Patent Publication Number: US-2005122537-A1

Title: Combination machine having an image data conversion function and image data conversion method therefor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Korean Patent Application Nos. 2003-88193 filed on Dec. 5, 2003, 2003-88196 filed on Dec. 5, 2003, and 2004-4271 filed on Jan. 20, 2004 with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present general inventive concept generally relates to a combination machine having an image data conversion function and an image data conversion method therefor. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to a combination machine having an image data conversion function and an image data conversion method therefor capable of converting documents printed on paper into different languages, outputting or faxing the language-converted documents, and converting the printed documents into an image format displayable on an external display device or into a voice signal, wherein the combination machine refers to a machine into which a scanner, a photocopier, and a printer are incorporated.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      With developments and more demands of office automation devices recently, the combination machines such as multi-function copiers (MFCs) having multiple functions to allow a user to do various tasks have been proposed. The recent combination machines on the market are each structured with a facsimile machine, a photocopier, and/or a scanner that are incorporated therein, and provided with scanner/printer engines and host PC interfaces, so as to perform diverse tasks.  
      Furthermore, the conventional conversion into a different language is carried out by converting documents into digital images through a scanner, recognizing characters by use of a character recognition software installed in a personal computer (PC), and converting the recognized characters into a different language through a conversion program.  
       FIG. 1A  is a view illustrating conventional procedures of converting one language into another by way of an example. Referring to  FIG. 1A , documents  1  in Korean to be translated are scanned into digital images by use of a scanner  2 . Next, an optical character reader (OCR) provided together with the scanner  2  or a character recognition program installed in a host PC  3  divides the images into text and non-ext parts depending on whether characters can be recognized or not, and recognizes the text parts from which characters can be recognized. Finally, the recognized characters are translated into a different language by use of a translation program. If translated documents  5  need to be printed, the translated documents  5  are output through a printer  4  separately provided, and, if the translated documents  5  need to be faxed, the translated documents  5  output from the printer  4  are faxed through a facsimile machine  6  separately provided.  
      On the other hand, in the same way as the translation into a different language, the conventional conversion into a voice is carried out by converting documents into digital images through a scanner, recognizing characters by use of a character recognition program installed in a PC, and converting the recognized characters into a voice by use of a voice conversion program.  
       FIG. 1B  is a view illustrating a conventional voice conversion process by way of an example. Referring to  FIG. 1B , the scanner  2  is used to convert into digital images the documents  1  to be converted into a voice, for example, the documents received or transmitted through the facsimile machine  6  or the documents output from the printer  4 .  
      The OCR provided together with the scanner or the character recognition program installed in the PC  3  is used to divide the digital images into text and non-text parts depending on whether characters can be recognized, and then to recognize the text parts from which characters can be recognized. Next, a voice conversion program is used to convert the recognized characters into the voice output through a speaker  7 .  
      The conventional language translation and voice conversion methods as above have a problem in that devices such as the scanner  2 , host PC  3 , printer  4 , facsimile machine  6 , and so on are separately equipped and a user himself has to do the tasks step by step.  
      Furthermore, the language translation method has a problem of inefficient process since the repetitive tasks in digital and analog formats are involved such as scanning documents printed on paper into digital images, printing the digital images onto paper, and converting data printed on paper into digital images to be faxed.  
      Furthermore, the conversion to the voice from documents received and transmitted through the facsimile machine  6  or photocopied through a photocopier has a problem of an inefficient process since digital images have to be obtained through scanning after the printout of the documents even though the same digital images have been obtained for fax transmission and reception, and photocopying.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present general inventive concept provides a combination machine having an image data conversion function and an image data conversion method therefor, capable of translating documents into a different language, converting the documents into an image displayable on an external display device, and converting the documents into voice data according to a user&#39;s single command so that the translation and/or conversion process is simplified and the task efficiency is enhanced, wherein the combination machine refers to a device into which a scanner, a printer, a photocopier, and a facsimile machine are incorporated.  
      Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may be achieved by providing a combination machine having an image data conversion function, comprising a character recognition part to recognize characters on the images; a translation part to translate the recognized characters into a different language; and a controller to control the character recognition part and the translation part to translate the images into the different language and to convert the characters translated in the different language into the images, wherein the combination machine has at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send the images through a communication channel and to receive the images through the communication channel.  
      The combination machine may further comprise a host personal computer (PC) interface to receive the characters from a host PC, wherein the controller controls the translation part to translate the received characters into the different language.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing an image data conversion method of a combination machine having an image data conversion function, the method comprising recognizing characters on images; translating the recognized characters into a different language; and converting the characters translated in the different language into images, wherein the combination machine has at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send images through a communication channel and to receive images through the communication channel.  
