JPH01177267A - Various media copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly and easily execute retrieving in a various media copying machine by inputting retrieval information with a noise on filing. CONSTITUTION:In a device provided with an image scanner 1, a picture data recording and reproducing device 2, a page memory 228 and a laser beam printer 3, when various media data are written through the picture recording and reproducing device, the device has a microphone to record voice information as retrieval information, a speaker to reproduce the voice information recorded by the microphone on retrieving, an A/D converter and a D/A converter to A/D or D/A convert on recording and reproducing. The voice information is used for retrieving to execute the recording to paper from reproducing efficiently. Thus, even an ordinary office worker can use easily and execute retrieving efficiently and at high speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a multi-media copying machine that is capable of copying from a paper document to paper as well as copying between different types of media, and particularly relates to an image file search system.

[Prior art]

Conventional image file systems handle a huge amount of image information! ! An important technical issue is how to carry out the search efficiently and quickly. And they usually have sophisticated search systems to accomplish this.

Generally, a keyword is assigned to each image as search information, and an efficient search is performed using this keyword. Furthermore, since the efficiency of the system is determined by how the keywords are created, a full-time operator or trained engineer is required, and the system cannot be easily used by general office workers.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been devised to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to enable quick and easy searching in multi-media copiers.

〔composition〕

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention requires the following configuration.

First, there is a means (image scanner) for converting an image of a predetermined paper document into an electrical image signal.

Second, a magnetic medium, means for writing image data to the source medium, and means for reading image data from the medium (image data recording/reproducing device).

Third, the image data obtained from the image scanner is
Save pages or read data from image media into one
A means of storing one page (page memory).

Fourth, an image forming means (laser printer) for forming an image from the data in the page memory.

Fifth, a means (microphone) for recording audio information as search information when writing data on a different medium through an image data recording/reproducing device.

Sixth, a means (speaker) for reproducing audio information recorded by a microphone during a search.

Seventhly, an operation/display means (operation/display section) including an input section and a display section for operation by an operator.

Eighthly, means (control jTa section) for controlling each of the first to seventh means in order to perform overall control.

Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire digital copying machine embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an image reading device (scanner) which is an input section of a digital copying machine. Image information of a document placed on a document table is transferred to an electrical signal (image signal) by an image sensor such as a COD. ). 2 is an image data recording/reproducing device for recording/reproducing image signals, which records image signals (raster data) from a scanner and reproduces the recorded signals, or records image signals (raster data) recorded by other systems. data, vector data, text data, etc.).

In addition, there is a page memory, scanner I/F (interface), printer I/F and operation display unit 1/F inside.
It also controls the entire device and buffers the image signals. 4 is an operation display section, and 3 is a printer which is an output section of a digital copying machine, and a laser beam printer or the like prints a recording material (paper, etc.) on the basis of an image signal.
It forms an image on the image.

The image data recording/reproducing device is equipped with a drive device for an image recording medium (a magnetic medium, a source medium, etc. is used as the medium).

Hereinafter, the image reading device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
I will explain about it. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the image reading device 1, and FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram thereof.

In FIG. 3, 111 is a platen glass, and the original 11
2 is placed on this platen glass 111. Manuscript 11
2 is a carriage 11 moving on a slide rail 113;
It is illuminated by light sources (fluorescent lamps) 115 and 116 provided at 4. The movable mirror unit 118 is provided with a mirror 119 and a mirror 119', and moves on the slide rail 113 to move the platen glass 1 in combination with the first mirror 117 provided on the carriage 114.
The optical image of the document 112 on the lens reading unit 12
Lead to 0.

The carriage 114 and the movable mirror unit 118 are
By means of pulleys 122, 123, and 124 driven by a stepping motor 121 via a wire 126, the carriage 114 moves at a speed of 1, and the movable mirror unit 118 moves at a speed of 1.
/2V in the same direction. platen glass 1
Standard white plate 127 on the back side of the home position section of 11
is provided, and is configured so that a standard white signal can be obtained before the start of document reading scanning. Lens reading unit 1
Reference numeral 20 includes an L/lens 128 as a reading lens system and a line sensor 129 attached to a reading board. The original light image transmitted by the first mirror 117 and the mirrors 119 and 119' is focused by the lens 128 and formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor CCD 129. C
Is CD l 29 a manuscript image? 14. Converts the light into an electrical signal (image signal).

Image signal processing will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. This image signal is amplified by an amplifier circuit 130, and converted into a multi-value digital image signal for each pixel by an A/D converter 131.

