JPH04365258A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain technique for transmitting/receiving the multilevel gradation of image information while keeping compatibility with the facsimile equipment. CONSTITUTION:This facsimile equipment is equipped with a binary pattern transformation part 18, binary pattern inverse transformation part 20, block write control part 19, block read control part 21 and facsimile part 34 and in the case of a multilevel gradation image, it is temporarily transformed to a binary gradation image by the binary pattern transformation part 18 and the binary pattern inverse transformation part 20 and transmitted/received by the facsimile part 34. In the case of a binary gradation image, an original is divided into plural blocks by the block pattern write control part 19 and a block pattern read control part 21, inputted/outputted and transmitted/received by the facsimile part 34.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine that converts density information of an image into binary gradation data and inputs it, encodes the input binary gradation data, and transmits/receives the encoded data. The present invention relates to a facsimile device suitable for sharing gradation images and binary gradation images.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, facsimile devices that read and transmit/receive image density information are described in detail in the book "Facsimile and New Image Communication" published by Sanpo Publishing. To read a document, as described on pages 25 to 26 of the same book, a one-dimensional image sensor that reads one line of image information in the main scanning direction is placed in the main scanning direction, and the document is read in the sub-scanning direction. The common method is to move and read the image.

[0003] Regarding multi-level gradation image communication in a facsimile machine, a generally known method is to convert into a binary gradation image using dither processing, as described on pages 90 to 93 of the same book. There is.

0004

However, when using a one-dimensional image sensor, it is difficult to read the image information of three-dimensional objects such as people and scenery. The purpose is to send and receive information, and it is not designed to take into account sending and receiving image information of three-dimensional objects. Generally, it is easy to input image information of a three-dimensional object by using a video camera, and facsimile communication of a three-dimensional object becomes possible by binarizing the image data input with the video camera and transmitting and receiving the data. However, since the resolution of a video camera is lower than that of a general facsimile, a problem arises in that it is difficult to read detailed image information such as characters written on paper. For example, when scanning an A4 size original using a facsimile's high-definition mode, the resolution is approximately 1700 x 2300 pixels, but the resolution of a normal video camera is approximately 600 x 400 pixels.
Only about 1/16 of the resolution can be obtained.

[0005] Furthermore, an image transmission device that transmits and receives multilevel gradation images taken with a video camera is generally known.
Because data can only be sent and received between models with the same functionality,
There is a problem in that the scope of its use is limited, which is a factor that hinders its widespread use.

On the other hand, facsimile devices, which can be considered the simplest image communication device, are widely used, but because they are binary images, dithering is required to send and receive multi-level gradation images taken with a video camera. It is necessary to binarize it by processing etc. However, the standard encoding method for facsimile is designed to improve encoding efficiency for characters written on paper, so encoding efficiency decreases when the runs are not consecutive, such as dither processing. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that is capable of transmitting and receiving not only multilevel gradation image information of three-dimensional objects but also image information of two-dimensional objects at high resolution.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide a two-dimensional input means for inputting image information in the form of multilevel gradation data, a first driving means for moving the two-dimensional input means in the main scanning direction, and a two-dimensional a second driving means for moving the input means in the sub-scanning direction;
Binarization means for converting multi-value gradation data into binary gradation data, first storage means for storing the binary gradation data, control of the first driving means and second driving means, and control of the first driving means and second driving means; a control means for setting a write position in the first storage means; an encoding means for encoding the binary gradation data; a first communication means for transmitting and receiving the encoded data; This is achieved by providing a decoding means for decoding and an output means for converting the decoded binary gradation data into density information and outputting it.

Alternatively, this can be achieved by providing, in place of the second driving means, a third driving means that moves the document by J pixels M times in the sub-scanning direction.

[0010] Furthermore, this can be achieved by providing a second storage means between the decoding means and the output means.

Furthermore, this can be effectively achieved by providing a read control means.

