JPH04362862A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a facsimile to carry out precise printing for both of a binary image and a half tone image by discriminating whether the received image is the binary image or the half tone image, and by selecting the first print method or the second print method. CONSTITUTION:A received image through CPU 4 is decided by half tone discriminating circuit 10 whether the received image is a half tone image or a binary image, in accordance with the deciding result a switch 16 being a print selecting means is switched via the circuit 10. Further, the first print method means that is provided with a smoothing circuit 14 optimum to recording the binary image or the second print method means 15 optimum to recording the half tone image is selected, thereby enabling the present facsimile to carry out precise printing for both of the binary image and the half tone image without causing image deterioration.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine for communicating images and text via a telephone line.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Facsimile machines equipped with an electrophotographic printer using a laser beam or the like and capable of recording on plain paper are commonly used. In the printer of this facsimile machine, the recording resolution is equivalent to 400 dpi, and the receiving resolution is 200 dpi.
It is quite high compared to dpi. In such cases, to take advantage of the high recording resolution, a recorded image data processing technique called smoothing is used, and this smoothing technique converts the image received in standard mode or fine mode into an image equivalent to 400 dpi. This allows highly detailed recorded images to be obtained.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional smoothing techniques are effective for binary images such as text and graphics, but when smoothing techniques are used for pseudo-halftone images such as photographs, The entire image becomes darker and the image quality often deteriorates.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first printing method means is equipped with a smoothing circuit that is most suitable for recording binary images, and a second printing method means is equipped with a printing control circuit that is most suitable for recording halftone images. a printing means capable of printing by either of the first printing method means and the second printing method means, and an image for determining whether the received image is a binary image or a halftone image. A discrimination means and a print selection means for selecting either the first printing method means or the second printing method means based on the output from the image discrimination means are provided.

[0005]

[Operation] Smoothing technology is used for binary images where the effect is produced, and for pseudo-halftone images such as photographs,
By using a print control circuit that is optimal for recording halftone images without using smoothing technology that may degrade image quality, it is possible to obtain good printing conditions, which allows for high-definition printing in any situation. It is possible to obtain a printed image.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. First, the NCU 2 is connected to the public line 1, and the NCU 2 is connected to the public line 1.
The CPU of the facsimile machine is connected to the CU2 via the modem 3.
4 are connected.

The CPU 4 is connected with a ROM 5 for program control and a RAM 6 used as a temporary storage circuit for various data processing, as well as a band compression/expansion circuit 7, an original reading circuit 8, and a keyboard (not shown). L.C.
A console 9 consisting of a D display section and the like is connected. Further, the CPU 4 is connected to a halftone determination circuit 10 that functions as halftone discrimination means and a recording circuit 11. This recording circuit 11 includes a printer controller 12
and a page memory 13, and connected to the printer controller 12 are a smoothing circuit 14 for smoothing a binary image and a print control circuit 15 for performing optimal control for printing a halftone image. 15
Both the smoothing circuit 14 and the smoothing circuit 14 are connected to a changeover switch 16 constituting an image selection means. This changeover switch 16 is connected to a printer engine 17 that constitutes printing means. In addition, the changeover switch 1
Reference numeral 6 is connected to the halftone determination circuit 10 to perform switching control thereof. The smoothing circuit 14 constitutes a first printing system suitable for recording binary images, and the printing control circuit 15 constitutes a second printing system suitable for recording halftone images. This is what makes up the .

[0008] In this embodiment, what is referred to as halftones is not what is standardized as a standard, but what is standardized by a specific organization or group, so to speak, as in-house halftones. I can say that.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG.
If it is not the NE mode (fine mode), it is a binary image, and in this case, the first printing method most suitable for refining the binary image is selected and the smoothing circuit 14
According to the printing method controlled by , the print data developed in the page memory 13 is serially processed and printed. Also, whether it is in halftone mode or FI
In the NE mode, the second printing method most suitable for printing halftones is selected, and the print data developed in the page memory 13 is serially processed without using smoothing technology. It will be printed. That is, the print control circuit 15 is selected by the changeover switch 16 and printing is performed.

[0010] In the FINE mode, the same processing as in the halftone mode is performed because halftones are sent in the FINE mode in most facsimile machines.
When the FINE mode is determined in the pre-image communication procedure, the intermediate tone is determined and the processing is performed.

[0011]Furthermore, facsimile machines usually have a copying function, but even in that case, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the user selects whether the image to be copied is a binary image or a halftone image using the keyboard of the console 9, and based on the selection result, if the image is a binary image, printing using the smoothing circuit 14 is performed. If the image is a halftone image, printing is performed using the print control circuit 15.

0012

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a first printing system means equipped with a smoothing circuit most suitable for recording binary images, and a second printing system means equipped with a printing control circuit most suitable for recording halftone images. a printing method means, a printing means capable of printing by either method of the first printing method means or the second printing method means, and whether the received image is a binary image or a halftone image; Since the smoothing technology is provided with an image discriminating means for discriminating the image and a print selection means for selecting either the first printing method means or the second printing method means based on the output from the image discriminating means, the smoothing technique has an effect. For pseudo-halftone images such as photographs, it uses a print control circuit that is optimal for recording halftone images without using smoothing technology that may degrade image quality. This has the effect that a good printing condition can be obtained, and thereby a high-definition printed image can be obtained in any case.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a printing operation upon reception.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing operation during copying.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Image discrimination means 14 Smoothing circuit 15 Printing control circuit 16 Print selection means 17 Printing means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first printing method means equipped with a smoothing circuit suitable for recording a binary image; a second printing method means equipped with a print control circuit suitable for recording a halftone image;
a printing means capable of printing by either of the first printing method means and the second printing method means; and an image discriminating means for determining whether a received image is a binary image or a halftone image. . A facsimile apparatus comprising: print selection means for selecting either the first printing method means or the second printing method means based on the output from the image discriminating means.