JPH09218936A - Integrated circuit device for image control and image controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speed up the input and output of image data to and from an image memory, to reduce the number of parts, to reduce cost, to perform miniaturization and to reduce power consumption. SOLUTION: A memory control CPU interface 203, an image data transfer control part 201, selectors 204 and 205 and an image editing part 142 which are circuit elements relating to access to a page memory 145 are made into an LSI (ASIC) in one chip. Thus, since the transmission route of the image data is shortened, the input and output of the image data to and from the image memory are speeded up, the number of the parts is reduced, the cost is reduced, the miniaturization is performed and the power consumption is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image control integrated circuit device and an image control device applied to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus, that is, an electrophotographic digital copying apparatus, conventionally, each image processing circuit or image control circuit or a plurality of image processing circuits or a plurality of image control circuits has been constructed by combining individual general-purpose ICs. .

[0003]

However, in the above device, the image processing circuit and the image control circuit are large in scale as viewed from the whole circuit, and the area occupied by the circuit is largely occupied.

As a result, the size of the PC board inevitably has to be increased within an allowable range, and due to the downsizing and speeding up of the products, one, two, two layers, four layers, and several sheets are used. Change
The problem is the image processing circuit and the image control circuit that become large in scale due to the multilayer board.

Further, this means that the operation speed is delayed.
This causes problems such as an increase in cost, an increase in the number of parts, an increase in power consumption, and an increase in device size.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to speed up the input / output of image data to / from the image memory, and reduce the number of parts and the cost.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image control integrated circuit device and an image control device that can achieve downsizing and low power consumption.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image control integrated circuit device for controlling input / output of image data to / from an image memory. A CPU interface for transmitting and receiving,
An image bus to which various devices are connected is connected, and at least a transfer control circuit for controlling transfer of image data between the device and the image memory, and image data from the image memory based on a sent selection signal. A read selector for reading and outputting to the CPU interface or the transfer control circuit, and a write selector for writing image data from the CPU interface or the transfer control circuit to the image memory on the basis of a selected signal sent to one chip It is characterized in that it is incorporated in the integrated circuit substrate.

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, by incorporating the CPU interface, the transfer control circuit, the read selector and the write selector, which are circuit elements related to the access to the image memory, into the one-chip integrated circuit substrate, the image can be obtained. Since the data transmission path is shortened, the speed of inputting / outputting image data to / from the image memory can be increased. Further, along with this, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, cost, size, and power consumption.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an image forming apparatus to which an image control integrated circuit device (hereinafter referred to as "image control LSI") according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, that is, an electrophotographic digital copying apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "copying apparatus"). Is abbreviated as “.”).

The copying apparatus 2 has an image reading unit 4 which functions as a reading unit and an image forming unit 6 which functions as an image forming unit. In addition, in the upper part of the image reading unit 4,
The image reading unit 4 is formed to be openable and closable with respect to a document table 11 described later, and the objects to be read, that is, the documents D are fed toward the document table 11 one by one, and the documents placed on the document table 11 are fed. An automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") that functions as a document retainer that causes D to be in close contact with the document table 11.
8 is set.

The image reading unit 4 has an upper portion facing the ADF 8 in a closed state, and a manuscript table 11 made of transparent glass on which a manuscript D is set. 11 has a reference display device 12 indicating the position where the document D is to be set. A control panel is arranged near the document table 11 surrounding the document table 11.

Below the document table 11, the image reading section 4 is provided with an exposure lamp 13 for illuminating the document D placed on the document table 11 and for converging light from the exposure lamp 13 on the document D. The auxiliary reflection plate 14 and the first mirror 15 that bends the reflected light from the document D to the left in the drawing are arranged. The exposure lamp 13, the auxiliary reflection plate 14, and the first mirror 15 are fixed to the first carriage 16 and are arranged so as to be movable parallel to the document table 11 as the first carriage 16 moves. The first carriage 16
The driving force of a pulse motor (not shown) is transmitted via a toothed belt (not shown) and the like moves parallel to the document table 11.

In the left side of the document table 11 in the direction in which the reflected light reflected by the first mirror 15 is guided, it is parallel to the document table 11 via a drive mechanism (not shown) such as a toothed belt and a DC motor. A second carriage 20 is arranged so as to be movable.

The first carriage 15 is attached to the second carriage 20.
The second mirror 21 that bends the reflected light from the document D guided by and the third mirror 22 that bends the light to the right in the figure.
Are arranged at right angles to each other. Second carriage 20
Is driven by the first carriage 16 by a toothed belt or the like (not shown) that drives the first carriage 16, and is moved in parallel along the document table 11 at a speed of ½ with respect to the first carriage 16. .

