JPH0583450A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An inexpensive personal computer for an image input device for inputting an image or a character recognition result of an image to a computer.
The purpose is to input an image using a facsimile machine. A facsimile device 5 for transmitting a compressed image signal through a telephone interface and an image input adapter 1 for receiving the compressed image signal of the facsimile device 5 and transferring it to a computer 2 through a host interface are provided. The adapter 1 has a telephone line interface unit 10 connected to the facsimile apparatus 5, a control unit 11 for performing a facsimile reception control operation, a memory 12 for storing a received image signal, and an image signal for transferring the image signal to the computer. And an upper interface unit 13 of

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

(Table of Contents) Industrial Application Field of the Prior Art (FIG. 7) Problem to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problem (FIG. 1) Action Example (a) Description of First Example ( 2 to 4) (b) Description of the second embodiment (FIGS. 5 to 6) (c) Description of another embodiment

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device for inputting an image or a character recognition result of an image to a computer. With the recent development of personal computers, not only character data but also image data can be processed. To process this image data, it is necessary to input the image data. Therefore, there is a demand for an inexpensive image input device.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique. Figure 7
As shown in (A), an image is input by connecting a dedicated image scanner to the personal computer 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the character recognition device 4 is connected to the personal computer 2, the image is read, the character is recognized, and the character code is input. On the other hand, the facsimile machine has all the requirements as an image input device, but does not have a connection interface with a personal computer except some expensive facsimile machines.

[0005]

However, the prior art has the following problems. The image scanner costs about 300,000 yen,
The character recognition device costs about 500,000 yen, and the image input device is expensive.

A facsimile machine having a connection interface with a personal computer is a high-end machine and extremely expensive. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image input device capable of inputting an image by using an inexpensive personal facsimile device.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows the principle of the present invention. According to claim 1 of the present invention, a facsimile device 5 for transmitting a compressed image signal through a telephone interface, and an image input adapter 1 for receiving a compressed image signal from the facsimile device 5 and transferring it to a computer 2 through a host interface.
The image input adapter 1 has a telephone line interface unit 10 connected to the facsimile apparatus 5, a control unit 11 for performing a facsimile reception control operation, a memory 12 for storing a received image signal, and an image. It has a high-order interface unit 13 for transferring a signal to the computer.

According to claim 2 of the present invention, in claim 1,
The image input adapter 1 is provided with an image decompression unit 14 for decompressing the received compressed image signal, and the decompressed image signal is transferred from the upper interface unit 13.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the telephone line interface section 10 has a network control section 10a for switching and connecting the facsimile apparatus 5 to an internal or external telephone line. The unit 11 determines whether the telephone number detected by the network control unit 10a is the telephone number set by itself, and when the detected telephone number is the telephone number set by itself, the network control unit 10a. Connects the facsimile device 5 internally, and when the detected telephone number is not a telephone number set by itself, the network control unit 10a connects the facsimile device 5 to an external telephone line to detect the detected telephone number. Characterized by redialing the number.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the image input adapter 1 is provided with a character recognition unit 15 for performing character recognition of an expanded image, and the result of the character recognition is obtained by the upper interface unit 13. It is characterized by transferring more.

[0011]

The personal facsimile machine is inexpensive at about 50,000 to 60,000 yen. Therefore, in claim 1 of the present invention,
The image input adapter 1 for receiving the compressed image signal of the facsimile device 5 and transferring it to the computer 2 by the upper interface is connected, and the image input adapter 1 is connected to the telephone line interface unit 10 connected to the facsimile device 5 and the facsimile reception control. Since the control unit 11 that performs the operation, the memory 12 that stores the received image signal, and the host interface unit 13 that transfers the image signal to the computer 2 are provided, the image input adapter 1 operates as the facsimile device 5. It is possible to communicate, take in a compressed image signal by a normal transmission operation of the facsimile device 5, and input it to the computer 2.

The image input adapter 1 can be constructed at a low cost because the circuit of the facsimile device 5 can be used, and an image can be input using the inexpensive facsimile device 5 and the simple image input adapter 1. ..

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image decompression unit 14 for decompressing the received compressed image signal is added to the image input adapter 1.
And the expanded image signal is provided to the upper interface unit 13
Since it is transferred more, the expanded original image can be transferred to the host computer 2.

