JPH0535945B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile printer adapter suitable for use when a conventionally known general facsimile device is directly used as a hard copy output device.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventionally known general facsimile machine has a general structure as shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 2, 1 is a line switching device, 2 is a modem section, 3 is a signal processing section, 4 is a recording section, 5 is a control section for controlling each of the above-mentioned sections 1 to 4, and 6 is a telephone connection terminal. , 7 are line connection terminals.

The line switching device 1 normally has contacts c and a as shown in the figure.
The line is connected to a telephone (not shown) via terminal 7, contacts c and a, and terminal 6.

Further, in the case of facsimile reception, contacts c and b of the line switching device 1 are connected, and the line is connected to the modem unit 2.

Now, to explain the operation when receiving a facsimile, the facsimile signal arriving from the line is demodulated by the modem section 2, and the signal processing section 3
is input to. The signal processing section 3 converts the input facsimile signal into an original image signal and transfers it to the recording section 4. The recording unit 4 outputs the image signal as a hard copy.

Such a facsimile device can also be used as a hard copy output device. As a means for this purpose, conventionally the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 2 has been modified to have a configuration as shown in FIG. 3.

That is, in FIG. 3, the same parts as in FIG. The signal switching unit 8 is provided with a hard copy image signal input terminal 9.

In the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 5 controls the signal switching unit 8 to input the output image signal of the signal processing unit 3 to the recording unit 4 during normal facsimile reception, and also controls the hard copy When operating as an output device, the signal switching unit 8 is controlled so that the input image signal from the hard copy image signal input terminal 9 is transferred to the recording unit 4.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, in order for a conventionally known general facsimile device to be able to double as a hard copy output device, conventionally, the existing facsimile device has been modified as shown in FIG. There was a problem in that it was necessary to make the modifications shown in Figure 2, and it was virtually impossible for general users to make such modifications.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to operate an existing facsimile device simply by connecting it to the device without making any changes to the device. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile printer adapter that can be used as a hard copy output device.

Means for solving the problems The technical means of the present invention to achieve the above object are as follows:
A reception activation signal generation circuit for generating a facsimile reception activation signal, an image signal conversion circuit for converting an image signal from a hard copy information source into a facsimile signal format, and an output signal of both circuits to the facsimile. A line control circuit for transferring or processing input signals from a facsimile; a signal switching circuit for switching signal paths between the line control circuit and the facsimile, or between the line and the facsimile; and each of the above. The circuit is equipped with a control section that controls the entire circuit.

Effects The effects of the above technical means are as follows.

That is, a hard copy information source is connected to the image signal conversion circuit side, and an existing facsimile device, line, etc. is connected to the signal switching circuit side.

When using the existing facsimile device as a hard copy output device, the signal switching circuit disconnects the signal path between the line and the facsimile based on the control of the control unit, and switches to the signal path between the facsimile and the line control circuit. This is made possible by transferring the image signal of the hard copy information source converted into a facsimile signal format from the line control circuit to the facsimile.

In addition, when returning from a hard copy output device to an existing facsimile device, the control unit detects the transfer of all image signals from the hard copy information source, and the signal switching circuit switches between the line and facsimile based on instructions from the control unit. This is done by switching the signal path to

As a result, it becomes possible to use an existing facsimile device as a hard copy output device without making any modifications to the existing facsimile device.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile printer adapter according to the present invention. It has a function of generating a signal (hereinafter referred to as a calling signal RV) to prompt a facsimile FAX (existing facsimile device) which is also used as a facsimile machine to start facsimile reception.

12 is an image signal conversion circuit, and this conversion circuit 12
is connected to an image signal input terminal 13 for inputting an image signal Pix from a hard copy information source (not shown), and transmits the input image signal Pix from the input terminal 13 to a facsimile/FAX. It has the function of converting into a compatible signal format (for example, encoding).

14 is a line control circuit, and this control circuit 14 is
The output signal (call signal RV) of the reception activation signal generation circuit 11 and the output signal (converted image signal CPix) of the image signal conversion circuit 12 are sent by facsimile/FAX.
Input signals transferred to or input from a facsimile fax (e.g. model identification signal, etc.)
It has the function of performing processing.