[0012] Furthermore, this can be achieved by providing a binary pattern conversion means and a selection means for selecting two modes, a multi-value gradation mode and a binary gradation mode.

[0013] Furthermore, this can be achieved by providing a binary pattern inverse conversion means and a switching means for switching between multi-value gradation data and binary gradation data and outputting the same to the output means.

Alternatively, this can be achieved more effectively by providing a second communication means for transmitting and receiving mode information representing the selected mode.

[0015]

[Operation] The two-dimensional input means inputs image information as multivalue gradation data of I pixels in the main scanning direction and J pixels in the sub-scanning direction. The first driving means and the second driving means are capable of moving the two-dimensional input means N times by I pixels in the main scanning direction and M times by J pixels in the sub-scanning direction, and move the document N×M. It operates by dividing it into blocks and reading them. On the other hand, the multilevel gradation data of I×J pixels inputted by the two-dimensional input means is converted into binary gradation data by the binarization means, and is stored in the first storage means. Here, the control means controls the first driving means and the second driving means, and sets the writing location of the binary gradation data output by the binarization means into the first storage means. The binary gradation data thus stored in the first storage means is read out by the encoding means and transmitted and received by the first communication means. The encoded data received by the first communication means is decoded into binary gradation data by the decoding means, and converted into density information by the output means and output.

Alternatively, the third driving means provided in place of the second driving means moves the document M times by J pixels in the sub-scanning direction.

Further, the binary gradation data decoded by the decoding means is stored in the second storage means provided between the decoding means and the output means, and the output means stores the binary gradation data in the second storage means. The binary gradation data is read out, converted to density information, and output.

Further, the read control means operates to divide the binary gradation data stored in the second storage means into a plurality of blocks and output them to the output means.

The binary pattern conversion means operates to convert one pixel of the multi-value gradation data outputted by the two-dimensional input means into binary gradation data of a plurality of pixels. On the other hand, the selection means selects either the multi-value gradation mode or the binary gradation mode, and when the selection means selects the binary gradation mode, the binary gradation output by the binarization means The data is written in the first storage means, and when the selection means selects the multilevel gradation mode, the binary gradation data outputted by the binary pattern conversion means is operated to be stored in the first storage means.

The binary pattern inverse converting means converts the proportion of black pixels in the block of multiple pixels of the binary gradation data decoded by the decoding means into the multi-value gradation data value of one pixel. The switching means operates to switch between the multi-value gradation data outputted by the binary pattern inverse conversion means and the binary gradation data outputted by the decoding means or the second storage means, and output the same to the outputting means.

[0021] The second communication means transmits and receives mode information indicating the mode selected by the selection means.

[0022] Alternatively, the switching means selects between the multilevel gradation data outputted by the binary pattern inverse conversion means and the binary outputted by the decoding means or the second storage means, depending on the mode information received by the second communication means. It operates to switch between gradation data and output to the output means.

[0023]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) show the appearance and two types of usage of the facsimile machine of the present invention.
is the display, 4 is the video camera, 9 is the send button,
10 is a reception button, 11 is a freeze/monitor switching button, 12 is a readout block switching button, 32 is a telephone, 33 is a telephone line, 80 is a camera support, 90 is a document, 91 is a main body, 92 is a modular jack, 93 is a A power cord, 94 is a document insertion port, and 95 is a lens. 4A shows a state in which a document 90 is read, and FIG. 2B shows a state in which a face, scenery, etc. are photographed.

In the figure, preparation for operation is completed by supplying electricity necessary for operation from a power cord 93 and connecting a telephone line 33 to a modular jack 92 for telephone line connection.

The video camera 4 also has a camera support 80.
The video camera 4 can be rotated to change the shooting direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the video camera 4 may be pointed downward to photograph the document 90 taken in from the document insertion port 94, or
), the video camera 4 is configured so that the lens 95 of the video camera 4 can be directed upward to photograph people, scenery, etc.

