted on the printer device. is there.

Further, in order to realize the simplification of the operation required by the user as described above, no special hard switch or the like is required, so that the following effects can be obtained. (4) No extra cost is required. (5) Since no special mechanical structure or electrical structure is required, it can be easily realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scanner printer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a scanner driver and its interface.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a Main Dialog Box.

[Fig. 5] TWAIN_32 T for TWAIN compatible applications
It is a figure which shows a File menu when wacker is starting.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing detection of a scanner cartridge in the scanner printer and subsequent operations.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation in a port manager standby state.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the port manager in a communication standby state.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when the UI manager is activated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation in a Main Dialog Box standby state.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 PC 2 scanner printer 3 parallel interface cable 4, 5 bidirectional parallel interface port 6 carriage 7 Cartridge replacement button 8 ink cartridges 9 Scanner cartridge 41 sensor 17 Carriage controller 18 Reading controller 20 Scanner driver 21 port driver 22 Port Manager 23 UI Manager 24 TWAIN controller 25 TWAIN compatible application 26 Main Dialog Box 27 Preview area 37 Prescan check box 39 Save button 40 Scan button

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI H04N 1/04 107 B41J 29/00 B (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 3 / 44 B41J 29/00 B41J 29/38 G06T 1/00 H04N 1/04 107

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having a scanner function that enables a recording operation and a reading operation by selectively mounting a recording head and a reading head on a head mounting section, and is connected to be communicable with the printing apparatus. And a host computer internally provided with a scanner driver capable of controlling the reading operation of the printing apparatus, and when the reading head is mounted on the head mounting portion, the host computer is connected between the printing apparatus and the host computer. communication is performed by the scanner driver is activated, it is configured to TWAIN control unit is activated
And the printing device reads the reading on the head mounting portion.
When the head is mounted, the host computer
Commonly configured to emit a canner activation signal
In addition, the scanner driver detects the scanner activation signal.
The printer is equipped with a detection unit that emits light.
In the standby state where the
Is operating, the TWAIN controller is not operating,
When the detection unit detects the scanner activation signal
The reading system is characterized in that the TWAIN control unit is activated . 2. A state of entire scanner driver is activated, the detector is compared with the other portions, according to claim 1, a work area used areas of the host computer is equal to or small enough Reading system. 3. The reading system according to claim 1, wherein the image of the document is read by the scanner driver when a document for reading is prepared in the printing apparatus. 4. A printing device having a scanner function that enables a recording operation and a reading operation by selectively mounting a recording head and a reading head on a head mounting portion, and a communication device connected to the printing device. And a host computer internally provided with a scanner driver capable of controlling a reading operation of the printing apparatus, and when the reading head is mounted on the head mounting section, the host computer is connected between the printing apparatus and the host computer. communication is performed by the scanner driver is activated, so that the user interface is activated
And the printing device is configured to read the reading on the head mounting portion.
When the head is mounted, the host computer
Commonly configured to emit a canner activation signal
In addition, the scanner driver detects the scanner activation signal.
The printer is equipped with a detection unit that emits light.
In the standby state where the
Is working and the user interface is working
However, the detection unit has detected the scanner activation signal.
In some cases, the reading system is characterized in that the user interface is activated . 5. The reading system according to claim 4 , wherein the image of the document is read by the scanner driver when a document for reading is prepared in the printing apparatus. 6. A printing apparatus having a scanner function that enables a recording operation and a reading operation by selectively mounting a recording head and a reading head on a head mounting section, and is communicably connected to the printing apparatus. And a host computer internally provided with a scanner driver capable of controlling the reading operation of the printing apparatus, wherein the reading apparatus is mounted on the head mounting section, the printing apparatus the communication between the host computer is performed by the scanner driver is activated, TWAIN control unit is configured to control so as to start the printing apparatus, the read to the head mounting portion and
When the head is mounted, the host computer
Commonly configured to emit a canner activation signal
In addition, the scanner driver detects the scanner activation signal.
The printer is equipped with a detection unit that emits light.
In the standby state where the
Is operating, the TWAIN controller is not operating,
When the detection unit detects the scanner activation signal
Is a control method of the reading system , wherein the TWAIN control unit is activated . 7. The control method of the reading system according to claim 6, wherein the image of the document is read by the scanner driver when a document for reading is prepared in the printing apparatus. 8. A printing apparatus having a scanner function that enables a recording operation and a reading operation by selectively mounting a recording head and a reading head on a head mounting section, and is communicably connected to the printing apparatus. A storage medium storing a control program for controlling a reading system including a host computer having a scanner driver capable of controlling the reading operation of the printing apparatus, wherein the control program is the head mounting When the reading head is attached to the unit, communication is performed between the printing apparatus and the host computer, and the scanner driver is activated to activate the TWAIN control unit. Yes, and the printing apparatus, the read to the head mounting portion
When the head is mounted, the host computer
Commonly configured to emit a canner activation signal
In addition, the scanner driver detects the scanner activation signal.
The printer is equipped with a detection unit that emits light.
In the standby state where the
Is operating, the TWAIN controller is not operating,
When the detection unit detects the scanner activation signal
Has the code of the process for starting the TWAIN control unit.
A storage medium characterized by: 9. The control program further comprises a code for a step of reading an image of the original by the scanner driver when an original for reading is prepared in the printing apparatus. The storage medium described in. 10. The recording head and reading
The recording operation can be
A printer with a scanner function that enables reading operations
Connected to the printing device and the printing device so as to communicate with each other.
A scanner capable of controlling the reading operation of the printing apparatus
A host computer with a driver and a reader with
A method of controlling a picking system, When the reading head is mounted on the head mounting portion,
Between the printing device and the host computer
Communication is performed and the scanner driver is started. To move
To launch the user interface
Is configured to control The printing device is configured to read the reading on the head mounting portion.
When the head is mounted, the host computer
Commonly configured to emit a canner activation signal
In addition, the scanner driver detects the scanner activation signal.
The printer is equipped with a detection unit that emits light.
In the standby state where the
Is working and the user interface is working
However, the detection unit has detected the scanner activation signal.
In that case, the user interface may be launched.
And a control method of the reading system characterized by: 11. Originals for reading on the printing device
Is prepared by the scanner driver.
2. The image of the original is read in by reading.
0. The control method of the reading system according to 0. 12. The method according to claim 12, The recording head and reading
The recording operation can be
A printer with a scanner function that enables reading operations
Connected to the printing device and the printing device so as to communicate with each other.
A scanner capable of controlling the reading operation of the printing apparatus
A host computer with a driver and a reader with
Stores the control program for controlling the harvesting system
A storage medium, wherein the control program is When the reading head is mounted on the head mounting portion,
Between the printing device and the host computer
Communication is performed and the scanner driver can be started.
To launch the user interface
Has a process code to control The printing device is configured to read the reading on the head mounting portion.
When the head is mounted, the host computer
Commonly configured to emit a canner activation signal
In addition, the scanner driver detects the scanner activation signal.
The printer is equipped with a detection unit that emits light.
In the standby state where the
Is working and the user interface is working
However, the detection unit has detected the scanner activation signal.
If the user interface is launched,
A storage medium having the following code. 13. The control program is the print
If a document is prepared for reading in the device,
A process for reading the image of the original document with a scanner driver.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
The storage medium described.