Abstract:
A Color fax/video printing means for a digital still camera (DSC) which integrate the structure and function of fax, video signal, copying, printing and data communication apparatus in a whole and adopts method and structure such as computer architecture, central processing unit, data communication, DSC, ink-jet printing or laser printing, embedded circuit, firmware, dual bus, ASIC, programmable, cell active and pin sharing etc. to achieve advantages of enhancing efficiency, simplifying structure and operation, reducing cost and power consumption.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a color fax/video printing means for a DSC, which utilizes methods and structures such as computer architecture, central processing unit, data communication, DSC, ink-jet printing or laser printing, embedded circuit, firmware, dual bus, ASIC, programmable, cell active and pin sharing etc. to achieve advantages of enhancing efficiency, simplifying structure and operation, reducing cost and power consumption. 
     The demand for fax, DSC, copier and printer becomes more urgent as the SOHO (small office and home office) becomes more popular recently. However, the provision of above units is bulky and expensive. Moreover, the above apparatus lack of the ability of single-unit operation and data sharing. Therefore, a compact and light weight set which can integrate the functions of above apparatus will be of great convenience. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a color fax/video printing means for a DSC to achieve advantages of enhancing efficiency, simplifying structure and operation, reducing cost and power consumption. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The object, structure, features and advantage of the present invention can be best understood by explaining a preferred embodiment thereof in junction with accompany drawing wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is the block diagram of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NUMERAL 
     
         ______________________________________ 1   CPU               121    serial port 11  microprocessor    122    SCSI port111  peripheral bus control                  123    IDE port112  internal bus       5     telephone line connector 12  computer interface controller                   6     fax modem 2   peripheral bus     7     panel interface 3   memory means       71    keyboard 4   data communication means                   72    liquid crystal panel 8   timing and system controller                  200    internal bus port 9   DSC               102    printer head 90  fixed mirror module 91  digital signal processing memory 92  charge coupled device (CCD)module 93  dynamic random accessingmemory (DRAM) buffer 94  DSP module 95  flash memory 96  power supply module 97  system controller 98  video random accessingmemory (VRAM) 99  display module100  PC I/F module 10  print means101  printer circuit 20  sensing circuit 30  paper feeder 31  motor controlling circuit 32  motor______________________________________ 
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the color fax/video printing means for a DSC according to the present invention comprises: a CPU 1, a peripheral bus 2, a memory means 3, a data communication means 4, a telephone line connector 5, a fax modem 6, a panel interface 7, a timing and system controller 8, a DSC 9, a printing means 10, a sensing circuit 20 and a paper feeder 30. 
     The CPU 1 is connected to the peripheral bus 2 through the peripheral bus control 111 and the peripheral bus 2 is connected to the input/output bus of the memory means 3, the data communication means 4, the panel interface 7, and the timing and system controller 8. The input of CPU 1 is connected to the output of the sensing circuit 20 and its output is connected to the input of paper feeder 30. 
     The CPU 1 utilizes the structure and technology of embedded circuit and comprises mainly a microprocessor 11, a computer interface controller 12 and a internal bus 112, wherein the microprocessor 11 is connected to the computer interface controller 12 through the internal bus 112. 
     The CPU 1 is functioned mainly for program execution, bus control, system control, paper-feeding control, data processing and communication. The tasks of data processing and communication include the compression and decompression of data and interface protocol conversion. 
     As to the interface standard of the data communication according to the present invention, the transmission for black-and-white document adopts the G3 interface protocol recommended by the CCITT (Consultative Committee for International Telephony and Telegraphy). The transmission of color document adopts the scheme based on the ITU T.30.annex E defined by CCITT in junction with the data compression and decompression technology of JPEG (Journal Professional Engineer Group). 
     The program executed by the CPU 1 is recorded in microprocessor 11 in the form of firmware or recorded in a programmable read only memory (PROM) which is embedded into the CPU 1. 
     The memory means 3 provides the program the required memory for storage of program and data. 
     The data communication means 4 is connected to a telephone line connector 41 and is functioned and structured as data pump. The conventional designs utilize data pump and fax data chip, whereas the present invention uses the microprocessor 11 to realize the function of the fax data chip for the sake of reducing cost and simplifying circuit. 
     The panel interface 7 provides the function of user interface and consists mainly a keyboard 71 and a liquid crystal panel 72. The user can input his command through the keyboard 71 and acquire the operation status from the liquid crystal panel 72. 
