JPH01160253A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm a data being expanded into a page memory from a floppy disk by providing a means displaying part of information of a read signal on a display device in case of expanding the read signal into the page memory. CONSTITUTION:A read data is expanded sequentially into a page memory 228 in the reading of an FD (floppy disk). A liquid crystal display section is so configurated that the process of the expansion into the page memory 228 is displayed together with the display of a file name and the display of the operating procedure, and when the data read from the FD is expanded into the page memory 228, the data for the initial several lines are written simultaneously also in a RAM provided in an interface LCDI/F 232 of the liquid crystal display section. Thus, the content of the FD read at present is confirmed before the copying by displaying the data written in the LCDI/F onto the liquid crystal display section during the wait time while the data read from the FD is being expanded in the page memory 228.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing device, and in particular, in addition to the main function of a digital plain paper copying machine, which is copying from a paper original to paper, the present invention is capable of copying between different types of media. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus applicable to a multi-media copying machine, a so-called multimedia copying machine.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art In addition to copying from paper originals to paper, multi-media copying machines are being developed that are capable of copying between different types of media, such as paper and floppy disks.

In this type of multi-media copying machine, for example, copying from paper to a floppy disk, 1, and copying from a floppy disk to paper, image data (including characters) that has been read once from a paper document by a scanner is saved. It becomes possible to obtain the required number of copies (paper) at any time, copy the floppy disk containing data with other copying machines, and record it with other information processing equipment (computers, word processors, workstations, etc.). The advantage is that the data can be copied and output using a copying machine.

By storing a large amount of originals on floppy disks and copying them onto paper as needed, the functions of a multi-media copying machine can be maximized.

However, since the data read from the floppy disk is expanded to the page memory and then copied to paper or another floppy disk, there is a waiting time while the data is expanded to the page memory. In this case, the data read from the floppy disk can only be checked when it is actually printed out.

Furthermore, when copying to another floppy disk, there is a problem in that the data cannot be checked at all.

〔the purpose〕

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device in which the content of data to be copied read from a floppy disk can be checked before copying in a multi-media copying machine that uses a floppy disk as a medium different from paper. .

〔composition〕

An image converting means for reading a predetermined image and converting it into an electrical image signal, an image forming means for forming an image on copy paper based on the image signal, and a file reading means for reading a data file stored on a floppy disk. and an image processing apparatus comprising a signal conversion means for converting data read by the file reading means into an image signal for image formation by the image forming means, a page memory for rasterizing the read signal of the file reading means; , a display device, and a means for displaying part of the information of the read signal on the display device when the read signal is developed into the page memory, and the data being developed from the floppy disk into the page memory can be confirmed. It is characterized by being configured to enable.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multi-media copying machine (multimedia copying machine) to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof, in which l is an image reading device (scanner), and l is a digital copying machine. It is an input unit, and is image conversion means that converts image information of a document placed on a document table into an electrical signal (image signal) using an image pickup device such as a COD (charge coupled device).

Further, 2 is a floppy disk memory device, 3 is a printer (image forming device), and 4 is an operation/display section.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a floppy disk memory device 2 records/reproduces image signals, and records image signals (raster data) from a scanner, and reproduces the recorded signals or records them using other systems. image signal (raster data).

vector data, text data, etc.).

It also has an internal page memory, scanner interface, printer interface, and operation/display interface, and also controls the entire device and buffers image signals.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image reading apparatus 1, in which 111 is a platen glass, 112 is a document, and the document 112 is placed on the platen glass 111. The original 112 is illuminated by light sources (fluorescent lamps) 115 and 11 provided on a carriage 114 that moves on a slide rail 113.
6. The movable mirror unit 118 is provided with mirrors 119 and 119°, and the mirror unit 18 moves on the slide rail 113 and, in combination with the first mirror 117 provided on the carriage 114, moves the original 112 on the platen glass 111. The optical image is introduced into the lens reading unit 120. Carriage 1
14 and the movable mirror unit 11B are connected to a pulley 1 driven by a stepping motor 121 via a wire 126.
22. 123 and 124, the carriage 114 is driven at a speed V and the movable mirror unit 118 is driven at a speed 1/2 in the same direction. A standard white plate 127 is provided on the back side of the home position portion of the platen glass 111, and is configured so that a standard white signal can be obtained before the start of document reading scanning. The lens reading unit 120 is composed of a lens 128 as a reading lens system and a line sensor 129 attached to a reading board. 1st
The original light image transmitted by mirror 117 and mirror 119 and 119' is focused by lens 128 and formed on the light receiving surface of line sensor CCD 129. line sensor c
The cD 129 converts the shading of the original image into an electrical signal (image signal).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an image signal processing circuit.

