JPH06152814A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a picture processor in which components are used in common and the function is extended by devising the processor such that a control section and an operation section are replaced with a control section and an operation section having a different function from that of other control section and operation section at an interfacing part of a common interface. CONSTITUTION:A configuration block in which simple and inexpensive control section and operation section 3a, 4a are connected to a high speed bus 6 through which picture data of a scanner 1 and a printer 2 are transferred in real time and another configuration block in which high functional control section and operation section 3b, 4b are connected to a bus 6 are devised to be replaced with each other. Thus, the design, the units and components are made in common for products of multi-models and multi-kinds having a similar configuration, the cost is reduced, the extension of new functions is facilitated, and the addition of functions and the extension at a field are facilitated. Furthermore, the control section and operation section 3a, 4a and the control section and operation section 3b, 4b are respectively designed to be integrated extension modules 5a, 5b and the control sections and operation sections are preferably replaced in the unit of modules.

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 which facilitates the function expansion while sharing the common parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine, even if an input / output device such as a scanner or a printer has the same function, for example, a model having a sophisticated image editing function and a single function are used. The function of the operation panel differs greatly from the model.

[0003]

Therefore, a control unit for controlling the control unit is required to have a high function, and inevitably the casing structure of the entire image processing apparatus must be changed according to the function. did not become. Further, in the conventional device configuration, it was very difficult to meet a user's request to change a single-function model to a high-function model in the field.

Further, even in the digital copying machine and the plain paper facsimile, although the input / output devices have the same function, they are similarly different due to different required functions such as a connection interface for communication by a telephone line or the like. Different control units and housings were required.

As described above, in the conventional apparatus configuration technology, even if the basic configuration is the same, it is necessary to individually specify the specifications of the control unit / operation panel and the housing design for each model, which increases the cost. It was a big factor.

The object of the present invention is to make common the design, units and parts for a multi-model / multi-product group having the same structure, reduce the cost, and facilitate the expansion of new functions. At the same time, it is to provide an image processing apparatus that facilitates addition and expansion of functions in the field.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, and a common interface. An image processing apparatus comprising a first control unit connected to control the input / output device, and a first operation unit connected to the first control unit, wherein the first control unit and the first control unit are provided. The operation unit of is connectable to the common interface and can be replaced with a second control unit and a second operation unit having functions different from the functions of the first control unit and the first operation unit. It has a feature.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the first control section and the first operation section, and the second control section and the second control section.
The operating parts of each are configured as an integrated unit,
It is characterized in that the connection portion of the common interface can be replaced in units.

According to another aspect of the invention, a common control capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, and a first control connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device. Part and the first
An image processing apparatus having a first operation section connected to the second control section and a second operation section having functions different from the functions of the first control section and the first operation section. A unit is further connected to the common interface, the second control unit simultaneously controls the first operation unit via an operation unit connection interface, and the first control unit is inoperable or removable. Is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the second control unit and the second operation unit are configured as an integral unit, and can be added in units by connecting the common interface and the operation unit connection interface. It is characterized by being.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, and a first control connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device. Part and the first
An image processing apparatus having a first operation section connected to the second control section and a second operation section having functions different from the functions of the first control section and the first operation section. A unit is connected to the common interface, and a control unit connection interface is provided between the first control unit and the second control unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the second control unit and the second operation unit are configured as an integrated unit, and can be added in units by connecting the common interface and the control unit connection interface. It is characterized by being.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, a control unit connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device, In the image processing apparatus including an operation unit connected to the control unit, the control unit controls a plurality of operation units having different functions via the operation unit connection interface.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of operation sections is configured as an operation section unit different from the control section, and the operation section connection interface is replaced by the operation section unit. It is characterized by being possible.

In a ninth aspect of the invention, a common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, and a control unit connected to the common interface and controlling the input / output device are provided. The provided image processing apparatus is characterized by including an operation unit connected to the common interface.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the operation section is configured as an operation section unit separate from the control section, and can be replaced in units of the operation section unit at a connection portion of the common interface. It has a feature.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, a control unit connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device, In an image processing apparatus having an operation section connected to the control section, the common interface is a general-purpose interface capable of high-speed data transfer, and a general-purpose control section and an operation section are connected to the outside of the image processing apparatus, The control unit and the operation unit are characterized by controlling the input / output device instead of the control unit and the operation unit.

