JPH06326841A - Combined machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a copying machine provided with a close contact image sensor having the selection modes of 8-lines/mm and 16-lines/mm and executing effectively each mode junction. CONSTITUTION:In this combined machine in which a read sensor 1 of a picture read section reads a picture, the read picture is processed depending on a function selected among printer, scanner, copier and facsimile equipment based on a preset mode and the processed picture is printed out from a picture output section, the read sensor 1 is formed by a nonmagnification sensor having plural read picture element densities of d1, d2, d3,..., dn (d1<dn; n>=2).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunction peripheral having printer, scanner, copier, and facsimile functions.

[0002]

Printers, scanners, copiers, and facsimiles are functions of a multifunction peripheral. Currently, the pixel density for each function is 400, 600 dpi (dot
per inch), scanners of 600 and 800 dpi, copiers of 400 dpi, and facsimiles of 16 lines / mm are the mainstream, and the pixel density of each function is also increasing.

Further, recently, in a contact image sensor of a solid head, a variable density type having a switching mode between 8 lines / mm and 16 lines / mm has also been developed. When such a solid head is mounted on a multifunction machine, the reading pixel density in the copy mode and the scanner mode is 16 lines / mm,
If the read pixel density in the facsimile mode is 8 lines / mm, the composite mode can be realized with one contact image sensor.

[0004]

When a fixed head type contact image sensor is used as a scanner mounted on a multifunction machine, the read pixel density cannot be easily changed. If the read pixel density is 400 dpi, it is necessary to convert the pixel density using software when using the multifunction machine in the facsimile mode. From 400 dpi to 8 lines / m
Since the pixel density is converted to m, the processing speed becomes slow, and the problem that the memory capacity for image processing increases and the like occurs. Even when the reading pixel density is set to 16 lines / mm, when using the multifunction machine in the facsimile mode, it is necessary to convert the pixel density using software, and the pixel density from 16 lines / mm to 8 lines / mm is required. Since the conversion is performed, the processing speed becomes slow, and problems such as an increase in the memory capacity for image processing occur.

Further, in a variable density contact image sensor, when switching between 8 lines / mm and 16 lines / mm, first, the reading linear velocity of the main body is made variable with a constant accumulation time, and the second line is used. In addition, it is necessary to change the accumulation time with a constant reading linear velocity of the main body, and thirdly, to change the original irradiation light amount with a constant reading linear velocity and accumulation time of the main body. In this case, 8
Since the line / mm and 16 lines / mm are switched, the reading linear velocity is doubled in the first case, the storage time is doubled in the second case, and the light amount is changed in the third case. It needs to be doubled.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image is read by a reading sensor of an image reading unit and selected from printer, scanner, copier, and facsimile functions according to a preset mode. In the multi-function peripheral that performs image processing on the read image according to the function and prints out the processed image from the image output unit, the read sensor is formed by an equal-magnification sensor having a plurality of read pixel densities.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the reading sensors are d1, d2, d3, ..., d.
It has a plurality of read pixel densities n (d1 <dn; n ≧ 2), and the magnification A of the analog output Vs from the read sensor is set to dk / dn (k; 1 to n) by the operation density V = An amplifier for obtaining a signal output V of Vs * A = Vs * dk / dn (k; 1 to n) is provided, and an arithmetic processing means for performing arithmetic processing of an image based on the signal output V of the amplifier is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the gain varying device is provided for varying the magnification A of the amplifier receiving the analog output from the reading sensor according to the reading pixel density instruction signal.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to change the document feed speed (linear velocity) of the main body according to the read pixel density, and the system design can be facilitated.

In the inventions of claims 2 and 3, there is no need to change the original irradiation light amount according to the read pixel density.
The system design can be facilitated, and the temperature rise due to the light source and the power consumption can be reduced.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an image is read by a reading sensor of an image reading unit, and image processing of the read image is performed according to a function selected from printer, scanner, copier, and facsimile functions according to a preset mode. The present invention relates to a multifunction machine that prints out the processed image from an image output unit. Hereinafter, a specific configuration will be described.

First, the system configuration of the copying machine having the functions of printer, scanner, copier, and facsimile will be described with reference to FIG. The contact image sensor 1 (one-size sensor) is used as a reading sensor. In the contact image sensor 1, a shift register 2 having a pixel number Dn and a buffer 3 are provided. This contact image sensor 1
An amplifier 4 is connected to the amplifier 4, a control circuit 5 as an arithmetic processing unit is connected to the amplifier 4, and a gain variable device 6 is connected to the control circuit 5.

