JPH0670135A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the volume of the output paper by printing the image data equivalent to two pages to the output single main scan when the number of main scan picture elements of the received image data is equal to 1/2 or less than the number of picture elements of the print main scan of an output device. CONSTITUTION:An image memory control part 1-6 stores the read image data, the coded code data, the received code data, and the decoded raw image data in an image memory 1-7 consisting of a semiconductor memory, etc. Then the image data equal to two pages are printed to the output single main scan when the number of main scan picture elements of the received image data is equal to 1/2 or less than the number of print main scan picture elements of an output device. Thus the volume of the data paper can be reduced down to 1/4. That is, the number of picture elements is outputted as it is when the main scan picture element number and the subscan number are equal to 1/2 of image resolution of the output device. Meanwhile the main scan picture element number is outputted as it is with output of the double subscanning direction when the main scan picture element number and the subscan picture element number are equal to 1/2 and 1/4 respectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a high resolution output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, G3 facsimile machines have rapidly penetrated into companies and have established themselves as OA devices essential for business. Currently, functional expansion and price reduction are progressing,
A full lineup from high end to low end has been developed.

Furthermore, in recent years, the service of the ISDN line, which is a digital communication network replacing the conventional telephone line, has been started, and G4 facsimiles connecting to the ISDN network are gradually becoming popular. The G4 facsimile is characterized by high resolution and high speed communication.

[0004]

By the way, in general,
Image data of high resolution (400 ppi in G4) has very good image reproducibility, but has a drawback that communication time increases and communication cost increases. Therefore, many users have low resolution for normal documents (200 ppi for G4).
Often sent in. However, if you have a high-resolution output device (400 ppi) on the receiving side,
The received image data is converted into high resolution regardless of whether it is high resolution or low resolution, and is output.

On the other hand, environmental protection has been sought worldwide, and together with the problem of garbage in the city, it is required to reduce the amount of paper consumption in the business society. The function of reducing the amount of paper used as much as possible is a business machine. Is sought after.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device having a high resolution output device, which can further reduce the amount of paper used without giving the user a problem in actual use. To do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a high resolution output device (eg, 400 × 400 pp G4) is used.
In the facsimile apparatus having i), when the number of main scanning pixels of the received image data is less than half the number of printing main scanning pixels of the output device (for example, 200 × 200p for G4).
pi, 200 × 100 ppi, G3 8 × 7.7 p / m
m, 8 × 3.85 p / mm), output 1 main scan,
By printing the image data of two pages, the output paper can be reduced to 1/4.

That is, when the number of main-scanning pixels and the number of sub-scanning pixels is 1/2 of the resolution of the output device, the amount of paper to be used can be output without changing the number of pixels without image deterioration such as image loss. Can be reduced to a maximum of 1/4.
In addition, the number of main scanning pixels is 1/2 and the number of sub scanning pixels is 1/4.
In such a case, the number of main scanning pixels is left unchanged and the sub-scanning direction is doubled so that the maximum amount of paper used can be reduced to 1/4 without image deterioration such as image loss.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

The control section 1-1 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
It is a microcomputer circuit composed of M, clock IC, I / O, CGROM, DMAC, etc. The software control of the microcomputer controls the operation of the entire device and manages various data.

The operation unit 1-2 is composed of various keys, a display unit, etc., and receives an operator's key input and displays various information. The reading unit 1-3 includes a CCD, an A / D conversion circuit, an image processing circuit, and the like, and performs image processing such as photoelectric conversion, A / D conversion, image correction, and binarization processing on the optically read data. To do.

The recording unit 1-4 is an image output device such as a thermal printer or a laser beam printer, and particularly 4
It has a high resolution such as 00 ppi. And
The image data read by the reading unit 1-3, the received image data, or the image data formed by the control unit is output.

The image processing unit 1-5 has a coding control for coding the image data read by the reading unit 1-3 into a compression code, a decoding control for decoding the received compression code into raw image data, and an image. Image conversion control for data reduction and enlargement is performed.