[0018]

The simple and inexpensive control unit and operation unit connected to the bus and the high-performance control unit and operation unit connected to the bus can be exchanged in units. As a result, even if the input / output device is the same, it is possible to easily add or expand the function.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1> FIGS. 1A and 1B are block configuration diagrams of a first embodiment of the present invention, which can be applied to, for example, a digital copying machine or a facsimile. In FIG. 1, the scanner 1 is provided as an input device, and the printer 2 is provided as an output device. Further, as the common interface, a high-speed bus capable of transferring image data of the scanner or printer in real time, for example, a bus 6 of SCSI-II specification is used.
It has an interface of CSI-II specifications.

FIG. 1A shows a configuration example in which a simple and inexpensive control unit 3a and operation unit 4a are connected to a bus 6, and shows an example applicable to a digital copying machine having a basic function. There is. The control unit 3a needs to have an interface of the SCSI-II specification, and the operation unit 4a is controlled by the control unit 3a.

On the other hand, FIG. 1 (b) shows an example of the configuration in which the high-performance control section 3b and the operation section 4b are connected to the bus 6, for example, a digital copying machine having an advanced image editing function. It can be applied to the following. As above,
The control unit 3b has a SCSI-II specification interface, and the operation unit 4b is controlled by the control unit 3b. Therefore, the configuration of FIG. 1A and the configuration of FIG. 1B can be easily exchanged in units of expansion units (5a, 5b).

2 (a) and 2 (b) show an embodiment in which the above-mentioned structure is shown as a mounting form. Figure 2 (a) shows
This is an example of mounting a simple operation unit and control unit, and a configuration in which an expansion unit 5a incorporating the operation unit 4a and control unit 3a can be connected to, for example, the digital copying machine main body 7 using a SCSI-II bus connector. Has become.

Similarly, in FIG. 2B, a highly functional operation unit 4b is provided.
The expansion unit 5b incorporating the control unit 3b can be connected to the main body 7 of a digital copying machine or the like using a SCSI-II bus connector.

In this embodiment, since the above-mentioned configuration is adopted, the configuration of FIG. 2 (a) and the configuration of FIG. 2 (b) can be easily exchanged for each unit, and a common model is achieved. , Its effect is great. Further, it is possible to easily change the model in the field.

The simple control unit 3a and the operation unit 4a and the high-performance control unit 3b and the operation unit 4b are composed of, for example, the following elements.

The control unit 3a includes a CPU: 16-bit controller (for example, manufactured by NEC.
V25) ROM: 128KB RAM: 32KB SCSI-II interface: Gate array OS: None Peripheral: display / key controller Operation unit 4a displays: 14 x 80 dots LCD 1 pc, individual LED
20 key switches: 20 keys.

The control unit 3b includes a CPU: a 32-bit controller (for example, 80386SX manufactured by Intel) ROM: 512KB RAM: 2MB SCSI-II interface: gate array HDD: 40MB 1 unit FDD: 3.5 "2HD 1 unit IC card interface : PCMCIA specification OS: ROM-DOS Peripheral: Real-time clock, VGA driver, serial interface, parallel interface In addition to the configuration of the operation unit 4a, the display unit: 640 x 480 dots LCD (VGA specification) Input: Full keyboard , Consisting of a mouse.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. The structure of this embodiment is initially composed of a simple control unit 3a and an operation unit 4a, but thereafter, a high-performance control unit 3b and an operation unit 4c are added, and the control unit 3b is connected to the operation unit. The interface 8 is also configured to control the simple operation unit 4a.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the structure of the second embodiment is shown in a mounting form. For example, the main body 7 of the digital copying machine has a simple operation part 4a and a control part 3a incorporated therein.
The operation unit connection interface 8 connects the expansion unit 5c in which the highly functional control unit 3b and the operation unit 4c are incorporated.