The light reflected from the second carriage 20 is imaged at a predetermined magnification on a plane below the first carriage 16 and including the optical axis of the light turned back through the second carriage 20. An imaging lens 23 and a CCD image sensor 24 for converting the reflected light provided with the converging property by the imaging lens 23 into an electric signal, that is, image data, are arranged. The imaging lens 23 and the CCD image sensor 24 serve as the CCD unit 26, and the optical base 26a.
It is fixed to the one. Therefore, the imaging lens 23 and C
The distance L2 from the CD image sensor 24 is fixed to a predetermined distance. Further, since the CCD image sensor 24 is fixed at a predetermined position of the optical base 26a, the inclination with respect to the optical axis is prevented from changing.

The image forming section 6 includes a photosensitive drum 3 serving as an image carrier rotatably positioned substantially at the center of the copying apparatus 2.
It has 0. The photoconductor drum 30 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed by a motor (not shown).

A predetermined position around the photosensitive drum 30 corresponds to a charger 31 for charging the surface of the drum to a predetermined electric charge, and image data supplied from an image processing unit described later, that is, image information to be image-formed. A laser beam generated from a laser diode (not shown) is deflected in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 30 by a polygon mirror 32a as a deflecting device, and at the same time, the first and second folding mirrors 32b and 32c and the fθ lens 32d.
A laser exposure device 32 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 30 by exposing the surface of the photoconductor drum 30 via the laser exposure device 32, and is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 30 by exposure by the laser exposure device 32. A developing device 33 having a developing roller 33a for supplying toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent image to develop it at a desired image density, and a material to be transferred, that is, a copy, fed from sheet cassettes 41, 42 and 43 described later. A transfer / separation charger 34 for transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 30 onto the paper P and separating the paper P on which the toner image is transferred from the photoconductor drum 30, a copy paper from the surface of the photoconductor drum 30. A peeling claw 35 for peeling P, a cleaning device 36 for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30, and a surface of the photosensitive drum 30. A cleaning device 36 for cleaning the distillate toner and charge removal device 37 that discharges the remaining potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 are arranged in this order.

At the bottom of the copying machine 2 located below the photoconductor drum 30, a multi-stage paper feeding device (hereinafter referred to as "paper feeding means" which is detachably mounted in a plurality of upper and lower stages from the front side of the copying machine 2). 40) is disposed integrally with the copying apparatus 2.

The PFP 40 includes an upper cassette 41, a middle cassette 42 and a lower cassette 43 for accommodating plural kinds of copy sheets P of various sizes, and the respective cassettes 41, 42 and 43 are arranged in the longitudinal direction, for example. The A4 size copy sheet, the B4 size copy sheet, and the A3 size copy sheet, which are placed so as to be conveyed along, are each formed to be able to store about 500 sheets.

Pickup rollers 44a, 44b and 44c for taking out the sheets P one by one from the respective cassettes 41, 42 and 43 are arranged at predetermined positions of the upper cassette 41, the middle cassette 42 and the lower cassette 43.

Each pickup roller 44a, 4
At the position where the leading end of the paper P taken out from each cassette 41, 42 and 43 by 4b and 44c is passed,
Conveying rollers 45a, 4 for separating the sheets P one by one
5b and 45c and the respective conveying rollers 45a and 45
b and 45c, a separating roller 46a integrally arranged with the separating roller 46a,
46b and 46c are arranged. Separation roller 46
The axes a, 46b, and 46c are arranged so that their axes are in parallel with each other and the contact rollers are in contact with each other at a predetermined pressure, and are rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the transfer rollers. As a result, only the uppermost one sheet of the paper P taken out from each cassette is delivered to the transport path described later.

To the right of the PFP 40 in the figure, there are 30 sheets of frequently used size paper P, for example, A4 size paper P.
A large-capacity feeder (hereinafter referred to as “LCF”) 47 that can store about 00 sheets is provided. LCF4
At a predetermined position of 7, a pickup roller 48 is arranged to take out the sheets P stored in the LCF 47 one by one. Between the pickup roller 48 and the photosensitive drum 30, a pair of upper and lower conveying rollers 49a are combined.
And a separation mechanism 49 including a separation roller 49b. The separating mechanism 49 rotates the separating roller 49b in a direction opposite to the direction in which the conveying roller 49a is rotated, so that only the uppermost one sheet of the paper P taken out from the LCF 47 by the pickup roller 48 is conveyed as described later. Send to the road.

