Facsimile apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To surely prevent a normal mode from being restored from an energy saving mode by off-hook.SOLUTION: The ringer interrupt control unit 44 outputs the ringer interrupt signal S2 according to the ringer detection signal S1 when the off-hook detection signal S3 is not output (that is, in a state where the receiver of the external telephone 37 is put down), so that the mode control unit maintains the energy saving mode and does not switch to the normal mode even when the receiver of the external telephone is lifted and the off-hook signal is output (that is, even when the off-hook detection signal is output) in the energy saving mode. As a result, the mode control unit does not switch from the energy saving mode to the normal mode only by lifting the receiver of the external telephone, thereby preventing a decrease in energy saving efficiency.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine and an image forming apparatus to which an external telephone can be connected. [Background technology]

[0002] Facsimile machines that can be used with an external telephone are well known. Multifunction machines that combine multiple functions, such as copying and printing, with facsimile functionality are also widely used. Many of these multifunction machines have energy-saving modes (low-power mode, sleep mode) that reduce power consumption. Multifunction machines that use electrophotographic printing reduce power consumption by, for example, turning off the heater in the fixing device when in energy-saving mode.

[0003] When the user lifts the receiver of the external telephone to make a call while the multifunction device is in energy-saving mode, that is, when the device goes off-hook, the multifunction device switches from energy-saving mode to normal mode. When using only the telephone function, it is sufficient to use the external telephone function, but there is no need to switch the multifunction device from energy-saving mode to normal mode, i.e., there is no need to turn on power to the image forming unit (such as the heater of the fixing device) and other components in the normal state, which wastes power.

[0004] Therefore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe techniques for continuing the energy-saving mode without switching from the energy-saving mode to the normal mode when the external telephone goes off-hook. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-160338 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-044298 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] For some time now, when an external telephone goes off-hook, noise is generated due to the impedance of the telephone line or the external telephone, and this noise has been a problem that causes the multifunction device to mistakenly recognize the noise as a ringer detection signal, which is a signal indicating an incoming facsimile communication. This mistaken ringer detection signal then causes the device to switch from energy-saving mode to normal mode, resulting in a decrease in energy-saving efficiency. Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose any technology to solve this problem.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to reliably prevent a return from the energy saving mode due to off-hook to the normal mode. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A facsimile device according to one aspect of the present invention is a facsimile device to which an external telephone can be connected, and includes a facsimile-side connector for connecting the facsimile device to a telephone line, an external telephone-side connector for connecting the external telephone to the telephone line connected via the facsimile-side connector, a ringer detection unit connected to the facsimile-side connector and the external telephone-side connector and for outputting a ringer detection signal when an incoming call to the facsimile device is detected, and a ringer detection unit connected to the facsimile-side connector and the external telephone-side connector and for outputting a ringer detection signal when an incoming call to the external telephone is detected. a mode control unit that switches between an energy saving mode that controls the facsimile device to consume less power than during normal operation and a normal mode that performs the normal operation; and a ringer interrupt control unit that outputs a ringer interrupt signal only when the ringer detection signal is output regardless of whether the off-hook detection signal is output, and the mode control unit switches the energy saving mode to the normal mode when it receives the ringer interrupt signal from the ringer interrupt control unit during the energy saving mode.

[0009] An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes the facsimile machine according to one aspect of the present invention and an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the present invention, the ringer interrupt control unit outputs a ringer interrupt signal in accordance with the ringer detection signal only when it has received a ringer detection signal but not an off-hook detection signal (i.e., when the external telephone receiver is hung up). In other words, even if the ringer detection signal is accidentally output when the receiver is picked up due to structural reasons, the off-hook detection signal is also being output in this case, so the ringer interrupt control unit does not output a ringer interrupt signal. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to control the device so that it does not switch from energy-saving mode to normal mode due to a ringer detection signal erroneously output when the external telephone is off-hook, thereby preventing a decrease in energy-saving efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a facsimile communication unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit constituting a ringer interrupt control unit. [Figure 4] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing examples of waveforms of a ringer detection signal, an off-hook detection signal, and a ringer interrupt signal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A facsimile machine according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The facsimile machine in this embodiment is configured as an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral that has a copy function and a printer function in addition to a facsimile function. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the electrical configuration of image forming apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 31, an input receiving section 32, an image reading section 33, an image forming section 34, a storage section 35, a facsimile communication section 36, an external telephone 37, and the like.

[0014] The input receiving unit 32 includes hard keys such as a decision key for confirming various operations and settings, a start key, and a display unit 321 .

[0015] The display unit 321 is configured with a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, etc. The display unit 321 displays an operation screen, messages, etc. A touch panel may be arranged on the screen of the display unit 321.

[0016] The input receiving unit 32 includes hard keys such as the above-mentioned enter key and start key, or the above-mentioned touch panel, and receives instructions input based on these operations by the user.

[0017] The image reading unit 33 includes a scanner and the like, and reads an image of a document to obtain image data.