In the figure, the image signal from the line sensor CCD 129 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 130, and the analog/digital (analog/digital)
The A/D) converter 131 converts each pixel into a multi-valued digital image signal. This digital image signal is processed by the shading correction circuit 132 to detect (1) uneven light emission of the light source, (
2) Optical system (mirror).

(3) shading caused by uneven light intensity distribution of the lens (3) uneven sensitivity of the CCD, etc. Binarization circuit 13
In step 3, (1) clear black and white image signals such as characters and drawing manuscripts are converted to a fixed binary level.

That is, the value processed by the central processing unit (CPU) 134 is transferred to the latch circuit (random access memory: RA).
M) A method of binarizing with a pattern level (threshold level) of 135, (2) Binarizing with a dither pattern stored in read-only memory: ROM136 for things that require gradation such as photographs. method (dithering),
is selected using the document select switch on the operation unit 4 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and switched using the selector 137 to obtain an optimal copy image.

The image data that is binarized for each pixel corresponds to one line, that is, for an A3 size scanner, it is A4 size (210X
If the resolution of the longitudinal feed (297 m) is 400 dpi (dots/inch), then the line buffer 1 consists of a RAM of 297 x 16-4752 dots (bits).
38, the serial image signal vI is outputted to the printer 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2) by an output buffer 139. The oscillation circuit 140 is a COD for driving the CCD 129.
A signal is given to a drive circuit 141 and an image (pixel) signal synchronization signal generation circuit 142. Note that L5ync is a laser beam position signal (scanning synchronization signal) of the printer.

The output of the oscillation circuit 140 is counted by a counter 143, the count value is input to a decoder 144, and a pulse for driving the CCD 129 is generated by a COD drive circuit 141 based on the decoded output.

The other outputs of the decoder 144 are sent to the synchronization generation circuit 142: (1) a clock {circle around (1)} synchronized with the pixel; , (2) a main scanning synchronization signal (LGATE) in the line (main scanning) direction, and (3) a sub-scanning synchronization signal (FGATE) in the sub-scanning direction.

The CPU 134 (for example, Intel 8086)
It operates according to a control program written in the M145, and is composed of a working memory RAM 146 and input/output (Ilo) ports 147, 148, and 149, and controls the entire scanner 1. The I10 port 147 controls on/off of actuators such as the drive pulse motor 121 and the fluorescent lamps 115 and 116 for illuminating the document, and also detects the scanner's home position switch and the sensor Is for detecting the document. The I10 port 149 is an interface for communicating with a control circuit within the floppy disk memory device, and performs parallel data transfer using a handshake method.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are explanatory diagrams of the timing relationship of the scanner, in which (al is a timing chart,
The LSYNC signal is output from the printer 2, and *VD, which is a synchronization signal for laser beam scanning, is read data (image signal) and is clocked by the image clock v0. ve I VCI shown at the bottom in Figure 5(a)
I is an enlarged version of vDI VC)l shown above. Figure 5(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the paper, the main scanning signal (LGATE), and the sub-scanning signal (FGATE).The longitudinal direction of the paper is covered by the sub-scanning signal (FGATE) and the horizontal direction is covered by the main scanning signal (LGATE). are doing.

Next, the structure and operation of the floppy disk memory device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device, in which 210 is an 8-inch floppy disk device, 211 is a 5.25-inch floppy disk device, and 212 is a 3.5-inch floppy disk device. In the figure, one floppy disk device with different media sizes is mounted, but such a configuration is not necessarily required, and the number of installed floppy disk devices of a specific size may be one or more. 21
3 is a control electronic circuit; 214 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the scanner; 215 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the printer;
16 is an interface connector cable connected to the operation/display section.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit for a floppy disk memory device. This control circuit is based on a general microcomputer system, and controls each peripheral via a so-called bus.

In the same figure, 213 is the control electronic circuit 213 of FIG.
221 is a microprocessor (MPU),
Data, address, and control signals are supplied to bus 229. Floppy disk devices (hereinafter referred to as FDD) 210, 211, and 212 are physically controlled (reading and writing) through an FDD interface (1/F) 220. The RAM 222 is a working RAM and is operated by the MPU 221. The ROM 223 is a part in which the program of this system is stored, and this program controls the FDDs 210, 211, 212, the scanner (image reading device) 1, the printer 3, and the page memory 228. 224 is a scanner I/F constituted by a parallel data interface, which controls the operation of the scanner 1. scanner 1
Data read from the scanner is not passed through the scanner I/F 224, but is carried out via a serial/parallel (S/P) converter 226. Data from S/P converter 226 is expanded to page memory 228. The page memory 228
has the data capacity to hold the printer output paper as a full dot image.

Further, the image data in the page memory 228 is transferred to the printer 3 through a parallel/serial (P/S) data converter 227. Printer interface (1
/F) 225 indicates the operation of printer 3 (print start,
status read, etc.), and serves as a parallel data interface. It is connected to the operation/display section 4 through an I10 boat 230. 2
This outputs the contents of the 31-digit memory 228.

