Image processing device

• US 6,570,667 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Endo, Yoshinori, Hattori, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/233,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 358/401, 358/296, 358/404, 358/442, 358/444, 358/468, 358/1.15, 358/1.6, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.16
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/007 Selecting or switching between a still picture apparatus or function and another apparatus or function H04N2201/0022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

PCMCIA slots are provided to a printer. When a fax modem card is mounted in the PCMCIA slot, a variety of settings are performed to enable the printer to execute a fax function in addition to its original printing function. More specifically, a fax data area is secured in a memory region. Then, fax control interrupt routine operation, fax panel display, and fax command reception are enabled. Contrarily, when no fax modem card is mounted in the PCMCIA slot, the memory region is used entirely for storing print data. Settings of wasteful functions, such as the fax control interrupt operations, which can lead to system errors are not performed.

Claims

1. An image processing device, comprising:

means for processing an image according to an original image processing function;

an interface detachably mounted with a facsimile image communication unit;

means for adding a facsimile communication function to the image processing means when the facsimile image communication unit is mounted to the interface;

means for judging whether or not the facsimile communication unit is mounted to the interface, the function adding means includes means for setting the image processing means into a facsimile communication enabling state capable of performing facsimile communication when the facsimile communication unit is judged to be mounted to the interface; and

a storage area capable of storing data,

wherein the setting means includes means for setting, in the storage area, a memory region for being used for facsimile communication, and

wherein the function adding means includes means for prestoring a facsimile function adding program for adding the facsimile communication function to the image processing means.

2. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image processing means includes means for printing print data, the function adding means enabling the printing means to print facsimile data received from outside via the facsimile communication unit.

3. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface includes a general use interface.

4. An image processing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interface includes a PCMCIA slot, and the communication unit includes a facsimile modem card.

5. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the judging means automatically judges whether or not the facsimile communication unit is mounted to the interface.

6. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the judging means judges whether or not the facsimile communication unit is mounted to the interface when a judging command is inputted from outside.

7. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for prestoring a program of a facsimile control interrupt process,

wherein the setting means includes means for executing the program of the facsimile control interrupt process.

8. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for displaying messages,

wherein the setting means includes means for controlling the display means to display not only a message for the original function but also a message for the facsimile communication function.

9. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means connected to an external device and capable of receiving commands from the external device,

wherein the setting means includes means for controlling the command receiving means into a state capable of receiving a facsimile communication command from the external device.

10. An image processing device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

means for interpreting whether a command received from the external device is either a command for the original function or a facsimile communication function; and

means for switching, based on the interpreted result, the image processing means to perform the original function and to perform the facsimile communication function.

25. An image processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image processing means includes means for printing print data, the function adding means enabling the printing means to print facsimile data received from outside via the facsimile communication unit, wherein the printing means includes:

at least one sheet feed tray each for storing a recording sheet;

means capable of receiving print data from outside and capable of receiving facsimile data from the facsimile communication unit; and

means capable of automatically feeding the recording sheet from each sheet feed tray and for printing the print data onto the recording sheet, and the image processing device further comprises;

means for determining at least one of a size and a kind of the recording sheet stored in the at least one sheet feed tray; and

means for prohibiting the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data received via the facsimile communication unit at least one of the time when the determined size of the recording sheet is inappropriate for printing the facsimile data and the time when the determined kind of the recording sheet is not a normal sheet of paper.

26. An image processing device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the determining means determines the size of the recording sheet stored in the sheet feed tray, the prohibiting means prohibiting the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data when the determined size of the recording sheet is inappropriate for printing the facsimile data.

27. An image processing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the determining means determines the kind of the recording sheet stored in the sheet feed tray, the prohibiting means prohibiting the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data when the determined kind of the recording sheet is not a normal sheet of paper.

28. An image processing device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the determining means includes:

means for determining the size of the recording sheet stored in the sheet feed tray; and

means for determining the kind of the recording sheet stored in the sheet feed tray, and

wherein the prohibiting means prohibits the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data when the determined kind of the recording sheet is not a normal sheet of paper even when the determined size of the recording sheet is appropriate for printing the facsimile data.

29. An image processing device as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

means for, when print data is received by the receiving means, judging whether or not the determined sheet size is appropriate for printing the print data; and

means for controlling, when it is judged that the determined size is appropriate for printing the print data, the sheet feeding and printing means to automatically feed the recording sheet from the sheet feed tray and to print the print data on the recording sheet,

wherein the prohibiting means prohibits the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data when the determined kind of the recording sheet is not a normal sheet of paper even when it is judged that the size of the recording sheet stored in the feed sheet tray is appropriate for printing the facsimile data.

30. An image processing device as claimed in claim 25, wherein a plurality of feed sheet trays are provided, the image processing device further comprising:

means for designating a tray to be used for printing; and

means for determining at least size and kind of the recording sheet stored in each feed sheet tray, wherein the prohibiting means prohibits the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data at least one of the time when the determined size of the recording sheet stored in the designated feed sheet tray is inappropriate for printing the facsimile data and the time when the determined kind of the recording sheet stored in the designated feed sheet tray is not a normal sheet of paper.