15 is a signal switching circuit equipped with a plurality of switches (in this embodiment, it has contacts a to f) for switching signal paths, and a contact d of this switching circuit 15 is connected to the line control circuit 14, Contact c is connected to line connection terminal 16, contacts a and e are connected to telephone connection terminal 17, contact b is connected to first connection terminal 18, and contact f is connected to second connection terminal 19. The first connection terminal 18 is a facsimile fax
the line connection terminal 20, and the second connection terminal 1
Reference numeral 9 is for connecting the telephone connection terminals 21 of the facsimile fax. In addition, 22 is a facsimile fax line switch (contacts g, h,
23 is a modem section of the facsimile FAX.

24 is a line usage detection circuit, and this detection circuit 24
has a function of detecting whether or not a facsimile fax is communicating through line K.

25 is each of the circuits 11, 12, 14, 15, 2
This control unit 2 is a control unit for controlling the entire 4.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a page signal input terminal 26 for inputting a signal indicating the existence of an image signal to be hard-copied inputted from a hard-copy information source (hereinafter referred to as page signal PAGE), and a hard-copy signal inputted from the control unit 25. It also includes an output terminal 27 for outputting a request signal REQ requesting the information source to transfer an image signal.

This output terminal 27 and the page signal input terminal 2
6 and an image signal input terminal 13, a hard copy information source (not shown) such as a scanner is connected. On the other hand, the line K is connected to the line connection terminal 16 connected to the signal switching circuit 15, the telephone T is connected to the telephone connection terminal 17, and the first and second
A facsimile FAX line connection terminal 20 and a telephone connection terminal 21 are connected to connection terminals 18 and 19, respectively.

The operation of the facsimile printer adapter constructed as described above will be explained below with reference to FIG.

First, in the initial state, the signal switching circuit 15
As shown in the figure, each contact point is contact point c and b and contact point e.
and f are connected, and contacts d and b are disconnected.
Therefore, when viewed from the facsimile fax side, the telephone T is connected to the terminal 17 of the signal switching circuit 15, and the line K is connected to the line connection terminal 20 of the facsimile fax, so that it can be used as a normal facsimile. It is in. This state is triggered by a page signal PAGE from a hardcopy information source (not shown).
is retained until it is entered.

Next, when the control unit 25 receives an input signal from the hard copy information source, that is, a page signal PAGE, the control unit 25 detects whether the facsimile fax is communicating through the line K or not using the line use detection circuit 25.
Judgment is made based on the output signal BSY of step 4.

Here, if the output signal BSY is on, the control unit 25 determines that the facsimile fax is in use through the line K, and also outputs the output signal BSY.
If BSY is off, it is determined that communication is not in progress.

The output signal BSY is turned on and off when, for example, during communication, the facsimile FAX line switch 22 has its contacts i and h connected, and the contacts f and 1 of the signal switching circuit 15 are connected. Since the line connecting the two connection terminals 19 is disconnected from the line K, its potential is the same as the contact i of the facsimile FAX line switch 22 when communication is not in progress.
Since it changes with respect to the case where and g are connected, it can be determined based on the potential change.

Next, the control unit 25 outputs the control signal after the output signal BSY is turned off when it is on, or immediately when the output signal BSY is turned off.
The signal switching circuit 15 is controlled via the SEL, and contacts e and f are disconnected and contacts a and c and contacts d and b are connected at the same time.

Next, the control unit 25 turns on the control signal ST to activate the line control circuit 14, and then turns on the control signal RVST to activate the reception activation signal generation circuit 14.
Start 1.

Thereby, the reception activation signal generation circuit 11 outputs the calling signal RV to the line control circuit 14. The line control circuit 14 transfers the calling signal RV to the facsimile FAX via contacts d and b of the signal switching circuit 15 and the first connection terminal 18.

Thereafter, the line control circuit 14 exchanges signals with the facsimile fax via the same signal path (signal switching circuit 15 and first connection terminal 18), and processes such as recognition of the other party's model (facsimile fax) and phase alignment. When the image signal can be transferred to the facsimile FAX, the signal RDY is output (turned on) to notify the control unit 25 of this fact.

Upon receiving the notification, the control unit 25 outputs a signal CST to the image signal conversion circuit 12 to activate the image signal conversion circuit 12 and convert the image signal from the hard copy information source (not shown). make it possible to do it.

