JP2529201B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which outputs a document image signal to a host device and has a bidirectional interface means for inputting data from the host device. It is about.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when an original image and an image such as document data are combined and printed, a read image signal read by a scanner or the like in an upper device such as a host computer and an image signal representing a document are combined. It was displayed on a CRT display, etc., and composited and edited, and the composited image signal was output to the printer.

Generally, the image data that can be used for the composite editing on the host computer is a low-resolution or binary image signal. However, the image signal required for printing is a high-resolution or multi-valued image signal. Therefore, in the past,
The host computer receives a read image signal read by a scanner or the like as a high resolution or image signal, holds the read image signal, and performs processing for converting it to a low resolution or binary image signal for display. Was there.

Then, on the display screen of the CRT or the like, the operator performs a composite editing work of the document image. The synthesizing process at this time is performed on the low resolution or binary image signal.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when an attempt is made to print a combined image, the host computer also performs similar combining processing on the held high-resolution and multi-value read image signals. , It is necessary to generate a high resolution or multi-valued composite image signal and output it to a printer.

Therefore, conventionally, it has been necessary to transmit a high-resolution, multi-valued image signal (a large amount of data) between the scanner and the host computer, and between the host computer and the printer.

Further, in the host computer, it has been a heavy burden to perform a synthesis process of a large-capacity image signal for printing in addition to a synthesis process for display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of synthesizing print data and a document read image while reducing such a large amount of data transfer.

Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of significantly reducing the load of performing a synthesis process of a large amount of image data for printing in a host device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes, for example, the following configuration as one means for solving the above problems.

That is, while outputting the original image signal to the upper device,
In an image forming apparatus having a bidirectional interface unit for inputting data from the host device, a document image signal having a resolution or gradation suitable for processing in the host device is passed through the bidirectional interface. In addition to providing a generating unit for converting the resolution or gradation of the first document image signal obtained by scanning the document with a scanner to generate the second document image signal, the document image and the document image When forming an image that is combined with print data generated by a higher-level device, it is possible to form a document image that is combined with the print data without depending on the resolution or gradation of the original image signal processed by the higher-level device. Therefore, the data input from the host device via the bidirectional interface should be combined with the print data. Identification means for identifying a command to set the area and position of the draft image, and print input via the bidirectional interface means based on the area and position of the original image set by the command. It is characterized by further comprising a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the data and the first original image signal obtained by scanning the original with the scanner and generating a synthetic image signal.

Further, for example, the generating means has a binarizing means for binarizing the first original image signal.

[Operation] With the above configuration, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of synthesizing print data and a document read image while reducing a large amount of data transfer with a host device.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of significantly reducing the load of performing a synthesis process of a large amount of image data for printing in a host device.

That is, even when the original image signal is bidirectionally transferred to and from the higher-level device, the read image from the scanner can be converted into an original image signal having an image degree or gradation suitable for the processing of the higher-level device and output. In addition, when the command from the higher-level device is identified and the print data and the original image from the higher-level device are combined, the combination may be performed based on the area and position of the original image set by the identified command. Therefore, it is possible to perform composition without depending on the resolution or gradation of the original image signal output to the higher-level device.

As a result, even if the processing in the higher-level device is processing with low resolution or low gradation, it is not limited to this.
It is possible to combine the scanners at the readable resolution or the gradation, and even in this case, it is possible to eliminate the burden of performing a process of combining a large amount of image data for printing in the higher-level device, and between the higher-level device and the image forming device. A large amount of data transfer can also be reduced.

[Examples] Contents 1. Overall configuration (Fig. 1) 2. Configuration of scanner 200 (Fig. 2) 3. Configuration of LBP engine unit 9 (Fig. 3) 4. Configuration of video signal generation unit 8 (4th) (Fig.) 5. Configuration of operation panel 15 (Fig. 5) 6. Description of contents stored in RAM2 (Fig. 6) 7. Interface specification with scanner 200 (Fig. 7) 8. Description of operation 8-1. Overall Control operation (Fig. 8) 8-2. Key input process (Fig. 9) 8-3. Command process (Fig. 10) 8-4. Start process (Fig. 11) 8-5. Operation (Fig. 11) 8-6. Processing operation in copy mode (Fig. 11) 8-7. Processing operation in MIX mode (Fig. 12 (A))
(B)) 8-8. Processing Operation in Transfer Mode (FIG. 13) An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

1. Overall configuration (Fig. 1) Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention.
In the figure, 100 is an image information output device which is the laser beam printer of this embodiment, 200 is a scanner which is an image information reading device, and 300 and 350 are information processing devices which are host computers connected to the image information output device 100. The information processing device 300 is connected by a parallel interface (for example, Centronics interface) 6 and the information processing device 350 is connected by a serial interface (for example, RS-232C interface) 4. . The information processing device to be connected is usually one of these.