FIG. 3 shows the mechanical parts of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, including a pair of rubber rollers 84 for taking in the original 90 in the sub-scanning direction, a stepping motor 85 for rotating the rubber roller 84, and a pair of rubber rollers 84 for taking in the original 90 in the sub-scanning direction. A pair of rubber rollers 81 for feeding in the scanning direction, a stepping motor 89 for rotating the rubber rollers 81, and a document 90.
a guide roller 86 for holding down the video camera 4;
A rubber belt 87 that moves the camera support 80 attached to it in the main scanning direction, a stepping motor 83 that rotates the rubber belt 87, a pulley 88 that applies appropriate tension to the rubber belt 87, and a pulley 88 that smoothly supports the movement of the camera support 80. It is composed of a rail 82 and a paper position sensor 96. Further, a camera stand switch 8 is attached to the camera support 80, and the camera stand switch 8 is closed when the video camera 4 is directed toward the document 90 side. Stepping motors 85 and 89 rotate rubber rollers 81 and 84 at a pitch of approximately 0.13 mm per pulse in response to a pulse signal from paper feed drive section 7, which will be described later, to feed original 90 in the sub-scanning direction. This conforms to the high-definition mode of 7.7 lines/mm, which is the facsimile standard. The stepping motor 83 rotates a rubber belt 87 in response to a pulse signal from the camera drive section 6, which will be described later, and performs an operation of sending the camera support 80 along the rail 82 in the main scanning direction and returning it at a pitch of 0.125 mm per pulse. is now possible. This conforms to the facsimile standard of 8 dots/mm.

When a document 90 is photographed by the video camera 4 and sent, the stepping motor 85 rotates the rubber roller 84 in response to a command from the system control unit 13, which will be described later, until the paper position sensor 96 detects the leading edge of the document 90. The document 90 is taken in and preparations for transmission are made.

Next, the configuration of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be explained using FIG. 2 is a display control unit, 3 is a dual port memory, 5 is an input control unit, 6 is a camera drive unit, 7 is a paper feed drive unit, 8 is a camera stand switch, 13 is a system control unit, 14, 15, 16, 17 ,22,23
, 24, is a switch, 18 is a binary pattern converter, 19
2 is a block write control unit, 20 is a binary pattern inverse conversion unit, 21 is a block readout unit, 25 is a transmitting/receiving memory, 3
4 is a facsimile section, 40 and 41 are video signals, and 96 is a paper position sensor.

First, the outline of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment will be explained. The facsimile machine of this embodiment has 21
It has a videophone mode that sends and receives images with 6 x 216 pixels and 6-bit gradation, and a facsimile mode that sends and receives images with 1,728 x 2160 pixels and 1-bit gradation, which is the high-definition mode of a normal facsimile. Transmission in videophone mode converts one pixel of 6-bit gradation into 8 x 8 pixel data of 1-bit gradation, so if the other party is using a regular facsimile, the image will be enlarged eight times vertically and horizontally. received as. In facsimile mode, the document is divided into multiple blocks and photographed using the video camera 4.
After converting one pixel of 6-bit gradation into data of one pixel of 1-bit gradation and storing it in the transmission/reception memory 25, it is encoded and transmitted. When receiving data, the stored contents of the transmitting/receiving memory 25 are divided into multiple blocks and displayed on the display 1 in facsimile mode, and 8×8 pixel data is displayed in 6-bit gradation with 1-bit gradation in videophone mode. The data is converted into one-pixel data, and the data is doubled vertically and horizontally to form 432×432 pixels and displayed on the display 1. Each part will be explained in detail below.

First, the operation of the facsimile section 34 will be explained using the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, 26 is a switch for switching between transmission and reception, 27 is an encoding section, 28 is a decoding section, 29 is a facsimile control section, 30 is a modem, 3
1 is NCU (Network Control Uni)
t).

