JPH04217157A - External character registering device for facsimile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the input operations of external characters for display, etc., of an outgoing side name. CONSTITUTION:An original where the external characters are written on a grid-shaped format form is read by a reading part 6 for transmission originals. This read image data is converted into a prescribed dot matrix pattern by an external dot pattern generation means 13 which produces a conversion program. The dot matrix pattern is stored in an external character dot pattern memory 9 and then read out as necessary.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile character registration device for registering custom characters used for displaying sender names, etc.

0002

[Prior Art] In facsimile communication, before sending image data, data such as the sender's name and telephone number are sent.
In many cases, the receiving machine prints out the sender's name, etc. Such sender name and the like are input by operating a panel such as a keyboard when installing the facsimile machine.

[0003] Facsimile machines, unlike word processors, have little need to store characters, so the number of characters stored is quite small. Therefore, when entering a sender's name, etc., external characters are often required. Registration of custom characters in a facsimile is generally performed by inputting each dot of a dot matrix that becomes a custom character using a panel operation.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, the number of dots in one character is very large, and it takes a lot of effort to input them dot by dot by panel operation. Moreover, since the operation is unfamiliar, it is difficult to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an external character registration device for a facsimile machine that can easily register external characters.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The structure of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 corresponding to an embodiment. The external character registration device in this facsimile consists of external character dot pattern creation means (1) that converts the image data read by the reading unit (6) of the original for transmission into a dot matrix pattern of a predetermined number of dots.
3) and a custom character dot pattern memory (9) for storing the converted dot matrix pattern. Further, a custom character registration mode setting means (12) is provided for switching the custom character dot pattern creation means (13) between an active state and a non-active state.

[0007]

[Operation] When registering external characters, the external character registration mode setting means (12) is set to the external character registration mode, and the original on which the external characters are written is read by the transmission original reading section (6). The read image data is converted into a dot matrix pattern of a predetermined number of dots by a custom character dot pattern creation means (13), and is stored in a custom character dot pattern memory (9). In addition, if you have image data memory,
The mode selection for external character registration may be performed after reading.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine. The main control unit 1 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and the ROM has written therein a control program and data for controlling the entire facsimile machine. Under the control of the main control unit 1, the modem 2 and network control unit (NCU)
) 3 to the telephone line 4. Operation/display section 7
is the numeric keypad for dialing, the start and stop keys for sending,
It consists of a keyboard with input keys for displaying the sender, speed dial input keys, etc., and a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying characters.

The recording unit 5 is a printer that prints the received image, and is composed of a recording paper feeding device, a thermal head, and the like. The reading unit 6 is a means for reading the transmitted original, and is
It is composed of an image sensor such as a CD and a paper feeding device. The image data memory 8 is a memory that stores received image data and image data read by the reading section 6. The character generator 10 consists of a ROM in which dot patterns of characters necessary for printing in the recording section 5, displaying on the operation/display section 7, etc. can be called up using character codes. The caller display etc. storage means 11 is a RAM that stores character code data for displaying the caller name and telephone number.
Consisting of

In the facsimile machine having such a basic configuration, a custom character dot pattern memory 9 is provided, and the main control section 1 is provided with a custom character registration mode setting means 12 and a custom character dot pattern creating means 13. The external character registration mode setting means 12 consists of a flag area and the like operated by the operation/display section 7. The external character dot pattern creation means 13 is provided with a reading start position recognition means 14, the functions of which will be explained later, a tilt correction means 15, and a dot patterning means 16. The external character dot pattern memory 9 and the sender display etc. storage means 11 are comprised of a battery-backed static RAM or the like.

FIG. 2 shows a format sheet for registering external characters. The format paper 17 is provided with a matrix area 18 for writing external characters, which is divided by vertical and horizontal division lines 19, and a reading start recognition mark 20. The number of small sections 21 divided by partition lines 19 is matched to the number of rows and columns of the dot matrix to be registered in the private character dot pattern memory 9 of FIG. For example, it is set to 24 rows and 24 columns. Further, the vertical and horizontal widths of the small section 21 are made to match the range in which image data processing is performed as one dot by the external character dot pattern creation means 13. The reading start recognition mark 20 is
It is provided apart from the matrix area 18 above the format paper 17, and is formed by a solid line that spans the entire width of the matrix area 18 and has the same vertical width as the small section 21.