Above the LCF 47, each cassette 41,
A manual feeder 50 capable of feeding the copy paper P is formed independently of the LCFs 42 and 43 and the LCF 47. Between the manual feeder 50 and the photoconductor drum 30, there are a manual feed pickup roller 51 for taking in the paper P inserted in the manual feeder 50, a manual feed guide 52 for guiding the paper P taken in by the pickup roller 51, and a manual feed. A conveyance roller 53 that conveys the sheet P guided toward the photosensitive drum 30 via the guide 52 is provided.

Between the cassettes 41, 42 and 43 and the LCF 47 and the photosensitive drum 30, there is a conveying path 54 for guiding the paper P from the cassettes 41, 42 and 43 and the LCF 47 toward the photosensitive drum 30. Has been formed. The conveyance path 54 further extends to the outside of the copying apparatus 2 via a transfer area defined between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer / separation charger 33.
Further, in the transport path 54, one of the cassettes 41, 42
A plurality of transport rollers 55 are provided for transporting the paper P, which is fed from the sheets 43 and 43, the LC 47F, or the manual feed guide 52 toward the photoconductor drum 30.

In the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 30 on the conveying path 54 and on the upstream side, the copy sheet P guided along the conveying path 54.
Of the toner image on the photoconductor drum 30 and the tip of the copy paper P are aligned, and the copy paper P is transferred to the transfer area at the same speed as the moving speed of the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 30. An aligning roller 56 for feeding paper is arranged. Further, in front of the aligning roller 56, that is, on the side of the transport roller 55, the aligning sensor 5 for detecting the arrival of the copy sheet P to the aligning roller 56.
6a is provided.

A conveyor belt 57 for conveying the paper P is incorporated in the direction in which the paper P passing through the transfer area advances. At the position where the paper P is conveyed by the conveyor belt 57 and the heat is less likely to be applied to the photoconductor drum 30, a pair of heat rollers whose roller surfaces are in pressure contact with each other is included and the toner image is transferred to the paper. A fixing device 58 for fixing the toner image on the paper P by heating the toner image and melting the toner image to press the toner image and the paper P is provided.

On the side wall of the copying machine 2 facing the fixing device 58, the paper P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 58.
A discharge tray 59 for discharging is disposed.

Between the fixing device 58 and the discharge tray 59, there is a discharge switching unit 60 for guiding the copy paper P, on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 58, to either the paper reversing section or the discharge tray 59 described later. It is arranged.

The discharge switching unit 60 is arranged between the first and second discharge rollers 61 and 62 for propelling the sheet P that has passed through the fixing device 58, and between the first and second discharge rollers 61 and 62. The distribution gate 63 that selectively distributes the copy paper P, which has been passed through the fixing device 58, to either the discharge tray 59 or a paper reversing unit described later.
have.

The reversing mechanism 64 reverses the front and back sides of the copy sheets P that have passed through the fixing device 58, and temporarily accumulates the copy sheets P that have already passed through the transfer area and the fixing device 58. A reversing path 66 leading to the section 65, a pickup roller 67 for taking out the copy sheets P accumulated in the temporary accumulating section 65 one by one, and a reversing conveying path for guiding the sheets P accommodated in the temporary accumulating section 65 to the aligning roller 56 again. 68 and the paper P guided to the reverse conveyance path 68
It has a paper feed roller 69 for feeding paper to the aligning roller 56.

The ADF 8 has a cover 71 and the cover 7
The rear edge of the copying machine 1 is attached to the rear edge of the upper surface of the copying apparatus 2 via a hinge device (not shown).
As described above, the entire DF 8 is formed so as to be able to open and close with respect to the document table 11 of the image reading section 4 by rotating and displacing the entire DF 8.

On the upper surface of the cover 71 slightly to the left, a document feeding table 72 for holding a plurality of documents D is provided. The documents D set on the document feed table 72 are sequentially taken out one by one on the left side of the document feed table 72 in the figure, that is, one end side of the ADF 8, and the document table 11 of the image reading unit 4 is read from the left end side in the figure. A pickup roller 73 for supplying to one end side of is arranged.

At a predetermined position of the document feeding table 72, an empty sensor 73 as a document detecting sensor for detecting whether the document D is set on the document feeding table 72 is arranged. It should be noted that the document feeding table 72 has a document position detecting sensor 1 for detecting the position where the document D is set on the document table 11.
A document width detection sensor (not shown) that functions in the same manner as 7 may be arranged.

