JPH1055141A - Electronic information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic information display device capable of displaying transmitted image data in an adequate display bearing in spite of the erroneous operation of a signal transmitter. SOLUTION: A display ID assignment region Ra recording the signal transmitter ID is assured in the head part of a transmission original. An image region Rb for plotting the image to be transmitted is set in succession to the region Ra. A mark M consisting of a pattern automatically recognizable by a pattern recognition program, etc., previously mounted at the device; for example, four squares, i.e. a square with a cross, is recorded in the display ID assignment region Ra. The display ID assignment region Ra of the top part and the display ID assignment region Rc of the rear end part of the received image data for one page are scanned. If the image data for ID identification exists in the display ID assignment region Ra, the image display bearing is decided to be correct. If, on the other hand, the image data for ID identification exists in the display ID assignment region Rc, the image display bearing is decided to be vertically inverted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic information display device for recording and displaying a still image on a display based on image information sent from an external host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetically responsive magnetic display sheet has been known as a display body which develops or erases color in response to the direction and strength of a magnetic field (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 48-48).
56393, JP-A-2-146082).

[0003] Such a magnetic display sheet can draw simple characters and figures by contacting a magnet pen with a built-in magnet on the sheet surface, and can be reused many times by erasing. Has been put to practical use.

In recent years, an electronic information display device has been developed which records and displays a still image on a magnetic display sheet by a recording head forming a dot matrix magnetic field based on print information sent from an external host device. Is being done.
Since the electronic information display device can change the display content arbitrarily by remote control from an external host device, it can be installed at public facilities, stations, retail stores, etc. Can be widely announced and advertised. In addition, poster replacement work is not required, which contributes to resource saving of paper and the like, and is therefore expected to be a future bulletin board.

[0005]

To such an electronic information display device, image data is transmitted from an external host device such as a facsimile (FAX) device or a computer. For example, when a facsimile machine is used, if the sending document is set with the leading and trailing edges incorrectly, the image data will be transmitted upside down, and the electronic information display device will display it upside down on the magnetic display sheet. .

When using a computer,
After reading the transmission original with a scanner device or creating the transmission original using original editing software,
The data can be transmitted to the electronic information display device via the AX modem. At this time, since the display orientation of the image data is not uniquely determined, there is a possibility that the electronic information display device may display the magnetic information on the magnetic display sheet in a state such as upside down, left and right inversion, and rotation by 90 degrees.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic information display device capable of displaying transmitted image data in an appropriate display direction even if a sender performs an erroneous operation.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a writable and erasable display body, an image storage means for storing image information transmitted from an external host device, and a method for storing image information from the external host device. A display azimuth information detecting means for detecting the accompanying display azimuth information; and a display azimuth of the image information stored in the image storage means based on the display azimuth information detected by the display azimuth information detecting means. Decide,
Recording means for forming a still image on a display body. According to the present invention, by detecting the display orientation information transmitted along with the image information, it is possible to determine the appropriate display orientation when displaying on the display even if the image orientation at the time of transmission changes. Therefore, even if the image information is transmitted to an erroneous direction, for example, upside down due to an erroneous operation of the sender, the image information can always be restored to the correct direction.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that image information comprising a plurality of document images is transmitted from an external host device, and display direction information is included for each document image. According to the present invention, since the display orientation information is included in each document image,
For example, even if one of the plurality of document images is turned upside down, all the document images can be displayed in the correct orientation.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the display orientation information is a vertical position of the sender identification information based on the image information. According to the present invention, the vertical orientation of the image information can be easily and reliably determined by detecting whether the sender identification information is located above or below the image information as a reference. In addition, the sender identification information can be used as information for determining whether or not the sender matches a legitimate user who is permitted to use the device. In the case of a mismatch, the third party can refuse use of the device. Abuse can be prevented.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an electronic information display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view thereof. A driven roller 50 is disposed on the inner upper portion of the housing 1, and a driving roller 60 is disposed on the inner lower portion. A flexible and endless magnetic member is provided between the two rollers 50 and 60. The display sheet 10 is suspended. Roller 5
Numeral 0 is urged upward by an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring, and applies a constant tension to the magnetic display sheet 10 to stabilize the running of the sheet and maintain the flatness of the sheet surface. The roller 60 is driven to rotate by a motor 63 via gears 61 and 62. By driving the roller 60, the magnetic display sheet 10 is moved from bottom to top on the front side of the housing 1 (left side in FIG. 1 and rear side in FIG. 2), and from the rear side of the housing 1 (right side in FIG. In FIG. 2 (front side), circulation is performed so as to transfer from top to bottom. A display window 2 made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin or glass is formed on the front surface of the housing 1.

