JPH07321998A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit a video image and an original to a destination as one facsimile communication data and to confirm an image content to be transmitted prior to the transmission thereby in the facsimile equipment receiving video signals by one frame or one field as digital data and sending the signal as facsimile data. CONSTITUTION:This facsimile equipment provided with a video image storage section 103 storing a video signal and a read section reading an original is provided with an image synthesis means 105 synthesizing a video image and image information of the original to transmit the synthesized image as a facsimile signal, and also provided with a transmission image storage section 115 storing the image information of the synthesized image to print out the synthesized image and store the image in the section 115.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine having a video input function for converting a video image into a facsimile image and transmitting the facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is a transmission apparatus capable of exchanging image information such as documents and drawings with a remote place using a public line. A conventional facsimile apparatus optically reads image information of a document or a document on which drawings are written, converts it into digital data, and sends the digital data to the other party via a communication line such as a public line. The other party receives the digital data sent and prints it on paper. In this way, by using the facsimile device, it is possible to deliver the document or the document on which the drawing is written to the other party through the communication line.

A configuration for transmitting a video image signal in a facsimile apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-150450. The facsimile apparatus is provided with an input means for inputting a video image signal to the facsimile apparatus and a means for converting the input video image signal into the same format as the image data output by an image reading unit for reading a document. It is possible to transmit a video image signal in the same manner as image information of a document or the like.

[0004]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, it is possible to transmit a video image signal in a facsimile apparatus in the same manner as image information of a document.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, although the video image signal can be transmitted by the facsimile apparatus, there is no consideration regarding the combination of the video image signal and the document or the drawing and transmitting them.
For example, in the case of transmitting a photograph by a conventional facsimile apparatus, a document such as an explanation about the photograph is collectively transmitted together with the photograph in one original. In the above-mentioned conventional facsimile machine, a document such as a description about a video image signal has to be transmitted separately from the video image signal.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, when transmitting a video image signal, it is not possible to confirm what kind of image is transmitted to the other side.
When a video image signal is transmitted, since the original does not remain after facsimile transmission such as a document or drawing, it is not possible to confirm what kind of image is transmitted to the other party.

As described above, the above-mentioned prior art does not consider transmitting a video image signal and image information such as a document or a drawing, and further confirming the video image signal transmitted first. It was

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting a video image signal, which is capable of synthesizing a video image signal and image information such as a document or a drawing and transmitting the synthesized image. . A second object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of confirming the combined image information prior to the facsimile transmission to the other party.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above object is to provide a facsimile apparatus having means for converting a video image signal into digital data, a means for storing the video image signal converted into the digital data as video image information, and an original document. When a facsimile device transmits a video image signal, the facsimile device is provided with a means for synthesizing the image information of the document read by the reading means for reading the image information and the video image information stored in the storage means. When the signal is converted into digital data and temporarily stored in the storage means, and the facsimile transmission is performed, the image information of the original read by the reading means and the video image information stored in the storage means are combined and transmitted to the destination. It is achieved by configuring.

A second object is, in addition to the above-mentioned configuration, a facsimile apparatus which stores image information obtained by synthesizing video image information stored in the storage means and image information of an original read by the reading means. And the image information stored in the second storage means is printed by the printing means of the facsimile apparatus.

[0011]

The facsimile apparatus has a video signal input terminal for inputting a video signal, and when a user's operation instructs the video signal to be taken in, the facsimile apparatus receives 1 video signal from the video signal input terminal. Image information of a still image for a frame or one field is captured as digital data (hereinafter referred to as video image information).
The captured video image information is temporarily stored in the storage means. When a facsimile is transmitted, the image information of the original set on the facsimile is read by the reading means, combined with the video image information stored in the storage means, and then sent. Therefore, by setting in advance a manuscript in which the description regarding the captured video image information is written, the captured video image information and the description regarding the image are transmitted as one sheet.