The image memory control unit 1-6 stores the read image data, the encoded code data, the received code data, and the decoded raw image data in the image memory 1-7 composed of a semiconductor memory or the like.

The communication control unit 1-8 is composed of a line interface, a telephone circuit, etc., and performs transmission / reception of image data and communication control data and control of incoming / outgoing calls of telephones.

Next, FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the print control operation of the received image data.

First, in S1, the resolution of the received image data is checked, and the resolution is 1/2 of the resolution of the image output device.
Check if: If it is larger than 1/2, the image output of one page is performed as usual.

When the resolution is 1/2 or less, S2
The page pointer is set in step S3, and the received image data is decoded and expanded in the image memory 1-7 in step S3. At this time, resolution conversion is performed under the conditions shown in FIG. Then, when reception of one page is completed (S4), if reception is completed for that page (S5), or if page pointer = 4 (S6), printing is started in S8, but otherwise. Advances the page pointer by one (S7), S
The image memory 1-7 for received data
Continue to develop.

When printing is started in S8 and is completed (S9), if the reception is completed, the reception and printing operations are ended, and if the reception is continued, the process returns to S3 to receive the received data. The expansion to the image memory 1-7 is continued.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of received data expanded in the image memory 1-7. As shown in the figure, the page is divided into line units, and synthesized and expanded into raw image data, but it is also possible to store the received data while decoding it as shown in FIG. 3, and print it. It may be rearranged by DMA transfer as shown in FIG. Also, if the number of received lines on each page is different,
White data (0 data) may be written in the empty area.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the image of the received image data and the image of the output image data.
As shown, four received images are output on one sheet.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the reception resolution and the conversion resolution. The resolution is converted and printing is performed by the combination shown in the figure.

Next, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The image processing device 6-1 includes a memory controller 1-
Raw image data is read through 6, parallel-serial conversion is performed, smoothing processing and the like are executed, and serial image data is output. The print control unit 6-2 is composed of a one-chip microcomputer or the like, and performs a printing operation by exchanging command statuses by the control unit 1-1. Further, the print controller 6-2 controls the motor driver 6-3 to perform recording paper conveyance control and recording paper cut control, print strobe output to the thermal printer 6-4, and image data latch timing control. By performing the output timing control of the image data to the image processing device 6-1, the printing operation of the image data is directly controlled.

Next, FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the print control operation of the second embodiment. The resolution of the image data received in S21 is checked to see if it is less than or equal to 1/2 of the resolution of the image output device. If it is larger than 1/2, the image output of one page is performed as usual.

When the resolution is 1/2 or less, S
The page pointer is set at 22 and the print start position is set at the left end of the printing paper at S23, and the received data decoded at S24 is printed line by line at S25.

This printing control is executed by outputting each image system signal and exciting the motor driver 6-3. Figure 8
It is a timing chart of each image system signal. When the reception of one page (S26) and the printing of one page (S27) are completed, it is checked whether all pages are completed (S2).
8) When all pages have been received, the specified number of sheets of paper are fed in the normal direction, the recording paper is cut, and the recording paper is cueed (transported to the print start position) and the received data is printed. It ends (S29 to S31).

If the reception of all pages has not been completed, the number of received pages is checked. If the number of pages to be received is "a multiple of 4" (S32), a predetermined number of sheets are conveyed in the normal direction, The recording paper is cut, the recording paper is moved to the beginning (conveyance of the paper to the print start position), and the printing of one page of the recording paper is completed (S33 to S35).

Further, the page pointer for the number of received pages is incremented by 1 (S36), and the process returns to S23 to continue the receiving and printing control. If the number of received pages is "multiple of 4-2" (S37), the page pointer is advanced by 1 (S3).
6) Then, the process returns to S23 to continue the reception and print control.

When the number of received pages is "multiple of 4 -1 or multiple of 4 -3" (S37), the recording paper is reversely conveyed by one page (S38) and the page pointer is advanced by 1 ( S39), and set the print start position to the center (S4
0), the process returns to S24 to continue the reception and print control.