In the image information output apparatus 100, 1 is a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the entire control of this embodiment according to a control procedure shown in a flow chart to be described later stored in a read only memory (ROM) 3, and 2 is a CPU 1 Random access memory (RAM), which is the work area of, the parallel interface 6 that controls the interface with the host 300 under the control of the CPU 1, and the LBP engine unit 9 that is the mechanical unit of the laser beam printer (LBP). An LBP interface that controls the interface, 8 is pulse-width modulated in accordance with the gradation of multi-tone image information to emit a semiconductor laser described later, or emits a semiconductor laser in accordance with binary image information, A video signal generation unit that generates a video signal, and the video signal generation unit 8 selects either of these image information under the control of the CPU 1 or combines both image information. Te, generating the corresponding semiconductor driving video signals.

10 is a scan interface that controls the interface with the scan interface 200, 11 is a character generator that generates a character pattern corresponding to the character code of the text data sent from the information processing device 300 or 350 with the character code, 12 Is a pattern expansion unit that expands a character pattern from the character generator 11 and combines and expands the image data sent from the information processing devices 300 and 350,
13 is an image memory for storing image information read by the scanner 200 attached by an option, and 14 is a panel interface for controlling the interface between the operation panel 15 and the CPU 1 for manually operating the image information output device 100 and the scanner 200. Ace, 16 is a compression / expansion unit that compresses / expands image information, and 17 is a dither process for multivalued digital information, for example, in accordance with the processing form of the multivalued digital image information from the scanning device 200, 300, 350. A data conversion unit 18 for converting data or binary data is a V / H processor equipped with an option for rotating image information.

2. Configuration of Skiana 200 (Fig. 2) Fig. 2 shows the details of the mechanical portion of Skiana 200.

In FIG. 2, the document is placed on the document glass 23 facing downward, and the placement criterion is on the left back side when viewed from the front. The original is pressed against the original glass 23 by the original cover 24. The original is illuminated by a fluorescent lamp 22, and the reflected light is condensed on the surface of a CCD 21 (image sensor) having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a row through mirrors 25, 27 and a lens 26. Optical path is formed. The mirror 27 and the mirror 25 are adapted to move at a relative speed of 2: 1. This optical unit moves from left to right in synchronism with the reading timing signal from the scanner interface 10 while applying the PLL with the DC servo motor.
Subscan. The resolution in the sub-scanning direction is 16 lines / mm.

Next, in the main scanning direction, the main scanning width is a maximum width of B4
It will be 257 mm. And to do this at 16 pel / mm, C
Since 4112 (= 257 × 16) bits are required for the number of CD bits, this equipment has a CC with a light receiving element of about 5000 bits.
A D array sensor was used so that the reading operation was performed.

As described above, the image of the document placed on the document glass 23 is sequentially read line by line, and the 6-bit digital image signal indicating the light and shade is output to the scanner interface 10.

3. Configuration of LBP engine unit 9 (Fig. 3) Next, the mechanism of the LBP engine unit 9 is shown in Fig. 3. A video signal sent bit-serially from the video signal generator 8 is input to the laser scanning optical system unit 45. The unit 45 is composed of a semiconductor laser, a collimator lens, a rotating polyhedral mirror, an Fθ lens, and a tilt correction optical system.
Then, the video signal from the video signal generation unit 8 is applied to the semiconductor laser to be electro-optically converted, and the diverging laser light is converted into parallel light by a collimator lens and is irradiated on a polyhedron mirror that rotates at high speed, and the laser light is applied to it. Therefore, the photoconductor 28 is scanned. As a result, a latent image is formed on the photoconductor 28.

At this time, in order to detect the timing at which the semiconductor laser scans the photosensitive surface of the photoconductor 28, that is, the timing at which the video signal is transmitted, the laser light is detected at a predetermined position before the photosensitive surface of the photoconductor 28 is scanned by the laser light. A known laser beam detection (BD) device is provided and a video signal is sent in synchronization with the laser beam detection signal (BD signal) of the detector.

The photoreceptor 28 is composed of, for example, three layers of a conductive layer, a photosensitive layer and an insulating layer. Therefore, the process components are arranged which allow it to be imaged. 29 is a precharger, 30 is a precharger lamp, 31 is a primary charger, 32 is a secondary charger, 33 is a front exposure lamp, 34 is a developing device for developing a latent image,
35 is a paper feed cassette, 36 is a paper feed roller that supplies the transfer paper from the cassette, 37 is a paper feed guide, 38 is a registration roller,
39 is a transfer charging device for transferring an image onto a transfer paper, 40 is a separation roller for separating the transfer paper from the photoconductor 28, 41 is a conveyance guide, 42 is a fixing device, and 43 is a tray. As a result, image formation based on the received video signal is performed on the transfer paper.