The NCU 31 switches between the telephone 32 and the modem 30 according to a command from the facsimile control unit 29.

The modem 30 receives facsimile transmission control data output from the facsimile control unit 29 and the encoding unit 2.
The encoded data output from 7 is modulated and output to the telephone line 33 via the NCU 31. Alternatively, a modulated signal sent via the telephone line 33 is input via the NCU 31, and demodulated encoded data is output to the decoding section 28.

[0034] The encoding unit 27 is connected to the facsimile control unit 29.
In response to the encoding start command, the binary data stored in the transmitting/receiving memory 25 is sequentially read out via the switch 26, and is encoded using MH (Mod
Huffman) and output to the modem 31.

The decoding unit 28 is a facsimile control unit 29
M output from the modem 30 in response to the decoding start command
The H encoded data is decoded and written into the transmission/reception memory 25 via the switch 26.

The facsimile control section 29 operates through software processing by a microprocessor, and controls the operation of each section within the facsimile section 34 in response to instructions from the system control section 13. When receiving a transmission command from the system control unit 13, first, the NCU 31 is instructed to switch the telephone line 33 from the telephone 32 to the modem 30, and after transmitting transmission control data to the modem 30 and performing transmission control procedures with the communication partner, , issues an encoding start command to the encoding unit 27. At this time, function information indicating that the device has a videophone mode and a facsimile mode and which mode to use is sent to the communication partner. When receiving a reception command from the system control unit 13, first, the NCU 31 is instructed to switch the telephone line 33 from the telephone 32 to the modem 30 side, and after transmitting transmission control data to the modem 30 and performing transmission control procedures with the communication partner, , issues a decoding start command to the decoding unit 28. At this time, it is determined whether the communication partner is a normal facsimile or a facsimile with a videophone mode based on the received function information, and the system control unit 13 is notified.

Now, in FIG. 1, in the initial state when the power is turned on, the switch 14 is connected to the b side, and the input control section 5 always converts the video signal 40 output from the video camera 4 into 6-bit gradation. The operation of converting the data into digital data and writing it to the dual port memory 3 is repeated. Note that the dual port memory 3 has a capacity to store an image of 432×432 pixels and 6-bit gradation.

The display control section 2 always reads data from the dual port memory 3, converts it into a video signal 41, and displays it on the display 1. Note that the input control unit 5 and display control unit 2 have a pixel aspect ratio of 1:1.
It is treated as 1. The pixel aspect ratio in the facsimile's high-definition mode is 8:7.7, but it does not look very strange even if the image is displayed at a 1:1 aspect ratio.

The system control unit 13 operates by software processing by a microprocessor, and the microprocessor controls switching of each switch and controls each part of the system using operation buttons 9, 10, 11, and 12, and the facsimile of this embodiment Manages the operation sequence of the entire device.

The binary pattern conversion section 18 is a functionalized version of a part of the software processing of the system control section 13.
Processed by software. Data is read from the dual port memory 3 via the switches 14, 15, and 16 according to a command from the system control unit 13, and data is read out from the dual port memory 3 in 6 bits.
The 4-gradation data is converted into a binary gradation pattern of 8×8 pixels and written into the transmitting/receiving memory 25 via the switches 22 and 24. Note that the switching of each switch will be explained in the processing of the system control unit 13. Now, the operation of converting into a binary gradation pattern will be explained in detail using FIG. Same figure (
a) shows a block of 64 pixels (8 x 8 pixels, one bit) in the transmitting/receiving memory 25, and the number in each square is 6 bits, 0, stored in the dual port memory 3.
It represents the number of gradations from to 63, and logical data is filled in sequentially from the upper line in the main scanning direction of the block according to the gradation data input from the dual port memory 3. For example, if the number of gradations of the data read from the dual port memory 3 is 10, as shown in FIG. In other words, the logical data is "0". Here, the number of gradations of the converted data input from the dual port memory 3 is from 0 to 63, but
Since the number of gradations that can be expressed by 8×8 pixels is from 0 to 64, a shift of one gradation occurs. Therefore, when the number of gradations of the data to be converted is the maximum 63, the 63rd pixel and 64th pixel are
It is doubled to the second pixel and filled with logic data "1". In this way, data for one pixel of 6-bit gradation stored in the dual port memory 3 can be converted into a block of 8×8 pixels of 1-bit gradation and written to the transmission/reception memory 25.

