JP3613327B2 - Document reading and recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an original reading and recording apparatus having an image reading means for reading an image on an original and an image recording means for recording the image on a recording medium such as paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent document reading and recording apparatuses, not only the image read by the image reading unit is recorded as it is by the image recording unit but also the read image is stored in the image memory to change the recording order or perform various processing. Can be recorded and output. In this way, when accumulating images in the image memory, in order to accumulate many images, the images are encoded and stored by a codec that encodes and decodes the images. Similarly, when an encoded image stored in the image memory is extracted, an image encoded by the codec can be similarly decoded and extracted.
[0003]
When an image is encoded and stored in this way, for example, in order to perform in parallel a process of reading an image and storing it in an image memory and a process of recording and outputting the encoded image stored in the image memory. The encoding process and the decoding process must also be performed in parallel. For that purpose, two codecs are required.
[0004]
More recently, an image read by the image reading means is transmitted via the communication unit, or an image sent from the outside is received, and an image is transmitted / received to / from an external computer via the interface. It is possible. As the number of such image inputs / outputs increases, a codec is required to perform them in parallel, and a situation occurs in which encoding or decoding must be performed in parallel.
[0005]
However, in an inexpensive apparatus, there are cases where the number of codecs that perform encoding or decoding does not necessarily have the number corresponding to the input / output of all images. In such a case, input / output of images that can be performed in parallel is limited by the number of codecs. For example, in a device having one codec, when storage of the read image in the image memory and recording output of the image stored in the image memory occur at the same time, either process cannot be performed. In such a case, conventionally, the right to use the codec is passed to the processing that has occurred first, and control is performed so that a request that has occurred later is awaited.
[0006]
In such conventional control, for example, even if a reading request is generated when a codec is used in recording processing, the codec cannot be used until the recording processing is completed, so image reading is started. I could not. In particular, in the image reading process, the user is often near the apparatus and is waiting for reading. Conventionally, however, a user who wants to perform reading processing is allowed to wait until the recording processing is completed. When a large amount of recording is performed, there is a problem that the waiting time is prolonged.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is a document reading / recording that can shorten the waiting time of a user who reads an image and can improve the user's satisfaction even with an inexpensive configuration. The object is to provide an apparatus.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus, an image reading means, an image recording means, an image storage means for storing an encoded image, and an image stored in the image storage means by decoding the image. When the setting of the original in the image reading means or the operation of a member for setting the original is detected during recording by the recording means, the decoding of the image is interrupted and the image read by the image reading means is encoded and the image It has a control means to memorize | store in a memory | storage means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. As described above, when an operation of a document setting or a document setting member in the image reading unit is detected during image recording, the decoding for the recording process is interrupted without waiting for the recording end. Thus, since the read image is encoded, the user who has read the image does not have to wait for the recording output. As described above, the user who wants to read an image is often near the apparatus, and it is possible to improve the satisfaction of the user by reducing the time required to start reading. . In addition, since either the encoding of the read image or the decoding of the image to be recorded is performed, the means for encoding and decoding can be used for both functions, and the reading and recording can be performed even in an inexpensive apparatus. It becomes possible to cope with both. Furthermore, it is possible to quickly interrupt the recording process and start reading an image.
[0009]
For example, when an automatic document feeder is provided in the image reading unit, the document set may be detected by a sensor of the automatic document feeder. When a document is set on the document table, the setting of the document may be detected by a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the document, or the opening / closing of a lid for pressing the document may be detected.
[0010]
The control means controls to encode the image read by the image reading means on the basis of an image reading start instruction after detecting the original setting or the operation of the member for setting the original in the image reading means. be able to. At this time, the operation of the document reading unit or the operation of the member for setting the document in the image reading unit is detected. If the reading operation is not started forever, the decoding of the image for recording remains interrupted as it is. May last long. In order to cope with such a case, for example, after the detection of the operation of the original for setting the original or the member for setting the original in the image reading means, if there is no image reading start instruction within a predetermined time, the image recording means records it. Control can be performed to resume decoding of the encoded image. As a result, it is possible to avoid a state in which the apparatus does not operate unduly for a long time and to operate the apparatus effectively.