4. Configuration of Video Signal Generation Unit 8 (FIG. 4) FIG. 4 shows the detailed configuration of the video signal generation unit 8 that generates a video signal for causing the semiconductor laser of the LBP engine unit 9 to emit light.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 50 is a control unit for performing overall timing control such as output selection of each selector, 51 and 52 are line buffers of a double buffer system having a storage capacity of two lines in total for one line, and the line buffer 51 is a line buffer. A 6-bit parallel line buffer for multi-valued (6-bit) digital image signals, a line buffer 52 is a 1-line buffer for a 1-bit binary image signal. Selectors 53, 54 select whether to output the input image signal via the line buffers 51, 52, or directly output without passing through the line buffers 51, 52. Selectors A, B, 55 are multivalued digital image signals. Latch circuit 56, a triangular wave generation circuit 56 for generating a triangular wave, which is a pattern signal described later, from the master clock MK, 57 is a digital signal for analog conversion of the latch digital signal of the latch unit 55 to an analog signal corresponding to the digital signal. D / A converter for output, 58 is a comparator, 59 is an OR circuit that combines and outputs the signal from the comparator 58 and the signal from the selector B54, and 60 is the signal from the comparator 58, the selector B54 and the OR circuit 59. Selector C which selects one of the
Reference numeral 61 is a drive circuit for converting the video signal from the selector C60 into a drive signal for driving the semiconductor laser of the LBP engine unit 9.

In the video signal generator 8 of the present embodiment, the digital image signal is once analogized in order to obtain gradation when converting a multi-valued digital image signal into a binary semiconductor laser drive signal and forming an image. The signal is converted into a signal, and the converted signal is compared with a pattern signal such as a triangular wave to generate a binarized signal subjected to pulse width modulation. A multi-valued digital image signal is used in the latch unit 55. At, the video clock VK is latched and synchronized. The video clock VK is a clock obtained by dividing the master clock MK by two by the triangular wave generating circuit 56.

The output of the D / A converter 57 is converted into a voltage level by a resistor and then input to one input terminal of the comparator 58. On the other hand, the triangular wave generation circuit 56 divides the master clock MK by a predetermined amount to generate a clock signal with a duty ratio of 50%, and converts this clock into a triangular wave and outputs it. This triangular wave is input to the other input terminal of the comparator 58, and compared with the analog signal from the D / A converter 57.
Pulse width modulated.

5. Configuration of operation panel 15 (Fig. 5) Fig. 5 is a top view of the panel portion of the operation panel 15.

The operation panel 15 includes an image information output device 100 and a scanner 200.
65 is a numerical display for displaying the number of outputs and various settings, and 66 is an online mode and operation panel operated by remote control from the information processing device.
An online switch for switching between the offline mode operated by the input from 15, a reset switch 67 for initializing the apparatus, a start switch 68 for instructing the start of printing processing by the apparatus, a start of scanning the scanner, and the like, 70 Number of prints setting switch, 71
Is a position setting switch for setting the position within one page of image information, 72 is a region setting switch for setting the region of image information,
73 is a resolution setting switch for setting the resolution of image information,
A storage mode switch 74 is equipped with the image memory 13 and sets a memory storage mode which is a mode for storing the received image in the image memory 13 or the RAM 2.

Further, 75 is a scan register registration switch that registers the setting state set by the setting switches 70 to 73 so far with the setting to the scanning device 200, and 76 indicates the setting state set by the setting switches 70 to 73 by that time. To register and register to the host registration switch, 77 to 80 are switches to set the operation mode of this device, 77 is a copy mode switch to set a copy mode to print out the image information read from the scanner 200, and 78 is a A print mode switch for setting a print mode, which is a mode for printing out the data from the information processing device 300, 350 or the information held in the memory, 79 is the image information from the scanning device 200, and the information from the information processing device 300, 350. MIX mode switch to set the MIX mode to combine and print out, 80 is the information processing device that reads the image information from the scanner 200 It is converted to the processing form of 300, 350 is a transfer Modosuitsuchi for setting a transfer mode for transferring the information processing apparatus 300 and 350. Further, reference numeral 81 is a ten-key switch, which includes a clear switch for clearing input data.

82 to 86 are indicators, 82 is READY indicating that the printer is ready, 83 is DATA that lights when there is print data in the memory, and 84 is SC READY that indicates that the scanner 200 is ready. , Blinks when an error occurs in SKYANA. 85 indicates that no paper has been set in the device, or the set paper has run out
PEPER and 86 are JAM indicators indicating that a recording paper jam has occurred in the mechanical section of the apparatus.

6. Description of contents stored in RAM2 (FIG. 6) Further, each area shown in FIG. 6 is allocated to the RAM2 of this embodiment.