In the original pick-up direction of the pickup roller 73, there are a paper feed roller 74 for sending the original D taken out by the pickup roller 73 toward the original table 11, and a leading end of the original D fed by the paper feed roller 74. An aligning roller 75 for aligning is arranged. The document D is placed between the aligning roller 75 and the paper feeding roller 74.
An aligning sensor 75a for detecting the arrival of the aligning roller 75 on the aligning roller 75 is arranged.

Inside the cover 71, at a position facing the document table 11 of the image reading section 4 in a state where the ADF 8 is closed, a size that covers almost the entire document table 11 is provided, and a pickup roller is provided. A conveyance belt 76 is arranged to convey the document D conveyed from the document feed table 72 via the document feed roller 74 and the aligning roller 75 to a predetermined position on the document table 11. The conveyor belt 76 is stretched around a pair of belt rollers 77 arranged in the left and right in the figure, and is rotated by a belt drive mechanism (not shown) toward both the right side in the figure and the left side in the figure.

A conveyor belt 76 is provided on the right side of the ADF 8.
Thus, the reversing roller 78 that sends the document D moved from the left side to the right side in the drawing toward the outside of the cover 71, the pinch roller 79 that presses the document D against the reversing roller 78, and the reversing roller 78 and the pinch roller 79 convey the document D. Document D
Flapper 8 which switches between returning to the transport belt 76 again or discharging to a predetermined discharge position, that is, the cover 71.
0, a paper discharge roller 81 for discharging the document D conveyed by the reversing roller 78 when the flapper 80 is switched to the discharge side, and a jam sensor for detecting a jam of the document D near the reversing roller 78. 82 etc. are arranged.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the control mechanism of the copying apparatus 2 shown in FIG.

The copying apparatus 2 includes a control panel section 110, a scanner section 120, a printer section 130, a memory editing section 140 as an image control apparatus, and a system section 150.
And the main control unit 160. In addition,
The image control device may include other devices related to image control in the device 2.

The control panel section 110 includes a control panel (not shown) and a control panel CPU 11
1. Read only memory (hereinafter referred to as "ROM") 112 connected to the control panel CPU 111.
And a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as “RAM”) 113, which detects an input by various switches and a touch panel, displays on the touch panel, and
It is used to transfer control data to and from the user by turning on and off the LED.

The control panel CPU 111 uses the RO
Based on the data stored in the M112 and the RAM 113, detection of input by various switches and a touch panel (not shown) of the control panel, display on the touch panel, lighting and extinction of LEDs, and the like are controlled.

The scanner unit 120 includes the scanner CPU 12
1 and a ROM 122 connected to the scanner CPU 121
And RAM 123, ROM 122 and RAM 12
Scanner CP based on control data stored in 3
Under the control of U121, the CCD image sensor 24 of the image reading unit 4 is operated to capture the image of the document D as light / dark information of light, and the first carriage 16 and the second carriage 20 are moved at a predetermined speed. A predetermined drive signal is output to the mechanism control unit 124 for energizing the DC motor or the like.

Further, the scanner section 120 passes through an A / D conversion circuit 125 and an A / D conversion circuit 125 which convert the analog image data output from the CCD image sensor 24 into a digital signal by a known A / D conversion. The shading correction circuit 126 for removing the individual error of the output of the CCD image sensor 24 and the influence on the nonuniformity of the light amount from the illumination lamp 13 from the image signal converted into the digital signal, and the CCD image sensor 24 read the shading correction circuit 126. The ROM 122 and the RAM 12 have a line memory 127 for supplying the image information of the document D to the memory editing unit 140 connected at the subsequent stage at a predetermined timing.
Under the control of the scanner CPU 121 based on the data of No. 3, the image information of the document D read by the CCD image sensor 24 is converted into an electric signal, and then binarized at a predetermined threshold level, and the memory editing unit connected to the subsequent stage. It is output to the page memory 145 of 140 described later.

The scanner CPU 121 has an ADF
8 is also connected. The ADF 8 is the scanner CPU 1 based on the control by the main control unit 160 described later.
The document D is fed under the control of 21. Also, the scanner C
When the PU 121 receives edit data from a coordinate input device (not shown), it outputs predetermined control data to a page memory 145 of the memory editing unit 140, which will be described later, and holds image data used for image formation. An editor 128 for controlling the size of the memory area for the operation is also connected.