The recording head 30 is installed below the rear surface transfer side of the magnetic display sheet 10 and, based on a print signal from an external host device (not shown), directs a dot matrix toward the surface of the magnetic display sheet 10. A recording magnetic field is generated. The recording head 30 has a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged in a staggered manner, for example, and is mounted on a carriage 31 that reciprocates in the sheet width direction. The carriage 31 is 2
Endless belt 3 suspended between two pulleys 34, 35
3 and a motor 36 that drives the pulley 35 to rotate while being guided by the two guide shafts 32.
Driven by

The erasing head 20 is composed of a permanent magnet or the like having a length equal to or larger than the sheet width. The erasing head 20 is arranged above the front transfer side of the magnetic display sheet 10 and in close contact with the back side of the magnetic display sheet 10. I have.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of the magnetic display sheet 10. On the magnetic display sheet 10, microcapsules 15 that develop color in response to magnetism are applied and fixed over the entire surface. The microcapsule 15 is composed of a high-viscosity liquid and a spherical shell that holds the liquid tightly.
In this liquid, substantially black magnetic particles and substantially white non-magnetic particles are dispersed. For example, black iron oxide (FeO) particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 5 μm are used as magnetic particles, and white titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 5 μm are used as nonmagnetic particles. In addition, as the high-viscosity liquid, an aqueous liquid, an oil or fat, an organic solvent including a surfactant-based solvent or the like is used, and gelatin is mainly used as a material of the spherical shell. Distributed in a range.

The microcapsules 15 are kneaded with a binder 14 made of a highly transparent synthetic rubber-based adhesive or the like, applied to a substrate 11 made of a transparent material such as polyethylene terephthalate, and have a thickness of, for example, 400 to 1000.
A μm capsule coating layer 12 is formed.

A protective sheet 13 made of, for example, a polypropylene long-fiber nonwoven fabric is adhered to the back surface of the capsule coating layer 12 so as to have a thickness of, for example, 300 to 1000 μm.
Seat running is facilitated.

On the other hand, the recording head 30 has a box-shaped yoke 39 made of a high magnetic permeability material, a magnetic core 37 erected inside the yoke 39 and made of a high magnetic permeability material, and an electromagnetic core mounted on the magnetic core 37. And a plurality of magnetic cores 37 and electromagnetic coils 38 corresponding to the plurality of print dots. A number of voids are formed on the printing surface 39a of the yoke 39, and the leading end of the magnetic core 37 is positioned at the center of each void, and the leakage magnetic field is generated by the presence of the void between the magnetic core 37 and the void. Occurs.

When the electromagnetic coil 38 is selectively energized in response to a print signal, a magnetic field is generated along the axial direction of the magnetic core 37 and passes through a magnetic circuit consisting of the magnetic core 37, a gap and a yoke 39. , A recording magnetic field is generated toward the magnetic display sheet 10.

Next, the principle of magnetic recording / display and erasure will be described. When the recording head 30 is brought close to the surface of the magnetic display sheet 10 where the substrate 11 is located, and a recording magnetic field is generated based on a print signal, the magnetic particles dispersed in the microcapsules 15 are attracted to the substrate 11 and the pressure is reduced. Thereby, the non-magnetic particles move to the protective sheet 13 side.
Then, when viewed from the front side of the magnetic display sheet 10, the portion to which the recording magnetic field is applied is observed to have a substantially black color. By applying the magnetic field in a dot matrix using the recording head 30, characters and symbols can be displayed. Can be recorded.

Next, when the erasing head 20 is brought close to the back side of the magnetic display sheet 10, that is, the side where the protective sheet 13 is located, the magnetic particles dispersed in the microcapsules 15 are attracted to the protective sheet 13 side, and the pressure is increased. As a result, the non-magnetic particles move toward the base 11. Then, when viewed from the front side of the magnetic display sheet 10, the portion to which the erasing magnetic field is applied becomes substantially white, and the erasing magnetic field is uniformly erased by applying the erasing magnetic field to the entire sheet width.

As the above-mentioned high-viscosity liquid in the microcapsule 15, a liquid having a predetermined viscosity is selected in order to maintain a display state of the magnetic particles moved to the back side or the front side by applying a magnetic field. That is, if the viscosity of the liquid is low, the display state is prevented from being disturbed by the particles that have once moved to the front side or the back side settling or moving due to vibration or the like. Therefore, the above-described recording head 3
The magnetic attraction force in the zero and erasing heads 20 needs to be greater than the yield value due to the viscosity of the liquid, and thereby writing and erasing of a display are performed.