In claim 3 of the present invention, the telephone line interface unit 10 has a network control unit 10a for switching and connecting the facsimile apparatus 5 to an internal or external telephone line, and the control unit 11 detects the network control unit 10a. If the detected telephone number is the telephone number set for itself, the network control unit 10a is judged.
Connects the facsimile device 5 to the inside, and when the detected telephone number is not the telephone number set by itself, the network control unit 10
Since a connects the facsimile device 5 to the external telephone line and redials the detected telephone number, the facsimile device 5 can be used for both original facsimile and image input.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image input adapter 1 is provided with the character recognition unit 15 for performing character recognition of the expanded image, and the character recognition result is transferred from the host interface unit 13. Therefore, the image is recognized. Computer 2
Can be transferred to.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (a) Description of the First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a process flow diagram of the embodiment of FIG. In the figure, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 are designated by the same symbols, and the telephone line interface unit 10 includes a network control unit 10a for performing network control.
It has a modulation / demodulation (modem) unit 10b and a line unit 10c for performing serial / parallel conversion and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the network control unit 10a detects the dial pulse from the facsimile device 5 and notifies the control unit 11 of a dialing number and the facsimile device 5. The telephone number from the switching unit 101, which is switched and connected to the modem unit 10b or the public network, and the control unit 11, is converted into a dial pulse,
A dialing unit 102 for sending to the public network is included.

The control unit 11 is composed of an MPU, performs the processing shown in FIG. 4, and simulates a facsimile reception operation. The image buffer unit 12 is composed of a memory.
The decompressed image signal is stored.

The decompression unit 14 decompresses the received compressed image signal, and the higher-order interface unit 13 uses RS2.
32C, GPIB, etc. perform interface control with the host computer 2, and the bus 16 is the control unit 1.
1. Connect the telephone line interface unit 10, the decompression unit 14, the image buffer 12, and the upper interface unit 13,
It is for exchanging data, commands, and the like.

The operation will be described with reference to the process flow chart of FIG. The original is set on the facsimile device 5 and the telephone number is dialed. At this time, the image input adapter 1
Unused telephone numbers, for example, 000-0000
To register and select the image input adapter 1,
Dial this phone number.

In the image input adapter 1, the dialing detecting section 100 detects the dialing, detects the telephone number, and notifies the control section 11. The control unit 11 determines whether the detected telephone number is a registered telephone number, and if it is not the registered telephone number, determines that it is normal facsimile communication, and proceeds to step.

On the other hand, if the detected telephone number is a registered telephone number, the control unit 11 controls the switching unit 101 to connect the line from the facsimile apparatus 5 to the modem unit 10b as shown in FIG. 3 (B). Connect with. This enables communication with the facsimile device 5.

The control unit 11 communicates with the facsimile device 5 via the telephone line interface unit 10, the facsimile device 5 starts transmission, and the control unit 11 simulates the facsimile reception procedure and transmits the compressed data. Import image data via the telephone line interface unit 10,
The compressed image data is transferred to the decompression unit 14 and decompressed, and the decompressed image data is stored in the image buffer unit 12.

Then, the control unit 11 transfers the original image data in the image buffer unit 12 to the host computer 2 via the host interface unit 13 and ends the processing. On the other hand, when the detected telephone number is not the registered telephone number in step, the control unit 11 causes the control unit 11 of FIG.
2, the switching unit 101 is controlled to connect the public line and the dialing unit 102, and the dialing unit 102 is provided with the detected telephone number.
From 2, the number dialed by the facsimile device 5 is dialed again to the public line.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3D, the control section 11 controls the switching section 101 to connect the public line and the facsimile apparatus 5. As a result, the facsimile device 5 performs normal facsimile communication.

In this way, the image input adapter 1
When the facsimile device 5 detects that the telephone number set for itself is transmitted, it recognizes that the facsimile device 5 does not transmit to the public line but to the image input adapter 1, and the receiving operation of the facsimile device 5 is recognized. Simulate,
The image data from the facsimile device 5 is taken in, decompressed, and transferred to the computer 2.

Since the telephone line interface section 10, the expansion section 14 and the like of the image input adapter 1 can use a general-purpose LSI for facsimile and can be constructed at low cost, an inexpensive personal facsimile apparatus 5 is used to provide an inexpensive image. An input device can be realized. The facsimile device 5 can also be used as an original facsimile.

(B) Description of the Second Embodiment FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a processing flow chart of the second embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3 in FIG.
The same symbols as those shown in are indicated by the same symbols, and 15 is a character recognition unit for recognizing characters in the designated area of the expanded original image data.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. 3 according to the process flow chart of FIG. The original is set on the facsimile device 5 and the telephone number is dialed. At this time, the image input adapter 1
Unused telephone numbers, for example, 000-0000
To register and select the image input adapter 1,
Dial this phone number.

In the image input adapter 1, the dialing detecting section 100 detects the dialing, detects the telephone number, and notifies the control section 11. The control unit 11 determines whether the detected telephone number is a registered telephone number, and if it is not the registered telephone number, determines that it is normal facsimile communication, and proceeds to step.

On the other hand, if the detected telephone number is the registered telephone number, the control unit 11 controls the switching unit 101 to connect the line from the facsimile apparatus 5 to the modem unit 10b as shown in FIG. 3 (B). Connect with. This enables communication with the facsimile device 5.