The printer unit 130 includes a printer CPU 13
1 and a ROM 132 connected to the printer CPU 131
And the RAM 133, and forms an image on the paper P based on the image information read by the image reading unit 4, that is, the scanner unit 120 and the image data supplied from an external device described later.

The printer CPU 131 includes the photosensitive drum 30, the developing roller 33a of the developing device 33, the aligning roller, the conveying belt, the fixing device, the reversing mechanism, and the cassettes 41, 42 and 43 of the multi-stage paper feeding device 40, and the like. L
A motor drive circuit 134 that drives a motor (not shown) that rotates such as a pickup roller, a conveyance roller, and a separation roller arranged on each CF 47, a document position detection sensor 17 that detects the position of the document D set on the document table 11, and Cassettes 41, 42 and 43 and LCF47
A paper empty switch (not shown), a lever switch (not shown) for detecting a jam of the paper P, and a switch such as an aligning sensor 56a. The input circuit 135 used to input the signal output from the sensor, and, for example, the discharge switching unit 60.
Mechanism control unit 1 for urging an unillustrated solenoid or the like included in the sorting gate 63 or the cleaning device 35
36 and the like are connected.

The printer CPU 131 also includes a temperature control circuit 137 for controlling the temperature of the fixing device 58, a voltage supply circuit 138 for applying a predetermined voltage to a charging charger, a developing device, a transfer / peel charger, and the like, and a laser exposure device. A laser drive circuit 139 for modulating the intensity of a laser beam emitted from a laser diode (not shown) 32 corresponding to image data supplied from a page memory 145 described later is connected to the ROM 132 and the RAM 1.
An image is formed on the paper P by the control of the printer CPU 131 based on the data of 33.

The memory editing unit 140 is a memory control CPU.
Image data supplied from the scanner unit 120 or an external device in accordance with instructions from both the main CPU 161 of the main control unit 160, which will be described later, and the system CPU 151 of the system unit 150, which will be described later. After being converted into bitmap data used for intensity modulation of the laser beam emitted from the laser diode of the device 32, it is temporarily stored in the page memory 145 shown in the subsequent stage.

The memory control CPU 141 includes an image control LSI 1, a compression / expansion unit 143 for compressing or expanding input image data, an expansion / reduction / rotation unit 144 for expanding, reducing or rotating the input image data, Image editor 1
42, compression / expansion unit 143 and enlargement / reduction / rotation unit 14
A page memory 145 as an image memory for storing the image data processed via the page 4 for each page, an address control unit 146 for managing a memory address, an image editing unit 1
An interrupt control unit 148 for giving an instruction for processing such as compression / expansion and enlargement / reduction / rotation to the image data taken in by 42 is connected.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image control LSI 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image control LSI 1 includes an image editing unit 142 and a memory management control unit 147.
It is built into a chip wafer (integrated circuit substrate).

The image editing unit 142 uses the image data supplied from the external device via the system unit 150 and the image processing unit described later in the main control unit 160 after being read by the scanner unit 120. The image data of the document D converted into a predetermined format is edited, and bit block transfer and various raster operations (logical operations) are executed.

The memory management control unit 147 controls the memory control C.
It manages data in a memory including an interface with the PU 141, and as shown in FIG. 1, a memory control CPU interface 203 for transmitting / receiving image data between the image data transfer control unit 201 and the memory control CPU 141. And a selector for writing 204 and a selector for reading 205.

The image data transfer control unit 201 controls data transfer between devices on the image bus 200 in the memory editing unit 140 and data transfer between devices on the image bus 200 and the page memory 145.

Memory control CPU interface 203
Is an interface for data when the system CPU 151 of the system unit 150 accesses (reads / writes) the page memory unit 145 via the image editing unit 142.

The write selector 204 uses the address control unit 14 in the writing process to the page memory unit 145.
6 data from the device on the image bus 200 sent via the image data transfer control unit 201 based on the page memory access arbitration result (selection signal), or sent via the memory control CPU interface 203. CPU (system CPU15 of system unit 150
It selects the data from 1).

The read selector 205 uses an image bus via the image data transfer control unit 201 based on the page memory access arbitration result (selection signal) of the address control unit 146 in the process of reading data from the page memory unit 145. CP to send data to device on 200 or via memory control CPU interface 203
It is for selecting whether to send data to U (CPU 151 of system unit 150).

Here, control of the image data transfer control unit 201 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

The image data transfer control unit 201 can transfer data in the following two forms.