[0011]
Note that the interruption of decoding for the recording process may be performed, for example, in units of pages to be recorded. In addition, after the reading process is completed, it is preferable to perform control so that decoding for the interrupted recording process is resumed.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a facsimile apparatus including an embodiment of a document reading and recording apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a main control unit, 12 is a display unit, 13 is an operation unit, 14 is a reading unit, 15 is a recording unit, 16 is a codec, 17 is a timer, 18 is an NCU, 19 is a modem, 20 is an image memory, 21 is a RAM, 22 is a ROM, 23 is a PC interface, and 24 is a bus.
[0013]
The main control unit 11 controls the entire apparatus and operates each unit to realize an image transmission / reception function, a copy function, an image reading function, an image recording function, and the like. In particular, an image can be stored in the image memory 20. When an image is stored in the image memory 20, it is stored in an encoded state, and control is performed so that the capacity of the image memory 20 is used effectively. For example, the image transmission function has a memory transmission function in which an image read by the reading unit 14 is encoded by the codec 16 and stored in the image memory 20 and then transmitted to the other party via the modem 19 and the NCU 18. In the copy function, the image read by the reading unit 14 is encoded by the codec 16 and stored in the image memory 20, and the encoded image read from the image memory 20 is decoded by the codec 16 and stored in the recording unit 15. To record. At this time, the order of reading from the image memory 20 can be changed, and various types of image processing can be performed on the decoded image. Further, in the image reading function, the image read by the reading unit 14 is encoded by the codec 16 and stored in the image memory 20 and transmitted to another computer or the like via the PC interface 23. In the image reception function, the image received via the NCU 18 and the modem 19 is encoded and stored in the image memory 20 as it is. In the image recording function, the image received via the PC interface 23 is encoded. The image is stored in the image memory 20 as it is. The encoded image can be decoded by the codec 16 while being read from the image memory 20 and can be recorded and output to the recording unit 15. At this time, the image receiving function may re-encode, or when an image not encoded by the image recording function is received, it may be encoded by the codec 16 and stored in the image memory 20.
[0014]
In order to realize such various functions, the main control unit 11 performs a reading process in which the reading unit 14 reads an image, a recording process in which the recording unit 15 records an image, and a communication process using the NCU 18 and the modem 19. In addition, data transfer processing using the PC interface 23 can be operated in parallel. In the reading process, the reading unit 14 reads an image, and the read image is encoded by the codec 16 and stored in the image memory 20. In the recording process, an encoded image is read from the image memory 20, decoded by the codec 16, and recorded in the recording unit 15. When an image is transmitted by communication processing, an encoded image stored in the image memory 20 may be transmitted, but the codec 16 may perform encoding again. What is necessary is just to store in the image memory 20 as it is fundamentally at the time of reception. In the data transfer process, when an encoded image is transferred to or from an external computer, the received encoded image is stored in the image memory 20 as it is and also stored in the image memory 20. What is necessary is just to read the encoded image and transfer it as it is. However, when transferring an unencoded image for data transfer with an external computer, the received image is encoded by the codec 16 and stored in the image memory 20, and stored in the image memory 20. The encoded image is decoded by the codec 16 and transferred.
[0015]
The main control unit 11 performs image encoding or decoding using the codec 16 in each of these processes. However, when a plurality of processes using the codec 16 as described above operate in parallel, a process that enters a waiting state may occur because the codec 16 is used in other processes. For example, when a reading request is generated when the codec 16 is used, the main control unit 11 interrupts the process that is using the codec 16 for the reading process, and frees the codec 16 for the reading process. For example, when a reading request is generated while the recording process uses the codec 16, the recording process is interrupted, and after the instruction to start reading, the encoding using the codec 16 by the reading process is preferentially executed. When the reading process is completed, the interrupted process is resumed. If there is no instruction to start reading for a predetermined time after the reading request is generated, the interrupted process is controlled so as to resume the effective use of the apparatus. The reading request can be a set of documents on the reading unit 14 as will be described later.
[0016]
The display unit 12 can display various information such as a message for the user, a message indicating the state of the apparatus, and operation guidance. The operation unit 13 is used when the user makes various settings and instructions. In particular, the operation unit 13 is provided with a start key, which can be operated by the user when instructing to start reading in an image transmission function, a copy function, an image reading function, or the like.