Next, the control unit 25 outputs a request signal REQ requesting transfer of the image signal to the hard copy information source via the output terminal 27.

The hard copy information source outputs the image signal Pix line by line in response to the request signal REQ.
The image signal Pix is input to the image signal conversion circuit 12 via the image signal input terminal 13.

The image signal conversion circuit 12 converts the input image signal into
Pix is converted into an image signal CPix in a signal format that can be transmitted to a facsimile fax, and the converted image signal CPix is output to the line control circuit 14.

The line control circuit 14 transfers the image signal CPix to the contacts d and b of the signal switching circuit 15 and the first connection terminal 18.
Transfer to facsimile fax via .

The facsimile FAX takes in the image signal CPix from the line connection terminal 20 through the contacts i and h of the line switch 22 to the modem section 23, and records (hard copy) the image signal CPix by conventionally known means.

At this time, the line control circuit 14 turns off the signal RDY to the control unit 25 while the image signal CPix for one line is being transferred to the facsimile FAX, and the image signal CPix for one line is transferred to the facsimile FAX. facsimile
When the transfer to the fax is completed, the signal RDY is turned on.

The control unit 25 waits for the signal RDY to turn on from off, and when the signal RDY turns on,
The next line image signal request signal REQ is output to the hard copy information source via the output terminal 27 again.

In response to this, the image signal for the next line is generated again.
Pix is input to the image signal conversion circuit 12, and the above-described operation is performed.

The above operation is based on the page signal input from the hard copy information source through the page signal input terminal 26.
Repeats while PAGE is entered.

As a result, the full-image signal input from the hard copy information source is recorded (hard copy) by a facsimile FAX (an existing facsimile device).

Note that during recording, the signal switching circuit 15
Since contacts e and f are disconnected and contacts a and c are connected, telephone T is connected to line K and can be used as a normal telephone.

Further, when the page signal PAGE inputted from the hard copy information source is turned off, the control section 25 controls each circuit 11, 12, 14, and 15 to return the current state to the above-mentioned initial state. As a result, the facsimile machine that has been used as a hard copy output device now operates as a normal facsimile machine.

Note that the image signals input from the hard copy information source are not limited to pattern-based image signals.
For example, an image signal such as a coded character code may be used. However, in that case, it is necessary to provide a pattern generator that performs code → pattern conversion.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the adapter of the present invention includes a reception activation signal generation circuit that generates a reception activation signal for an existing facsimile device based on activation information from a hardcopy information source, and a hardcopy information source. an image signal conversion circuit that converts an image signal from an information source into a facsimile signal format of the facsimile device; and an image signal conversion circuit that controls the transfer of output signals from both circuits to the facsimile device and processes input signals from the facsimile device. This is because it comprises a line control circuit that transmits data, a signal switching circuit that switches the signal path between the line control circuit, the facsimile device, the line, etc., and a control section that controls each of the circuits as a whole. By simply connecting the adapter of the present invention between an existing facsimile device and a hard copy information source, signal format matching and signal path switching can be performed, and no modification is required to the existing facsimile device. This has the effect that the existing facsimile device can also be used as a hard copy output device without adding any additional information.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile printer adapter according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of an existing general facsimile device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of a conventional facsimile device having a hard copy output function. 11...Reception activation signal generation circuit, 12...Picture signal conversion circuit, 13...Picture signal input terminal, 14...
Line control circuit, 15...Signal switching circuit, 16...
Line connection terminal, 17...Telephone connection terminal, 18...
...First connection terminal to the facsimile, 19...Second connection terminal to the facsimile, 25...Control unit, 2
6...Page signal input terminal, 27...Picture signal request signal output terminal, K...Line, T...Telephone,
FAX...Facsimile (existing fax machine).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reception activation signal generation circuit that generates a reception activation signal for an existing facsimile device based on activation information from a hard copy information source, and converts an image signal from the hard copy information source into a facsimile signal format of the facsimile device. an image signal conversion circuit; a signal switching circuit that selectively switches between the image signal output from the image signal conversion circuit and the image signal transmitted via the communication line; A facsimile printer adapter comprising a line control circuit that controls the transfer of an image signal output from an image signal conversion circuit to the facsimile device through the signal switching circuit, and a control section that controls each of the circuits as a whole. .