The first form is a system basic block (control panel unit 110, scanner unit 120, printer unit 130, memory editing unit 140, system unit 150,
I on the image bus 200 of the main control unit 160)
In the data transfer between the I / O devices, both the source (transfer source) and the destination (transfer destination) are on the image bus 200, and a read cycle and a data buffer for fetching data from the source to the data buffer in the image data transfer control unit 201 It is composed of two write cycles for writing the above data to the destination.

The second form is a system basic block (control panel section 110, scanner section 120, printer section 130, memory editing section 140, system section 150,
I on the image bus 200 of the main control unit 160)
/ O device and a data buffer in the image data transfer control unit 201, and a data transfer cycle between the data buffer and the page memory 145.

Since the page memory 145 and the data buffer are independent of the image bus 200, it is possible to operate in two cycles in parallel.

The system section 150 includes a system CPU 151 for controlling the capture of image data supplied from other than the scanner section 120, and a facsimile apparatus 152 as an external apparatus connected to the system CPU 151, a hard disk apparatus 153, a computer (not shown) and LAN 154 to which a word processor or the like is connected, facsimile 152, hard disk device 153, and LA
The image data is supplied to the image editing unit 142 of the memory editing unit 140 by controlling each of the printer controllers 155 that convert the image data supplied via the N154 from the code data into the image data of a format that can be processed by the copying apparatus 2. Input.

The main control section 160 operates in the copying apparatus 2, that is, the CPUs 121 and 13 of the control panel section 110, the scanner section 120, the printer section 130, the memory editing section 140 and the system section 150, respectively.
A main CPU 161 for controlling 1, 141 and 151 is provided, and a control panel unit 110 and a scanner unit 12 are provided.
0, the printer unit 130, the memory editing unit 140, and the system unit 150 are controlled to transfer signals.

The main CPU 161 stores initial data for operating the copying apparatus 2 and the like.
OM162 and each CPU121,131,141 and 1
Under the control of 51, the control panel unit 110, the scanner unit 120, the printer unit 130, the memory editing unit 140, and the RAM 163 holding various data input from the system unit 150 are connected.

The main CPU 161 also holds a printer font R which holds a printer font used to store the code data input via the system section 150 in the page memory 145 of the memory editing section 140.
The OM 164 displays an image corresponding to the code data input via the system unit 150 on an editing display device (not shown), and displays a predetermined image on a liquid crystal display / input panel of a control panel (not shown). Used for specifying a destination of image data read by the scanner unit 120, switching image data to be supplied to the printer unit 130, and the like, and a line memory 127 and a memory of the scanner unit 120. Data switching / buffer memory 166 that functions as a buffer memory for image data transferred between the page memory 145 of the editing unit 140 and between the page memory 145 and the laser exposure device 32, and input image data Masking Rui image processing unit 167 for trimming is attached.

Next, the copying operation of the image of the document D by the copying apparatus 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described.

The copying apparatus 2 is warmed up and initialized in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 162 when a main switch (not shown) is turned on. The ADF 8 is also initialized according to a control program stored in an ADF ROM (not shown) according to an instruction from the scanner CPU 121 of the scanner unit 120 under the control of the main CPU 161.

After the document D to be copied is set on the document tray 72 of the ADF 8, when a print key (not shown) on the control panel (not shown) is turned on, it is not shown that the empty sensor (not shown) of the ADF 8 is on. Checked by.

When the empty sensor detects that the document D is set on the document tray 72, the pickup roller 73 is driven in accordance with the supply of the drive current from the motor drive circuit (not shown) to the paper feed motor (not shown). Thus, the lowermost document D set on the document tray 72 is guided to the paper feed roller 74.

The document D guided by the paper feed roller 74 is further conveyed toward the aligning roller 75.

Then, as the leading edge of the document D passes through the aligning sensor 75a, a clutch (not shown) is turned on via an ADF mechanism controller (not shown), and the aligning roller 75 is stopped. As a result, the document D taken out from the document tray 72 is temporarily stopped by the pickup roller 73, and the inclination of the document D with respect to the document transport direction is corrected. After that, the belt roller 77 is rotated in the first direction, that is, the document feeding direction by the drive motor (not shown) to rotate the conveying belt 76, and then the clutch (not shown) is turned off at a predetermined timing, and the aligning roller 75 is rotated. Conveyor belt 76
The document D is fed to.