[0017]
The reading unit 14 reads an image on a document. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a reading method in the reading unit 14. In the figure, 31 is a document, 32 is a document placing table, and 33 is a lid. FIG. 2A shows a configuration example having an automatic document transport mechanism (hereinafter referred to as ADF) that automatically feeds the document 31. In this example, the image on the document 31 is read by a stationary image sensor (not shown) while the document 31 is automatically sent by the ADF. Alternatively, there may be a configuration in which the document 31 is automatically conveyed to the document placing table 32 shown in FIG. 2B, and the image on the document 31 is read while the document 31 is stopped and an image sensor (not shown) is moved. 2B, the document 31 is placed on the document placing table 32, and an image on the document 31 is read while moving an image sensor (not shown). The reading mechanism shown in FIG. 2B is generally called a flatbed scanner, and is hereinafter abbreviated as FBS. In such a configuration of the reading unit 14, for example, when a document set sensor (not shown) detects that the document 31 is set on the ADF shown in FIG. I can tell you. Alternatively, in the FBS shown in FIG. 2B, when a cover 33 is opened or a document detection sensor (not shown) detects that the document 31 is placed on the document table 32, a reading request is generated. Can be communicated to the main control unit 11. Of course, the configuration of the reading unit 14 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and can be configured by various image input devices.
[0018]
The recording unit 15 forms an image on a recording medium such as recording paper according to the control of the main control unit 11. As a recording method of the recording unit 15, various methods such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, a heat sensitive method or a thermal transfer method can be applied.
[0019]
The codec 16 encodes an image and decodes the encoded image. Note that the encoding method is arbitrary. For example, MH, MR, MMR, JBIG, etc. can be used in correspondence with facsimile transmission / reception. Although the number of codecs 16 is not limited to one, here, it is assumed that the number is smaller than the number of processes using codecs that can be executed in parallel by the main control unit 11. Note that the codec 16 may be configured to perform the function of the main control unit 11.
[0020]
The timer 17 can measure various times. Here, in particular, it is made to function as a print interruption timer for measuring the elapse of a predetermined time after the reading request is generated.
[0021]
The NCU 18 controls the line and communicates with an external device. The modem 19 modulates and demodulates image data to be transmitted / received.
[0022]
The image memory 20 is an image read by the reading unit 14 and recorded and output by the recording unit 15, or an image transmitted from the modem 19 and the NCU 18 to a communication partner or transferred to an external computer via the PC interface 23. An image received from the computer via the PC interface 23 and recorded and output by the recording unit 15 is stored in an encoded state.
[0023]
The RAM 21 is used when it is necessary to save data in processing of the main control unit 11 and other units. The ROM 22 stores a program that defines the operation of the main control unit 11, fixed data, and the like.
[0024]
The PC interface 23 is connected to an external computer or the like, and receives, for example, an image to be recorded by the recording unit 15 and transfers an image read by the reading unit 14. Further, an image to be transmitted to another apparatus via the modem 19 and the NCU 18 may be received from an external computer, and conversely, an image received via the modem 19 and the NCU 18 may be transferred to an external computer. The PC interface 23 may be configured according to a connection method with an external computer to be connected. For example, the PC interface 23 is configured by a LAN interface or the like, and is configured to be connectable to a plurality of devices such as a computer via the LAN. It may be. Of course, it may be directly connected to the computer 31 by a predetermined interface.
[0025]
The bus 24 includes a main control unit 11, a display unit 12, an operation unit 13, a reading unit 14, a recording unit 15, a codec 16, a timer 17, an NCU 18, a modem 19, an image memory 20, a RAM 21, a ROM 22, a PC interface 23, and the like. To enable data transfer between them. Of course, in addition to these, various devices such as an external storage device may be connected to the bus 24.
[0026]
Next, an example of operation in an example of a facsimile machine including an embodiment of the document reading / recording apparatus of the present invention will be described. As described above, the main control unit 11 appropriately executes processing such as reading processing, recording processing, communication processing, and transfer processing in order to realize an image transmission / reception function, a copy function, an image reading function, an image recording function, and the like. Each of these processes can be executed in parallel. Among these processes, at least the reading process and the recording process use the codec 16. That is, during the reading process, the image read by the reading unit 14 is encoded by the codec 16 and stored in the image memory 20. In the recording process, the encoded image is read from the image memory 20, decoded by the codec 16, and recorded by the recording unit 15. Of course, the codec 16 is also used as necessary in the communication process and the transfer process.
