JPH05301390A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record a plurality of pages at a high speed. CONSTITUTION:A buffer memory 10 has a memory capacity for a plurality of pages and accumulates image data from an image accumulation memory 8 or a reading section 6. A CPU 1a outputs the image data accumulated in the memory 10 to a recording section 13 when used quantity of the memory of the buffer memory 10 exceeds a predetermined quantity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing in page units, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of device, since an image input to the device is not always input at a constant speed, it corresponds to at least the amount of information required for the printer to print one page. Recording was started after accumulating in a large capacity buffer memory.

[0003]

Generally, in a printer that controls printing on a page-by-page basis, the paper feed time required to convey the recording paper to the printing position depending on the storage position of the recording paper is neglected in comparison with the printing time. Since this is an impossible time, when printing multiple pages, in order to operate the printer at the highest speed, you must give a paper feed instruction for printing the next page before finishing printing the previous page. The condition is that the time required to input the image information for one page into the buffer memory is within the time required for printing one page.

However, in order to satisfy the above conditions, the input and output of images in the buffer memory must be performed at high speed and in parallel, which has a drawback that the control becomes complicated and the cost is increased.

Further, when the image input / output of the buffer memory is serially processed, that is, image accumulation and recording are alternately performed for each page, a paper feed instruction for the next page is issued after the printing of the previous page is completed. Therefore, there is a drawback that the time required for recording becomes long.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. The object of the present invention is to print even if the image information of the buffer memory is input and output by serial processing. If the amount of information in the image is small,
An object is to provide an image processing apparatus that enables the printer to operate at the highest speed.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that performs image processing on a page-by-page basis, and a storage unit that stores image data for a plurality of pages and a confirmation that confirms the storage state of the storage unit. And a control unit that controls the output of the recording data stored in the storage unit based on the storage state confirmed by the confirmation unit.

[0008]

According to this structure, the storage means stores the image data for a plurality of pages, the confirmation means confirms the storage state of the storage means, and the control means operates the storage means based on the storage state confirmed by the confirmation means. The output of the recorded data stored is controlled.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a CP that controls the entire apparatus.
The control part which contained U1a is shown. 2a is CPU1
A ROM for storing a control program for operating a, an error processing program, programs for each flow chart shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and 2b is used as a work area for each program and a temporary save rear for error processing. RAM is shown. Reference numeral 3 denotes a keyboard provided with keys necessary for facsimile operation, an operation panel including an LED (issuance diode) for displaying an operational menu, an LCD (liquid crystal element), etc., and 4 a telephone sent from the control unit 1. 1 shows an automatic calling device for sending a dial signal to a telephone line 20 via a line control unit 5 corresponding to number data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a line control for performing modulation / modulation of procedure signals and image signals and line control.
It consists of NCU etc. Reference numeral 6 denotes a reading unit for reading a document. In this reading unit 6, the main operation is two kinds of resolutions of 8 pixels / mm and 16 pixels / mm, and the sub-scanning is 4 pixels / mm and 8 pixels / mm and 16 pixels / mm.
It has three types of resolutions of mm and can be read by any combination of main scanning and sub-scanning. The reading unit 6 is composed of a CCD line sensor, a document conveying system, and the like, and the read image data is sent in the form of a monochrome binary level signal. Reference numeral 7 denotes an encoding circuit that converts the serial data sent from the reading unit 6 into codes such as run length and MH. Reference numeral 8 denotes an image storage memory for storing the image data encoded by the encoding circuit 7, which normally has a capacity of 1 Mbytes. Reference numeral 9 denotes a shift register for converting serial data sent from the reading unit into 8-bit parallel data. Reference numeral 13 denotes a recording unit for recording an image of maximum A4 size in page units with a cotton density of 16 pixels / mm in both main scanning and sub scanning. The printing time for one line is constant and printing is performed in the middle of a page. It is a configuration that cannot be interrupted.
The time required for the recording paper to be conveyed from the storage position to the recording position is 12 seconds, and the printing time for one A4 size page is 13 seconds.
The printing pause time between pages when continuously feeding for 2 seconds is 2 seconds, and it has the ability to print 4 pages of A4 size in a maximum of 1 minute. A buffer memory 10 for printing on the recording unit 13 has a capacity of 2 Mbytes so as to store the amount of information required to print one A4 recording sheet at a cotton density of 16 pixels / mm for both main scanning and sub-scanning. The control unit 1 or shift register 9 inputs non-compressed image data. Reference numeral 14 denotes an address decoder for selecting the image storage memory 8 or the buffer memory 10 from the address output from the control unit 1, and the address at which each memory is selected is variable here. 15
Indicates a resolution conversion circuit, where the main scanning is 8 pixels / m.
m to 16 pixels / mm, sub-scanning 4 pixels / mm or 8
Pixels / mm can be converted to 16 pixels / mm. And 2
Reference numeral 0 indicates a telephone line (line).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation at the time of transmission according to this embodiment. First, the operation during transmission will be described with reference to FIG.

