JPH04186961A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure the life of image data, while preventing a fact that the equipment becomes a high cost and large in size by using a card-like storage unit which can be separated from the main body equipment and can back up data by a simple substance. CONSTITUTION:An image memory 10 is formed like an IC card being freely attachable and detachable to and from a facsimile main body (image memory control circuit 5), and singly has a back-up circuit. In the case the equipment enters into a memory intercepting mode, and cannot restart recording in a state that image data remains accumulated in a start RAM card, etc., due to a fault of the main body, etc., the image can be recorded by connecting a standard RAM card 10A to a slot of a spare RAM card 10D of the other facsimile equipment and an exclusive output equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile device with a memory that can temporarily store and hold transmitted and received image data.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, the following types of facsimile devices have been proposed as this type of facsimile device.

(1) A device that stores and retains image data on a hard disk or the like.

(2) A device that has a floppy disk driver and records and retains image data on the floppy disk.

(3) A device that stores and retains image data in a memory module such as a RAM that can be expanded.

(4) A device that stores and retains image data by attaching a backup battery to SRAM or the like.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional example had the following drawbacks.

First, in the conventional example (1), the device becomes large-scale, the device cost increases, and the power consumption increases. Further, there is a drawback that control becomes complicated.

Further, in the conventional example (2), as in the conventional example (1), the floppy disk drive is permanently installed in the main unit, so the apparatus becomes large-scale and has the disadvantage of increasing the apparatus cost, power consumption, etc.

On the other hand, in conventional example (3), the storage capacity can be easily increased and it can be configured on a small scale, but it cannot be backed up, so it has the disadvantage that data is lost in the event of a power outage or failure.

Further, conventional example (4) can prevent data loss, but has the disadvantage that it is expensive in terms of storage capacity, and that it cannot be separated and output to another main unit when the main unit fails.

The present invention prevents an increase in the cost and size of the device, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device having a highly convenient storage unit that can ensure the preservation of image data, and also allows the data to be shared with other devices.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a card-shaped storage unit that is separable from the main device and capable of backing up data on its own, and an electrical connection between the storage unit and the main device to write image data. , or an interface means for reading.

[Function] According to the present invention, image data can be easily backed up, and by connecting to another output device in the backed up state, troubleshooting can be quickly done. Furthermore, when the memory capacity is insufficient, the memory can be easily expanded by separating the two memory units that are full and connecting other empty memory units.

Further, the interface section on the main body side does not require a large-scale and complicated control section such as a disk driver, and has a simple configuration with low cost and low power consumption.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile machine in an embodiment of the present invention.

This facsimile device includes a CPU that includes a microcomputer, etc., a ROM 2 that stores a control program for the CPU,
A RAM 3 that stores various processing data, an operation unit control circuit 4 that performs various operations, and an image memory control circuit 5 that performs address management and read/write control to write and read transmitted and received image data to and from memory. , a reading control circuit 6 for reading the original, a recording control circuit 7 for outputting image data onto recording paper, a modulation/demodulation circuit (modem) 8 for modulating transmitted data and demodulating received data, and a communication line. It has a line control circuit 9 that controls connection/disconnection, etc. of the network.

Further, the image memory 10 is formed in the form of an IC card that is detachable from the main body of the facsimile (image memory control circuit 5), and has its own backup circuit.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a backup circuit and a memory circuit showing details of the image memory 10.

In the figure, ICI is a semiconductor memory such as SRAM, B
AT is a lithium battery or the like. Further, Jl is a connector for connecting to the image memory control circuit 5.

Next, the operation of the backup circuit will be explained.

First, when the image memory 10 is normally connected to the main body, power is supplied to VOO of the connector J1. At this time, the base current composed of the Zener diode ZD and the resistors R1 and R2 causes the transistor TR2 to
is turned on, and therefore, the base current of the transistor TRI flows through the resistor R3, and the transistor TRI is turned on.

Since a voltage higher than the + side of BAT is supplied to the cathode side of the diode D1, no current flows through BAT.