The binary pattern inverse conversion section 20 is a functionalized description of a part of the software processing of the system control section 13, and is processed by software. In response to a command from the system control unit 13, the pattern data of 8×8 pixels with 1-bit gradation read from the transmitting/receiving memory 25 via switches 23 and 24 is converted into data with 6-bit gradation, and the switch 1
4, 15, and 17 to the dual port memory 3. This is the opposite operation of the binary pattern converter 18, and in FIG. 9, the data stored in the transmitting/receiving memory 25 is divided into blocks of 8 x 8 pixels, and the number of pixels filled with logic data "1", that is, black, is divided into blocks of 8 x 8 pixels. is output to the dual port memory 3 as the number of gradations. In the case of FIG. 9B, the number of black pixels, that is, the number of pixels with logical data "1" is 10, so the number of gradations written to the dual port memory 3 is 10. Here, whether the number of logical data "1" is 63 or 64, the number of gradations is output as 63. In this way, the 1-bit gradation pattern data in the transmitting/receiving memory 25 can be converted into 6-bit, 64-gradation data and written into the dual port memory 3.

The block write control unit 19 is a functionalized description of a part of the software processing of the system control unit 13, and is processed by software. In response to a command from the system control unit 13, 6-bit gradation data is read out from the dual port memory 3 via switches 14, 15, and 16, and converted to 1-bit gradation data.
The system control unit 13 on the transmitting/receiving memory 25 via 24
Write to the block previously specified by . To convert to binary data, the data input from the dual port memory 3 with a gradation number of 0 to 31 is converted into logical data "0", that is, white, and the data with a gradation number of 32 to 63 is converted into logical data "1", i.e., white. Treated as black. Here, the write and read blocks in the transmitting/receiving memory 25 will be explained. FIG. 10 shows the writing and reading blocks in the transmitting/receiving memory 25. The transmitting/receiving memory 25, which has a storage capacity of 1 bit with 1728 pixels in the main scanning direction and 2160 pixels in the sub-scanning direction, is divided into 20 blocks of 432×432 pixels. To divide. Here, the resolution of 432 x 432 pixels of one block is set equal to the resolution when the image input from the video camera 4 is stored in the dual port memory 3, and one pixel in the main scanning direction is 8 mm on the original. , one pixel in the sub-scanning direction is adjusted to correspond to 7.7 mm on the original.

The block readout control section 21 reads out data from a block specified in advance by the system control section 13 on the transmitting/receiving memory 25 via the switches 24 and 25 according to a command from the system control section 13, and reads out the read one-bit gradation. The data is expressed as 6-bit gradation data and written to the dual port memory 3 via switches 14, 15, and 17. That is, when the 1-bit gradation data is "0", it is set as 0, and when it is "1", it is set as 63 gradations.

Next, the operation of the system control section 13 when each of the operation buttons 9, 10, 11, and 12 is pressed will be explained. It is assumed that the send button 9 and the receive button 10 are pressed after the line is connected to the communication partner using the telephone 32.

The operation of the system control section 13 when the freeze/monitor switching button 11 is pressed will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the step numbers in the flowchart are indicated as (step numbers) in the main text, and the operation of each step will be explained.

(100) Start the processing routine.

(101) Check the freeze flag indicating whether the image of the video camera 4 is being written into the dual port memory 3 or not.

(102) Switch the switch 14 to the b side.