31. An image processing device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the determining means includes:

means for determining the size of the recording sheet stored in each sheet feed tray; and

means for determining the kind of the recording sheet stored in each sheet feed tray, and

wherein the prohibiting means prohibits the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data when the determined kind of the recording sheet in the designated sheet feed tray is not a normal sheet of paper even when the determined size of the recording sheet in the designated sheet feed tray is appropriate for printing the facsimile data.

32. An image processing device as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

means for, when print data is received by the receiving means, judging whether or not the determined size of the sheet in the designated sheet feed tray is appropriate for printing the print data; and

means for controlling, when it is judged that the determined size is appropriate for printing the print data, the sheet feeding and printing means to automatically feed the recording sheet from the designated sheet feed tray and to print the print data on the recording sheet,

wherein the prohibiting means prohibits the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data when the determined kind of the recording sheet in the designated sheet feed tray is not a normal sheet of paper even when it is judged that the size of the recording sheet stored in the designated feed sheet tray is appropriate for printing the facsimile data.

33. An image processing device as claimed in claim 25, wherein a plurality of feed sheet trays are provided, and the determining means includes:

means for determining the size of the recording sheet stored in each feed sheet tray; and

means for determining the kind of the recording sheet stored in each feed sheet tray;

the image processing means further comprising;

means for selecting a tray, to be used for printing print data, that has a recording sheet with a size consistent with print data received by the receiving means; and

means for controlling the sheet feeding and printing means to automatically feed the recording sheet from the selected tray and to print the print data on the recording sheet,

wherein the prohibiting means prohibits the sheet feeding and printing means from printing the facsimile data when the determined kind of the recording sheet stored in the feed sheet tray selected by the selecting means is not a normal sheet of paper even when the determined size of the recording sheet stored in the selected one feed sheet tray is appropriate for printing the facsimile data.

34. An image processing device as claimed in claim 29,

further comprising means for instructing a forced printing operation to the sheet feeding and printing means when the feeding and printing means is controlled not to perform printing operation due to inconsistency in size of the sheet with the print data and when some recording sheet is stored in the feed sheet tray, thereby printing print data onto a sheet with an inconsistent size;

and

means for prohibiting the forced printing instruction means from instructing the forced printing operation for the facsimile data.

35. An image processing device as claimed in claim 32,

further comprising means for instructing a forced printing operation to the sheet feeding and printing means when the feeding and printing means is controlled not to perform printing operation due to inconsistency in size of the sheet with the print data and when some recording sheet is stored in the designated feed sheet tray, thereby printing print data onto a sheet with an inconsistent size;

and

means for prohibiting the forced printing instruction means from instructing the forced printing operation for the facsimile data.

36. An image processing device as claimed in claim 33,

further comprising means for instructing a forced printing operation to the sheet feeding and printing means when the feeding and printing means is controlled not to perform printing operation due to inconsistency in size of the sheet with the print data and when some recording sheet is stored in at least one feed sheet tray, thereby selecting the feed sheet tray storing some recording sheet and printing print data onto the sheet with the inconsistent size;

and

means for prohibiting the forced printing instruction means from instructing the forced printing operation for the facsimile data.

37. An image processing device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the forced printing instruction prohibiting means changes a condition for selecting a sheet feed tray for the forced printing operation dependently on whether print data is to be printed or facsimile data is to be printed.

38. An image processing device as claimed in claim 37, wherein the forced printing instruction prohibiting means enables the forced printing only when the determining means determines that some sheet feed tray stores a normal sheet of paper with a size printable by the facsimile data without losing any part from the facsimile data.

39. An image processing device as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

means for detecting a remaining amount of the facsimile data memory region; and

means for, when the remaining amount is detected as too small to store facsimile data to be received via the facsimile unit and when the determining means determines that some feed sheet tray stores a recording sheet of paper that is not a normal sheet of paper but that has a size printable by the facsimile data without losing any part from a main body of the facsimile data, controlling the sheet feeding and printing means to automatically feed a recording sheet from the some feed sheet tray and to print the facsimile data on the recording sheet regardless of the prohibiting means.

11. An image processing device, comprising:

means for processing an image according to an original image processing function;

an interface detachably mounted with a facsimile image communication unit;

means for adding a facsimile communication function to the image processing means when the facsimile image communication unit is mounted to the interface;

a storage area;

means for inputting a reset command; and

means for executing different resetting processes onto data, stored in the storage area, for being processed by the original function and data, stored in the storage area, for being processed by the facsimile communication function, wherein the function adding means includes means for prestoring a facsimile function adding program for adding the facsimile communication function to the image processing means.

12. An image processing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reset execution means includes:

means for clearing the data for being processed by the original function; and

means for clearing transmission data for being processed by the facsimile function when the transmission data being received when the reset command is inputted and for maintaining the transmission data for being processed by the facsimile function when the transmission data is already stored in the storage area when the reset command is inputted.

13. An image processing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the reset execution means further includes means for performing an error process to notify an error to outside when the clearing means clears the transmission data in response to the reset command.