[0018] The image forming unit 34 is a mechanism that includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a primary transfer device for each color used in candy printing, and forms an image on recording paper as a recording medium by secondary transfer via an intermediate transfer belt. The image forming unit 34 forms an image on recording paper fed from a paper feed unit in accordance with an acquired print job based on image data generated by the document scanning operation, image data stored in an image memory, etc., and image data received from a computer connected via a network, to create a printed product.

[0019] The storage unit 35 is a large-capacity storage device that is made up of an HDD or SSD and that stores image data, various programs, data tables, and the like.

[0020] The facsimile communication unit 36 ​​is an interface that includes an encoding / decoding unit, a modulation / demodulation unit, an NCU (Network Control Unit), etc. (not shown), and connects to a telephone line. The facsimile communication unit 36 ​​connects to the telephone line via a LINE terminal 361 (facsimile-side connector) and performs facsimile communication with an external facsimile device.

[0021] Furthermore, the facsimile communication unit 36 ​​is connected to an external telephone 37 via a TEL terminal 362 (external telephone side connector). The external telephone 37 is connected to a telephone line via the TEL terminal 362 and the LINE terminal 361. When the facsimile communication unit 36 ​​is not performing facsimile communication, voice communication (telephone) with the outside can be performed using the external telephone 37. The external telephone 37 is not a component of the image forming apparatus 1, but is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 for use.

[0022] The control unit 31 is composed of a processor, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The control unit 31 functions as a control unit 311 and a mode control unit 312 by the processor executing a control program stored in the ROM, etc. The control unit 31 is responsible for overall operational control of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0023] The mode control unit 312 selectively switches the state of the image forming apparatus 1 between an energy saving mode (sleep mode) in which the image forming apparatus 1 is controlled to consume less power than during normal operation, and a normal mode (standby mode) in which power is supplied to each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 to put the image forming apparatus 1 into a standby state in which normal operation is possible. The mode control unit 312 switches the mode in response to a ringer interrupt signal or the like output by the facsimile communication unit 36. The mode switching will be described in detail later.

[0024] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the facsimile communication unit 36. The facsimile communication unit 36 ​​includes a LINE terminal 361, a data access device 41 (hereinafter referred to as DAA (Digital Access Arrangement)), a ringer detection unit 42, an off-hook detection unit 43, a TEL terminal 362, a transformer T, a ringer interrupt control unit 44, and an MPU 45.

[0025] Within the facsimile communication unit 36, the LINE terminal 361 is connected to a data access device 41 (hereinafter referred to as a DAA (Digital Access Arrangement)), a ringer detection unit 42, and an off-hook detection unit 43 via a transformer T. The TEL terminal 362 is directly connected to the DAA 41, the ringer detection unit 42, and the off-hook detection unit 43.

[0026] The DAA 41 is a data access device designed to miniaturize facsimile devices. The DAA 41 is connected to the MPU 45 of the facsimile communication unit 36. The ringer detection unit 42 outputs a ringer detection signal (signal S1) when a ringer (call) signal is input from the LINE terminal 361 or the TEL terminal 362. The off-hook detection unit 43 outputs an off-hook detection signal (signal S2) when a signal indicating an off-hook (handset lifted) is input from the LINE terminal 361 or the TEL terminal 362.

[0027] Here, we will explain how mode control unit 312 switches between normal mode and energy-saving mode. One of the triggers (timings) for mode control unit 312 to switch from energy-saving mode to normal mode is ringer detection. That is, when the facsimile machine detects a ringer, the ringer detection unit outputs a ringer detection signal, and in response to this ringer detection signal, the facsimile machine switches from energy-saving mode to normal mode.

[0028] In a typical facsimile communication unit that does not conform to this embodiment, when the receiver of an external telephone is lifted and an off-hook signal is output, the ringer detection unit reacts due to the impedance of the line and the impedance of the external telephone, resulting in a situation where the ringer detection unit erroneously outputs a ringer detection signal even though no ringer signal is actually being output. The control unit of the image forming apparatus then returns from energy-saving mode to normal mode in response to the erroneously output ringer detection signal. This reduces the energy-saving effect of typical image forming apparatuses or facsimile machines that do not conform to this embodiment.

[0029] Therefore, in this embodiment, the ringer interrupt control unit 44 receives the ringer detection signal and the off-hook detection signal. The ringer interrupt control unit 44 outputs the ringer interrupt signal (signal S3) only when the ringer detection signal is output. That is, the ringer interrupt control unit 44 outputs the ringer interrupt signal only when the ringer detection signal is output, regardless of whether the off-hook detection signal is output. Then, the mode control unit 312 performs control to switch from the energy saving mode to the normal mode when this ringer interrupt signal is output during the energy saving mode.

[0030] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit constituting the ringer interrupt control unit 44. The ringer interrupt control unit 44 is made up of a logic circuit, and outputs the inversion of the logical product of the ringer detection signal S1 inverted by a NOT circuit and the off-hook detection signal S2 as the ringer interrupt signal S3.

