JPS61121656A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease a power consumption and to execute a time designating action without fail by monitoring a timer means with a main control part for the whole control and an operating control part to control operating part independently. CONSTITUTION:A clock 8 is connected to an operating control part 6, and the designating time is monitored by an operating control part 6. The designating time and an opponent telephone number is stored by the operating control part 6. The on an off of the main electric power source is controlled by the operating control part 6 and the source is turned off at the time of the stand-by. a stand-by electric power source 11 is always turned on including the time of the stand-by. By the above-mentioned constitution, an electric power source 10 is turned off, a main control part 3 is not operated and the power consumption is decreased at the time of stand-by. When the main control part 3 is in a busy condition of the transmitting and receiving time, etc., at the time of the non-stand-by, the clock 8 can be always monitored. Here, when the busy condition of the main control part 3 is completed, the operating ocntrolpart 6 informs the main control part 3 of the time designating automatic transmitting or the receiving time, the automatic transmitting and receiving are executed without fail.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device having a function of automatically performing a specified operation at a specified time via a clock means.

[Prior art] This type of electronic equipment has a time-specified automatic reception (polling) function that automatically makes a call at a specified time and receives images, or a time-specified automatic reception (polling) function that automatically makes a call at a specified time and sends images. Facsimile machines having a specified automatic transmission function are known.

Such facsimile machines are used, for example, to send images such as slips from a fixed point A to point B every day.
In this case, the calling party stores the telephone number of the other party and the designated time for transmission and reception in a memory, and automatically makes a call at the designated time to perform transmission or reception.

However, if you use this device to automatically make and receive calls at a specified time every day, the calls will be made in vain if there are no documents to send, such as on Saturdays and Sundays, and in this case the call will end with an error, so you cannot use it. cause discomfort to the person.

In order to prevent this, a configuration has been proposed in which a time-specified automatic reception key for selecting the time-specified automatic reception mode is provided on the operation unit, and time-specified automatic polling is performed only when this key switch is turned on.

The configuration of such a conventional facsimile machine is shown in FIG.

In the figure, what is indicated by the code 1 is the NCU (network control unit).
The line is switched between a modem (modulator/demodulator) 2 that modulates and demodulates transmitted and received signals and an attached telephone T. Connected to the modem 2 is a main control section 3 comprised of a known microcomputer that performs overall control and encodes/decodes image data.

Connected to the main control section 3 are a recording section 4 composed of a thermal recording device etc. for recording received images, a reading section 5 composed of a COD sensor etc. for reading transmitted images, and furthermore, a recording section 5 composed of a COD sensor etc. for reading transmitted images. An operation control section 6 is connected to an operation keyboard 7 on which are arranged various operator keys including mode selection keys such as an automatic reception key and a transmission key, and display means such as LEDs for indicating whether each key is on or off. It is connected.

The operation control unit 6 is a sub-C for the CP and U (central processing unit) that constitute the microcomputer of the main control unit 3.
It is composed of a PU and performs control of the operation keyboard 7 including key scanning of the operation keyboard 7 and control of the above-mentioned display means. The operation control section 6 performs the above-mentioned scanning all the time, and when there is a key human power, it notifies the main control section 3 of this, and the main control section 3 receiving this informs the operation control section 6 of the above-mentioned display means. Instructs to display off.

The reason why such an operation control section 6 is provided is that when the main control section 3 performs the work such as scanning, when the main control section 3 is in a busy state, for example during transmission/reception, the above scanning etc. This is because it becomes impossible to do so and problems arise.

On the other hand, the main control section 3 is further connected with a clock 8 for knowing the aforementioned designated time.

Further, a selection signal generator 9 for generating a selection signal for automatic calling is connected to the aforementioned NCU I.

When performing time-specified automatic transmission and reception in the above-described configuration, the main control unit 3 stores the specified time, the telephone number of the other party, and the on/off state of the mode selection key mentioned above in its built-in memory, and the clock 8 The main control unit 3 also monitors the time, that is, in the standby state, the main control unit 3 constantly monitors the clock 8 and displays the current time and the specified time if the time specified automatic transmission or reception mode selection key is on. When the two times match, an automatic call is made and an automatic transmission or reception is performed.