After the initial processing (step S1), the apparatus waits for key input (step S2). When there is a key input for instructing transmission from the operation panel 3 (step S3), the document is waited for to be set, and if the document is set correctly (step S4), the reading unit 6 reads the document by an instruction from the control unit 1. Start (Step S
5). Although the reading resolution at this time is not described, it is instructed by the operator before instructing transmission from the operation panel. For example, reading is performed at a resolution of 8 pixels / mm in both main scanning and sub scanning. The serial data output from the reading unit 6 is encoded by the encoding circuit 7 and stored in the image storage memory 8 (step S6). When the reading of the manuscripts of all the pages is completed (step S7), the control unit 1 transmits the telephone number to the automatic calling device 4 and gives an instruction for calling. The automatic calling device 4 sends a dial signal through the line controller 5 (step S8). When the other party's line 20 can be captured and the communication is confirmed, the communication speed is determined by the transmission result of the training signal (step S9), and the image data is sequentially sent from the image storage memory 8 to the line 20 (step S10). .. When transmission is completed (step S
13) The line 20 is disconnected (step S14). Then, the transmitted contents in the image storage memory 8 are erased (step S15), and the process returns to the key input state (step S2).

If a valid key input other than the transmission instruction is detected in step S3, a predetermined process is performed according to the contents of the input key (step S2).
1).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation at the time of copying according to this embodiment, FIG. 6 is a flow chart explaining the operation at the time of recording according to this embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a timing chart at the time of recording in this embodiment. Is. Here, the operation at the time of copying will be described.

According to the present invention, when there is a key input of a copy instruction from the operation panel 3 (step S301), the control section 1 instructs the reading section 6 on the basis of the key input information from the operation panel 3 such as density magnification resolution. When the document is correctly set at a predetermined position (step S302), the reading is started (step S303), the serial data output from the reading unit 6 is converted into 8-bit parallel data by the shift register 9, and the buffer memory 10 is read. Stored in. (Step S304). When the reading of one page is completed (step S305) and the document read immediately before is the last page (step S306), step S3.
The process proceeds to 10 and recording is started. The operation of step S310 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