This digital image signal is sent to the shading correction circuit 132.
In this method, shading caused by: (1) uneven light emission of the light source, (2) uneven light intensity distribution of the optical system (mirror, lens), (2) uneven sensitivity of the CCD, etc. is removed.

In the binarization path I33, (1) converts sharp black and white image signals such as characters and drawing manuscripts into a fixed binary level; That is, the value processed by the CPU 134 is stored in the latch circuit ii'8 (RAM) 135.
A method of binarizing at the pattern level (threshold).

■For things that require gradation, such as photographs, dither patterns (
ROM) 136 binarization method (dither processing).

is selected using the document select switch on the operation display section 4 and switched using the selector 137 to obtain an optimal copy image.

The image data that has been binarized for each pixel is for one line, that is, for an A3 size scanner, it is A4 size (210 x 29
If the resolution of the longitudinal feed (7fl) is 400dpi (dots/inch), then 297X16 = 4752d
A serial image signal ``o'' is outputted to the printer 3 by an output buffer 139 via a line buffer 138 composed of ot (bits) of RAM.

The oscillation circuit 140 is a CC for driving the CGDI 29.
It is applied to the D drive circuit 141 and the image (elementary) signal synchronization signal generation circuit 142. The output of the oscillation circuit 140 is counted by a counter 143, and the count value is sent to the decoder 14.
4 and the CCD drive circuit 141 by the decoded output.
generates a pulse to drive the CCD 129.

The other outputs of the decoder 144 are generated by the synchronization generation circuit 142: ■ A clock VeK synchronized with the pixels; ■ A main scanning synchronization signal LGAE in the line (main scanning) direction; and ■ A sub-scanning synchronization signal FGATE in the sub-scanning direction. The timings of the pixel signal V11, the clock VCKs, the main scanning synchronizing signal LGATE, and the sub-scanning synchronizing signal FGATE have the relationship shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The CPU 134 (for example, Intel 8086) is R
Operates with the control I program written in OM145,
Working memory PAMI 46, T10 (input/output)
It is composed of ports t, 147, 148, and 149, and controls the entire scanner 1. 110 boat 147 includes a drive pulse motor 121 and fluorescent lamps 115 and 116 for illuminating the document.
It controls actuators such as 0N10FF, and also detects sensors such as the home position switch of the scanner 1 and document detection. I10 port) 149 is a 1/F (
interface) and parallel data transfer using a huntshake method.

Figure 5A is a diagram showing the relationship between the paper, the main scanning signal (LGATE), and the sub-scanning signal (F G A 'r' E). (LGATE) covers this.

Figure 5B is a timing diagram, in which the LSYNC signal is output from the printer, and is a synchronization signal for laser beam scanning.
That is, it is a laser beam position signal of the printer.

■. is the read data (image signal) and the image clock VC
It is clocked at K. Figure 5B lower VCK, v
o is the Vex above it, V. This is an expanded version of

Next, we will explain the configuration and operation of an image data recording/playback device equipped with the recording/playback function of audio information for search (the following explanation applies when optical disks and floppy disks are used as image storage media). (performed)
.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the device, and FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram thereof. In Figures 6 and 7, 2
Reference numeral 11 denotes an optical disk drive device that performs recording and reproduction on and from an optical disk as a storage medium. 212 is a floppy disk drive device which, like the optical disk drive device 211, performs recording and reproduction on a floppy disk.

Reference numeral 213 denotes a control electronic circuit, which is indicated by a broken line in the block diagram of FIG. 214 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the scanner, 215 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the printer, and 216 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the operation display section.

Next, a control circuit block diagram will be explained.

The control circuit is based on a general microcomputer system, and each peripheral is controlled via a so-called lotus. 221
is a microprocessor that supplies data, address, and control signals to bus 229. Storage medium drive device 21
0 (optical disk drive device 211, floppy disk drive device 212) is physically controlled (
reading and writing). The RAM 222 is a working RAM and is operated under the MPU 221.

The ROM 223 is a part in which the program of this system is stored, and the program controls the storage medium drive device 210, the scanner 1, the printer 3, and the page memory 228. Reference numeral 224 denotes a scanner I/F composed of a parallel data I/F, which controls the operation of the scanner 1. Data read from the scanner I is not passed through the scanner I/F 224, but is carried out via the serial-parallel data converter 226. Data from this serial-parallel data converter 226 is developed into page memory 228. The page memory 228 has a data capacity to hold printer output paper as a full dot image. In addition, the image data in the page memory is passed through a parallel-serial data converter 227.
Transferred to printer 3. Printer I/F 225
is used to perform printer operations (print start, status read, etc.) and serves as a parallel data I/F. It is connected to the operation display section 4 through an I10 port of 230, and communicates control, audio data, and the like.

