JPH08154143A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To shorten communication time at the time of obtaining halftone screen modified information by outputting synthetic data to a recordable area. CONSTITUTION: In this image recorder provided with a main scanning counter 31 for counting dot positions in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning counter 32 for counting the number of lines in a sub scanning direction for outputting reception data to the recordable area (matrix) of recording paper set by the counted values of the main scanning counter 31 and the sub scanning counter 32 based on a communication protocol received from an outside, when a halftone screen instruction is received within the communication protocol from the outside, count data from the main scanning counter 31 and the sub scanning counter 32 are selectively outputted and halftone screen data are prepared. Further, the half tone screen data and the reception data from the outside are synthesized and the synthetic data are outputted to the recordable area of the recording paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus for dot-outputting externally received data onto recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a document or the like in which important information is written is sent by an image recording device, for example, a facsimile device, the received document, which outputs the received information, is copied to a person other than the recipient without permission. For the purpose of preventing this from happening, "transmission" modification, which is a type of character modification in which halftone dots are overlaid on characters, symbols, etc., is often applied to the document on the sending side.

[0003] In the case of obtaining such a shaded modified received image on the receiving side, in a conventional facsimile apparatus, a manuscript or data in which information to be transmitted is described is shaded by a word processor or the like. The halftone-modified original is set in a facsimile machine on the transmission side to perform transmission processing.

[0004]

However, in such an image recording apparatus, since the original document in which the information to be transmitted is written is subjected to the transmission processing in a state where the original is shaded, the transmission data includes characters, In addition to the character information such as symbols, the dot information of the shaded area superimposed on these character information is included.

As a result, since the size of the transmission data becomes very large, there is a problem that the communication time for transmitting from the facsimile device on the transmitting side to the facsimile device on the receiving side becomes long.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide an image recording apparatus capable of shortening the communication time when obtaining the halftone-modified information.

[0007]

The present invention comprises a main scanning counter for counting dot positions in the main scanning direction and a sub scanning counter for counting the number of lines in the sub scanning direction, and is based on a communication protocol received from the outside. In an image recording apparatus that outputs received data to a recordable area of recording paper set by the count values of the main scanning counter and sub-scanning counter, when a hatching instruction is received within a communication protocol from the outside, the main scanning counter and the Halftone data creating means for creating halftone data based on the count data from the sub-scanning counter, halftone data from the halftone data creating means and externally received data are combined, and the combined data is recorded. And a shaded composite data output control means for outputting to a recordable area of paper.

[0008]

In the present invention having such a structure, when a hatching instruction is received within the communication protocol from the outside, the hatching data is created based on the count data from the main scanning counter and the sub-scanning counter. The shaded data and the data received from the outside are combined, and this combined data is output to the recordable area of the recording paper.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. Reference numeral 11 is a CPU (central processing unit) that constitutes the main body of the control unit, and 12 is a ROM that stores program data for the CPU 11 to control each unit. (Read only
Memory), 13 is a RAM (random access memory) provided with a memory used by the CPU 11 for data processing, 14 is a scanner for reading image data to be transmitted, 1
5 is a printer 2 for outputting the received image data on recording paper
0 is a printer controller, 16 is a modem (modulator / demodulator) for receiving image data from a telephone line, 1
Reference numerals 7 and 18 are I / O ports.

The CPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 1
3, the scanner 14, the printer controller 15, the modem 16, and the I / O ports 17 and 18 are electrically connected by bus lines such as a data bus, an address bus, and a control bus.

The scanner 14 is provided in the scanner unit for setting a read document. A document sensor (not shown) that detects whether or not a document is set is provided in the scanner unit.

The modem 16 has a function of transmitting and receiving an image signal of the facsimile machine and a function of transmitting a tone dial signal. In addition, the modem 16 is a well-known NCU (network control unit) that switches whether a normal telephone (not shown) or a data terminal is connected to the telephone line.
19 is connected. The connection switching relay 21 of the NCU 19 can be controlled by the CPU 11 via the I / O port 17 and the relay drive circuit 22.

The I / O port 18 is connected to an operation panel 23 having a display section 24 for displaying key input operation guidance and the like and a key input section 25 for performing various key operations. The display unit 24 is composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display device or the like, and displays necessary information according to various operation situations.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer controller 15 includes a main scanning counter 31 and a sub-scanning counter 3.
2, a halftone data creating unit 33 as halftone data creating means, and a two-input OR gate 34 as halftone combined data output control means.

The main scanning counter 31 counts the number of dots in the main scanning direction of the recording area. Specifically, the main scanning counter 31 counts up the counter value from 0 for each line, clears the count at the beginning of the next line, and counts up from 0 again.

The sub-scanning counter 32 counts the number of dots in the main scanning direction of the recording area. Specifically, the sub-scanning counter 32 counts up the counter value from 0 for each page, clears the count at the beginning of the next page, and counts up again from 0.