That is, a key buffer 91 for holding input data from the ten keys 81 of the operation panel 15, a designated number area 92 in which the set number of sheets to be printed is stored, a resolution area 93 in which the set resolution is stored, image information A position specification area 94 for holding the specified value of the position setting within one page, an area specifying area 95 for holding the specified value of the cut-out area of the image information, and a host setting area 96 for holding the setting values of the information processing devices 300 and 350. A scan area setting area 97 for holding each setting value and the like of the scan area 200 and a text area 98 which is a storage area of text information sent from the information processing device in the memory storage mode are allocated.

7. Interface specifications with the Skiana 200 (Fig. 7) Fig. 7 shows the interface specifications with the Skiana 200 and the Skiana interface 10. In the figure, 201 is a multi-gradation 6-bit digital image signal V0 to V5, 202 is a BUSY signal for notifying a printer side, and 203 is a signal indicating that the optical system of the scanner 200 is at the reading start position and ready for reading. VSREQ signal which is a signal, 205 is 1 in Sukiana 200
HSYNC, which is a signal that requests reading of image information for lines
A signal, 206 is a control bus for transferring various statuses and command groups.

8. Description of Operation 8-1. Overall Control Operation (FIG. 8) The operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 8 to 13.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the present embodiment. When the power of the apparatus is turned on, the process proceeds to step S1 to execute initialization processing such as setting RAM2 to an initial value. Then, in the subsequent step S2, it is checked whether or not there is a key input from the operation panel 15, and if there is a key input, the key input processing shown in FIG.
Return to step S2.

If there is no key input in step S2, the process proceeds to step S4 to check whether it is currently in the online mode. If it is not in the online mode, the process returns to step S2 again. It is checked whether or not there is received data from step S2. If there is no received data, the process returns to step S2. If there is received data, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S6, and the received data is a command. . Here, if a command is received, the command execution process shown in FIG. 10 described later in step S7 is executed, and the process returns to step S2.

If the command is not received in step S6, the print data is received, and the received data is sequentially stored in the text area 98 of the RAM 2 in step S8, and the process returns to step S2.

8-2. Key Input Processing (FIG. 9) The key input processing of the above step S3 will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

If there is a key input, it is first checked in step S15 whether or not the reset switch 67 is input. If the reset switch 67 is input, the process returns to step S1 in FIG.

If the reset switch 67 is not input at step S15, the process proceeds to step S16 to check whether the online switch 66 is input. If the online switch 66 is input, the process proceeds to step S17 to check whether the online switch 66 is currently in the online mode and the online switch 66 is lit.If it is the online mode, change it to the offline mode at step S18, and change the online switch 66. Turns off and returns. On the other hand, if it is currently in offline mode, step S1
At 9 change to online mode and return.

If the online key 66 is not pressed at step S16, the process proceeds from step S16 to step S20 to check whether the current online mode is set. If the online mode is selected, the other operations are invalid and the process returns without doing anything.

In offline mode, step S20 to step S20
Proceeding to 21, it is checked whether or not the setting switches of the storage mode switches 74 or 77 to 80 are input, and if these switches are input, the mode corresponding to the mode switch input in step S22 is set. Then, after the setting of each mode is completed, the process returns. If the image memory 13 is not provided, the memory storage mode is not entered, and the input of the storage mode switch 74 is ignored.

If the mode setting switches 74, 77 to 80 are not input at step S21, the process proceeds to step S25 to check whether each setting switch at 70 to 73 is input, and set switches 70 to
In the case of the input of 73, the process proceeds to step S26, the data stored in the key buffer 91 at the time of switch input is stored in the corresponding area in the RAM 2, the update flag is turned on, and the process returns. If there is no data in the key buffer 91 or if improper data is stored, the input error may be notified without updating each area.

The correspondence between each input switch and the storage area is as follows.

Number setting switch ・ ・ ・ Specified number area Position setting switch ・ ・ ・ Position specifying area Region setting switch ・ ・ ・ Region setting area Resolution setting switch ・ ・ Resolution area Set in step S25 If switch 70 to 73 is not input, step S27 Proceed to step 1 and check whether or not the input is for the scan register registration switch 75. If the scan register registration switch 75 is input, the set value updated in step S26 described above is stored in the corresponding area of the scan setting area 97 in step S28, and is sequentially displayed on the numeric display 65 for a fixed period of time.
In S29, the update data is sent to the scan analyzer 200 and the process returns. At this time, the update flag is reset.

If the scan registration switch 75 is not input in step S27, the flow advances to step S30 to check whether the host registration switch 76 is input. If the host registration switch 76 is input, the process proceeds to step S31, and in the same process as step S28, the data updated in step S26 is stored in the host setting area 96, displayed on the numeral display 65 and returned. To do. If the host registration switch 76 is not input at step S30, it is checked at step S32 whether or not the start switch 68 is input. If the start switch 68 is input, the start process of step S33 shown in FIG. 11 described later is executed. And then return.