In this case, the simple control unit 3a is provided with, for example, a switch to stop the operation or remove the operation. A low-speed interface is sufficient as the operation unit connection interface 8, and for example, RS-232
C or Centronics interface is used. With the configuration of the second embodiment, it is possible to extremely easily expand the function and replace the model especially in the field.

The operating portion 4c may be constructed, for example, by removing the operating portion 4a from the operating portion 4b.
In other words, it has a configuration including a 640 × 480 dot LCD display, a full keyboard and a mouse.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. By providing the control unit connection interface 9 between the control unit 3a and the control unit 3b,
The simple control unit 3a and the operation unit 4a, and the high-performance control unit 3b and the operation unit 4c can be simultaneously connected to the SCSI-II bus. In this embodiment, the control unit 3a continues to operate as it is.

As a mounting form, the structure shown in FIG. 4 is adopted. The connection between the main body 7 and the extension unit 5c is by the control unit connection interface. Also with the configuration of the third embodiment, it is possible to extremely easily expand the function in the field and exchange the model.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIGS. 6A and 6B are block configuration diagrams of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the control unit is a highly functional control unit 3b, and the operation unit is a simple operation unit 4a in the case of FIG. 6A, and FIG.
In the case of, it is a highly functional operation unit 4b, and the operation units 4a, 4
b is configured to be exchangeable and connectable by the operation unit connection interface.

FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) are shown in FIG. 6 (a),
The mounting form corresponding to (b) is shown. In FIG. 7A, the control unit 3b is installed in the main body 7, and the simple operation unit 4a is used.
The operation unit 10a incorporating the main body 7 and the main body 7 are connected by an operation section connection interface, and FIG.
In the same manner, the control unit 3b is installed in the main body 7,
The operation unit 10b incorporating the highly functional operation unit 4b and the main body 7 are connected by an operation unit connection interface. And these operation units 10a, 10b
Can be replaced and mounted on the main body 7.

The configuration of the fourth embodiment has an advantage that, in addition to the effects of the commonality and expandability described above, connection can be made with only one low-speed interface which is inexpensive. Further, since the expansion unit incorporates only the operation section, it is lightweight and low in cost.

<Fifth Embodiment> FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the configuration of this embodiment, the simple operation unit 4a and the high-performance operation unit 4b each have a SCSI-II bus interface, and are directly SCS.
By being connected to the I-II bus, it is controlled by the control unit 3b via the SCSI-II bus. That is, it is possible to connect the necessary operation unit 4a or 4b according to the model. Further, the configuration of FIG. 7 can be used as this mounting mode. In this case, the main body 7 and the operation unit 10a or 10b are connected by a SCSI-II bus connector.

Also according to the configuration of the fifth embodiment, in addition to the effects of the commonality and expandability described above, the weight of the expansion unit is reduced.
There are merits that the cost is low and the connection interface is only one SCSI-II bus connector.

<Sixth Embodiment> FIG. 9 shows a mounting form according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. As the block configuration diagram of this implementation mode, the configuration of FIG. 3 or FIG. 5 is used. As a common high-speed interface to which input / output devices such as scanners and printers and a control unit are connected, for example, SCSI
-By using a general-purpose high-speed data transfer interface such as II and using a relatively low-speed general-purpose interface (for example, RS-232C or Centronics interface) for the operation unit connection interface or the control unit connection interface, A commercially available personal computer (PC) or workstation (WS) can be connected.

For example, the digital copying machine main body has a simple control section 3a and an operation section 4a incorporated therein, and the SCS
A general-purpose PC or WS is provided by the I-II bus connector and the operation unit connection interface or the control unit connection interface.
Can be used as a highly functional control unit and operation unit.

That is, in the configuration of this embodiment, a general-purpose PC or WS can be used in place of the highly functional control section 3b and operation section 4b as shown in FIG.
It is possible to use various and convenient user interfaces and software that C and WS have. As a result, for example, in a digital copying machine, a facsimile, or the like, advanced control according to various functions and models becomes possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the input / output devices are the same, the cost can be reduced and the function can be easily expanded in a multi-functional / multi-product group requiring different control functions. It is possible to obtain a configuration that can be performed in any case.