Next, the operation of the entire apparatus will be described. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, first, before printing is started, the magnetic display sheet 10 is circulated at a constant speed and the erase head 20 is rotated.
To erase the entire surface. Next, a print signal is received from an external host device, and each time the development of image data for one print line is completed, the recording head 30 is moved for several milliseconds to several hundred milliseconds while moving in the sheet width direction. The magnetic printing is performed by applying the pulse current described above and applying a dot matrix magnetic field to the surface of the magnetic display sheet 10.

When printing of one line is completed, the magnetic display sheet 10 is moved by a predetermined feed pitch and stopped, and then printing is performed based on the image data developed for the next printing line. Thus, the development of the image data, the recording head 30
The image of one sheet is formed while repeating the serial printing and the intermittent feeding of the magnetic display sheet 10.

Next, when a new image is printed, the magnetic display sheet 10 is circulated at a constant speed to erase the entire surface by the erasing head 20, and then the recording head 3 is printed.
Performs serial printing with 0.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the electronic information display device according to the present invention. The electronic information display device includes a CPU (central processing unit) 71 for controlling the operation of the entire device according to a predetermined program, a clock circuit 72 for generating a clock for determining the operation timing, and a timer circuit 73 for measuring the elapsed time. Operation panel 7 including various switches, display LEDs (light emitting diodes), etc.
5 and an input / output (I /
O) A circuit 74 and an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) for storing programs and data.
mory) 76 and E for storing data in a rewritable manner
EPROM (Erasable Electrically Programmable Read)
Only Memory) 77, a system control circuit 78 for managing display time management and control related to the entire apparatus such as an initial operation at power-on, and an interface circuit 80 for communicating with external devices. And an interface (I) for controlling the interface circuit 80.
/ F) a control circuit 79, a motor control circuit 83 for controlling the number of rotations and the direction of rotation of the motors 36 and 63,
0 and a RAM (Random Accelerator) for temporarily storing various data such as print data.
ss Memory) 85, a memory control circuit 86 for controlling a use area of each of the memories 76, 77, 85, and the motors 36, 63
And a driver circuit 88 for driving the recording head 30;
A driver control circuit 87 for controlling the driver circuit 88;
It is composed of a bus 70 for interconnecting the circuits.

The interface circuit 80 is a facsimile modem (facsimile modem) for transmitting / receiving a signal to / from another facsimile apparatus via a transmission line such as a telephone line.
81 and a serial communication circuit 82 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from another computer in accordance with a communication standard such as RS232C.
And

In order to prohibit access by a third party,
It is possible to allow only certain people to use the device,
The valid user ID (identification information) and the corresponding pattern matching data are stored in the EEPROM 77 in advance by data input from the operation panel 75 or remote data input via the interface circuit 80.

The user ID and the corresponding pattern matching data stored in the EEPROM 77 can be changed or added by data input from the operation panel 75 or remote data input via the interface circuit 80. is there.

FIGS. 5 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation. First, in step a1 of FIG.
1 shows an EPROM 76 as shown in FIG.
Data is extracted from various setting information stored in advance in the EEPROM 77 as shown in FIG. Here, the upside down flag H is a flag indicating whether or not upside down display of the image is permitted, and the initial value is “1” which means permission. The total number of pages P is RAM85
Is the number of pages of the image to be stored, and the initial value is “8”.
The timer value T is the time when the timer circuit 73 measures the timer interrupt and generates a timer interrupt. The initial value is “0” which means that the timer interrupt is generated immediately after the power is turned on.

Next, in step a2, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming fax. If there is no incoming fax, the process proceeds to step a4, and it is determined whether or not there is a timer interrupt for determining the timing of switching the current display image to the next image. If there is no timer interrupt, the process returns to step a2, and waits in a loop until a facsimile incoming call of step a2 or a timer interrupt of step a4 occurs.

When a facsimile call is received in step a2,
At step a3, a data processing routine is executed. Also,
When a timer interrupt occurs in step a4, an interrupt processing routine is executed in step a5.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a data processing routine of step a3. First, in step b1, the FAX modem 81 starts receiving FAX data, determines in step b2 whether or not reception of one page of image data has been completed, and continues in step b3 until reception of image data has been completed. Receiving data for each scan line, step b
In step 4, the received data is stored in the input buffer set in the RAM 85. When the reception of the image data for one page is completed, the process proceeds to step b5 to terminate the FAX reception and disconnect the line.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a document to be transmitted, and FIG.
FIG. 9B shows a transmission original transmitted in the forward direction, and FIG. 9B shows a transmission original transmitted in the reverse direction. First, in FIG. 9A, a display ID designation area Ra for recording a sender ID (identification information) is secured at a head portion (for example, about 10 mm in length of A4 size paper). An image area Rb for drawing an image to be transmitted is set.