On the other hand, when the second storage means is provided, the facsimile device reads the image information of the set original by the reading means when the user instructs the printing of the transmission image, and the storage means is provided. The image information combined with the video image information stored in is stored in the second storage means and printed by the printing means. As a result, if the user of the facsimile machine sees the print result and finds no problem, he or she instructs the transmission of the facsimile to transmit the image information stored in the second storage means to the other side. Second like this
By providing the storage means, it is possible to print and check in advance the result of combining the video image and the image information read as a document such as a document or drawing before sending it to the other party. For example, the image information stored in the second storage means can be directly transmitted to the other party.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus is provided with a video signal input terminal 101 for inputting a video signal, and the video signal input from the video signal input terminal 101 is stored in the video image storage unit 103 as digital data by the video signal processing unit 102. A reading unit 104 reads image information of a document, and is composed of, for example, a line sensor and a document paper feed mechanism. Reference numeral 105 denotes an image synthesizing unit for reading the video image stored in the video image storage unit 103 and the reading unit 1.
The image information of the original read by 04 is combined. The contents of composition will be described later. An image processing unit 106 performs binarization processing for transmitting the image information of the video image and the original document combined by the image combining unit 105 by facsimile. The encoding unit 107 encodes the image information image-processed by the image processing unit 106. A modem 110 transmits and receives coded image information.
The line control unit 111 connects the facsimile device to the line connection terminal 1
When connecting to a public line or the like by 14, line control such as line connection, call origination, disconnection, and termination is performed. The decoding unit 113 decodes the encoded image information received by the modem 110. The printing unit 112 prints image information, and is composed of, for example, a thermal line printer. An operation unit 108 is composed of buttons, switches and the like for the user of the facsimile device to instruct the facsimile device to operate. The control unit 109 controls each component of the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the arrangement of the operation unit 108 in this embodiment. A video button 116 is used to instruct the facsimile device to process a video signal. The operation when the video button is operated will be described later. A stop button 117 is used to instruct the facsimile apparatus to stop its operation. 11
A start / copy button 8 is used to instruct the facsimile device to start copying a document, transmitting the facsimile, and receiving the facsimile. A display lamp 119 indicates that communication is in progress, and is lit while the facsimile apparatus is performing facsimile communication.

FIG. 5 shows a video button 116 of the operation unit 108.
The processing when the button is pressed is shown. When the video button 116 is pressed (step 301), the control unit 109 of the facsimile apparatus controls the video signal processing unit 102 and the video image storage unit 103 to input the video input from the video device connected to the video signal input terminal 101. A video image for one frame or one field of the signal is captured in the video image storage unit. (Step 302) Video signal processing unit 102
Detects a vertical synchronization signal from an input video signal, and based on this, converts one frame or one field of a video image into digital data by, for example, an A / D converter and stores it in the video image storage unit 103. Subsequently, the control unit 106 checks whether or not a document is set on the reading unit 104. (Step 303) If the document is set in the reading unit 104, the image information of the document is read by the reading unit 104. (Step 304) Subsequently, the image composition unit 105 combines the video image stored in the video image storage unit 103 with the image information of the document read by the reading unit 104. (Step 305) The image composition processing by the image composition section will be described later. Image synthesizer 10
The image processing unit 106 performs image processing on the composite image of the video image combined with the image information of the original document combined by 5. On the other hand, if no original is set in the reading unit 104 in step 303, the video image stored in the video image storage unit 103 is sent to the image processing unit 106 as it is without any particular processing in the image combining unit 105. In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 106 performs halftone processing by the error diffusion method for the video image portion and performs image processing for the image information portion of the document according to the instruction of the user of the facsimile apparatus.
Although not particularly described here, in the facsimile machine, how the user of the facsimile machine performs image processing on the image information of the original document, and in general, whether to perform the binary processing or the halftone processing. In the case of value processing, the scanning line density is designated.

Subsequently, the control unit 109 checks whether or not the facsimile machine is on hook. (Step 306) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the start / copy button 118 is used to instruct the facsimile apparatus to start facsimile communication. This button has three meanings depending on the state of the facsimile device: copy start, facsimile transmission start, and facsimile reception start. When the line is not closed, that is, when pressed in the on-hook state, it means the start of copying. When the line is closed and no document is set in the reading unit 104, it means the start of facsimile reception. On the other hand, with the line closed, the reading unit 104
If the original is set in, it means the start of facsimile transmission. The check in step 306 is for determining whether to print the image information by the facsimile device itself or to perform the facsimile transmission. If the line is not closed in step 306,
That is, in the case of the on-hook state, the image information is printed by the printing unit 11
Print by 2. (Step 307) On the other hand, when the line is closed in Step 306, that is, when the line is off-hook, the image information processed by the image processing unit 106 is coded by the coding unit 107 and modulated by the modem 110. After that, the signal is sent to the line connected to the line connection terminal 114 through the line control unit 111. (Step 308) FIG. 5 The image composition in step 305 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3A, 201 is a video image captured by the video signal processing unit 102 in the video image storage unit 103. Reference numeral 202 denotes image information of a document captured by the reading unit 104. The image synthesizing unit 105 synthesizes the video image 201 and the image information 202 of the document as transmission image information 203. That is, first, the video image 201 is sent to the image processing unit 106, and then the reading unit 10
Image information 202 of the document input from the image processing unit 10
Send to 6. As a result, by setting an original document in which texts explaining the video image are written in the reading unit 104, it is possible to perform facsimile transmission together with the video image. On the other hand, FIG. 3B shows another embodiment of synthesizing a video image and image information of a document in the image synthesizing unit 105.
In the present embodiment, a frame 205 indicating a place where a video image is to be fitted is written in advance on a document set on the reading unit 104. When reading the document set in the reading unit 104, the control unit 109 reads the video image stored in the video image storage unit 103 at the time of reading the frame 205, inserts it into the frame 205 portion, and performs image processing. Part 10
Send to 6. This allows the video image 201 and the original 20
Reference numeral 4 designates the image processing unit 106 as image information for transmission indicated by 206
Entered in.