Subsequently, the conveyor belt 76 is operated by the conveyor motor.
Is rotated for a predetermined time, the document D is conveyed onto the document table 11 of the copying apparatus 2. The conveyor belt 76 is stopped after a certain time has passed since the trailing edge of the document D has passed the aligning sensor 75a, that is, after a predetermined time depending on the interval between the aligning sensor 75a and the reference indicating device 12. A brake (not shown) prevents rotation due to inertia.

At the time when the leading edge of the document D is detected by the aligning sensor 75a, the scanner CPU 121 of the scanner unit 120 of the copying apparatus 2 is transferred from the ADF CPU (not shown).
Is notified that the document D has been conveyed to a predetermined position, and subsequently, the main CPU 161 is based on the size of the document D detected through the ADF 8 and the copy magnification set through a control panel (not shown). Thus, the cassette is selected by accommodating the paper P having the optimum size.

Then, according to the input copy magnification, C
Image data is read from the CD line sensor 24 into the line memory 127. The read start position of the image data is the ROM.
After being called from 162, it is stored in RAM 163.

Next, the illumination lamp 1 of the first carriage 16
3 is turned on with a predetermined brightness, and the first carriage 16 is moved at a predetermined speed along the document D on the document table 11 by the rotation of a pulse motor (not shown).

Subsequently, the image information of the document D placed on the document table 11 is reflected light generated by being illuminated through the exposure lamp 13 and the reflection plate 14, and is reflected by the first mirror 15 of the first carriage 16. , And the second mirror 21 and the third mirror 22 of the second carriage 20 are sequentially reflected, and an image is formed on the reading surface of the CCD line sensor 24 via the imaging lens 23.

The image information of the original D imaged on the CCD line sensor 24, that is, the reflected light from the original D is photoelectrically converted at a predetermined resolution by the CCD line sensor 24, and then is read to the reading start position stored in the RAM 163. The pixels of the corresponding CCD line sensor 24 are sequentially captured from a pixel at a predetermined position (not shown), and the A / D conversion circuit 125 outputs 2 pixels.
The value is converted into a value, the threshold level is corrected via the shading correction circuit 126, and the corrected value is output to the line memory 127.

The image data input to the line memory 127 is transferred to the image processing unit 167 via the data switching / buffer memory 166 and subjected to predetermined correction and conversion such as character identification and contour correction. , To the page memory 145. The image data input to the page memory 145 is converted into a laser drive signal (print signal) via a parallel-serial conversion circuit (not shown) and then supplied to the laser exposure device 32.

In parallel with the reading of the image information of the document D by the scanner section 120 (or at a predetermined timing),
The motor drive circuit 134 is controlled by the control of the main CPU 161.
The motor (not shown) is energized by the supply of the motor drive voltage from the photosensitive drum 30 to rotate the photosensitive drum 30 at a desired speed.

At the same time, under the control of the voltage supply circuit 138, a predetermined potential is applied from the charging device 31 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 30. As an example, the initial surface potential of the photosensitive drum 30 is set to approximately 650 volts.

Subsequently, by the laser exposure device 32,
Image data corresponding to the image of the original D, that is, page memory 145 is stored on the surface of the photoconductor drum 32, and in response to a print signal converted from bitmap data to serial data via a parallel-serial conversion circuit (not shown). The modulated laser beam is emitted. The emission timing of the laser beam emitted from the laser exposure device 32, that is, the writing start position is not shown based on the writing position stored in the RAM 163 corresponding to the size of the sheet P, as described above. Needless to say, a delay is added from the horizontal synchronization signal by a predetermined clock in the main scanning direction.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the print signal (image data) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 30. The electrostatic latent image formed in this manner is developed by the voltage supply circuit 138 with toner supplied from the developing roller 33a of the developing device 33 to which a developing bias voltage of −450 V is applied,
Similarly, by a transfer output from the transfer / separation charger 34 to which a predetermined transfer voltage is applied by the voltage supply circuit 138, a toner image is transferred onto the paper P.

The toner image transferred onto the paper P is transferred to the photosensitive drum 30 together with the paper P by the separation output from the transfer / separation charger 34 to which a predetermined separation voltage is applied by the voltage supply circuit 138 and the separation claw 35. It is peeled from the surface and conveyed to the fixing device 58 by the conveyor belt 57,
The sheet P is fixed on the sheet P via the fixing device 58.

The sheet P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 59 arranged outside the copying apparatus 2 via the first and second discharge rollers 61 and 62.

The photosensitive drum 30 on which the toner image has been transferred onto the paper P is continuously rotated, the residual toner is removed through the cleaning device 36, and then the charge is removed by the charge removing device 37, and subsequently, the next image is formed. Used.