[0027]
When processes using the codec 16 are executed in parallel as described above, an inexpensive apparatus may have a smaller number of codecs 16 than a number of processes using the codec 16. For example, when the codec 16 is used in the reading process and the recording process, an inexpensive apparatus has only one codec 16, and there are cases where encoding in the reading process and decoding in the recording process cannot be performed in parallel. In such a case, in the present invention, priority is given to the reading process, and the use of the codec 16 by other processes is temporarily stopped and the image is encoded by the reading process.
[0028]
Here, an example of the operation when priority is given to the reading process during the recording process, focusing on the recording process, will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a recording process in an example of a facsimile apparatus including an embodiment of the original reading and recording apparatus of the present invention. For example, the image read by the reading unit 14 is encoded and stored in the image memory 20 during the copying function, the image is received via the NCU 18 and the modem 19 and stored in the image memory 20 during the image receiving function, or the PC When an image to be recorded transferred from an external computer via the interface 23 is received and stored in the image memory 20, a recording process is started.
[0029]
When the recording process is started, first, in S41, the timeout flag is turned off. As will be described later, this timeout flag is a flag that is turned on when a recording process is resumed without an instruction to start reading within a predetermined time after a reading request is detected. In S41, the time-out flag is turned off and initialization is performed.
[0030]
In the recording unit 15, one recording medium such as paper is fed in S42, and one page of image is recorded on the recording medium in S43. At the time of recording, this recording process uses the codec 16. While the image of one page is recorded, the reading request and the reading start determination in S45 to S48 are not performed, and control is performed so that image formation for each page is not interrupted. In S44, it is determined whether or not there is an image of the next page to be recorded. If there are no more pages of images to be recorded, the recording process is terminated.
[0031]
If the next page image to be recorded still exists after the recording of the image for one page, the reading request and the reading start determination in S45 to S48 are performed before the next page image is formed. I do. First, in S45, it is determined whether or not the timeout flag is OFF. If it is OFF, a reading request is detected in S46 and S47. Here, the reading unit 14 includes both the ADF shown in FIG. 2A and the FBS shown in FIG. 2B, and an image on the original can be read using either of them. To do. In S46, it is determined whether or not a document is set on the ADF. If a document is set on the ADF, it is detected as a reading request. In S47, it is determined whether or not a document is set on the FBS. If a document is set on the FBS, it is detected as a reading request. The reading request in the FBS may be detected as a reading request by opening the lid 33 shown in FIG. Either of the determinations of S46 and S47 may be performed first. If a reading request is not detected in S46 and S47, the process returns to S42 to continue the recording process.
[0032]
When a reading request is detected in S46 or S47, image recording is temporarily suspended and the reading process is preferentially executed. That is, the codec 16 is made empty by not recording an image in S43, and the codec 16 can be used by reading processing. Further, since the reading request is detected instead of the reading start time and the recording process is interrupted, the user who wants to perform the reading process can start the reading process almost without waiting.
[0033]
In the recording process, the process at the time of standby is continued after the process is interrupted by detecting the reading request. Here, the process of resuming the recording process after waiting for the end of the reading process and the process of resuming the recording process when the reading request is detected but the start of reading is not instructed even after a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0034]
In step S49, a print interruption timer function is activated for the timer 17 in order to detect the elapse of a predetermined time. In S50, it is determined whether or not an instruction to start reading has been issued. If there is no instruction to start reading, the process proceeds from S50 to S51 to determine whether or not the print interruption timer has timed out, that is, a predetermined time after detecting the reading request. It is determined whether or not elapses. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, it is further determined in S52 whether or not a key input relating to reading has been performed. If key input has been performed, it is considered that the user is preparing for reading. Therefore, this key input is detected as a new reading request, and the process returns to S49 to reset the print interruption timer and return to the key. The elapsed time from the input is determined. If no key input is performed, the process returns to S50, and the determination of S50 to S52 is repeated.
[0035]
If there is an instruction to start reading while repeating such determination, this is detected in S50, and the process proceeds to S53. In S53, the print interruption timer is stopped, and in S54, the end of the reading process is awaited. When the reading process is completed, the process returns to S41, the timeout flag is reset to OFF, and then image recording in S42 and S43 is resumed.
