JPH04121165U - fax machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To shorten the time required to transmit image signals. [Configuration] C that controls the scanning speed of the scanner 101 when reading a document image and performs magnification processing in the sub-scanning direction.
PU 110, a page memory 106 that stores at least one page of image information read from a document image, and a scaling unit 103 that inputs image information from the page memory 106 and executes predetermined scaling processing in the main scanning direction. and an address conversion unit 104 that rotates the address of the image information by 90 degrees and stores it so that the main scanning direction of the image information subjected to the scaling process becomes the sub-scanning direction.

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea]

0001

[Industrial application field]

This invention relates to a facsimile machine that encodes and transmits image signals. The present invention relates to a facsimile device that can shorten the transmission time of image signals.

0002

[Conventional technology]

CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Commite) e: International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee) , examine international issues of fees, and make draft recommendations for their standardization. has been completed. According to this CCITT recommendation, phones that use telephone lines (analog) The fax machine is for G1 aircraft (Group 1), G2 aircraft (Group 1), and G3 aircraft (Group 1). It is divided into three parts: loop 3).

0003 For G3 aircraft, the modified Huffman code table (MH code table) is used. One-dimensional run-length encoding of image signals has become standard. What is Huffman code? In general, short codes are assigned to events that occur frequently, and long codes are assigned to events that occur less frequently. Yes, the number of MH codes would be enormous if codes corresponding to all events were created. Then, divide the Huffman code up to the length of up to 63 consecutive pixels. If the number is 64 or more, use a different make up code for every 64 pieces. It's huge. The image signal also indicates the end of each scanning line, that is, the separation of scanning lines. An EOL (end of line) code is provided as a synchronization signal. Furthermore, 1 line The lower limit (minimum scanning line time) of the winning symbol transmission time is determined, and one scanning line When the code sending time is shorter than the minimum scanning line time, a dummy bit is placed before the EOL code. Insert as many “0” bits as required as FILL bits. ing.

0004 In addition, for G3 aircraft, modified lead code is used as a two-dimensional encoding method. There are some that use the encoding method (MR encoding method). This is the reference scan line (reference The information on the scanning line) is encoded using the MH encoding method and sent out, and the information on the following scanning line (code The information on the reference line) is transmitted by encoding the difference between the white and black states of this reference line. This is a method that

[0005]

[Problem that the idea aims to solve]

However, in the conventional G3 facsimile machine, the minimum scanning line time is There is a limit to reducing the time required for transmission of one line by setting 1. If the transmission time per line is less than the minimum scanning line time, the EOL code A dummy bit must be added before the Density (3.85 lines/mm), minimum scanning line time = 10ms/line, modem transmission speed = When transmitting at 9600bps, the image signal transmission time is longer than the actual data amount. There was a problem with the amount of money. In particular, when sending to long distances such as overseas, the transmission time is Another problem was that it significantly affected communication charges.

[0006] When transmitting a general document in which the image signal can be represented by black and white binary values (photo (excluding halftone images such as It is often shorter than the scanning line time, and specifically, the scan line time is shorter than the scanning line time. Density (3.85 lines/mm), minimum scanning line time = 10ms/line, modem transmission speed = When transmitting at 9600 bps, the main scanning direction is 1728 dots, and the sub-scanning direction is 1728 dots. It becomes 1143 lines, and when encoded by MH code and MR coding method, 1 line Each bit is often less than 96 bits (or a number close to that). I mentioned earlier The number of bits per line is less than 96 bits (i.e. less than the minimum scanning line time) In this case, dummy bits must be added to make it more than 96 bits, in other words, , since the image signal is transmitted longer than the actual amount of data, the time required for transmission is longer. It becomes. This means that the time required to transmit the image signal is longer than the pixel density in the main scanning direction. This means that it depends more on the number of lines in the scanning direction.

[0007] This invention was developed in view of the above, and aims to shorten the time required to transmit image signals. The purpose is to reduce the

[0008]

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above objectives, this invention improves the scanning speed when reading original images. a sub-scanning direction magnification means that performs magnification processing in the sub-scanning direction by controlling the A storage means for storing at least one page of read image information, and a storage means for storing at least one page of read image information; Main scanning magnification hand that inputs image information and executes predetermined magnification processing in the main scanning direction The image information is adjusted so that the main scanning direction of the image information that has been subjected to scaling processing becomes the sub-scanning direction. A file equipped with an address rotation storage means for storing the address of the information after rotating it by 90 degrees. It provides a facsimile device.

[0009] Note that the main scanning magnification changing means and the sub-scanning direction magnification changing means are based on the recording paper size of the destination device. It is desirable to perform scaling processing based on the size of the document and the size of the document to be sent.

0010

[Effect]

With the facsimile machine according to the present invention, when sending a document, the device of the destination For example, A4 If you use a device that can handle A3-size originals to send to a recipient's machine that handles A3-size recording paper. , the data in the sub-scanning direction on the sending side becomes data in the main scanning direction for the other machine. Transmit the address after converting the address so that it appears.

[0011]

【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is based on the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile machine according to A scanner 101 for reading and a printer for printing out received image signals. 102, and a scaling unit 103 that performs scaling processing of the image signal to be transmitted in accordance with the destination device. , performs address conversion (described later) of the image signal subjected to scaling processing by the scaling unit 103. Address conversion unit 104, closing/opening of telephone lines, sending of dial signals, etc. The image information read by the NCU 105 and the scanner 101 is stored. The page memory 106 and the raw data are encoded using the MH, MR encoding method, etc. Processes the encoded image signal transmitted from the other device back to raw data. Encoding (compression) by the data compression/expansion unit 107 and the data compression/expansion unit 107 Compressed data storage that stores the data sent from the other device or the image signal sent from the other device 108 and data modulation when sending the image signal to the telephone line, or data modulation when receiving the image signal. a modem 109 that performs data demodulation, control of the scan speed of the scanner 101, and It is composed of a CPU 110 that performs overall control, and each is connected via an internal bus 111. Exchanges information and signals.