Next, the configuration of the printer 3 will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer for an electrophotographic process, in which a photosensitive drum 301 rotates in the direction of arrow A, is charged by a charger 302, a latent image is formed by exposure to a laser 311, and a developing device 303 is used to form a latent image. It is visualized in

The paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 304 by the paper feed conveyance unit 305 is moved to registration rollers 3 that align the leading edge of the paper with the leading edge of the image.
Adjustment and conveyance is carried out at 06. . This paper is the photosensitive drum 301
The image developed by the transfer separation charger 307 is transferred onto paper, and the image is conveyed in the direction of arrow B, fixed by the fixing device 308, and then discharged to the paper discharge tray 309. On the other hand, residual toner on the photoreceptor drum 301 is collected by a cleaning section 310. In addition, in the same figure, 312 is a collimator lens,
313 is a polygon mirror, 314 is an f-θ lens, 31
5 is a mirror, and 322 is a copy paper size detector. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control circuit of a laser printer, in which an image signal V synchronized with synchronizing signals LGATE, FGATE, and VCK from the floppy disk memory device 2 is shown.
D is received by the input buffer 323, and the line memory 320A
Or write to 320B. Line memory 320A and 3
20B is toggled by the toggle switching signal 331 of CP 0324, so that when one line memory, for example line memory 320A, is in the write state, the other line memory 320B is in the read state. The line memory address counter 321 is LGATE
Counting with VCK opened in and toggle switching signal 331
It is reset at , and reading/writing is always performed from address zero. The readout side memory 320B controls the lighting of the laser 311 by a laser driver circuit 319, and the emitted light is made into parallel light by a collimator lens 312, and scanned by a polygon mirror 313 to the width of the photoreceptor drum 301, and then sent to an f-theta lens. In step 314, the distortion is corrected, and the light is exposed onto the photoreceptor 301 via the mirror 315.

In FIG. 9, 316 is a beam detection mirror (BD mirror);
317 is a beam position detector, 318 is a beam position detection circuit, 323 is an input buffer that receives and takes an image signal V from a floppy disk memory device, 325 is a ROM that stores a control program for the printer and the LGATE counter 334; 326 is a RAM which is a working memory of the CPU 324, and 327 is a printer drive motor M.
1 Input/output (I 10
) boat, 328 inputs LGATE330, counts this with LGATE counter 334, and outputs FGATE335.
to the AND gate 333 and a reset signal 331 for the address counter 321 of the line memory. 329 is a floppy disk.
This is an I10 boat that sends and receives control signals to and from the I10 port.

Therefore, the ROM 325 storing the control program
The CPU 324 is operated by ``. Further, control is performed via the I10 port 329 to transmit start and stop commands from the operation unit 4, abnormal conditions such as a paper jam in the printer 3, and copy paper size to the floppy disk memory device 2.

FIG. 1θ is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation/display unit. The operation/display unit 4 includes a standard operation unit 460 for a copying machine, a dot liquid crystal display unit 465, and a special soft key 466 for data input. An operation section 461 is provided. The standard operation section 460 is for when using the "paper-to-paper copy" function, and includes a numeric keypad 462 for setting the number of copies, a number display section 463, a print start key 464, a key for setting copy conditions, a display section 470, etc. configured.

The special operation section 461 is used in a copy mode for recording/reproducing data on a floppy disk, and is composed of soft keys 466 and a liquid crystal display section 465. These are I10 port 2 in floppy disk memory device 2.
It is connected to a microcomputer system through 30 (see FIG. 7). The meanings of the soft keys and the data displayed on the liquid crystal display are determined by a program within every microcomputer system.

In the above-described configuration, the present invention not only provides a conventional digital copying function called "paper-to-paper copying function" in which image signals read from a scanner are output to a printer, but also outputs image signals read from a scanner to a floppy disk. "Copy function from paper to FD" that records on (FD)
and image signals (raster data, vector data) recorded on the FD.

It has three functions: a copy function from rFD to paper that handles three types of text data) and outputs it to a printer. The feature is that the file being read can be confirmed by displaying it.

The copying function between paper and FD will be explained below.

・Copying from paper to FD First, set the original you want to record on FD into scanner 1,
Operate the operation/display unit 4 to set the copy mode to "copy from paper to FD". Next, set copy conditions. The copy conditions include setting the copy range, selecting the FD type, and
This includes inputting the file number or file name for identifying the file in D.

Thereafter, the operator presses the print start key 464 shown in FIG. 10 to complete the operation. Setting the copy conditions is the seventh step.
A program stored in the ROM 223 in the floppy disk memory device (FDM) shown in the figure is interactively executed by the liquid crystal display 465 and soft keys 466 of the special operation unit 461 in the operation/display unit 4 through the I10 board 230. When the setting of the copy conditions is completed and the operator presses the print start key 464, the program starts from the FDI/F
The FD is checked through 220. Here, checking the FD means, for example, whether the FD is set in the FD memory device, whether it has been formatted, and whether the file name or file number is registered twice. When the FD check is completed, the program executes the scanner reading operation through the scanner I/F 224.