[0031] 4 shows an example of the waveforms of the ringer detection signal S1, the off-hook detection signal S2, and the ringer interrupt signal S3. When the ringer detection signal S1 and the off-hook detection signal S2 are both H (High) signals (hereinafter simply referred to as H), the ringer interrupt signal S3 becomes L (Low) signal (hereinafter simply referred to as L).

[0032] For example, suppose that at time T1, an off-hook signal is input to ringer interrupt control unit 44, causing off-hook detection signal S2 to change from H to L, and that this off-hook signal causes ringer detection unit 41 to output a rectangular wave with a short pulse width as ringer detection signal S1. Even if ringer detection signal S1 momentarily changes to L due to the influence of the off-hook signal, ringer interrupt signal S3 will also change to L because off-hook detection signal S2 is L.

[0033] When a ringer signal (a pulse signal of approximately 16 to 20 Hz) is input at time T2, ringer detection signal S1 alternates between H and L in response to the pulse signal of the ringer signal. Because off-hook detection signal S2 remains H, when the ringer detection signal is H, ringer interrupt signal S3 is L, and when the ringer detection signal is L, ringer interrupt signal S3 is H. Mode control unit 312 switches from energy saving mode to normal mode in response to the pulse waveform of this ringer interrupt signal S3.

[0034] That is, ringer interrupt control unit 44 is a circuit that sets ringer interrupt signal S3 to H only when ringer detection signal S1 is L and off-hook detection signal S2 is H. Therefore, ringer interrupt control unit 44 outputs ringer interrupt signal S3 only when a ringer is detected but an off-hook state is not detected. When a ringer is detected but an off-hook state is detected, ringer interrupt control unit 44 does not output ringer interrupt signal S3.

[0035] In other words, the ringer interrupt control unit 44 outputs the ringer interrupt signal S3 only when it receives the ringer detection signal S1 while the off-hook detection signal S2 is H (i.e., when the receiver of the external telephone 37 is hung up). Therefore, the ringer interrupt control unit 44 does not output the ringer interrupt signal S3 when the ringer detection signal is erroneously output due to the output of a signal indicating an off-hook state.

[0036] As a result, when the mode control unit 312 receives the ringer interrupt signal S3 from the ringer interrupt control unit 44 while in the energy saving mode, it controls to switch the image forming apparatus 1 to the normal mode, so that even if the receiver of the external telephone 37 is lifted and an off-hook signal is output (i.e., even if the off-hook detection signal S2 is output) while in the energy saving mode, the energy saving mode can be reliably maintained and the image forming apparatus 1 will not switch to the normal mode. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the energy saving efficiency of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, ringer interrupt control unit 44 is configured with the above logic circuit, but instead, ringer interrupt control unit 44 may be configured with a circuit that, upon receiving an off-hook detection signal or a ringer detection signal, does not output a ringer interrupt signal based on these signals for a predetermined time from the time of reception (for example, a time period equivalent to or longer than the pulse width of the off-hook detection signal), but outputs a ringer interrupt signal only when a ringer detection signal is received after the predetermined time has elapsed (i.e., when a ringer signal (for example, a pulse signal of approximately 16 to 20 Hz) is received).

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using FIGS. 1 to 4 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to these configurations and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1. Image forming device 31 Control Unit 311 Control Unit 312 Mode control section 32 Input reception section 321 Display section 33 Image reading unit 34 Image forming unit 35 Storage section 36 Facsimile Communications Department 37 External Telephone

Claims

1. A facsimile machine to which an external telephone can be connected, a facsimile-side connector for connecting the facsimile device to a telephone line; an external telephone connector for connecting the external telephone to a telephone line connected via the facsimile connector; a ringer detection unit connected to the facsimile-side connector and the external telephone-side connector, and outputting a ringer detection signal when detecting an incoming call to the facsimile device; an off-hook detection unit connected to the facsimile-side connector and the external telephone-side connector, for outputting an off-hook detection signal when detecting an off-hook state of the external telephone; a mode control unit for switching between an energy saving mode for controlling the facsimile device to consume less power than during normal operation and a normal mode for performing the normal operation; a ringer interrupt control unit that outputs a ringer interrupt signal only when the ringer detection signal is output regardless of whether the off-hook detection signal is output, The facsimile apparatus, when receiving the ringer interrupt signal from the ringer interrupt control unit during the energy saving mode, the mode control unit switches the energy saving mode to the normal mode.

2. 2. The facsimile machine according to claim 1, wherein said ringer interrupt control section is constituted by a logic circuit which outputs said ringer interrupt signal only when said ringer detection signal is output regardless of whether said off-hook detection signal is output or not.

3. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ringer interrupt control unit is configured by a circuit that, upon receiving the off-hook detection signal or the ringer detection signal, masks the signal for a predetermined time from the time of receiving the signal, and outputs the ringer interrupt signal only if an ON signal is received after the predetermined time has elapsed.

4. a facsimile machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3; An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.

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