If the start switch 68 is not input at step S32, the process proceeds to step S40, and it is determined whether the ten key 81 is input. If the numeric keypad 81 is input, proceed to step S41,
The input data is stored in the key buffer 91 and the subsequent step S4
At 2, the input data is displayed on the numeric display 65 and the process returns. When the clear key is input, the data stored in the key buffer 91 is cleared and the process returns. If the numeric keypad 81 is not pressed in step S40, the process corresponding to each input key switch is executed in step S43 and the process returns.

8-3. Command Processing (FIG. 10) Next, the command execution processing of step S7 will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

When a command from the host is received in the oinline mode, first in step S50, it is checked whether or not a setting command for each of the memory storage mode, copy mode, print mode, MIX mode, and transfer mode is received, and these setting commands are received. If it is received, the process proceeds to step S51 to set the mode corresponding to the received setting mode command.
Then, after the setting of each mode is completed, the process returns. In addition,
If the image memory 13 is not installed, the memory storage mode is not entered and, for example, an error is notified.

If the mode setting command is not received in step S50, the process proceeds to step S25, and the designation commands for specifying the number of printouts, the position of the image information, the area of the image information, and the resolution of the image information to be transmitted are received. If these designated commands are received, the process proceeds to step S53, the designated value sent together with the command is stored in the corresponding area in RAM2, the update flag is turned on and the process returns. .

The correspondence between each received command and the designated value storage area is as follows.

Number setting command ・ ・ ・ Specified number area Position setting command ・ ・ ・ Position specifying area Region setting command ・ ・ ・ Region setting area Resolution setting command ・ ・ Resolution area If the specified command is not received in step S52, proceed to step S54, Check whether the scan command is received. If the scan register command is received, the process proceeds to step S55, the designated value updated in step S53 is stored in the corresponding area of the scan setting area 97, and the update data is sent to the scan node 200 in the following step S56 to return. . At this time, the update flag is reset.

If the scan registration command has not been received in step S54, the flow advances to step S57 to check whether the host registration command has been received. Here, if the host registration command is received, the process proceeds to step S58, the data updated in step S53 is stored in the host setting area 96, and the process returns.

If the host registration command is not received at step S57, it is checked at step S60 whether or not the start command is received. If the start command is received, the start processing shown in FIG. To do.

On the other hand, if the start command is not received in step S60, the process proceeds to step S65, and it is checked whether or not the reset command is received. Here, if the reset command has been received, the process proceeds to step S66, and the reset command is sent to the scanner 200. If the scanner 200 cannot receive the reset command, it outputs a reset signal to the scanner 200 and returns to step S1 to execute the initialization process. As described above, in the present embodiment, the host side can simultaneously initialize the scanner by simply outputting the reset command to the image information output device 100.

If the reset command is not received at step S65, the process proceeds to step S67, where it is checked whether or not the transfer data format designation command for designating the data format when transferring the image data to the host is received, and the transfer data format designation command is received. If it is received, the transfer data format designation command received in step S68 is stored in the host transfer format flag 99, and the process returns. On the other hand, if the transfer data format designation command is not received, the process proceeds to step S69, the process corresponding to each received command is executed, and the process returns.

8-4. Start Processing (FIG. 11) Next, details of the start processing of step S33 will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

First, in step S70, the mode currently set is checked, and if the transfer mode is set, step S64
The transfer process shown in FIG. 134 described later is executed and the process returns. If the print mode is set, the print processing from step S71 onward is executed, and if the MIX mode is set, the MIX mode processing shown in FIG. 12A and FIG. To do. Further, if the copy mode is set, the copy mode processing in step S88 and the subsequent steps is executed.

8-5. Processing operation in print mode (FIG. 11) In the print mode in step S70, the process proceeds to step S71 to check whether or not there is print data in the text area 98 of the memory. If there is print data in the text area 98, the video signal generator 8 is activated in step S72, and the LBP engine 9 is activated in the subsequent step S73. The LBP engine unit 9 conveys the recording paper to the position of the photoconductor 28 and prepares for recording. Then, the recording preparation is completed, and when the preparation for receiving the recording data is completed, the BD signal for requesting the transmission of the data for one line by the laser light is output to the LBP interface 7. Therefore, in step S75, the BD signal which is the data transfer synchronization signal is waited for transmission, and when the BD signal is output, in step S76, the print data for one line is read from the text area 98, and at a predetermined timing. It is sent to the video signal generator 8.

At this time, if the print data is character code data, the character code data is sent to the character generator 11, where it is converted into a character pattern corresponding to the character code, and the pattern expansion unit 12 develops the pattern. To do.
Then, the print data for each line is read from the pattern developing unit 12 and sent to the video signal generating unit 8.