(103) Instruct the input control unit 5 to repeatedly write the image taken by the video camera 4 into the dual port memory 3. In this state, the image from the video camera 4 can be viewed on the display 1 via the dual port memory 3.

(104) Reset the freeze flag.

(105) An instruction is issued to the input control unit 5 to stop the operation of writing the image taken by the video camera 4 into the dual port memory 3.

(106) Switch the switch 14 to the a side.

(107) Set the freeze flag.

(108) End the processing routine.

Next, the operation of the system control section 13 when the send button 9 is pressed will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In addition, A224, B2 in FIG.
25, C226 are A224, B225, C in Fig. 6
It is connected to 226.

(200) Start the processing routine.

(201) Switch the switches 15 and 24 to the a side.

(202) Mode determination is performed. The state of the camera stand switch 8 is checked. If the camera stand switch 8 is closed, that is, when the shooting direction of the video camera 4 is facing the main body, it is determined that the facsimile mode is in effect, and the camera stand switch 8 is open. If there is, i.e.
When the shooting direction of the video camera 4 is facing upward, it is determined that the videophone mode is in effect.

(203) Switch the switches 16 and 22 to the a side.

(204) The binary pattern conversion unit 18 reads out the 6-bit gradation image data stored in the dual port memory 3, converts it into 8×8 pixel 1-bit gradation pattern data, and stores it in the transmission/reception memory. Give instructions to write.

(205) When the operation end signal is received from the binary pattern converter 18, proceed to the next step. (206
) Switch the switches 16 and 22 to the b side.

(207) A command is issued to the camera drive unit 6 to set the camera support base 80 to the initial position.

(208) A command is issued to the paper feed drive unit 7 to take in the original until the paper position sensor 96 senses it.

(209) Block write control unit 1
Set the initial block for writing to 9.

(210) Switch the switch 14 to the b side.

(211) Instruct the input control unit 5 to import the image taken by the video camera 4 into the dual port memory 3.

(212) Switch the switch 14 to the a side.

(213) Block write control unit 1
9, send a write start command to dual port memory 3.
The 6-bit gradation image data is converted into 2-bit gradation and written into a pre-designated block on the transmitting/receiving memory 25.

(214) Block write control unit 1
When the operation end signal is received from 9, proceed to the next step.

(215) Determine whether reading of the four blocks in the main scanning direction has been completed.

(216) A command is issued to the camera drive section 6 to move the camera support stand 80 to the next position.

(217) Instruct the paper feed drive unit 7 to feed the document by 432 dots.

(218) A command is issued to the camera drive unit 6 to set the camera support base 80 to the initial position.

(219) Block write control unit 1
Set the next write block to 9.

(220) Check whether writing of all blocks has been completed.

(221) A transmission start command is issued to the facsimile section 34.

(222) When a transmission end signal is received from the facsimile section 34, the process proceeds to the next step.

(223) End the processing routine.

Next, the operation of the system control section 13 when the reception button 10 is pressed will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

(300) Start the processing routine.

(301) Switch the switches 15 and 24 to the b side.

(302) A reception start command is issued to the facsimile unit 34.

(303) When a reception end signal is received from the facsimile section 34, the process proceeds to the next step.

(304) The function information of the communication partner received from the facsimile unit 34 in the transmission control procedure is input, and it is determined whether the communication partner is in videophone mode or facsimile mode.

(305) Switch the switches 17 and 23 to the b side.

(306) Block read control section 2
Set the read initial block to 1.

(307) Block read control section 2
Issue a read start command to 1.

(308) Block read control section 2
When the operation end signal is received from step 1, proceed to the next step.

(309) Switch the switch to the a side.

(310) Binary pattern inverse conversion unit 20
An instruction is issued to read out the 1-bit gradation pattern data stored in the transmission/reception memory 25, convert it to 6-bit gradation data, and write it into the dual port memory 3.

(311) When the operation end signal is received from the binary pattern inverse conversion section, proceed to the next step.