In the display ID designation area Ra, a sender ID is recorded in a pattern that can be automatically recognized by a pattern recognition program or the like installed in the apparatus in advance, for example, a character, a symbol, a graphic, or a barcode format. The sender ID is
It may be printed in advance on the transmission document, or may be handwritten each time it is transmitted. Here, as the sender ID, a mark M composed of four squares “ta” is described in the upper left corner of the transmission original, and the lower right square is painted in black by hand, and the pattern recognition program determines whether the mark M exists or not. Determine the position and shape or the black-painted pattern, and confirm the FA
It is determined whether X transmission has been performed.

Next, FIG. 9B shows a case where the transmission original of FIG. 9A is set upside down on the original platen of the facsimile apparatus, and the mark M representing the sender ID is located at the lower right corner. Will be. In this apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9A, the sender ID is detected by analyzing the display ID designation area Ra at the top, and when the upside down flag H = 1, the upside down transmission of the document is allowed. Therefore, the display ID of the rear end part
The specified region Rc is also analyzed.

In the above description, the square mark is exemplified as the sender ID. However, other image patterns such as kanji, numerals, symbols, figures, bar codes, or a combination thereof depending on the identification ability of the pattern recognition program may be used. Can be used.

Returning to FIG. 6, in step b6, it is determined whether or not image data for identification exists in the display ID designation area Ra at the head of the transmission document. If the identification image data is present, the display ID designation area Ra is scanned to extract the identification image data, and the identification image data is compared with the pattern matching data of the registered ID stored in the EEPROM 77 in step b8. . If the two data match, the process proceeds to step b9, where the image data for one page stored in the input buffer is stored in the display image storage area set in another area in the RAM 85. Note that R
The display image storage area of the AM 85 includes a magnetic display sheet 10.
Can store a plurality of image data to be displayed, and each image is associated with a page number. Further, by increasing the storage capacity of the RAM 85 or using a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk together, the number of pages for storing images can be increased.

On the other hand, if there is no match between the image data for identification and the data for pattern matching of the registered ID in step b8, it is determined that the sender is not a valid user, and the process proceeds to step b11 and stored in the input buffer. Discarded image data and do not use it thereafter.

Returning to step b6, if there is no image data for identification in the display ID designation area Ra, the process proceeds to step b10, and the upside down flag H is valid, that is, H =
It is determined whether it is 1 or not. Unless the upside-down flag H = 1, the upside-down transmission of the original is not permitted. Therefore, the process proceeds to step b11, where the image data in the input buffer is discarded, and is not used thereafter.

On the other hand, in step b10, the upside down flag H
If = 1, the process proceeds to step b12, and as shown in FIG. 9B, it is determined whether or not identification image data exists in the display ID designation area Rc at the upside down position. Display I
If the identification image data does not exist in the D designated area Rc, the sender ID is also included in the leading and trailing ends of the transmission document
Is not described, the sender determines that the user is not a valid user, and proceeds to step b11 to discard the image data in the input buffer.

If the image data for identification exists in the display ID designation area Rc, the display ID designation area R is determined in step b13.
c is scanned in the reverse direction to extract the image data for identification, and the image data for identification is compared with the data for pattern matching of the registered ID in step b14 as in step b8. If the two data match, the process proceeds to step b15, where the image data for one page stored in the input buffer is inverted upside down and stored in the display image storage area in the RAM 85.

On the other hand, if there is no match between the image data for identification and the data for pattern matching of the registered ID in step b14, it is determined that the sender is not a valid user and the process proceeds to step b11, where the sender is stored in the input buffer. Discarded image data.

When the data processing routine of FIG. 6 ends,
It returns to step a4 of FIG. In this manner, the display ID of the image data can be determined by extracting the sender ID from one piece of image data and determining the position. Further, if the sender is not a legitimate user, by interrupting the reception of the image data, abuse of a third party or access by an unauthorized user can be reliably prevented.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the interrupt processing routine of step a5. When the timer circuit 73 generates an interrupt, the page number (designated page number) N currently being displayed is read in step c1 and set to the display number L. The designated page number N in the non-display state is 0. Next, one is added to the display number L in step c2, and if the display number L exceeds the total number of pages P in step c3,
In step c4, if an interrupt occurs in the non-display state, the search for an image can be stopped in the next step c5, and if an interrupt occurs in the image display state, the presence or absence of an image on the first page can be searched. Display number L = 0.

