KR19980036479U - Complex office automation equipment with independent module structure for each function - Google Patents

Abstract

end. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a composite office automation equipment having a plurality of office automation equipment in one device.

I. The technical problem the invention seeks to solve

It provides complex office automation equipment with independent module structure for each function that user can easily combine or separate by function and install and operate more flexibly.

All. Summary of solution of design

The complex office automation equipment is divided into one base module for the overall control and power supply of the equipment and functional modules independently configured for each function, and the base module is provided with module connections for accessing the respective functional modules. The modules have a connection for making a signal connection in conjunction with a corresponding module connection of the base module.

la. Important uses of the devise

Used for complex office automation equipment.

Description

Complex office automation equipment with independent module structure for each function

The present invention relates to an office automation equipment, and more particularly, to a complex office automation equipment (hereinafter referred to as a multi-function machine) having the functions of several types of office automation equipment in a single device.

With the development of technology, compounding, and diversification, most office automation equipments are gradually becoming multifunctional and complex. For example, in the case of facsimile, various functions such as printers, scanners, and copiers are provided in addition to image transmission functions. Typically, these functions have been integrated into one unit. For example, the facsimile machine has an image reading unit for reading an original image, a printing unit for printing an image according to data, a modem (modulator-demodulator) and a coder (coder-decoder) and a public switched telephone network (PSTN). All functional parts such as the public line connecting to the public line such as) are coexisted in one device. And some of these functional units were not to be selectively separated or additionally combined by the user can be used.

As the multifunction device is becoming more versatile, the user cannot use the device made by the manufacturer as it has a structure in which each functional unit cannot be separated or further combined. Accordingly, when the user needed additional functions that the multifunction device did not have, he had to purchase a new device or multifunction device with the corresponding function. Also, if there was not enough space to install the all-in-one, it could not be separated even though the space could be used efficiently if it could exclude functional parts that were not needed right away. Not only that, it was even more impossible to transfer some of the functions to other devices.

As described above, since the multifunction apparatus has a structure in which each functional unit cannot be independently separated or additionally combined, no change other than a situation set to a specific shape and function has been given to the user, There was a problem that can not be entered.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction device having an independent module structure for each function that can be installed and operated more flexibly by allowing users to easily combine or separate functions.

1 is a block diagram of a multifunction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention for achieving the above object is to separate the multifunction device into one base module for the overall control and power supply of the device and functional modules independently configured for each function, the base module is connected to each of the functional modules Module connection parts are provided, and the functional modules are connected to corresponding module connection parts of the base module.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description and the annexed drawings, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the subject innovation, such as specific functional modules. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. And a detailed description of known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

The present invention allows the user to select and customize according to their specifications by separating the multifunction device for each function in order to fundamentally solve the conventional problems as described above, modularized and easily combined / separable. 1 shows a block configuration of the multifunction apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a configuration of an example in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile-based multifunction device among the multifunction devices for convenience, and separates the multifunction device into one base module 100 and functional modules 110 to 118 divided by functions. will be. The base module 100 is a module for overall control and power supply of the apparatus, and includes a power supply unit 102, a central control unit 104, an operation panel unit 106, and a memory unit 108. The function modules 110 to 118 are modules configured independently for each function, and are configured to be selectively mounted and coupled to the base module 100 as necessary. Among the function modules 110-118, the additional memory module 110 provides an additional memory area for smoothing data processing in performing various functions. The public line connection module 112 is connected to the public line network to enable the transmission and reception of data. The image reading module 114 reads the original image and processes the image data accordingly. The printing module 116 prints an image according to various data on a recording sheet. The terminal connection module 118 includes a port such as RS-232C, centronics, etc. for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer (PC).

On the other hand, the base module 100 is provided with module connection parts J1 to J5 for connecting with the function modules 110 to 118, respectively, and the function modules 110 to 118 correspond to the corresponding modules of the base module 100. Coupling portions I1 to I5 are provided for coupling to the connecting portion and making signal connections, respectively. These module connections and pairs of connections can be coupled / disconnected from each other and connected by connectors such as connectors, harnesses or cables. And the signal between the modules through the connection is composed of a data bus and control signal, the connection confirmation control signal between the modules. These connecting portions are indicated by dashed lines indicated by reference numerals C1 to C5 in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the function modules 110 to 118 may be selectively coupled to or separated from the base module 100.

The base module 100 is the basis for the operation of all functions, and the remaining function modules 110 to 118 may be selected according to circumstances. For example, when using only the data reception using the public line network, only the base module 100, the public line connection module 112 and the printing module 116 may be combined to form a multifunction device. On the other hand, if the main use only for copying purposes, only the base module 100, the image reading module 114 and the printing module 116 may be configured to combine the multifunction device. At this time, in order to recognize whether each module is coupled or not, the base module 100 is configured to generate and detect a switch signal using a sensor or a connection signal level generation circuit when each module is coupled. That is, each of the module connection units J1 to J5 includes a sensing device that detects whether the corresponding function module is coupled and informs the central controller 104. The signals used for other inter-module couplings are configured in the same manner as the signals used in the existing facsimile, and are connected to each other by the connection parts C1 to C5.

In this state, the base module 100 checks whether each function module is connected from time to time, and checks the state of the connection confirmation control signal for this purpose. At this time, the base module 100 is ready to enable and operate the associated functional block to provide a function associated with the functional module for the functional module confirmed whether the connection. When an operation command is issued from the operation panel unit 106, the base module 100 determines what function module is required to perform a given operation command and checks whether all necessary function modules are connected. If all the related function modules are connected and there is no error, the base module 100 performs the required operation. On the other hand, if there is an error in module connection, the status is displayed on the display device of the operation panel 106 in the base module 100, and the RS-232C or Centronics by the printing module 116 or the terminal connection module 118 is displayed. If the lamp is connected, print it or display it through the connection terminal.

Therefore, the user can separate / combine each function module as necessary, so that only the necessary function module can be connected and used when mainly using a specific function.

Meanwhile, in the above description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention has been shown an example of applying to the facsimile for convenience, it can be applied to all the multi-function terminal device or multifunction device the same. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not to be determined by the embodiments described, but should be determined by the equivalent of the utility model registration claims and the utility model registration claims.

As described above, the present invention has the advantage that a user can install and operate a more flexible multifunction device by easily combining or separating function modules for each required function. In addition, partial functional changes of modules, such as upgrades, can be easily taken and customized according to the user's unique specifications. And from the manufacturer's point of view, by developing only new modules for each function, cost reduction and efficiency are more effective than developing the entire multifunction device.

Claims (6)

In the composite office automation equipment having the functions of several kinds of office automation equipment in a single device, The complex office automation device is divided into one base module for the overall control and power supply of the device and functional modules independently configured for each function, and the base module includes module connections for connecting to the function modules, respectively. And the functional modules are connected to corresponding module connection parts of the base module and have a connection part for signal connection. The complex office automation device according to claim 1, wherein the module connection unit and the pair of connection units are capable of coupling / separating from each other. 3. The complex office automation device according to claim 2, wherein the base module includes a power supply unit, a central control unit, an operation panel unit, and a memory unit. 4. The complex office automation device according to claim 3, wherein the functional modules are selectively coupled / disconnected to the base module. 5. The complex office automation device according to claim 4, wherein the module connection units each have a sensing unit that detects whether a corresponding function module is coupled and informs the central control unit. 6. The complex office automation device according to claim 5, wherein the functional modules are divided into an additional memory module, a public line connection module, an image reading module, a printing module, and a terminal connection module. .