(312) End the processing routine.

Next, read block switching button 1
The operation of the system control unit 13 when 2 is pressed will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

(400) Start the processing routine.

(401) Switches 15, 17, 23
, 24 to the b side.

(402) Switch the switch 14 to the a side.

(403) Block read control section 2
Set the next read block to 1.

(404) Block read control section 2
Issue a read start command to 1.

(405) Block read control section 2
When the operation end signal is received from step 1, proceed to the next step.

(406) End the processing routine.

[0101] In this way, when reading a document, it is divided into multiple blocks and read, so it is possible to overcome the drawback that the resolution of the video camera is low and fine text cannot be read.
It is possible to transmit image information of a document at a resolution comparable to that of a general facsimile. Furthermore, since a video camera is used, three-dimensional objects such as people and scenery can also be photographed. In addition, when the communication partner is the facsimile machine of this embodiment, not only can it be sent and received as a 6-bit gradation image, but it is also converted to 1-bit gradation data and sent and received, so if the communication partner is a general facsimile machine, However, it can be received as an image expressed with binary area gradation. Furthermore, the selection of whether the image to be transmitted or received is a multi-level gradation image in videophone mode or a binary gradation image in facsimile mode is made using the camera stand switch 8 at the time of transmission.
At the time of reception, it is automatically determined based on the function information of the device obtained in the transmission control procedure and displayed on the display, so there is no need for the user to consciously switch between transmission and reception.

In this embodiment, a built-in video camera is used, but by providing an external video input signal terminal, a video tape player or the like can be connected to transmit the reproduced image as a still image.

Although MH encoding is used as the encoding method here, it is clear that similar effects can be obtained by using another method such as MR encoding. Further, although 6-bit gradation data is decomposed into blocks of 8×8 pixels, n-bit gradation data may be decomposed into blocks of a×b pixels. A dither method or other methods may be used, but if the encoding method is such that runs are not continuous in the main scanning direction, the data compression rate will be low.

The binary pattern converter 18 uses a dither method to ensure that the same logical data continues in the main scanning direction when converting 6-bit gradation data to 1-bit gradation pattern data. The data compression rate when using the facsimile standard encoding method can be increased compared to the case where the facsimile standard encoding method is used.

In the case of the facsimile mode, the transmission/reception memory 25 may be read out by reducing the size and displaying the entire image instead of dividing it into blocks. Alternatively, the dual port memory 3 can be configured so that it can be directly read and written from the system control unit 13, and the system shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the system control unit 13 writes and displays information about the display block on a part of the screen of the display 1 so that the block being displayed on the display 1 can be seen at which position. It will be more effective. For example, in FIG. 5A, all blocks are represented by grids, and the block being read is filled in with black. In FIG. 4B, the number of the block being read is displayed. In this way, it is possible to know which part of the whole the block being displayed is, thereby eliminating the inconvenience of not knowing where the user is looking.

[0106]

According to the present invention, since the document is divided into a plurality of blocks and read by a video camera, image information of the document can be sent without reducing the resolution. In addition, multi-level gradation images of three-dimensional objects such as people and landscapes are first converted to one-bit gradation data, encoded using facsimile encoding, and sent and received, so the communication partner can use the same function. Multi-level gradation image data can be received as one-bit gradation image data not only when the communication partner is a general facsimile device.