However, in this configuration in which the main control section 3 monitors the clock 8 even during standby, it is necessary to supply power to the main control section 3 even during standby, which increases power consumption. Furthermore, it is very difficult to monitor the clock 8 when the main control unit 3 is busy performing transmission/reception operations, so if the designated time passes during the above operation, it is necessary to either give up on the time-specified transmission/reception, or Alternatively, it is necessary to determine whether the designated time has passed after the operation is completed, which is difficult and requires very complicated control on the main control section 3.

The above-mentioned problems are not limited to facsimile machines, but are common to all types of electronic equipment having a function of automatically performing a specified operation at a specified time via a clock means.

[Purpose] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device of the above-mentioned type that can reduce power consumption and can reliably perform time specification operations. It is said that

[Structure of the Invention] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention monitors the above-mentioned time measurement means in the above-mentioned type of electronic equipment by an operation control section that controls an operation section separately from a main control section for overall control. The configuration was adopted.

[Examples] Hereinafter, details of examples of the present invention will be described. Note that a facsimile machine employing the present invention will be illustrated here as an example.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and in this figure, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the NCUs to selection signal generators indicated by reference numerals 1 to 9 are main controllers 3. The configuration is similar to that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 1, except for the operation control section 6 and the clock 8.

In this embodiment, the clock 8 is connected not to the main control section 3 but to the operation control section 6, and the monitoring of the specified time of the time-specified transmission/reception described above is performed by the operation control section 6 rather than the main control section 3. is configured to be performed. Furthermore, the storage of the designated time for time-designated transmission/reception and the telephone number of the other party is also performed by the operation control section 6 instead of the main control section 3.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 is the main power supply, which includes an operation control unit 61, a clock 8, and a standby power supply 1, which will be described next.
Power is supplied to all parts except 1, and its on/off is controlled by the operation control section 6, and it is turned off during standby.

Further, the standby power supply 11 supplies power to the operation control unit 6 and the clock 8, and is kept on at all times including during standby.

Next, the control operation of the operation control section 6 in the standby state of the device in the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

In the standby state, as described above, only the standby power supply 11 is turned on, and only the operation control unit 6 and the clock 8 are supplied with power and are operating.

In this state, the operation control unit 6 starts the control, and in the first step S1, scans the operation keyboard 7 to check whether there is any human power on the key, and if there is, proceed to step S2; if not, proceed to step S6. move on.

In step S2 when there is key manual power, it is checked whether the input is the time specified automatic transmission key, and if YES, the process branches to step S6 and the operation mode is switched to the time specified eye movement transmission mode, and the operation is performed again. After the display means on the keyboard 7 displays the information, the process advances to step S7.

On the other hand, if the input is not a time-specified automatic transmission key in step S2, the process advances to step S3 to check whether the input is a time-specified automatic reception key. If YES, the process branches to step S5, the operation mode is switched to the time-specified automatic reception mode, and after that is displayed, the process proceeds to step S7.

On the other hand, if the input in step S3 is not the time-specified automatic reception key, that is, if the input is not the time-specified automatic transmission/reception key but another key, the process advances to step S4 to perform processing corresponding to the key. For example, if the start key is used, the main power supply 10 is turned on and the main control unit 3 is activated. After this step S4, the process also proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, it is checked whether the operation mode is the time specified automatic transmission mode, and if Yes, the process branches to step 512, and the current time is checked using the clock 8, and if it matches the pre-stored designated time for automatic transmission. Find out whether or not. If the current time is not the designated time, the process returns to the first step S1, and steps SL, S6. Waits for the specified time in the loop of SL2, and when the specified time arrives, branches to step 513, turns on the main power supply 10 and starts the main control section 3, and then in the next step SL4, the main control section 3 is activated. After informing that it is automatic transmission time and informing the other party's telephone number, the process returns to step S1.

Based on this, the main control unit 3 automatically makes a call and automatically sends a call.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the mode is not the time-specified automatic transmission mode, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is checked whether the operation mode is the time-specified automatic reception mode. If Yes, the process branches to step S9, and if No, the process returns to the first step S1.