Next, a method for registering external characters will be explained. First, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an arbitrary small section 21 in the matrix area 18 of the format paper 17 is filled in to draw the external character 22 for registration. The format paper 17 prepared in this manner is read by the transmission document reading unit 6. At this time, by operating the operation/display section 7, the external character registration mode setting means 12 is set to the registration mode, and a code for calling up the registered external character is input. For example, enter the code using alphanumeric characters or other characters.

The image data read by the reading section 6 is temporarily stored in the image data memory 8, and is read out by the dot patterning means 16 of the custom character dot pattern creation means 13 and converted into a dot matrix pattern for registering the custom character. Ru. In this case, the reading start position recognition means 14 recognizes the reading start recognition mark 20, and causes the dot patterning means 16 to perform conversion from a position separated from this mark 20 by a predetermined interval. The inclination correction means 15 recognizes the inclination of the reading start recognition mark 20, and the dot patterning means 1
6. Correct the slope when converting.

The conversion by the dot patterning means 16 is performed as follows. For example, if the number of horizontal and vertical scanning pixels of the reading unit 6 is 8 per 1 mm, and the vertical and horizontal widths of the small sections 21 in the matrix area 18 of the format paper 17 are each 5 mm, one small section 21, there are 40×40=1600 pixels. These pixels are "0" or "0" depending on whether the original is white or black.
It is shown as a binary value of 1. Dot patterning means 16
generates a virtual window frame that is a calculation area for each small section 21, and calculates the number of pixels with a value of "0" in the window frame and "
The number of pixels with a value of 1 is counted and the count values are compared. If there are many "1" pixels, the dot corresponding to that window frame will be set as "1", and if there are many "0" pixels, that dot will be set as "1".
0". Alternatively, only the number of pixels that are "0" or "1" may be counted and compared with a preset value to determine the dot as "1" or "0".

In this way, the entire matrix area 18 is converted into a dot matrix pattern in which each small section 21 is one dot. The converted dot matrix pattern is stored in the external character dot pattern memory 9 in association with the character code, and can be freely recalled using the character code.

The external character registration device for this facsimile can register external characters by simply writing arbitrary external characters on the format paper 17 and having them read by the transmission document reading section 6. Therefore, it is easy to input the sender's name, etc. Moreover, since the reading section 6 for transmission is used, there is no need for a reading means dedicated to registering external characters, and the structure is simple.

In the above embodiment, one external character is written on one sheet of format paper 17 and registered one character at a time, but a plurality of characters may be read as a character string. For example, the entire character of the sender's name may be read. In this case, the characters possessed by the character generator 10 are recognized in the same manner as a character recognition means used in a general optical character reader (OCR), and the character code of the character generator 10 is stored in a storage means such as a source display. 11 etc., and only external characters may be stored in dot patterns.

[0018]

[Effects of the Invention] The external character registration device for a facsimile according to the present invention is equipped with a external character dot pattern creation means that converts the image data read by the reading unit of a transmission document into a dot matrix pattern of a predetermined number of dots, so that external characters can be written. External characters can be registered by scanning the original. Therefore, various external characters can be easily registered, and the sender's name and the like can be input easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine equipped with an external character registration device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a format sheet for registering nonstandard characters.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Main control part, 3... Network control device, 5... Recording part, 6... Reading part, 8... Image data memory, 9... Exclusive character dot pattern memory, 12... Exclusive character registration mode setting means, 13... Exclusive character dot pattern creation means , 14...reading start position recognition means, 17...format paper, 18...matrix area, 2
0...Reading start recognition mark, 21...Small section, 22...External characters for registration

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A reading section for a transmission document, a private character registration mode setting means, and a private character dot pattern for converting image data read by the reading section in the private character registration mode of the means into a dot matrix pattern of a predetermined number of dots. A custom character registration device for a facsimile machine, comprising a creation means and a custom character dot pattern memory for storing the converted dot matrix pattern.