[0036]
If the print interruption timer times out without an instruction to start reading, this is detected in S51, and the process proceeds to S55. In this case, the time-out flag is turned on in S55, and the process returns to S42 to resume the interrupted recording operation. In this way, if there is no instruction to start reading even after a predetermined time has passed, there is a possibility that the reading will not be performed, for example, the user leaves without performing the reading process, and the recording process is unduly interrupted. It is possible to end up. For this reason, the recording operation is resumed after a predetermined time, and the apparatus is effectively used.
[0037]
When the timeout flag is turned ON and the process returns to S42, it is detected by the determination in S45 that the timeout flag is ON, and the process proceeds to S48. In this case, since the reading request is detected once, there is a possibility of receiving an instruction to start reading although it takes time. Therefore, in S48, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to start reading. If there is no instruction to start reading, the process returns to S42 to continue image recording. If there is an instruction to start reading, the recording process is interrupted when the instruction to start reading is detected in S48, and the codec 16 is released to enable the use of the codec 16 by the reading process. In S54, the end of the reading process is awaited. After the reading process is completed, the process returns to S41 to resume image recording.
[0038]
In this way, the recording process can be interrupted when the reading request is detected, and the reading process can be executed with priority. In addition, when a predetermined time has elapsed after detection of a reading request (when there is more key input, after the last key input), the recording process is resumed from the viewpoint of efficient use of the apparatus, and reading is performed. If there is a start instruction, the recording process can be interrupted again, and the reading process can be preferentially executed. Thus, even in an inexpensive apparatus that cannot perform encoding and decoding using the codec 16 at the same time in the reading process and the recording process, the user who wants to read the image of the document is made to wait for the recording process. There is no. Therefore, user satisfaction can be improved.
[0039]
In the above description of the operation, an example of processing when a reading request is detected during recording processing has been shown. However, for example, when a reading request is detected first, the recording processing is not started even if there is no instruction to start reading. Can be controlled. In this case as well, it may be controlled to start the recording process after a predetermined time has elapsed since the reading request was detected or the last key input for reading. At this time, the time-out flag may be set to ON at the start of the recording process and executed.
[0040]
In the above-described operation example, the recording process has been described as an example. However, for the process using other codec 16, for example, the same process can be performed for processes other than S42 and S43. Further, it is possible to set whether or not the reading process is performed with priority over the other processes, and the above-described control may be performed only when the reading process is set to be prioritized.
[0041]
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the document reading / recording apparatus of the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus having a copying function and an interface with an external computer. However, the document reading apparatus of the present invention is applied. The apparatus is not limited to this example. For example, the present invention can be applied to various configurations such as a multi-function device that does not have the PC interface 23, or a copier that does not have the communication function without the NCU 18 and the modem 19. In either case, a large number of images can be stored in the image memory. However, the present invention can be applied to an inexpensive apparatus having no codec or codec function as many as the number of processes using the codec.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the reading process and the recording process can be performed in parallel even in an inexpensive apparatus configuration, and the recording process is interrupted when a reading request is detected. The reading process can be executed with priority. Therefore, the user who is trying to read the image on the original can read the image without waiting for the end of the recording output, and the user's satisfaction can be improved. .
[0043]
Further, since the recording process is interrupted when a reading request is detected before the reading start instruction, reading can be started immediately. In this way, after the recording process is interrupted by detecting the reading request, the recording process is resumed when a predetermined time has elapsed without doing anything, so that the recording process can be performed improperly without instructing the start of reading indefinitely. There is also an effect that it is possible to avoid a problem such as not being present.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a facsimile machine including an embodiment of a document reading and recording apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a reading method in a reading unit.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a recording process in an example of a facsimile machine including an embodiment of a document reading and recording apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Main control part, 12 ... Display part, 13 ... Operation part, 14 ... Reading part, 15 ... Recording part, 16 ... Codec, 17 ... Timer, 18 ... NCU, 19 ... Modem, 20 ... Image memory, 21 ... RAM 22 ... ROM, 23 ... PC interface, 24 ... bus, 31 ... original, 32 ... original placement table, 33 ... lid.

Claims (1)

Image reading means, image recording means, image storage means for storing the encoded image, and the image reading means during decoding by the image recording means for decoding the encoded image in the image storage means A control unit for interrupting decoding of an image and encoding an image read by the image reading unit and storing the image in the image storage unit when an operation of a document setting or a member setting unit is detected. A document reading and recording apparatus characterized by the above.

Images