In step S9, it is checked whether the current time is the specified time for automatic reception, and if it is not the specified time, the process returns to the first step S1, and steps SL, S7. Wait for the specified time in the loop of S8 and S9, and at the specified time, proceed to step 31 described above.
The process proceeds to steps 310 and 311 similar to 3 and 314, starts the main control unit 3, notifies that it is the reception time, and notifies the other party's telephone number, and then returns to step St.

Based on this, the main control unit 3 automatically makes a call and automatically receives a call.

Next, the control operation of the main control section 3 in response to the above control operation of the operation control section 6 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

After the main power supply 10 is turned on by the operation control unit 6, the main control unit 3 analyzes the cause of the power being turned on in the first step T1, and then proceeds to step T2 and turns on the operation control unit 6.
Check whether it is automatic transmission time based on the notification. And Y
In the case of es, the process branches to step T7 and receives the destination number from the operation control unit 6, and based on this, the process branches to step T8.
Automatically make a call and send a message.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step T2 that it is not the automatic transmission time, the process proceeds to step T3, and it is similarly checked whether or not it is the automatic reception time based on the notification from the operation control section 6.

If Yes, the process proceeds to steps T5 and T6, and automatic reception is performed this time in the same manner as steps T7 and T8 described above.

If it is determined in step T3 that it is not the automatic reception time, the process proceeds to step T4, and other processing is performed in response to the notification from the operation control section 6.

After the above-mentioned automatic transmission, reception, or other processing is completed, the main power supply 10 is turned off and the apparatus returns to a standby state.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the operation control section 6 monitors the clock 8, the main power supply lO is turned off during standby and the main control section 3 is not operated, so that power consumption is significantly reduced compared to the conventional method. . Further, even when the main control section 3 is in a busy state such as during transmission/reception in non-standby mode, the clock 8 can be monitored at all times, that is, the time can be monitored. Here, if the operation control unit 6 notifies the main control unit s3 that it is the time specified automatic transmission or reception time when the busy state of the main control unit 3 ends, even if there is a slight delay from the specified time, Automatic transmission and reception will be carried out reliably even if this occurs.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the second embodiment of the first embodiment
The same reference numerals are given to parts that are the same as or correspond to those in the figures.

In this embodiment, the designated time and the telephone number of the other party are stored not in the operation control section 6 but in a memory 12 attached to the main control section 3, and this memory 12 is backed up by a battery 13.

The memory 12 backed up by the battery 13 is generally attached to the main control section of a facsimile machine with an automatic call function, and has a larger capacity than the memory constituting the operation control section 6. A larger number of destination numbers can be stored, and time-specified automatic reception can be performed from a larger number of destinations. In addition, if an image memory for one page is provided, it is possible to send a circular message to a large number of recipients.

Further, in this embodiment, the watch 8 is also connected to a battery 13 and configured to receive power from the battery 13 as well. According to this configuration, even if the standby power supply 11
Even if the clock is turned off, the clock will not go out of order.

The configuration of other parts of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effects as described above can be obtained.

Note that the configuration of the present invention as described above is not limited to the above-described facsimile machine, but also includes a function of automatically performing a specified operation at a specified time via a clock means, and an operation section including an input means for selecting the function. It can be applied to all electronic devices that have an operation control section that is controlled separately from a main control section for overall control.

[Effect] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned type of electronic equipment, the configuration in which the operation control section monitors the timekeeping means is adopted, so that power consumption can be significantly reduced. In addition, it is possible to provide an excellent electronic device that can perform time specification operations reliably.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional facsimile device, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A flowchart of the control procedure, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the control procedure by the main control section in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment. 1...NCU 2...Modem 3...
・Main control section 4...recording section 5...reading section
6... Operation control unit 7... Operation keyboard 8... Clock 9... Selection signal generator 10...
Main power supply 11...Standby power supply 12...Memory 13...Battery Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electronic device having a function of performing a specified operation at a specified time via a clock means, and having an operation control section that controls an operation section including an input means for selecting the function separately from a main control section for overall control, An electronic device characterized in that the operation control section monitors the time measurement means.