The video signal generator 8 sequentially selects and outputs the print data to the drive circuit 61 via the selector A53 or the selector B54 and the selector C60, and causes the semiconductor laser to emit light. When the printing of one line is completed in this way, it is checked in step S77 whether the printing of one page is completed, and if the printing of one page is not completed, the process returns to step S74 and the next 1 Print line data.

If the printing for one page is completed in step S77, the process proceeds to step S78 to check whether or not the designated number of prints are completed. When the printout of the predetermined number of sheets has been completed, the processing is terminated and returns. When the printout is not completed, the procedure returns to step S72 to execute the next printout.

If the print data is not stored in the memory at step S71, nothing is done and the process returns.

8-6. Processing Operation in Copy Mode (FIG. 11) On the other hand, if the copy mode is set in step S70, the copy mode processing in step S88 and thereafter is executed. First, in step S88, it is checked whether the BUSY signal 202 from the scanner 200 is on, that is, whether the scanner 200 is busy. Sukiana 200
When is busy, copying cannot be performed, so in step S89, blink the SC REDY indicator 84, proceed to step S79, check if it is online mode, return if it is not online mode, return if it is online mode In step S80, the host is notified of the error and the process returns.

If the scanner 200 is ready in step S88, the process proceeds to step S90, and the reading resolution of the scanner 200 is specified to be the same resolution as the printer. If the printer resolution is lower than the maximum resolution of Scanana 200, the read data from the CCD21 will be decimated and output according to the resolution.
Further, the scanning in the sub-scanning direction is also performed at a predetermined interval according to the resolution. Then, in step S92, start Sukiyana 200. As a result, the scanner 200 prepares for scanning the original surface. VSREQ203 is output when the document is ready to be read. Therefore, in the following step S94, the output of VSREQ203 from the scan analyzer 200 is awaited. The scan preparation of the SKYANA 200 is completed and VSREQ20
When 3 is sent, the process proceeds from step S94 to step S95, activates the video signal generation unit 8, and at step S96, L
Start the BP engine unit 9. Then, in step S97, the LBP engine unit 9 waits for the BD signal which is the data transfer request timing signal to be sent, and when the BD signal is output, the process proceeds to step S98 to scan the scanner 200 for one line (one main scanning HSYN requesting to read and output data)
Send C205.

As a result, the scanner 200 sends multi-level digital image data for one line, so in step S99 it is checked whether or not it is in the memory storage mode, and if it is in the memory storage mode, the image sent from the scanner 200 as in step S100. The data is stored in the image memory 13, and the process proceeds to step S101. Even if the memory storage mode is not set in step S99, step S10
In step 1, the image data from the scan analyzer 200 is output to the biden signal generation unit 8. The video signal generation unit 8 stores the 6-bit image data as it is if the output timing of the printer and the data transmission timing of the scanner 200 match, and if it does not match, temporarily stores it in the 1-line buffer 51 for the subsequent processing. The image data selected by the selector A53 is sequentially selected and output to the drive circuit 61 via the selector C60, causing the semiconductor laser to emit light. When the printout for one line is completed in this way, 1 is set in step S102.
Check to see if the page has been printed. If the printing of one page has not been completed, the process returns to step S97 to execute the printing process of the data of the next one line.

If the printing of one page is completed in step S102, the process proceeds to step S104 to check whether or not the printing of the designated number of sheets is completed, and when the printing of the predetermined number of sheets is completed, the processing is terminated and returns. If the printout is not completed, it is checked in step S105 whether or not the memory storage mode is set. If the memory storage mode is set, the next print can be read from the memory and the print processing in step S72 and thereafter is executed. Steps if not in memory storage mode
Return to S92.

8-7. Processing operation in MIX mode (Fig. 12 (A))
(B)) Next, referring to FIG. 12 (A) and (B), M of step S87
The IX mode processing will be described.

First, in step S130, it is determined whether the LBP engine unit 9 is ready. If the LBP engine unit 9 is not ready, print processing cannot be executed. In step S131, it is determined whether the online mode is set. If it is online mode, step S131 is executed. Then, the host is notified of the error and returns. If it is not in the online mode, the process is stopped and the process returns.

If the LBP engine unit 9 is ready at step S130, the process proceeds to step S133 to check whether or not the skiana 200 is ready. If the scan driver 200 is not ready, the MIX process cannot be executed, and the process proceeds to step S131.

On the other hand, when the scanner 200 is ready, it is checked in step S134 whether or not the memory storage mode is set. In the memory storage mode, the image data reading process from the scanner 200 is executed in steps S136 and below. First, in step S136, a start command is output from the scan interface 10 to the scan 200 via the control bus 206. As a result, the scanner 200 prepares to scan the document surface, and outputs VSREQ203 when the preparation for reading the document is completed. Therefore, in the following step S137, the output of VSREQ203 from the scanna 200 is waited. When VSREQ203 is sent, go from step S137 to step S138,
Send HSYNC205 to 200. As a result, the scanning device 200 subsequently sends multi-value digital image data for one line, and the CPU 1 stores this data in the image memory 13 in the following step S139.