[0043]

As described above, according to the first to sixth aspects of the invention.
According to the above-described invention, the control unit and the operation unit can be exchanged in units of units, so that the models can be standardized, and the models can be changed in the field and the functions can be easily expanded.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the invention, since the control unit controls a plurality of operation units having different functions via the operation unit connection interface, the operation unit can be operated with one inexpensive low speed interface. They can be connected, and since the expansion unit incorporates only the operation section, it can be made lightweight and low cost.

According to the ninth and tenth aspects of the present invention, since the operation unit is connected to the common interface and can be replaced in units of operation unit, the weight and cost of the unit can be reduced and the connection can be made. Interface is SCSI
-It can be configured with one II bus connector.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since a general-purpose personal computer or workstation is used in place of the highly functional control section and operation section, a variety of highly convenient user interfaces and software are used. When applied to a digital copying machine or a facsimile, it is possible to perform high-level control according to various functions and models.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are block configuration diagrams of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are examples of a case where the configuration of FIG. 1 is shown in a mounting form.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a case where the configuration of Example 2 is shown in a mounting form.

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

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are block configuration diagrams of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

7 (a) and 7 (b) show a mounting mode corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a mounting form according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner 2 Printer 3a, 3b Control Unit 4a, 4b, 4c Operation Unit 5a, 5b, 5c Expansion Unit 6 SCSI-II Bus 7 Digital Copy Machine Main Body 8 Operation Unit Connection Interface 9 Control Unit Connection Interface 10a, 10b Operation Unit Unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, a first controller connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device, and the first controller. In the image processing apparatus including a first operation unit connected to the control unit, the first control unit and the first operation unit are connection units of the common interface, An image processing apparatus, which is replaceable with a second control unit and a second operation unit having a function different from the function of the first operation unit. 2. The first control section and the first operation section, and the second control section and the second operation section are each configured as an integral unit, and the unit is a connection section of the common interface. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is replaceable in units. 3. A common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, a first controller connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device, and the first controller. An image processing apparatus having a first operation section connected to the second control section and a second operation section having functions different from the functions of the first control section and the first operation section. A unit is further connected to the common interface, the second control unit simultaneously controls the first operation unit via an operation unit connection interface, and the first control unit is inoperable or removable. An image processing device characterized by: 4. The second control unit and the second operation unit are configured as an integral unit, and can be added in units by connecting the common interface and the operation unit connection interface. Claim 3
The image processing device described. 5. A common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, a first controller connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device, and the first controller. An image processing apparatus having a first operation section connected to the second control section and a second operation section having functions different from the functions of the first control section and the first operation section. An image processing apparatus, wherein a unit is connected to the common interface, and a control unit connection interface is provided between the first control unit and the second control unit. 6. The second control unit and the second operation unit are configured as an integral unit, and can be added in units by connecting the common interface and the control unit connection interface. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5. 7. A common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, a control unit connected to the common interface and controlling the input / output device, and a control unit connected to the control unit. An image processing apparatus having an operating section for controlling the image processing apparatus, wherein the control section controls a plurality of operating sections having different functions via an operating section connection interface. 8. The plurality of operation sections are each configured as an operation section unit different from the control section, and can be replaced in units of the operation section unit at a connection portion of the operation section connection interface. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7. 9. An image processing apparatus comprising: a common interface capable of high-speed data transfer; an input / output device connected to the common interface; and a control unit connected to the common interface and controlling the input / output device. An image processing apparatus comprising an operation unit connected to the common interface. 10. The operation section is configured as an operation section unit different from the control section, and can be replaced in units of the operation section unit at a connection portion of the common interface. The image processing device described. 11. A common interface capable of high-speed data transfer, an input / output device connected to the common interface, a control unit connected to the common interface for controlling the input / output device, and a control unit connected to the control unit. In the image processing apparatus including an operating unit, the common interface is a general-purpose interface capable of high-speed data transfer, and the general-purpose control unit and the operating unit are connected to the outside of the image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus, which controls the input / output device instead of the control unit and the operation unit.