Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-05
2001-05-22
Lee, Cheukfan (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S401000, C358S444000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236473
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a digital image reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to such an apparatus having an interface for providing a user with choices of orientations of original documents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a digital image reproduction apparatus of this kind, a digital image data file is first made by the scanner from a document for copying and these image data are used to control the printing unit. By processing the image data in the meantime it is possible to change them and thus offer functionality which was not possible in optical copying machines, which are frequently referred to as “analogue” machines.
Such processing is, for example, rotation through an angle of 90°, so that, for example, a document placed transversely on the positioning section (generally a glass platen or a document feeder) can be printed on an image support (usually a sheet of paper) oriented in the lengthwise direction, i.e. rotated through 90°.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,388 (the '388 patent), use is made of the above rotation functionality by arranging for the scanner to determine the orientation of the original in a pre-scan, comparing the pre-scanned orientation with the orientation of the copy paper in the reservoir, and (in the event of non-agreement) automatically (and unavoidably) rotating the image data through 90°, so that the reproduced image nevertheless fits the copy paper. The '388 patent second-guesses the instruction of the user to surmise the user's intent based upon an assumption that a user always desires to copy onto a similarly oriented copy support. As a result, copying of 100% of the original document is carried out even if there is no copy paper present having the same orientation as the original document.
However, such automation sometimes leads to unwanted situations because the user might have specifically wanted to copy onto copy paper of a different orientation. Consider the following scenario. As digital image reproduction apparatuses become more sophisticated, so do their operating systems and user-interfaces. There might be an instance in which a hurried user desires to make a partial copy, i.e. to mask (or not reproduce) a portion of an original document but does not have the time and/or the inclination to learn the most appropriate procedure to accomplish his objective. Such a user might solve his dilemma by using a “quick and dirty” solution of copying a lengthwise-oriented document onto a transversely-oriented image support, i.e. an intentional mismatch. In that case, the automatic behaviour of the prior art machine will surprise the user and even make his intentions impossible.
Because of his experience with analogue copying machines, a user will generally expect the orientation of the produced copy to be the same as that of the original document and on that basis he will choose a specific orientation when applying the document to the positioning section. In the example scenario discussed above, the prior art machine will thwart and frustrate an untrained user who is in a hurry and/or is disinclined to be trained to the most appropriate use of the machine's complicated operating system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a reproduction apparatus which can be operated in a simple manner both comprehensible and predictable to the user, wherein (by digital functionality) it is possible to make copies of original documents in more or other orientations than might be expected on the basis of the physical orientations of the stocks of copy supports (e.g., paper) present in the printing unit.
To this end, according to the invention, the operating unit is adapted to offer for a copy format a choice of all the orientations corresponding to the positioning orientations available on the glass platen or via the document feeder, including at least one orientation for which there is no physically corresponding orientation of image support stock available in the printing unit. The control unit, in the event that the unavailable orientation is chosen (or set) by the user, selects a reservoir, which contains image supports of the required format albeit at other than the required orientation, and also causes rotation of the image data by the rotation module through an angle corresponding to the difference between the required and the said other orientation.
According to the invention, a choice of two orientations is always offered to the user via the operating interface, one which is the same as a physical orientation of a stock of copy paper present in the apparatus and one which has orientation as a stock which in actual fact is non-existent, hence a virtual stock. In the case of the latter orientation, the image data are rotated and printed on the copy paper that is available. The operator does not know this, nor does he need to. He can choose whatever he wishes and is not surprised by unexpected (and possibly unwanted) automation.
In specific cases, as a result of technical limitations it may happen that a specific format of original documents can only be applied to the positioning section in a single orientation, while sometimes also a specific format of copy paper can only be processed by the printer unit in a single orientation. When the orientations of the original document (as imposed by the positioning section) and the copy are different, the control unit will automatically cause the image data to be rotated so that they can nevertheless be printed. However, the only orientation offered on the operating means is the one corresponding to the orientation imposed by the positioning section on the original document.
For example, where the apparatus is provided with an automatic document feeder which positions documents on the positioning section in the same orientation as that in which they are offered to the document feeder, only an orientation imposed by the document feeder is offered to the user.
The foregoing and other objectives of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5239388 (1993-08-01), Matsumoto
patent: 5301036 (1994-04-01), Barrett
patent: 5528361 (1996-06-01), Sakata
patent: 5600429 (1997-02-01), Kutsuwada
Lee Cheukfan
Oce--Technologies B.V.
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