Next, the printer 3 will be explained. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer, and FIG. 9 is a block circuit diagram thereof. In FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numeral 301 is a photosensitive drum, 302 is an electrostatic charger, 303 is a developing section, 304 is a paper feed cassette, 305 is a paper feed conveyance section, and 306
is a registration controller, 307 is a transfer separation charger, 308
309 is a fixing device, 309 is a paper output tray, 310 is a cleaning device, 311 is a laser, 312 is a collimating lens, 31
3 is a polygon mirror, 314 is an fθ lens, 315 is a mirror, 316 is a beam detector 1 mirror, 3+7 is a beam position detector, 31ε is a beam position detection circuit, :3
19 is laser 1 driver time 1 heat, 320 ~, 320I3
321 is a toggle line buffer; 321 is an address counter for the line buffer memory; 323 is an input buffer that receives and receives image signals from the image data recording/reproducing device 2;
4 is a CPU that controls printer 3; 325 is a printer:
3 control and F G A T F: Stores the counter control program (RoM, 32G is CI) U 32
RAM 327, which is the working memory of 1, is connected to l10, which is connected to the drive motor of the printer 3, the actuator of the fuser, and sensors for paper presence, size detection, etc.
(Input/output) port, 328 inputs the LGATE 330, counts the FGATE counter, reset signal 331 of the zero counter 321, etc. 10 ports, 329 is a control signal for the printer T/F 225 in the image data recording/reproducing device 2 Send and receive! It has 10 ports.

Synchronous signal LGA TE from image data recording/playback device
, FG, ATIE, and Vcx (FIG. 5). The input buffer 323 receives the image signal V, and writes it to the line 32013 in the memory 320A.

The line memories 320A and 320B are toggled by the toggle switching signal 331 of the CPU 324, and when the line memory 32OA is currently in the writing state, the other line memories 320A and 320B are toggled.
In-memory 320B is in a read state. - In-memory counter 321 is 1, VCK opened at GΔ'F
Count it with ! - It is reset by the group switching signal 331 and always remains active.Reading 1. /Writing and logging are done.

Read (jll memory 320B is laser driver 1°
A path 319 controls the lighting of the laser 311, and the emitted light is shaped into parallel light by a collimator lens 312, scanned to the width of the photoreceptor drum 310 by a polygon mirror 313, and distorted by an f-theta lens 314. corrected, mirror 3
15 onto the photosensitive drum 301.

On the other hand, the image forming system is transferred and fixed onto paper by the electrophotographic process shown in FIG. That is, the photosensitive drum 30
1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and is charged by the charging charge 302, exposed by the L hoop, and visualized by the developing unit 303, and the paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 304 by the paper feed conveyance unit 305. Adjust the timing with the registration roller 306 to match the tip. And this paper is photosensitive drum 1.
301 , the image is transferred to paper by a transfer separation charge 307 , conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and fixed by a fixing device 308 . Thereafter, the paper is ejected to a paper ejection tray 309.

On the other hand, residual toner from the photoreceptor drum A 301 is collected by cleaning 310. The configuration and operation described above are of a well-known electrophotographic process laser printer. C1) by the ROM 325 that stores these control programs.
U324 is activated.

It also controls via 110329 in order to notify the image data recording/reproducing device 2 of start and stop commands from the operation display unit 4 and abnormal conditions such as paper jams in the printer 3 .

Next, the operation display section 4 will be explained with reference to the schematic plan view of FIG.

The operation display section 4 is equipped with a standard operation section 160 as a scanner, a special operation section 461 having a dot liquid crystal display LCD 465 and soft keys 166. The standard operation section 460 is for use in the "paper-to-paper copying" function 1, and includes a numeric keypad 462 for setting the number of copies, a number display section 463, a print start key 464, and a key and display section 470 for setting copy conditions. Consists of etc. Special operation section 461
is used in copy mode for operations other than paper-to-paper copying, such as recording/resuming FD recording, and is composed of soft keys (for data input) 466 and a liquid crystal display 465. .

These are connected to the microcomputer system through the ■10 boat 230 in the image data recording/reproducing device 2 (
(See Figure 6). The meanings of the soft keys 466 and the data displayed on the liquid crystal display 465 are all determined by a program within this microcomputer system.

481 is a microphone, and 482 is a speaker.

These are for inputting and outputting audio data for file searching. A microphone 481 and a speaker 482 are connected to an A/D, a D/A:F inverter and an amplifier, respectively, and are connected to the (710 boat 230 in FIG. 7).