0012 In the above configuration, the sending device records an A4 size document in A3 size. The operation will be explained using an example of transmitting data to a partner machine that handles paper. Image transmission process When the processing starts, the CPU 110 first receives the DIS signal (CCITT) from the partner machine. Recommendation T. The recording width capability of the other device is determined by the digital identification signal specified in 30. , maximum recording length capability, vertical resolution, etc. Here, both the sender and receiver The vertical resolution (linear density) is 7.7 lines/mm.

[0013] When the judgment of the other machine is completed based on the DIS signal, the document conveyance speed is set in the sub-scanning direction. Adjust the rotation speed of the scan motor (not shown) so that the linear density is 8 lines/mm. Then, the document image is read by the scanner 101. This read image information (baseband signal) is digitized, and the raw data for one document (digitized image information) is arranged and stored in the page memory 106, and then In this step, a predetermined scaling process in the main scanning direction is executed.

[0014] Here, the scaling process in the scaling unit 103 will be explained. As previously mentioned, In this invention, the image signal transmission time depends more on the linear density than on the pixel density. Therefore, the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction is reduced to shorten the image signal transmission time. It is something. For A4 size, main scanning direction = 1728 pixels (216 x 8), sub Scanning direction = 2341 lines (304 x 7.7), on the other hand, in the case of A3 size, the main Scanning direction = 2432 pixels (304 x 8), sub-scanning direction = 3326 pixels (432 x 7 ．． 7). Therefore, the sub-scanning direction of an A4 size document is set as the main scanning direction. In this case, the sub-scanning direction = 1663 lines, which can reduce transmission time. Becomes Noh.

[0015] However, since the density in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction are different, it is simply Set the pixel data in the scanning direction to the corresponding A3 size pixel data in the main scanning direction. , and convert the pixel data in the main scanning direction of A4 size into the corresponding sub-scanning direction of A3 size. It cannot be used as direction pixel data. Therefore, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned As shown above, scanning is performed in advance so that the line density matches the pixel density, but once The pixel data (image density) in the main scanning direction on the sending side is converted to the pixel data (image density) in the sub-scanning direction on the sending side. The scaling unit 103 performs scaling processing to correspond to the raw data (linear density). It is something.

[0016] Specifically, pixel data in the sub-scanning direction of A4 size, that is, black and white binary data. The number of consecutive pixels with a data value is taken as the actual length in the corresponding image. , the data value of the pixel in the main scanning direction corresponding to that length is processed. This is to send data to the address conversion section 104. At this time, please note that the manuscript Processing is performed for each line when an image is read.

[0017] Next, the address conversion unit 104 that has received the data from the scaling unit 103 (in other words, data in the main scanning direction) as pixel data in the sub-scanning direction. and store it. The data stored in the address conversion unit 104 is stored in the data compression/expansion unit 107 for each line (here, it is the sub-scanning direction when scanning) ) is encoded using the MH encoding method, and the encoded data is stored as compressed data. It is stored in the stack section 108. The data stored in the compressed data storage unit 108 is The NCU 105 is modulated by the NCU 109 to transmit data over the telephone line. sent to the telephone line via the

[0018] As mentioned above, when sending an A4 size document, there were 2341 lines. , 1663 lines, reducing the time required for transmission. Therefore, communication charges can be kept lower than before. Also, the opponent The machine processes this transmitted image signal in the same way as before, and prints it out. etc.

[0019] Note that in this embodiment, when reading the original image, the original (or scanner) ) to match the line density in the sub-scanning direction to the pixel density in the main-scanning direction. For example, instead of Perform magnification processing of pixel data in the sub-scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, or change the scanning direction automatically. The same result can be achieved even if the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction are switched. Although it is possible to obtain an effect, the disadvantage is that the configuration of the device becomes complicated. Note that this process of rotating the document 90 degrees before sending it can be performed as an option. Of course, it is also possible to have it run.

[0020]

[Effect of the idea]

As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, the scanning speed is increased when reading the original image. A sub-scanning direction magnification means that performs magnification processing in the sub-scanning direction by controlling the magnification of the document image. a storage means for storing at least one page of image information read from the image information; Main scanning magnification inputs image information from the main scanning direction and executes predetermined magnification processing in the main scanning direction. The image information is adjusted so that the main scanning direction of the image information subjected to scaling processing becomes the sub-scanning direction. and address rotation storage means for storing information addresses rotated by 90 degrees. Therefore, the time required to transmit the image signal can be shortened. Also, secondary effects As a result, communication charges can be kept low by shortening the time required to transmit image signals. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control section of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Scanner 102 Plotter 103 Scaling unit 104 Address conversion unit 105 NCU 106 Page memory 107 Data compression/expansion unit 108 Compressed data storage unit 109 Modem 110 CPU 111 Internal bus

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. Sub-scanning direction scaling means for controlling the scan speed when reading a document image to perform scaling processing in the sub-scanning direction, and storage means for storing at least one page of image information read from the document image. and main scanning scaling means for inputting image information from the storage means and performing predetermined scaling processing in the main scanning direction, and a main scanning direction of the image information subjected to the scaling processing is in a sub-scanning direction. 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising address rotation storage means for rotating and storing an address of image information by 90 degrees so that the image information becomes 90 degrees. 2. A facsimile apparatus, wherein the main scanning magnification changing means and the sub-scanning direction magnification changing means execute the magnification changing process based on the recording paper size of the destination device and the size of the document to be transmitted.