Furthermore, when converting multilevel gradation data to one-bit gradation data, the same logical data is made to continue in the main scanning direction, so compared to the case where the dither method is used, It is possible to increase the data compression rate when using the facsimile standard encoding method.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine showing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of a facsimile machine;

[Figure 3
] A perspective view showing the mechanical part of a facsimile machine,

[Figure 4]
A block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile section,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the system control unit when the send button is pressed;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the system control unit when the send button is pressed;

[Fig. 7] A flowchart showing the processing contents of the system control unit when the reception button is pressed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the system control unit when the read block switching button is pressed;

[
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of processing by a binary pattern conversion unit and a binary pattern inverse conversion unit,

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of processing by a block write control unit and a block read control unit,

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a method for further enhancing the effects of the present invention,

[
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the system control unit when the freeze/monitor switching button is pressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

4... Video camera, 6... Camera drive section, 18... Binary pattern conversion section, 19... Block write control section, 20... Binary pattern inverse conversion section, 21... Block readout control section,
25... Transmission/reception memory, 34... Facsimile section.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Two-dimensional input means for inputting image information as multi-level gradation data of I pixels (I is a natural number) in the main scanning direction and J pixels (J is a natural number) in the sub-scanning direction, and the two-dimensional input a first driving means that moves the means in the main scanning direction by I pixels N times (N is a natural number); and a second driving means that moves the two-dimensional input means in the sub-scanning direction by J pixels M times (M is a natural number). a driving means, a binarization means for converting multi-value gradation data of I×J pixels inputted by the two-dimensional input means into binary gradation data, and binary gradation data outputted by the binarization means. a first storage means for storing, and a position for controlling the first driving means and the second driving means and writing binary gradation data output by the binarization means into the first storage means. a control means for setting, an encoding means for reading and encoding the binary gradation data stored in the first storage means, and a first communication means for transmitting and receiving the data encoded by the encoding means. and a decoding means for decoding the encoded data received by the first communication means, and an output means for converting the binary gradation data decoded by the decoding means into density information and outputting it. A facsimile machine characterized by: 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second driving means is a third driving means for moving the document M times by J pixels in the sub-scanning direction. 3. According to claim 1 or 2, a second storage means is provided between the decoding means and the output means, and the second storage means stores the binary level data decoded by the decoding means. A facsimile device that stores tone data, and the output means converts the binary tone data stored in the second storage means into density information and outputs the density information. 4. A facsimile machine according to claim 3, further comprising readout control means, wherein said readout control means divides the binary gradation data stored in said second storage means into a plurality of blocks and outputs the divided blocks to said output means. Device. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first storage means and said second storage means share a storage area. 6. According to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, one pixel of the multi-level gradation data outputted by the two-dimensional input means is
Binary gradation data of D pixels (D is a natural number) in the main scanning direction and E pixels (E is a natural number) in the sub-scanning direction, consisting of black pixels (B is a natural number) and C (C is a natural number) white pixels. block(
Binary pattern conversion means for converting into B+C=D×E);
Selection means for selecting two modes, a multilevel gradation mode and a binary gradation mode, is provided, and when the selection means selects the binary gradation mode, the binary gradation output by the binarization means is outputting the tone data to the first storage means, and when the selection means selects the multi-value gradation mode, outputting the binary gradation data output from the binary pattern conversion means to the first storage means; Facsimile device for output. 7. In claim 6, when each pixel of the block of binary gradation data of D×E pixels is represented by an array (d, e) (d is a natural number less than or equal to D, and e is a natural number less than or equal to E). Natural number),
The binary pattern conversion means converts the B black pixels into (1,
1), (2,1), (3,1), , (D,1), (1
, 2), , (D, 2), (1, 3), , , facsimile machines arranged in this order. 8. A binary method according to claim 6, wherein the decoding means converts a proportion of black pixels in a block of multiple pixels of binary gradation data decoded into one pixel of multi-value gradation data. pattern inverse converting means; and switching between the multi-value gradation data outputted by the binary pattern inverse converting means and the binary gradation data outputted by the decoding means or the second storage means and outputting the same to the output means. A facsimile machine equipped with switching means for 9. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising second communication means for transmitting and receiving mode information indicating the mode selected by said selection means. 10. In claim 9, said switching means selects between the multi-level gradation data outputted by said binary pattern inverse converting means and said decoding means or said second communication means according to said mode information received by said second communication means. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that the binary gradation data output from the second storage means is switched and output to the output means.