The control unit 11 communicates with the facsimile device 5 via the telephone line interface unit 10, the facsimile device 5 starts transmission, and the control unit 11 simulates the facsimile reception procedure and transmits the compressed data. Import image data via the telephone line interface unit 10,
The compressed image data is transferred to the decompression unit 14 and decompressed, and the decompressed image data is stored in the image buffer unit 12.

Then, the control unit 11 performs character recognition of a predefined area of the original image data of the image buffer unit 12,
The character recognition unit 15 transfers the original image data in the image buffer unit 12 to the host computer 2 via the host interface unit 13, and transfers the character code of the recognition result to the host computer 2 via the host interface unit 13. finish.

On the other hand, when the detected telephone number is not the registered telephone number in step, the control unit 11
Controls the switching unit 101 to connect the public line and the dialing unit 102, as shown in FIG.
The detected telephone number is given to the dialing unit 102, and the dialing unit 102 re-dialings the number dialed by the facsimile device 5 to the public line.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3D, the control section 11 controls the switching section 101 to connect the public line and the facsimile apparatus 5. As a result, the facsimile device 5 performs normal facsimile communication.

In this way, the image input adapter 1
When the facsimile device 5 detects that the telephone number set for itself is transmitted, it recognizes that the facsimile device 5 does not transmit to the public line but to the image input adapter 1, and the receiving operation of the facsimile device 5 is recognized. Simulate,
Image data from the facsimile device 5 is taken in, decompressed, and characters are recognized, and the character recognition result and the original image data are transferred to the computer 2.

Since the telephone line interface section 10, the expansion section 14, etc. of the image input adapter 1 can use a general-purpose LSI for facsimile and can be constructed at a low cost, an inexpensive personal facsimile apparatus 5 can be used to provide an inexpensive image. An input / character recognition device can be realized. The facsimile device 5 can also be used as an original facsimile.

(C) Description of Other Embodiments In addition to the above embodiments, the present invention can be modified as follows. I explained that the facsimile machine can also be used for the original facsimile, but without using this type of usage,
It may be dedicated to image input. In this case, the switching unit 101 and the dialing unit 102 are not necessary, and if dialing is performed from the facsimile device 5, the control unit 11 may start communication.

The transmission to the public line or the input to the computer is automatically detected and switched by the telephone number, but a manual changeover switch is provided to manually select the public line or the image input adapter. Good.

When the computer 2 performs the expansion process, the expansion unit 14 may not be provided. Although the original image data is transmitted when character recognition is performed, the original image data may not be transmitted, and the original image data in an area other than the character recognition area may be transmitted. Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It has the following effects. Since the image input adapter 1 which connects to the facsimile device 5 through the telephone line interface, communicates with the facsimile device 5, captures the image data, and transfers the image data through the host interface is provided, a mass produced inexpensive facsimile device is used. As a result, an image can be input, and an image input device can be provided at low cost. Further, the facsimile machine 5 can be used as it is without providing a special interface.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Input Adapter 2 Upper Computer 5 Facsimile Device 10 Telephone Line Interface Section 11 Control Section 12 Image Buffer Section (Memory) 13 Upper Interface Section 10a Network Control Section 10b Modem Section 10c Line Section 14 Expansion Section 15 Character Recognition Section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideyuki Inaoka 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor, Koichi Aoshima 1015, Kamedotachu, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited ( 72) Inventor Eiichi Watanabe 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device (5) for transmitting a compressed image signal via a telephone interface, and an image input adapter for receiving the compressed image signal of the facsimile device (5) and transferring it to a computer (2) by an upper interface ( 1) and the image input adapter (1) has a telephone line interface section (10) connected to the facsimile device (5).
And a control unit (11) for performing a facsimile reception control operation
An image input device comprising: a memory (12) for storing the received image signal; and a host interface unit (13) for transferring the image signal to the computer (2). 2. The image input adapter (1) is provided with an image decompression unit (14) for decompressing the received compressed image signal, and the decompressed image signal is transferred to the upper interface unit (1).
The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image is transferred from 3). 3. The telephone line interface section (10)
Has a network control unit (10a) for switching and connecting the facsimile device (5) to an internal or external telephone line, and the control unit (11) uses the telephone number detected by the network control unit (10a) If the detected telephone number is the telephone number set for itself, the network control unit (10a) connects the facsimile device (5) to the inside, When the detected telephone number is not the telephone number set by itself, the network control unit (10a) connects the facsimile device (5) to an external telephone line and redials the detected telephone number. The image input device according to claim 1 or 2, which is characterized in that. 4. The image input adapter (1) is provided with a character recognition unit (15) for performing character recognition of a decompressed image, and the character recognition result is provided to the upper interface unit (13).
The image input device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the image is transferred further.