FIG. 2 shows the transmission image storage unit 115 in the above embodiment.
By adding the above, it is possible to confirm the composite result of the video signal input from the video signal input terminal 101 and the image information of the original set in the reading unit 104 by printing prior to the facsimile transmission. It is a thing. In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the composite image of the video image and the image information of the original image which is combined by the image combining unit 105 and image-processed by the image processing unit 106 is in the on-hook state in step 306. If it is off-hook, the facsimile transmission is performed as it is. In this embodiment,
The composite image of the video image and the image information of the original document subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit 106 is printed by the printing unit 112 and simultaneously coded by the code writing unit 107 and stored in the transmission image storage unit 115. The user of the facsimile device checks the printing result by the printing unit 112 and, if there is no problem, gives an instruction to directly send the facsimile. In this case, the control unit 1 instructed to send by facsimile
Reference numeral 09 denotes a composite image of the video image coded by the code writing unit 107 stored in the transmission image storage unit 115 and the image information of the original document as it is to the modem 110 for modulation and transmission to the line through the line control unit 111. .

As described above, according to this embodiment, the video image input as the video signal and the image information of the original read by the reading unit 104 can be combined by the image combining unit 105 and then transmitted by facsimile. Is. Further, according to the second embodiment, the composite image of the video image and the image information of the original is printed by the printing unit 112 and is stored in the transmission image storage unit 115. Therefore, after confirming the composition result by printing, the transmission image storage is performed. The image information stored in the unit 115 can be transmitted by facsimile.

[0020]

According to the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting a still image input as a video signal, a still image input as a video signal,
It is possible to combine image information of originals and send by facsimile. Further, it is possible to confirm the content of the image to be transmitted by printing the composited image information before the facsimile transmission to the destination.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of composition of video image information and document image information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

102 ... Video signal processing unit, 103 ... Video image storage unit, 104 ... Reading unit, 105 ... Image combining unit, 106 ... Image processing unit, 107 ... Encoding unit, 108 ... Operation unit, 109
... control unit, 110 ... modem, 111 ... line control unit, 11
2 ... Printing unit, 113 ... Decoding unit, 115 ... Transmission image storage unit, 116 ... Video button.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video signal processing unit for capturing one field or one frame of a video signal as digital data, a video image storage unit for storing the digital data captured by the video signal processing unit, and a reading unit for reading image information of a document. A facsimile device having a facsimile transmission unit for transmitting image information by facsimile, an image composition unit for composing a video image stored in the video image storage unit and image information of a document read by the reading unit, A facsimile apparatus, which transmits a composite image of a video image output from an image composition unit and image information of a document by facsimile. 2. A video signal processing unit for loading one field or one frame of a video signal as digital data, a video image storage unit for storing the digital data captured by the video signal processing unit, and a reading unit for reading image information of a document. And a printing unit that prints image information, the facsimile apparatus includes an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the video image stored in the video image storage unit and the image information of the document read by the reading unit. A facsimile apparatus, wherein a printing unit prints a composite image of a video image output from a copy unit and image information of a document. 3. A video signal processing unit for loading one field or one frame of a video signal as digital data, a video image storage unit for storing the digital data captured by the video signal processing unit, and a reading unit for reading image information of a document. And a video image stored in the video image storage unit in a facsimile apparatus including a coding unit that codes image information and a printing unit that prints the image information,
An image combining unit that combines the image information of the document read by the reading unit, and a transmission image that stores a transmission image that is obtained by encoding the combined image of the video image output from the image combining unit and the image information of the document by the encoding unit. A storage unit is provided, and the composite image of the video image output from the image composition unit and the image information of the document is printed by the printing unit, encoded by the encoding unit, and stored in the transmission image storage unit. Facsimile machine.