Next, at step c5, L = N is determined, and the search is stopped when the search for the next image to be displayed has been completed, and the image display is stopped when there is no image data to be displayed in the display image storage area. The process is performed, and in step c9, the interrupt timer is reset and restarted in preparation for the next display. If no image data exists in the display image storage area corresponding to the display number L in step c6, the process returns to step c2 for displaying the next image.

If image data corresponding to the display number L exists in step c6, the display number L is set to the designated page number N in step c7, and the display processing of the image data corresponding to the designated page number N is performed in step c8. Execute At this time, the designated page number N is also written in the EEPROM 77,
Used as the initial setting value at the next power-on.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a display processing routine of step c8. First, in step d1, the image data corresponding to the designated page number N is read into the print buffer set in the RAM 85, and in step d2, the recording head 30 conveys the magnetic display sheet 10 and performs magnetic recording based on the image data in the print buffer. I do. In step d3, it is determined whether or not the recording operation for one page has been completed. When the operation is completed, the magnetic display sheet 10 is transported to the display area corresponding to the display window 2 in step d4.

In step d5, the display time of the image data corresponding to the designated page number N, that is, the timer designated time is read from a memory or the like, and in step d6, the display time is set in the timer circuit 73 and is set until the next timer interrupt. The time is set, and the timer circuit 73 starts counting time in step d7. The current image display is continued until the next timer interrupt occurs, that is, until the display time set in the timer circuit 73 has elapsed.

As image data to be displayed on the magnetic display sheet 10, all image data obtained by reading one transmission original shown in FIG. 9 may be displayed, but the identification information is disclosed to a third party. Display ID designation area R
It is preferable to delete the image data of “a” and display only the image data of the remaining image region Rb, thereby improving the confidentiality (security) of the identification information.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the display orientation of the image is determined by checking the position of the mark M indicating the sender ID. However, the position is determined using a mark different from the sender ID. You may make it.

In addition, although the example has been described in which the top and bottom ends of the transmission document are scanned to determine the vertical direction of the image, the right and left ends of the transmission document may be scanned.

Also, the upside down processing of the transmission original for one page has been described.
It is preferable to describe the sender ID on each transmission original, so that the image display orientation and access right can be determined for each page.

[0053]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even if the image orientation at the time of transmission changes, it is displayed on the display by detecting the display orientation information transmitted along with the image information. In this case, an appropriate display orientation can be determined. for that reason,
Even if the image information is transmitted to the wrong direction, for example, upside down due to an erroneous operation by the sender, the image information can always be restored to the correct direction.

It is preferable that display orientation information is included in each original image, so that all original images can be displayed in the correct orientation even if one of the multiple original images is turned upside down. can do.

Further, by detecting whether the sender identification information is located above or below with reference to the image information, the vertical orientation of the image information can be easily and reliably determined. In addition, the sender identification information can be used as information for determining whether or not the sender matches a legitimate user who is permitted to use the device. In the case of a mismatch, the third party can refuse use of the device. Abuse can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an electronic information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing an electronic information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a structure of a magnetic display sheet 10.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the electronic information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a data processing routine of step a3.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an interrupt processing routine of step a5.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a display processing routine of step c8.

9A and 9B show an example of a transmission original. FIG. 9A shows a transmission original transmitted in a forward direction, and FIG. 9B shows a transmission original transmitted in a reverse direction.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram showing data of an EEPROM 76, and FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram showing data of an EEPROM 77;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 housing 2 display window 10 magnetic display sheet 20 erasing head 30 recording head 31 carriage 36, 63 motor 50, 60 roller 71 CPU 73 timer circuit 74 input / output circuit 80 interface circuit 85 RAM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A writable and erasable display body, an image storage means for storing image information transmitted from an external host device, and a display direction transmitted from the external host device along with the image information. A display direction information detecting means for detecting information; and a display direction of the image information stored in the image storage means is determined based on the display direction information detected by the display direction information detecting means. An electronic information display device, comprising: recording means for forming an image. 2. The electronic information display device according to claim 1, wherein image information including a plurality of document images is transmitted from an external host device, and display direction information is included for each document image. 3. The electronic information display device according to claim 1, wherein the display orientation information is a vertical position of the sender identification information based on the image information.