When the storage of the data for one line is completed, it is checked in step S140 whether the printing for one page has been completed.
If printing of pages has not been completed, the process returns to step S137.

If the printing of one page is completed in step S140, the process proceeds to step S145 to activate the video signal generation unit 8, and the subsequent step S146 activates the LBP engine unit 9 similarly to step S73. Then, in the subsequent step S148, the BD signal is waited for, and when the BD signal is output, the process proceeds to step S149.
The print data for one line is read from the image memory 13 and the text area 98 and sent to the video signal generation unit 8 at a predetermined timing.

At this time, if the print data is character code data, the character code data is sent to the character generator 11, where it is converted into a character pattern corresponding to the character code, and the pattern expansion unit 12 develops the pattern. To do.
Then, the print data for each line is read from the pattern developing unit 12 and sent to the video signal generating unit 8.

The selector A53 of the video signal generation unit 8 selects and outputs the image data according to the position and area designated in the scan setting area 97, converts the image data into an FM-modulated drive signal corresponding to multi-grayscale data, and an OR circuit 59. Output to.

On the other hand, the selector B54 selects and outputs the text data according to the position and area designated in the host setting area 96,
Output to OR circuit 59. The OR circuit 59 combines these data and outputs it to the selector C60. In the MIX mode, the selector C60 is controlled by the control unit 50 to select the data from the OR circuit 59 in accordance with the instruction from the CPU 1, and both data are combined and sequentially selected and output to the drive circuit 61 to emit the semiconductor laser. Then, the composite data of one line (one line in the main scanning direction) is printed out.

When the printing of one line is completed in this way, it is checked in step S150 whether or not the printing of one page is completed, and if the printing of one page is not completed, the process returns to step S148 and the next 1 Print line data.

If the printing of one page is completed in step S150, the process proceeds to step S151, and it is checked whether or not the printing of the designated number of sheets is completed. If the predetermined number of printouts have been completed, the process is terminated and returns. If the printout has not been completed, the process returns to step S145 to execute the next printout.

On the other hand, if the memory storage mode is not set in step S134, the process proceeds to step S163 and thereafter, and steps S163 to S1.
At 69, the LBP engine section 9 is started by the same processing as steps S92 to S98 in FIG. 11, and one line of image data is read from the scanner 200. Then, in step S171, the text data in the text area 98 and the image data from the scanner 200 are transferred to the video signal generator 8. The video signal generation unit 8 converts both of the transferred data into a semiconductor laser drive signal, and the LBP engine unit 9 prints out one line of data according to the drive signal.

When the printing out for one line is completed in this way, it is checked in step S173 whether the printing for one page is completed. When the printing of one page is not completed, the process returns to step S168 to execute the composite printing process of the data of the next one line.

If the printing of one page is completed in step S173, the process proceeds to step S175 to check whether or not the designated number of prints have been completed, and when the predetermined number of printouts have been completed, end the processing and return. If the printout is not completed, the process returns to step S163.

8-8. Processing operation in transfer mode (Fig. 13) Next, referring to the flow chart in Fig. 13, step S64
The transfer process will be described.

First, in step S179, it is checked whether the online mode is currently set. If the online mode is not set, the process immediately returns. If the online mode is set, the process proceeds to step S180 to check whether the memory storage mode is set. If in memory storage mode, go to step S181,
Instruct Sukiana 200 to read the image data at the highest resolution, and in the subsequent steps S182 to 186, read the data for one page from SKYANA 200 in the same processing as steps S136 to 140.
It is stored in the image memory 13.

When the reading of the image data for one page is completed, a transmission request is sent to the host in the following step S188.
This transmission request is output to the host as a command via the serial interface 4 or as a request signal via the parallel interface 6. Then, in step S189, the host waits for the reception preparation to be completed. When the host reception preparation is completed, the process proceeds to step S190, the compression / expansion unit 16 is activated, and the data conversion unit 17 is activated in the subsequent step S191. Then, in step S192, the image data is read from the image memory 13, and in step S193, the host transfer format flag is read.
It is converted to the resolution and data format specified by 99, and is transferred to the host in subsequent step S194.

Specifically, generally, the image data processed by the host has a lower resolution than the scanning resolution of the scanner 200 and is often not multi-valued gradation data, and is dithered data or binary data. Most of the time.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, sending multi-valued data in such a case only unnecessarily delays the processing, and in the memory storage mode, the host is specified by the host transfer format command in the image information output device 100. The data is converted into a format, and then converted into a data format suitable for host processing and then output.