On the other hand, when the reading of the first document D currently positioned on the document table 11 is completed, the main C
Under the instruction of the scan CPU 121 under the control of the PU 161, the ADF CPU (not shown) is requested to feed the next original D, that is, replace the original D. That is, the transport motor is rotated by the drive current from the motor drive circuit (not shown) to the transport motor (not shown), and the transport belt 76 is rotated.
Is rotated.

As a result, the first document currently set on the document table 11 is conveyed toward the reversing roller 78, and the flapper 80 and the paper discharge roller 81 cover the cover 71.
Is discharged to the document receiving area formed at a predetermined position.

Subsequently, an empty sensor (not shown) checks the presence or absence of the succeeding document D, and if the document D remains, the document feeding operation is repeated.
Similarly to the first document, the second document is set on the document table 11, and the image information of the second document is read.

In this way, the document tray 7 of the ADF 8 is
A series of image formation is repeated for all the documents D set to 2.

According to the copying apparatus 2 as described above, the memory control CPU interface 203, which is a circuit element related to access to the page memory 145, the image data transfer control unit 201, the selectors 204 and 205, and the image editing unit 142 are integrated into one unit. LSI on a chip (ASIC
By doing so, the transmission path of the image data is shortened, so that the input / output of the image data with respect to the page memory 145 can be accelerated.

Along with this, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, cost, size, and power consumption.

Further, since the image editing section 142 is incorporated in one chip, the image editing can be performed at high speed.

In the above embodiment, the memory control CPU interface 203, the image data transfer control unit 2
01, the selectors 204 and 205 and the image editing unit 142 are integrated into one chip, but the memory control CPU interface 203, the image data transfer control unit 201 and the selectors 204 and 205 may be integrated into one chip.

[0095]

According to the present invention described in detail above, the CPU interface, the transfer control circuit, the read selector, and the write selector, which are circuit elements relating to access to the image memory, are incorporated in a one-chip integrated circuit substrate. It is possible to increase the speed of inputting / outputting image data to / from the image memory.

Along with this, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, cost, size, and power consumption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image control integrated circuit device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic digital copying apparatus to which an integrated circuit device for image control of the present invention is applied.

3 is a block diagram schematically showing a control mechanism of the electrophotographic digital copying apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Control LSI 140 Memory Editing Unit 141 Memory Control CPU 142 Image Editing Unit 143 Compression / Expansion Unit 144 Enlargement / Reduction / Rotation Unit 145 Page Memory 147 Memory Management Control Unit 200 Image Bus 201 Image Data Transfer Control Unit 203 Memory Control CPU Interface 204,205 Selector

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image control integrated circuit device for controlling input / output of image data to / from an image memory, comprising a CPU interface for transmitting / receiving image data to / from a CPU, and an image to which various devices are connected. A transfer control circuit that connects a bus and controls transfer of image data between at least the device and the image memory, and reads image data from the image memory based on a selection signal sent out, and the CPU interface or transfer control A read selector for outputting to the circuit and a write selector for writing the image data from the CPU interface or the transfer control circuit to the image memory based on the sent selection signal are incorporated in a one-chip integrated circuit substrate. An integrated circuit device for image control, characterized by: 2. An image memory for storing image data, a CPU interface for transmitting and receiving image data to and from a CPU, an image bus to which various devices are connected, and at least the device and the image. A transfer control circuit for controlling transfer of image data between memories, a read selector for reading image data from the image memory based on a sent selection signal and outputting the read image data to the CPU interface or transfer control circuit, In an image control device having a writing selector for writing image data from the CPU interface or a transfer control circuit to the image memory based on a selection signal, the CPU interface, the transfer control circuit, the reading selector and the writing selector are provided. Specially designed to be integrated into a one-chip integrated circuit board Image control apparatus according to. 3. An image memory for storing image data, a CPU interface for transmitting and receiving image data to and from a CPU, and various devices for performing processing including enlargement / reduction necessary for editing image data are connected. A transfer control circuit for controlling the transfer of image data between at least the device and between the device and the image memory, and reading the image data from the image memory on the basis of the selected signal transmitted, A read selector that outputs to the CPU interface or the transfer control circuit, a write selector that writes the image data from the CPU interface or the transfer control circuit to the image memory based on the sent selection signal, and controls the device In an image control device having an image editing circuit for performing image editing Said CPU interface, the transfer control circuit, the read selectors, image control apparatus characterized by incorporating writing selector and image editing circuit in the integrated circuit substrate 1 chip.