The recording paper 1 is obtained by combining the counter values of the main scanning counter 31 and the sub-scanning counter 32.
Dot positions per page can be obtained as a matrix.

The halftone dot data creating section 33 creates the halftone dot data for performing the halftone dot processing on the received data based on the count data (matrix) from the main scanning counter 31 and the sub scanning counter 32. is there.

The shaded data creating section 33 is specifically composed of a main scanning selector 35, a sub scanning selector 36, and two input AND gates 37 and 38.

The main scanning selector 35 receives the count data from the main scanning counter 31, and selectively selects the count value corresponding to the dot position of the shaded data in the main scanning direction from this count data based on a predetermined rule. It is designed to output.

Further, the sub-scanning selector 36 inputs the count data from the sub-scanning counter 32, and selectively selects the count value corresponding to the dot position of the shaded data in the sub-scanning direction from this count data based on a predetermined rule. It is designed to output to.

As described above, the shaded data is created by selecting the count data from the main scanning counter 31 and the sub-scanning counter 32 based on a predetermined rule to obtain dots in a grid pattern.

According to the predetermined rule, for example, only the even or odd number out of the count data of the main scanning selector 31 and the sub-scanning selector 32 is selected and output, or is output every fixed count, for example, every 10 counts. There are cases. Alternatively, a case may be used in which a random number is generated and output is performed based on this random number.

The two-input AND gate 37 takes the logical product of the outputs from the selectors 35 and 36 and outputs the grid-like data. The output from the 2-input AND gate 37 is input to the other 2-input AND gate 38.

The two-input AND gate 38 takes the logical product of the output from the two-input AND gate 37 and the halftone enable signal from the CPU 11. Two
The input AND gate 38 is a 2-input AND gate 3 while the halftone dot enable signal from the CPU 11 is on.
When the output from 7 is output, that is, the shaded data is output, and the shaded enable signal is off,
The output from the 2-input AND gate 37 is turned off.

The output from the 2-input AND gate 38 is supplied to the 2-input OR gate 34. The 2-input OR gate 34 inputs the received video data received via the telephone line, the modem 16, etc., and takes the logical sum of this received video data and the output from the 2-input AND gate 38, that is, the shaded data. Is.

As a result, the output of the 2-input OR gate 34 becomes print video data in which the shaded data is placed on the received video data, and the output to the recording paper is performed based on this print video data.

FIG. 3 is a communication sequence showing data exchange between the transmitting side and the receiving side when transmitting and receiving by the facsimile apparatus. When there is a CALL from the transmitting side, the receiving side transmits the called station identification CED. The non-standard function NSS, the called station terminal identification CSI, and the digital identification signal DIS are also transmitted to the transmission side.

This non-standard function NSS is for notifying the facsimile machine on the transmitting side that it has a special function that is not a standard function.
Contains a function identification signal indicating that the received data has a halftone dot printing function.

Then, the transmitting side has a non-standard function setting NSS,
The transmitting terminal identification TSI and the digital command signal DCS are transmitted to the transmitting side. This non-standard function setting NSS is for setting whether or not to use the non-standard function of the receiving side.
The non-standard function setting NSS may include a shaded print instruction instructing to use the shaded print function.

Then, the sender checks the training T
When the CF data is transmitted to the reception side, the reception side transmits a reception preparation confirmation signal CFR to the transmission side. Then, the receiving side converts, for example, one page of the manuscript into encoded data and transmits it as a procedure signal PIX.

After that, when the sender sends the procedure end EOP to the receiver, the receiver sends a message confirmation MCF to the sender. Then, the transmitting side sends the circuit disconnection command DCN.
To the receiving side to end this communication sequence.

The CPU 11 performs recording control as shown in FIG. 4 when recording on recording paper based on the received data received from the transmitting side. That is,
In the communication sequence shown in FIG. 3, it is determined in ST1 whether or not the non-standard function setting NSS received from the transmitting side includes a halftone dot print instruction to use the halftone dot print function.

At this time, if it is determined that the non-standard function setting NSS includes a halftone dot print instruction, it is determined in ST2 whether the facsimile machine on the receiving side is set to the halftone dot print mode.

When it is determined that the halftone print mode is set, the halftone enable signal is turned on in ST4. Then, in ST5, for example, as shown in FIG.
One page of received video data as shown in (a) is received.

Subsequently, in ST6, print recording is performed on the recording paper based on the received video data. That is, the shaded data creation unit 33 creates shaded data shown in FIG. 7 based on the counter data of the main scanning counter 31 and the sub-scanning counter 32.

Then, printing is carried out based on the output obtained by taking the logical sum of the shaded data and the received video data, that is, the print video data shown in FIG. 6 (a). As a result, it is possible to obtain a print result that is shaded. After that, in ST7, the hatching enable signal is turned off, and the recording process ends.