Returning to step S306, if there is an original document to be read, the current usage amount of the buffer memory 10 is A
(Step S307), the capacity of the buffer memory 10 predicted to be used by the next original is calculated from the instructed resolution, and B is calculated (step S308).
The sum of A and B is 2 compared with the 2 Mbyte capacity of the buffer memory 10 (step S309).
The process returns to step S302 until the number of bytes exceeds M, and the reading of the original is continued. If the sum of A and B exceeds 2 M bytes, the process proceeds to step S310 and the control unit 1 instructs the recording unit 13 to start feeding the recording paper (step S311), as shown in FIG. The operation mode of the resolution conversion circuit 15 is set. The resolution conversion circuit 15 converts the 8-bit parallel data read from the buffer memory 10 into serial data, and if the reading resolution is 8 pixels / mm in both main scanning and sub-scanning, one image is doubled in each direction. And transfers it to the recording unit 13. When recording is started and there is an image to be printed as the next page in the buffer memory 10 (step S312), the paper feed for printing the next page is started within 3 seconds after the recording of the page currently being printed is started. A command is issued (step S313).
When the recording of one page is completed (step S314) and there is an image of the next page in the buffer memory 10, the recording is repeated from step S311 to step S315. At this time, the printer will print at the highest speed. If the information to be printed has been lost in the buffer memory 10 (step S315), the reader is focused on again, and if the read document still remains (step S316), the process returns to step S302 to read the document. To resume. If there is no document to be read, the end processing is entered (step S
317), and returns to the state of waiting for key input again (step S).
301). FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the operation branch in step S309, that is, a list of the operation branches according to the usage amount of the buffer memory 10 and the reading resolution of the next page. As is clear from FIG. 7, four A4 size originals are 8 pixels / mm ×
When copying at a resolution of 8 pixels / mm, all four originals are read and then recorded, and the time required for recording is 70 seconds as shown in FIG. If the original is read and recorded alternately for each sheet, the time required for recording is 100 seconds, which shows that the present invention is extremely effective.

4 and 5 are flow charts showing the operation at the time of reception according to this embodiment.

Here, the operation at the time of reception will be described.

When this device receives an incoming call (step S40)
1) The initial identification signal is transmitted (step S402), and the communication mode such as the communication speed and resolution speed is determined by the communication result of the procedure signal and the training signal (step S40).
3) Then, image reception is started (step S404). The received image is decoded by the CPU 1a in the control unit 1,
Data is successively stored in the buffer memory 10 in the form of uncompressed 8-bit parallel data. When the image for one page that can be printed by the recording unit 13 is received (step S405), if the page just received is the last page (step S4).
06), the line is disconnected (step S407), and the recording operation is started (step S310). Since the contents of the recording operation are the same as the steps S311 to S315 in the copying operation as shown in FIG. 6, the description thereof will be omitted. Step S4
Returning to 06, if the currently received page is not the final page, the usage amount A of the buffer memory 10 as in steps S307 to S309 described in the description of the copy operation.
And the memory capacity B predicted to be used by the received image of the next page are used for mode branching. When the sum of A and B is 2 Mbytes or less, the reception is continued as it is (step S
309 → step S404), if the sum of A and B exceeds 2 M bytes, the recording operation is started as in step S310, and an image is further received (step S40).
9). However, the received image is not decoded and is stored in the image storage memory 8
Stored in. When reception ends (step S410)
The line is disconnected (step S407), and the CPU 1a decodes the image in the image storage memory 8 and transfers it to the buffer memory 10 (step S411), waiting for the end of the recording operation (step S310) which has already been executed. When the transfer of one page is completed (step S412), if the page just transferred is the last page (step S413),
The recording operation is started (step S310), and after the recording is completed, the state of waiting for an incoming call is set (step S401). Step S4
Returning to step 13, if the page just transferred is not the final page, as in steps S307 to S309 described above, when the sum of A and B is 2 Mbytes or less, the next page image transfer (step S411) is entered. The sum of A and B is 2M
When the number of bytes is exceeded, the recording operation (step S31
0) After execution, the image transfer of the remaining pages is performed (step S411). As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to easily speed up the recording operation for a plurality of pages without increasing the cost.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to easily speed up the recording operation of a plurality of pages without increasing the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of transmission according to this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of copying according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of reception according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of reception according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an operation at the time of recording according to this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a list of operation branches according to the usage amount of the buffer memory 10 and the reading resolution of the next page.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart at the time of recording in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Unit 1a CPU 2a ROM 2b RAM 3 Operation Panel 10 Buffer Memory 13 Recording Unit 15 Resolution Conversion Circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a page-by-page basis, comprising storage means for storing image data for a plurality of pages, and confirmation means for confirming the storage state of the storage means.
An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the output of the print data stored in the storage unit based on the storage state confirmed by the confirmation unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output destination of the print data by the control means is a printing apparatus.