In this case, the contact image sensor 1 is d
, Dn (d1 <dn; n ≧ 2). In the amplifier 4, the magnification A of the analog output Vs from the contact image sensor 1 is set to A = dk / dn (k; 1 to n) (1) according to the operation density, and the magnification set in this way is set. Based on A, a signal output V of V = Vs * A = Vs * dk / dn (k; 1 to n) (2) is obtained. The control circuit 5 performs image arithmetic processing based on the signal output V. The gain variable device 6 is an amplifier 4 that receives an analog output from the contact image sensor 1.
The magnification A of is changed according to the read pixel density instruction signal a.

Next, the operation of this system will be described by taking as an example the case where an image is read at 1/2 and 1/3 of the basic pixel density. Now, when reading an image at 1/2 of the basic pixel density, the contact image sensor 1 actually takes in the data (Dn / 2) for each pixel. Further, when the image is read at 1/3 of the basic pixel density, the contact image sensor 1 actually uses data (Dn / 3) for every 2 pixels.
Take action to capture. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the sensor output and the storage time. As can be seen from this graph, if the accumulation time is doubled, the sensor output is also doubled. Here, the gain is changed by the amplifier circuit 4 so that the sensor output becomes 1/2 or 1/3. That is, (1)
By setting the value of the magnification A of the equation to 1/2 or 1/3, the analog output Vs of the contact image sensor 1 becomes (2)
From the equation, the signal output V is converted into Vs / 2 and Vs / 3. The signal output V is subjected to image data processing by the control circuit 5. In the control circuit 5, the system state, that is, copy mode or scanner mode or
The copier mode or the facsimile mode is monitored, and the read pixel density is changed according to the selected mode state. At the time of this change, the read pixel density instruction signal a is output to the gain changing device 6 to change the gain of the amplifier 4.

Therefore, when the contact image sensor 1 which is conventionally adapted to the variable density is incorporated into the main body to configure the system, the one-line reading time (accumulation time) is constant, so that the reading line on the main body side is It was necessary to change the speed. However, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to change the document paper feed speed (linear velocity) of the main body according to the read pixel density, and the system design can be facilitated. Also,
It is not necessary to change the original irradiation light amount according to the read pixel density, the system design can be facilitated, and the temperature rise due to the light source and the power consumption can be reduced.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image is read by the reading sensor of the image reading unit, and the function is selected from the printer, scanner, copier, and facsimile functions according to a preset mode. In a multi-function peripheral that performs image processing on the read image and prints out the processed image from the image output unit, the reading sensor is formed by an equal-magnification sensor having a plurality of reading pixel densities. It is not necessary to change the feed speed (linear velocity) according to the read pixel density, and the system design can be facilitated.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the reading sensors are d1, d2, d3, ..., dn.
A plurality of read pixel densities of (d1 <dn; n ≧ 2),
Analog output Vs from the reading sensor depending on the operating density
Is set to dk / dn (k; 1-n), and an amplifier for obtaining a signal output V of V = Vs * A = Vs * dk / dn (k; 1-n) is provided. Since the arithmetic processing unit for performing the arithmetic processing of the image based on V is provided, it is not necessary to change the original irradiation light amount according to the reading pixel density, the system design can be facilitated, and the temperature rise and power consumption by the light source It can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, since the gain varying device for varying the magnification A of the amplifier receiving the analog output from the reading sensor according to the reading pixel density instruction signal is provided, It is not necessary to change the document irradiation light amount according to the read pixel density, the system design can be facilitated, and the temperature rise and power consumption by the light source can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a copying machine that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between sensor output and storage time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 read sensor 4 amplifier 5 arithmetic processing means 6 gain variable device a read pixel density instruction signal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image is read by a reading sensor of an image reading unit, and image processing of the read image is performed according to a function selected from printer, scanner, copier, and facsimile functions according to a preset mode. A multifunction machine that prints out the processed image from an image output unit, wherein the reading sensor is formed by a unity size sensor having a plurality of reading pixel densities. 2. The reading sensors are d1, d2, d3, ..., d.
It has a plurality of read pixel densities n (d1 <dn; n ≧ 2), and the magnification A of the analog output Vs from the read sensor is set to dk / dn (k; 1 to n) by the operation density V = An amplifier for obtaining a signal output V of Vs * A = Vs * dk / dn (k; 1 to n) is provided, and arithmetic processing means for performing arithmetic processing of an image based on the signal output V of the amplifier is provided. The multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The multi-function peripheral according to claim 2, further comprising a gain varying device that varies a magnification A of an amplifier that receives an analog output from the reading sensor according to a reading pixel density instruction signal.