If it is determined in ST2 that the halftone printing mode is not set, and if it is determined in ST3 that the halftone printing is not performed, the process proceeds to ST5.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, the selectors 35 and 36 of the shaded data creating section 33 select only an odd number of the count data from the counters 31 and 32 as a predetermined rule for selecting the count data. In this case, the recording process of the received video data is performed at the timing shown in FIG.

That is, when there is a shaded print instruction from the transmitting side in the communication sequence, the shaded enable signal is turned on. As a result, the hatched data from the hatching creation unit 33 is validated.

When the transmission video data as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6A is received and the recording process is started, the main scanning counter 31 counts the dot positions in the main scanning direction of the recording area. It starts and outputs count data as shown in FIG. Further, the sub-scanning counter 32 starts counting the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the recording area and outputs count data as shown in FIG. 5B.

Then, the main scanning selector 35 outputs the main scanning network data as shown in FIG. 5C in which only the odd number is extracted from the count data from the main scanning counter 31. Further, the sub-scanning selector 36 includes a sub-scanning counter 32.
Fig. 5 showing only the odd number out of the count data from
The sub-scanning network data as shown in (d) is output.

The result of the logical product of the main scanning network data and the sub scanning network data is output from the input AND gate 37 as the meshed data shown in FIG. 5 (e).
An image of this shaded data is as shown in FIG.

The result of the logical sum of the shaded data shown in FIG. 5 (e) and the received video data shown in FIG. 5 (f) is 2 as the print video data shown in FIG. 5 (g). It is output from the input OR gate 34.

The image of this print video data is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6C and 6A and 6C, the recording process on the recording paper is performed based on the print video data. In this way, the reception video data received from the transmitting side is subjected to the shading processing on the receiving side and the recording processing is performed in a state where the shading is not performed.

On the other hand, in the communication sequence, when there is no shaded print instruction from the transmitting side, that is, when normal data reception without shaded processing is performed, the shaded enable signal is turned off. As a result, the hatched data from the hatching creation unit 33 is invalidated.

In such a case, since the shaded data from the shading generation section 33 is not output from the 2-input AND gate 38, the received video data and the print video data are
As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the information of the transmission video data is directly recorded.

As described above, in order to obtain the reception result with the shading modification, the transmission side receives the transmission video data which is not subjected to the shading processing as it is, and the reception side shades the received video data. In order to perform the processing, the communication with the transmission side is performed based on the data without the shading modification, which is a much smaller data amount than the case where the shading modification is applied.
Therefore, the transmission time can be significantly shortened and the communication cost can be reduced.

Further, since the count data (matrix) from the main scanning counter 31 and the sub-scanning counter 32 for setting the recordable area of the recording paper is selectively taken out, it is performed.
The hatched data can be created with a simple configuration in which selectors 35, 36 and AND gates 37, 38 are added to these counters 31, 32.

Further, since the receiving side is subjected to the halftone modification and the print video data obtained by adding the halftone data to the received video data is recorded on the recording paper, the halftone modification can be favorably performed. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent unauthorized copying of the received document in a clear state. Further, even when the shading process is performed, the transmission original document may be held without being shaded.

In this embodiment, when the shaded printing instruction is given in the communication sequence, the communication shaded enable signal is turned on, and it is determined whether or not the shading is applied each time it is transmitted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the ON / OFF switching of the hatching enable signal may be performed for each page or each portion by the control operation of the CPU 11.
As a result, it is possible to perform halftone processing for each page or each part by one transmission.

[0053]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus capable of shortening the communication time when obtaining the halftone-modified information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of the printer controller shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a communication sequence of data communication control according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing recording control performed by the CPU shown in FIG.

5 is a timing chart showing an example of control timing of recording control performed by the CPU shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a transmission by recording control performed by the CPU shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the image data at the time of receiving and printing, (a) shows the case where a halftone process is performed, (b) shows the case where a halftone process is not performed.

FIG. 7: Reception by recording control performed by the CPU shown in FIG.
The figure which shows the image data at the time of printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... CPU 31 ... Main-scanning counter 32 ... Sub-scanning counter 33 ... Shading data creation unit 34 ... 2-input OR gate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A main scanning counter for counting dot positions in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning counter for counting the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the received data is received based on a communication protocol received from the outside. In the image recording apparatus for outputting to the recordable area of the recording paper set by the count value of the sub-scanning counter, when a hatching instruction is received within the communication protocol from the outside, the main scanning counter and the sub-scanning counter The shaded data creating means for creating shaded data on the basis of the count data of No. 1 and the shaded data from this shaded data creating means and the externally received data are combined, and this combined data can be recorded on the recording paper. An image recording apparatus comprising: a shaded composite data output control means for outputting to a region.