14. An image processing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reset execution means includes means for continuing receiving transmission data for being processed by the facsimile function when the transmission data being received when the reset command is inputted and for maintaining the transmission data after the reception is completed, and for disabling reception of other transmission data to be received after the transmission data and for clearing data for being processed by the original function.

15. An image processing device, comprising:

means for processing an image according to an original image processing function;

an interface detachably mounted with a facsimile image communication unit;

means for adding a facsimile communication function to the image processing means when the facsimile image communication unit is mounted to the interface;

means capable of displaying a message; and

means for controlling the display means to display a warning screen to inform a user that the facsimile communication is being performed, wherein the function adding means includes means for prestoring a facsimile function adding program for adding the facsimile communication function to the image processing means.

16. An image processing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control means controls the display means to stop displaying the warning screen when the user operates an operation panel.

17. An image processing device, comprising:

means for processing an image according to an original image processing function;

an interface detachably mounted with a facsimile image communication unit;

means for adding a facsimile communication function to the image processing means when the facsimile image communication unit is mounted to the interface; and

means capable of receiving print data to be printed and facsimile data to be printed; and

a storage area having a print data memory region capable of storing the received print data to be printed, wherein the image processing means includes means for printing print data, the function adding means enabling the printing means to print facsimile data received from outside via the facsimile communication unit, and

wherein the function adding means includes means for forming, in the storage area, a facsimile data memory region capable of storing the facsimile data to be printed.

18. An image processing device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

first facsimile data control means for, while the reception means receives the facsimile data, controlling the printing means not to start printing facsimile data and to store the facsimile data in the facsimile data memory region, while enabling the reception means to receive a print request for print data until the reception means completes receiving the facsimile data;

second facsimile data control means for, when the reception means completes receiving the facsimile data and when printing of print data is not yet started, controlling the printing means to start printing the facsimile data stored in the facsimile data memory region, and for prohibiting an interruption by a print request for print data until printing of the facsimile data is completed; and

print data control means for storing print data to the print data memory region while interruption by the print request is prohibited by the second facsimile data control means and for, when the interruption by the print request is not prohibited, controlling the printing means to print print data while prohibiting the printing means from printing facsimile data until printing of the print data is completed.

19. An image processing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first facsimile data control means includes:

means for judging, while facsimile data is being received, whether the amount of an empty area in the facsimile data memory region will become smaller than a predetermined amount and the facsimile data memory region will become a memory full condition; and

means for, when the memory full condition is judged, prohibiting the interruption by the print data printing request, controlling the printing means to start printing the facsimile data stored in the facsimile data memory region, and enabling the interruption by the print data printing request when printing of the facsimile data is completed.

20. An image processing device, comprising:

means for processing an image according to an original image processing function;

an interface detachably mounted with a facsimile image communication unit;

means for adding a facsimile communication function to the image processing means when the facsimile image communication unit is mounted to the interface;

means for setting a page protect mode for securing, in the common area, an image region for developing one page'"'"'s worth of print data as image data to be printed by the printing means; and

means for controlling the printing means to print the facsimile data while turning off the page protect mode to the common area, wherein the image processing means includes means for printing print data, the function adding means enabling the printing means to print facsimile data received from outside via the facsimile communication unit, the image processing device further comprising a storage area capable of storing data, the storage area having a predetermined common area, wherein the function adding means includes means for securing, in the storage area, a facsimile data memory region capable of storing the facsimile data to be printed.

21. An image processing device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the control means returns the page protect mode to the original state after the printing means completes printing the facsimile data.

22. An image processing device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the control means includes;

means for storing data of conditions, on which the page protect mode is set by the page protect mode setting means;

means for turning off the page protect mode after data of the page protect mode setting conditions is stored;

means for controlling the printing means to print facsimile data after the page protect mode is turned off; and

means for returning the page protect mode to the original state, according to the setting condition stored by the page protect mode setting condition storing means, after the printing of the facsimile data is completed.

23. An image processing device, comprising:

means for processing an image according to an original image processing function;

an interface detachably mounted with a facsimile image communication unit;

means for adding a facsimile communication function to the image processing means when the facsimile image communication unit is mounted to the interface;

a storage area capable of storing data, the storage area having a predetermined common area; and

at least one interface capable of receiving facsimile data and print data, wherein the function adding means includes;

means for securing, in the storage area, a facsimile data memory region capable of storing the facsimile data to be printed; and

means for controlling the printing means to print the facsimile data, stored in the facsimile data memory region, while developing the facsimile data in the predetermined common area, the image processing device further comprising;

means for judging whether or not a sufficient empty area exists in the common area for developing the facsimile data; and

means for, when it is judged that the sufficient empty area does not exist in the common area, bringing an interface, that is not presently receiving facsimile data, into a data reception disabled condition incapable of receiving any data, wherein the image processing means includes means for printing print data, the function adding means enabling the printing means to print facsimile data received from outside via the facsimile communication unit.

24. An image processing device as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for returning the interface, that has been brought into the data reception disabled condition, into a condition that can receive data when the judging means judges that a sufficient empty area exists in the common area.