When the image memory lO is separated from the main body or the main power is turned off, the VDD of connector J1
is not supplied with power, therefore the Zener diode Z
D, transistor TR composed of resistors R1 and R2
The pace current of 2 does not flow, and the transistor TR2 is turned off.

In addition, the base current of the transistor TRI due to the resistor R3 does not flow, the transistor TRI is turned off, and the voltage on the cathode side of the diode DI is lower than the + side of BAT.
Power will be supplied from the + side of the

FIG. 3 is a block diagram specifically showing the image memory control circuit 5 and the image memory 10. As shown in FIG.

Memories IOA to IOD are each one of the above-mentioned image memories with backup IO, and are in the form of a RAM card.

The image memory control circuit 5 is provided with four image memory path slots divided by addresses, and each slot PIA-PID is provided with a standard RAM card I.
OA, expansion RAM card 10B, confidential RAM card 10
C1 pre@RAM card 10D is connected.

In such a configuration, if you simply want to increase the memory capacity, you can simply connect the additional RAM card IOB.In this case, if the memory overflows due to transmission reservations, etc., the operation unit control circuit A display element such as a liquid crystal (not shown) in 4 displays the message "Memory Gaifu Death" and urges the user to add more.
Therefore, by connecting an additional RAM card (10B), the CPU detects that the RAM capacity has increased, displays the message "Memory Error" on the display element, and after a while, switches to standby. return.

Next, when receiving confidential reception, conventionally the received data is stored in standard RAM.
However, in this embodiment, it is possible to record not only on the main unit but also by connecting to other facsimile machines or output-only devices. . Furthermore, even during transmission, image data can be stored by connecting to another facsimile device or input-only device, which further improves confidentiality.

At this time, after the confidential reception is completed, the above-mentioned message "Synchronized" can be displayed to prompt the user to record the confidential reception image.

Furthermore, if the machine enters memory proxy reception mode due to a malfunction of the main unit and is unable to resume recording while storing image data on a standard RAM card, etc., use the spare RAM card IOD of another facsimile machine or output-only device. A standard RAM card IOA can be connected to the slot to record images.

At this time, after the proxy reception is completed, the display element displays the message 'Dai Koju Shin Shimashita'.

In the above embodiment, four slots for the image memory bus were provided, but it is also possible to use only one slot.
It can be easily expanded by increasing the capacity of the AM card itself.

In addition, the RAM fixed inside the main unit and the R
A similar effect can be obtained by using the AM card in parallel, and by performing only expansion, confidential reception, and substitute reception with the RAM card.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment has been described assuming an SRAM circuit, a DRAM may also be used to increase the capacity, and it goes without saying that a pseudo SRAM that is easier to handle and can realize a large capacity at a low cost.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily read and write image data, and without installing a large-scale, high-cost, high-power consumption driver in the image data storage control unit. This has the effect of making it possible to perform backups.

Furthermore, even when the facsimile main body is unable to record data, data can be immediately recorded on another facsimile main body, and the memory capacity can be easily increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile machine in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing details of the image memory in the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram specifically showing the image memory control circuit and image memory in the same embodiment. l...CPU, 2...ROM. 3... RAM, 4... Operating unit control circuit, 5... Image memory control circuit, 6... Reading control circuit, 7... Recording control circuit, 8... Modulation/demodulation circuit, 9...・Line control circuit, 10, l0A-10D...image memory, ICI...
Semiconductor memory, BAT...lithium battery. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Agent Arata Yokubo - Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A card-shaped storage unit that is separable from the main device and capable of backing up data on its own; and an interface means that electrically connects the storage unit and the main device to write or read image data. A facsimile device comprising: (2) The facsimile apparatus according to claim (1), wherein the storage unit includes a semiconductor memory and a backup battery. (3) The facsimile apparatus according to claim (1), wherein the storage unit and the main unit have a plurality of interface means for writing or reading image data through a plurality of electrical connections.