     The timing and system controller 8 integrate the function of quartz oscillator, logic circuit and input/output control into a high integration chip by the structure and technology of ASIC, pin sharing and cell active. The timing and system controller 8 utilizes the structure and technology of pin sharing and cell active to minimize the pin number and circuit board optimally, and save manufacture cost. The input/output function is switched by the CPU 1. 
     The dual bus adopted by the present invention consists of the peripheral bus 2 and the internal bus 112. The microprocessor 11 can control the peripheral bus 2 through a peripheral bus control 111, and control the internal bus 112 which is connected to the computer interface controller 12. The present invention adopts dual bus scheme to save CPU time and enhance transmission efficiency. 
     The computer interface controller 12 and data communication means 4 provide the function of data communication. The input/output ports of the computer interface controller 12 are serial port 121, SCSI port 122, IDE port 123, and internal bus 112, wherein the serial port 121, the SCSI port 122, and the IDE port 123 utilize the structure and technology of programmable, pin sharing and cell active. The default setting of the present invention are the serial port 121 and the SCSI port 122. In case of requiring the IDE port 123, the setting can be changed to the serial port 121 and the IDE port 123 by inputting command through the keyboard 71. After receiving the command, the microprocessor 11 can redefine the pin assignment of the SCSI 122 to that of the IDE port 123. The adoption of programmable, pin sharing and cell active can simplify the circuit layout and save the cost. 
     The paper feeding control of fax according to the present invention adopts feedback control. The sensing circuit 20 can detect the registration signal of the paper to be printed and send the sensed result to the microprocessor 11. After data processing, the microprocessor 11 can send a control signal to the motor control circuit 31 to drive the motor 32 for feeding paper. 
     The structure and function of video, copying and printing according to the present invention are realized by the timing and system controller 8, the DSC 9, and the printing means 10. The DSC 9 consists of a fixed mirror module 90, a digital signal processing memory 91, a charge coupled device (CCD) module 92, a dynamic random accessing memory (DRAM) buffer 93, a DSP module 94, a flash memory 95, a power supply module 96, a system controller 97, a video random accessing memory (VRAM) 98, a display module 99, a PC I/F module 100 and a internal bus port 200. The output port of the PC I/F module 100 of the DSC 9 is connected to the input port of the timing and system controller 8 to receive the video signal output from the DSC 9. 
     The printing means comprises a printing circuit 101 and a printing head 102. The printing head 102 can be black or color ink-jet head. The copied and printed document will be black-and-white document for the adoption of black ink-jet head. The copied and printed document will be color document for the adoption of color ink-jet head. The printing head 102 can be other type of head such as thermal-recording or dot-matrix in case of other embodiments. 
     During its operation, the DSC 9 sends the video signal to the timing and system controller 8 which will send the video signal to the CPU 1 through the peripheral bus 2. The video signal is processed by the CPU 1 and then sent to the memory means 3. The memory means 3 send the data to CPU 1 through the peripheral bus 2 according to the command of the CPU 1. The CPU 1 can output the data through the serial port 121, the SCSI port 122 and the IDE port 123. 
     During the fax transmission operation, the DSC 9 sends the video signal to the timing and system controller 8 which will send the video signal to the CPU 1 through the peripheral bus 2. The video signal is processed by the CPU 1 and then sent to the memory means 3. The video signal is then sent to the data communication means 4 and output to public network. 
     During the fax reception operation, the remote fax signal is transmitted from public network to the telephone line connector 5 and fax modem 6 provided by the data communication means 4. The fax modem 6 send the digital data to CPU 1 through the peripheral bus 2. The digital data is processed by CPU 1 and then stored in the memory means 3. Afterward, the digital data is sent, through peripheral bus 2, to the timing and system controller 8 which will print the data through printing means 10. 
     During the copying operation, the DSC 9 sends the video signal to the timing and system controller 8 which will send the video signal to the CPU 1 through peripheral bus 2. After processed by the CPU 1, the signal is sent, through peripheral bus 2, to the timing and system controller 8 which will print the data through printing means 10. 
     During the printing operation, the signal is input to CPU 1 through the serial port 121, the SCSI port 122 and the IDE port 123. After processed by the CPU 1, the signal is sent, through peripheral bus 2, to the timing and system controller 8 which will print the data through printing means 10. 
     As previously described, by utilizing the present invention, the structure and function of fax, video signal, copying, printing and data communication apparatus can be integrated as a whole. The present invention can be utilized in industrial application advantageously and meets the patentable requirement. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For examples, the constitutional part of DSC can be changed in response to different operation type. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modification and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of appended claims and their equivalent.