Next, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The image processing device 9-1 includes a memory controller 1-
Raw image data is read through 6, parallel-serial conversion is performed, smoothing processing and the like are executed, and serial image data is output. The image processing device 9-2 reads the raw image data through the memory control unit 1-6, performs parallel-serial conversion, and outputs serial image data.

The timing control section 9-3 has the LBP 9-5.
The image processing device 9-
Output to 1 and 9-2. The selector 9-4 switches and selects the image signals output from the image processing devices 9-1 and 9-2, and outputs the image signals to the LBP 9-5.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of the image signal and the synchronizing signal, and FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the reception and print control operation.

First, in S51, the resolution of the received image data is checked, and the resolution of the image output device is 1 /
Check if it is 2 or less. Then, if it is larger than 1/2, the image output for each page is performed as usual.

If the resolution is ½ or less, S
The page pointer is set at 52, and the end of reception of n pages is waited at S53. Then, when the reception of n pages is completed, it is checked whether the reception of all pages of the page is completed (S54).

When the reception of all pages is completed, the process proceeds to S55 to check the total number of received sheets,
If the total number of received pages is one, the process proceeds to S56 and the low resolution received data is enlarged to the high resolution of the printing device and output. If the total number of received pages is more than one page, the process proceeds to S59 to start the printing operation.

If the reception of all pages is not completed in S54, the page pointer is checked in S57. If "n = 4", the process proceeds to S59 to start the printing operation. If "n ≠ 4", the page pointer is advanced by 1 in S58, and the process returns to the reception control in S53.

In S59, the received four pages (the number of remaining sheets when all pages have been received) are printed. First, the first two pages of "n = 1, 3" (or "n = Printing of the first two pages (1, 2 ”) and when this is completed (S60), printing of the second half two pages (or two pages of“ n = 3, 4 ”) where“ n = 2, 4 ”is started. (S61), when this is completed (S62), if the reception of all pages has been completed (S63), the reception and printing operations are completed, and if not completed, the procedure returns to S52 to receive and print operations. Continue.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the number of main scanning pixels of the received image data is less than 1/2 of the number of printing main scanning pixels of the output device, the image data of two pages is printed for one output of one main scanning to maximize the output paper. There is an effect that it can be reduced to 1/4. Then, by outputting the received images collectively, there is an advantage that the contents can be easily viewed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a print control operation of received image data in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of received data expanded in an image memory in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an image example of image data received and an image example of output image data in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a reception resolution and a conversion resolution of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a print control operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of each image system signal of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of the image signal and the synchronization signal of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a reception and print control operation of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 ... Control unit, 1-2 ... Operation unit, 1-3 ... Reading unit, 1-4 ... Recording unit, 1-5 ... Image processing unit, 1-6 ... Image memory control unit, 1-7 ... Image Memory, 1-8 ... Communication control unit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a high-resolution output device, wherein the number of main scanning pixels of the received image data is less than half of the number of printing main scanning pixels of the output device, or almost 1.
In the case of / 2, the facsimile machine is characterized in that the image data for two pages is printed for one output main scanning. 2. When the cut paper is used as the recording paper and the received original is one page, the number of main scanning pixels of the received data is 1/2 of the number of printing main scanning pixels of the output device. A facsimile machine characterized by expanding and outputting even in the following cases. 3. The first page according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that conveys the output paper in the forward direction, a unit that conveys the output paper in the reverse direction, and a unit that shift-controls the image print position in the main scanning direction. After the end of printing, the output paper is reversely conveyed to the print start position of the first page, and the second page is printed by shifting the print start position with respect to the first page to output 1 main scan. On the other hand, a facsimile machine characterized by printing two pages of image data. 4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising two or more ports for reading image data from an image memory and outputting the image data to an output device, and means for switching between these ports. After outputting the first page by the port, switch the port,
A facsimile apparatus characterized in that by printing a second page through a second port, two pages of image data are printed for one output main scanning. 5. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of lines of two pages printed in the same main scan is different, a white image is added to the image data of the page having a small number of lines.