Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Specific signal processing circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-26
2003-08-19
Nguyen, Madeleine (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Specific signal processing circuitry
C358S296000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06608704
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus which has a recording apparatus of an ink jet recording system mounted thereon.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 27
is a block diagram showing a constitutional embodiment of a conventional facsimile apparatus.
As shown in the figure, the conventional facsimile apparatus with an ink jet recording apparatus mounted thereon comprises a system involving a facsimile unit (containing a CPU, ROM and RAM) and a system involving a printer unit (containing a CPU, ROM and RAM), both systems being connected through a Centronics interface (I/F) provided as a receptacle on the printer side.
Therefore, both systems have many components duplicated, with neither fully exploiting its capabilities, resulting in bad cost performance. Further, a greater area is occupied by electrical parts of the facsimile apparatus, which impedes the miniaturization of the apparatus.
A system configuration of
FIG. 27
will be described below.
In
FIG. 27
,
21
to
35
show a system on the facsimile side, wherein a CPU
21
comprises a microprocessor, and controls, in accordance with a program stored in a ROM
22
, the whole of the facsimile system including a RAM
23
, a non-volatile RAM
24
, a character generator (CG)
25
, a reader
30
, a modem unit
31
, a network control unit (NCU)
32
, a console unit
27
, and a display unit
26
.
The RAM
23
stores binary image data read by the reader
30
or binary image data to be printed by the printer, coded image data modulated by the modem unit
31
for output to a telephone line
33
via the NCU
32
, and coded image data demodulated from analog waveform signal input through the telephone line
33
via the NCU
32
and the modem unit
31
. The non-volatile RAM
24
can securely store data to be saved (e.g., abbreviated dial number) even when the electric power is shut off.
The character generator
25
is a ROM storing therein characters of JIS code or ASCII code to generate character data corresponding to a. predetermined code, as required, under the control of the CPU
21
. This character data is developed into image data for facsimile to be used in the communications or recording.
The reader
30
comprises a DMA controller, an image processing IC, an image sensor, and a CMOS logic IC, to binarize data read by the use of a contact-type image sensor (CS) under the control of the CPU
21
, and to send its binarized data successively to the RAM
23
.
Note that the set state of an original on the reader
30
can be detected by an original detector using a photosensor provided on the conveying passageway of the original.
The modem unit
31
, which comprises G
3
, G
2
modems and a clock generation circuit connected to these modems, modulates coded transmit data stored in the RAM
23
, under the control of the CPU
21
, for output to the telephone line
33
via the NCU
32
.
Also, the modem unit
31
has an analog signal from the telephone line
33
input via the NCU
32
, which signal is then demodulated and stored as coded receive data in the RAM
23
.
The NCU
32
switches the telephone line
33
to connect to the modem
31
or a telephone set
34
under the control of the CPU
21
. Also, the NCU
32
has means for detecting a call signal (CI), and sends an incoming signal to the CPU
21
when the call signal is detected.
The telephone set
34
is one integral with this facsimile apparatus, specifically composed of a handset, a speech network, a dialer, a ten key and a one-touch key. The console unit
27
comprises a key for starting the transmission and receive of image, a mode selection key for specifying the operation mode such as fine, standard, automatic receive at the transmission or receive time, and a ten key or one-touch key for the dialing.
The display unit
26
comprises an LCD module which is a combination of a 7-segment LCD for clock indication, a pictograph LCD for the indication of various modes, and a dot matrix LCD capable of display with 5×7 dots in 16 digits×1 row, and LEDs.
A resolution converter
29
converts binary data as sent from the reader
30
and then stored in the RAM
23
, or received raw data as stored in the RAM
23
via the telephone line
33
, the NCU
32
and the modem unit
31
and then decoded, from 8 dots/mm to a recording resolution of 360 dpi.
A CODEC unit
28
is a circuit for assisting the CPU
21
in decoding the received coded data, or coding raw data to be transmitted, composed of an RL (run length)/raw data conversion circuit, and a row data/RL conversion circuit.
A Centronics I/F
35
is an interface for passing print data to the printer or detecting the printer status, which corresponds to a Centronics I/F
41
on the printer side.
On the other hand,
36
to
43
is a system on the printer side, wherein a CPU
36
, which comprises a microprocessor, controls the whole of the printer system comprising a RAM
38
, a character generator (CG)
39
, a print controller
42
, an H-V converter
43
, the Centronics I/F
41
, and a display unit
40
in accordance with a program stored in a ROM
37
.
The H-V converter
43
operates to prepare data in a main scan direction which extends transversely, for a number a of lines equal to the number of nozzles of an ink jet head, to take out the same number of data at the same dot position in those lines in a sub-scan direction, and to rearrange them in the order of data to be supplied to the head, to obtain the data to be supplied to the head which is necessary at the time of actual recording.
The Centronics I/F
41
operates to receive data from the Centronics I/F
35
and stores it in the RAM
38
, or return the printer status to the FAX or an external host (not shown), upon an instruction from the CPU
36
.
The print controller
42
sends out print data H-V converted and then stored in the RAM
38
to the print head of the ink jet printer.
The character generator
39
storing font data therein, develops a font in accordance with a character code from the external host, when a switch circuit
44
changes over to select the external host. The display unit
40
includes an LED for indicating the state of the printer.
FIG. 28
is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of a conventional recording system as above described. Note that M
01
to M
06
in the figure each indicate a specific area of memory.
First, at S
01
, the recording RL data in M
01
(RAM
23
) is converted into raw data by an RL/raw conversion circuit within the CODEC unit
28
, and transferred by DMA (direct memory access) to M
02
(RAM
23
). Next, at S
02
, the recording raw data is transferred by DMA to the resolution converter
29
to convert the resolution in the main scan direction from 8 dot/mm to 360 dpi.
The converted data is transferred by DMA to M
03
(RAM
23
). Then, data is overwritten on M
03
to append command data to the top and end of data of one line and obtain raster data with command. Then, its data is sent by DMA to the Centronics I/F
35
, then via the switch circuit
44
to the Centronics I/F
41
, and further sent by DMA to a receive buffer of M
04
(RAM
38
).
Then, the CPU
36
analyzes a command stored in the receive buffer, recognizes the top and end of line, and transfers image data, with the command removed, to a raster buffer M
05
(RAM
38
). Then, data of M
05
is sent to the H-V converter
43
at S
07
for H-V conversion, after which data is sent to a print buffer of M
06
(RAM
38
). Then, its data is sent by DMA in succession to the print controller
42
for supply to the print head.
However, the above conventional system has the following drawbacks.
1) Since a facsimile system and a printer system are separately provided, there are many duplicate blocks, resulting in bad cost performance as compared as to the attained functions, considered as a whole.
2) With the great scale of circuit, the apparatus becomes large.
3) As the printer system is connected via Centronics I/F, a recording signal on the facsimile side must be converted for transmission
Kurosawa Yuji
Nishii Teruyuki
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Nguyen Madeleine
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