In addition to the conventional digital copier function of ``paper-to-paper copying, in which image signals read from a scanner are output to a printer,'' the functions that characterize the present invention include ``image storage (recording) of image signals read from a scanner. ) function to record the image on the medium and reproduce the desired image information from the image signal (handles three types of raster data, vector data, and text data) recorded on the medium and output it to the printer. In a copying machine that has three functions: , recording on paper, the third function (return - recording on paper)
The goal is to use voice information for searching in order to efficiently perform searches.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 7, a series of operations of each function will be described.

When copying a normal paper original onto paper, set the original on the scanner 1 as before, and select "Paper-to-paper copy mode" on the operation display section 4 from iBa#RL to PrintStar 1.
- Just press the key 464.

To execute the second function [°File a paper original to an image medium], place a square paper original on scanner 1,
Next, on the operation display section 4, select the ``File Paper Original'' mode and press the print start key 464.

The image data converted into electrical signals by the scanner 1 is expanded into the page memory 228. After each page has been read, it is recorded as an optical disc/image file.

If there are two or more originals, repeat the previous operations. When all the manuscripts have been recorded, the special display section 465 of the operation display section 4 will notify you that it is ready to input voice data for search, so if you speak the keyword of the input image data into the microphone 481, good. The input voice is A
/D conversion and recorded on an optical disc as digital data.

Thereafter, the date and time, the start and end addresses of the image data, and the start and end addresses of the audio data on the optical disk are recorded on the floppy disk. It should be noted that whether or not this is the last page is input by the operator through the operation display section 4 (for example, by inputting the total number of sheets at the beginning of the file, or by inputting the file end key when the last page is read). .

Further, in this embodiment, the image data and audio data are recorded on the optical disk, and the directory information is recorded on the floppy disk, but the relationship between the data and the medium is not necessarily fixed.

Figure 11 (al, (bl) shows the relationship between each data and data structure.

In the figure fa), A is the start address of the image, B
indicates the end address of the image, C indicates the start address of the audio, and D indicates the end address of the audio. Also, the same figure (b)
, E indicates timer data, F indicates an image start address, G indicates an image end address, H indicates an audio start address, ■ indicates an audio end address, and J indicates other data. Further, 501 is image data, 502 is an optical disk, 503 is timer data directory information, 50
4 indicates a floppy disk.

In the example shown in this figure, one document is made up of three originals. The date and time of recording, the physical start address and end address of the optical disc, and other information (for example, the total number of pages) are recorded in the directory.

When executing the third function "output from image medium to paper", after selecting the mode, searching for the target file and pressing the print start key 464 causes the file to be output. At the time of search, a directory area is displayed in the special display section 465, but it is also possible to specify a date at this time. You can specify only the year and month, or only the year, month and day; you don't have to specify everything.

A display example is shown in FIG.

If you cannot search using only the displayed directory, operate the soft key 466 to move the cursor to the number of the file that seems to be relevant, and press the play button.The audio that was input when the image data was input will be heard from the speaker 4.
It is played from 82 onwards.

Now, all you have to do is check the contents of the file and press the print start key 464.

〔effect〕

According to the present invention, search information can be entered by voice when filing, so anyone can easily handle it.
An image file system can be constructed without requiring a full-fledged keyboard or display (for computers).

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire digital copying machine implementing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image reading device, and FIG. 4 is its block diagram. Circuit diagram, Figure 5A shows synchronization signal LGATESF
FIG. 5B is a timing chart of synchronizing signals and image data, FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the image data recording/reproducing device, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of its control circuit. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer, Figure 9 is its block circuit diagram, Figure 10 is a schematic plan view showing the operation display section, and Figures 11 (a) and (b).
1 is a diagram showing the relationship between each data and the data structure, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example. ■... Image reading device (scanner), 2... Image data recording/reproducing device, 3... Printer (image forming device), 4... Operation display section, 210... Image medium drive device, 211... Optical disk drive device, 212... Floppy disk drive device, 226... Serial-parallel data converter, 227... Parallel-serial data converter, 228... Page memory, 230...
・x10's-to, 461...Special operation section, 481・
...Mike, 482...Speaker. Figure 1 Figure 5 (Q) Figure 5 (b) aArE Figure 1I Figure 12

Claims (1)

[Claims] A multi-media copying machine that is capable of copying between different media in addition to copying from paper originals to paper, and is equipped with an image scanner, an image data recording/reproducing device, a page memory, and a laser printer. means for recording voice information as search information when writing data to the , means for reproducing the recorded voice information at the time of search, and A/D converting A/D and D/A during voice recording and reproduction. A multi-media copying machine comprising a converter and a D/A converter.