Here, in the case where conversion to binary data is designated by the host, the 6-bit multi-valued multi-gradation image data from the scanner 200 is converted by the data conversion unit 17 into a gradation of a predetermined threshold value or more. If it is a value, the pixel is turned on, and if it is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, it is turned off and binarization processing is performed.

Further, the compression / decompression unit 16 performs compression processing by a known method according to the resolution designation and compression designation of the data from the host. That is, according to the designated resolution, a predetermined amount, for example, 4
If you want to convert x4 dots to 1 dot,
With the dot image data as one unit, an average value of the data in the unit is calculated, and when the average value is a gradation value equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, ON, and when the predetermined value is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value Is turned off and new image data is set.

The present embodiment is not limited to this, and even if the image data in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction of the image data is thinned and compressed at a constant ratio, the dither processing can be performed by a known method. The compression processing may be performed, for example.

In this way, the resolution is converted to the resolution specified by the host, and the converted data is sent to the host in the following step S194. As a result, the image data desired by the host is transferred in a short data transfer time.

When the data transfer to the host is completed in step S194, it is checked in step S195 whether or not the data transfer for one page is completed, and when the data transfer for one page is completed, the process is terminated and returns. If not completed, the process returns to step S190 to transfer the next image data.

On the other hand, if the memory storage mode is not set in step S180, the flow advances to step S200 to instruct the scanner 200 to read the image data at the resolution specified by the host transfer format flag 99. As a result, the scanned image data having a desired resolution is sent from the scanner 200 thereafter at a predetermined timing. Therefore, in steps S201 to 203, step S182
Similarly to ~ 184, it receives the data for one line from the scanner 200, waits for the host to prepare for data reception in the next step S204, and when the host prepares to receive the data, the next step S205 hosts the received data. Send to.
Then, in step S206, it is checked whether or not the data transfer for one page is completed, and if the data transfer for one page is completed, the process is ended and the process returns. If the transfer is not completed, step S203 is executed. Return to.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to control the image information reading device with the image information output device,
In addition to reducing the processing of the host, it is possible to transfer the read image data in the data format desired by the host, and it is possible to process the image data without having a processing unit with an excessive data resolution in the host, Print processing can be executed.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of synthesizing print data and a document read image while reducing a large amount of data transfer with a host apparatus. You can

Furthermore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of significantly reducing the load of performing a synthesis process of a large amount of image data for printing in a host device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of scanner, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an LBP engine section of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an upper surface of an operation panel of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a detailed configuration diagram of the RAM of the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the scanyanatoskiana interface of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 7 to 13 are control flows of the present embodiment. It is a chart. In the figure, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... RAM, 3 ... ROM, 4 ... Serial interface, 5 ... I / O controller, 6 ... Parallel interface, 7 ... LBP interface, 8 ... Video Signal generator, 9 LBP engine, 10 scan interface, 12 pattern development, 13 image memory, 15 operation panel, 16 compression / expansion, 17
Data converter, 21 …… CCD, 22 …… Fluorescent lamp, 25,27
...... Mirror, 26 …… Lens, 28 …… Photoconductor, 33 …… Front exposure lamp, 34 …… Developer, 39 …… Transfer charger, 42 ……
Fixing device, 45 …… Laser scanning optical system unit, 65 …… Numerical display, 66 …… Online switch, 67 …… Reset switch, 68 …… Print start switch, 69 …… Skiana start switch, 70-73… … Various setting switches,
74, 77 to 80 ... various mode setting switches, 75 ... scan register registration switch, 76 ... host registration switch, 81 ... numeric keypad, 100 ... image information output device, 200 ... scan scanner,
300,350 ... Information processing equipment.

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kunio Okada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinya Kishimoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-60-144068 (JP, A) JP-A-60-182851 (JP, A) JP-A-61-46665 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a bidirectional interface means for outputting a document image signal to a higher-level device and inputting data from the higher-level device, wherein a resolution suitable for processing by the higher-level device or The second original by converting the resolution or the gradation of the first original image signal obtained by scanning the original with a scanner so that the original image signal of the gradation can be output to the higher-level device via the bidirectional interface. In addition to providing a generation unit for generating an image signal, when forming an image in which a document image and print data generated by the higher-level device are formed, it depends on the resolution or gradation of the document image signal processed by the higher-level device. In order to form a document image to be combined with the print data without performing Based on the identification means for identifying that the input data is a command for setting the area and position of the original image to be combined with the print data, and the area and position of the original image set by the command. The image forming apparatus further comprises a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the print data input via the bidirectional interface unit and the first document image signal obtained by scanning the document with the scanner to generate a synthesized image signal. Image forming apparatus. 2. The generating means outputs the first original image signal to 2
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising binarizing means for binarizing.