The data read from the scanner 1 is sent to the S/P converter 22
6 to the page memory 228. Since the page memory capacity is reserved for the original paper, development in the memory continues until the original reading operation is completed.

When the reading operation is completed, the contents of the page memory are then recorded on the FD.

This recording operation is performed through the FDDI/F 220.

・Copying from FD to paper First, set the FD containing the file you want to copy into the FDD that matches its size, and operate the operation/display unit 4 to select the "Copy from rFD to paper" mode. . Next, copying conditions such as specifying the number of copies and selecting the size of the FDD to be copied are set. This setting is made interactively by the program stored in the ROM 223 in the floppy disk memory device shown in FIG. conduct.

After setting the copy conditions, the program in the ROM223 is transferred to the FD.
Check the FD through D/F220. This FD
The checks include, for example, whether an FD is set in the floppy disk memory device, and whether the file format is a usable format. After the FD check is completed, a list of files in the FD is displayed and a file selection request is issued to the operator.

When the operator finishes selecting a file and presses the print start key 464, the file to be copied is determined, and the already stored text data of this file is transferred to the working RAM 222, and then converted and developed into raster data. Text data to page memory 228
In order to save time for moving files from page to working RAM 222, there is also a method of storing the last file in working RAM 222 in advance when one page of each document file is expanded into page memory 228. In this case, 100
Although it does not mean that you can save %, the probability of saving is the highest for the reasons mentioned above. When the expansion to the page memory 228 is completed, the content is output to the printer, thereby completing the copying.

Furthermore, if the number of copies is two or more, the number of copies is output to the printer.

By adopting the above sequence, it is possible to shorten the time required to read the text file contents from the FD and output them to the printer.

When reading the FD described above, the read data is sequentially developed into the page memory (if the FD file is a text code, it is stored in the RAM 222 shown in FIG. At this time, part of the data developed in the page memory 228 is displayed on the liquid crystal display interface LCD.
The liquid crystal (LCD) of the operation/display unit 4 is connected via the I/F 232.
) By displaying the information on the display unit 465, the contents of the FD currently being read can be confirmed before copying.

That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 10, the operation/display section 4 includes a standard operation section 460 for a copying machine, and a special operation section 461 consisting of a dot liquid crystal display section 465 and soft keys 466.

The liquid crystal display section 465 is configured to display the file name and operation procedure as well as how the file will be developed in the page memory 228.

When the data read from the FD is expanded to the page memory 228, the first few lines of data are displayed on the liquid crystal display section 46.
R provided in the interface LCDI/F232 of 5
It is also written to AM at the same time.

Therefore, during the waiting time when data read from the FD is expanded to the page memory 228, the LCD I/F
By displaying the data written on the liquid crystal display section 465, it is possible to check whether the selected file has been correctly expanded.

[Effects] As explained above, according to the present invention, when copying from a floppy disk, it is checked whether the file selected from the floppy disk is correct and whether it is correctly expanded to the page memory. It is possible to provide an excellent image processing device that further expands the functions of the present invention, such as being able to check in advance during waiting times, and being able to record and store a large amount of documents using a floppy disk. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multi-media copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image reading device, and FIG. 4 is an image Block diagram showing the signal processing circuit, Fig. 5+8), (
b) is an explanatory diagram of the timing relationship of the scanner; FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the floppy disk memory device, Fig. 8 is a configuration diagram of the laser printer, Fig. 9 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the laser printer, and Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram explaining the operation/display unit. It is a diagram. 1----------Scanner, 2--Floppy disk memory device, 3-----Printer, 4--
・Operation/display section, 220・------Floppy disk interface (FD I/F), 221-
−−−−・−・Microcomputer, 222・−・−
・-Working RAM, 223-・----ROM,
226-...-serial/parallel (S/P) converter,
228・-1---・Page memory, 230・-11-
--Person/output (I 10) port, 464--Print start key, 466--Soft key. Figure 1 Figure 5 (a) Figure 5 (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image converting means for reading a predetermined image and converting it into an electrical image signal, an image forming means for forming an image on copy paper based on the image signal, and a file reading means for reading a data file stored on a floppy disk. and an image processing apparatus comprising a signal conversion means for converting data read by the file reading means into an image signal for image formation by the image forming means, a page memory for rasterizing the read signal of the file reading means; , a display device, and a means for displaying part of the information of the read signal on the display device when the read signal is developed into the page memory, and the data being developed from the floppy disk into the page memory can be confirmed. An image processing device characterized in that it is configured to enable.