      The image data conversion method may further comprise interfacing with a host PC from which the characters are received; translating the received characters into the different language; and converting the translated characters into the images.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing a host PC having an image data conversion function and driving a combination machine, the host PC comprising an input and output (I/O) interface to receive images from the combination machine; a combination machine driver to drive the combination machine and to translate the received images into a different language; and a host PC controller to control the I/O interface and the combination machine driver to translate the received images into the different language and to process characters translated in the different language in the combination machine, wherein the combination machine has at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send images through a communication channel and to receive the images through the communication channel.  
      The combination machine driver may include a character recognition part to recognize characters on the images; and a translation part to translate the recognized characters into the different language.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing a combination machine having an image data conversion function, the combination machine comprising a character recognition part to recognize characters on images; a voice conversion part to convert the recognized characters into a voice signal; a voice recording part to record the converted voice signal onto a predetermined recording medium; and a controller to control the character recognition part, the voice conversion part, and the voice recording part to convert the images into the voice signal and to record the voice signal onto the recording medium, wherein the combination machine has at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send images through a communication channel and to receive images through the communication channel,.  
      The combination machine may further comprise a host PC interface to receive the characters from a host PC, wherein the controller controls the voice conversion part to convert the received characters into the voice signal.  
      In The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing an image data conversion method of a combination machine comprising recognizing characters on images; converting the recognized characters into a voice signal; and recording the converted voice signal onto a predetermined recording medium, wherein the combination machine has at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send the images through a communication channel and to receive the images through the communication channel.  
      The image data conversion method may further comprise receiving the characters from a host PC; and converting the received characters into the voice signal.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing a host PC to drive a combination machine, the host PC comprising an I/O interface to receive images from the combination machine; a combination machine driver to drive the combination machine and to convert the received images into a voice signal; a voice recording part to record the converted voice signal onto a predetermined recording medium; and a host PC controller to control the I/O interface and the combination machine driver to convert the received images into the voice signal and to record the voice signal onto the recording medium, wherein the combination machine has an image data conversion function, the combination machine having at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send images through a communication channel and to receive images through the communication channel.  
      The combination machine driver may include a character recognition part to recognize characters on the received images; and a voice conversion part to convert the recognized characters into a voice signal.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing an image data conversion method of a host PC driving a combination machine, the method comprising receiving the images from a combination machine; converting the received images into a voice signal; and recording the converted voice signal onto a predetermined recording medium, wherein the combination machine has at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send images through a communication channel and to receive images through the communication channel.  
      The converting of the received images may include recognizing characters on the images; and converting the recognized characters into the voice signal.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing a combination machine having an image data conversion function and connected to an external display device, the combination machine having at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto a paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send images through a communication channel and to receive images through the communication channel, the combination machine comprising a character recognition part to recognize characters on images; a translation part to translate the recognized characters into a different language; an image conversion part to convert the translated characters into an image format displayable on an external display device; and an image storage part to store the converted images.  
      The combination machine may further comprise an image output part to output the image stored in the image storage part to the external display device.  
      The forgoing and/or other aspects and advantages may also be achieved by providing an image data conversion method of a combination machine having an image data conversion function and connected to an external display device, the combination machine having at least two modules among a scanner module to project light onto documents and produce images, a photocopier module to output images onto paper, a printer module to print images received externally on paper, and a facsimile machine module to send images through a communication channel and to receive images through the communication channel, the method comprising recognizing characters on images; translating the recognized characters into a different language; converting the translated characters into an image format displayable on the external display device; and recording the converted images.  
      The image data conversion method may further comprise outputting the image recorded in the image storage part to the external display device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
       FIG. 1A  is a view illustrating a conventional process of translation into a different language;  
       FIG. 1B  is a view illustrating a conventional process of conversion into a voice;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a combination machine having a function of translating image data into a different language according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination machine having the function of translating the image data into the different language as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a combination system having a function of translating image data into a different language according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination system having the function of translating the image data into the different language as shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a combination machine having a function of converting image data into a voice signal according to yet another embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination machine having the function of converting the image data into the voice signal as shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a combination system having a function of converting image data into a voice signal according to still another embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination system having the function of converting the image data into the voice signal as shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating a combination machine having an image conversion function after translating into a different language according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and  
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination machine of  FIG. 10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a combination machine having a function of translating image data into a different language according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the combination machine may include a scanner module  10 , a photocopier module  20 , a printer module  30 , a facsimile machine (or fax) module  40 , an image storage part  50 , a character recognition part  60 , a translation part  70 , a host PC interface part  80 , a controller  90 , and an operation part  93 .  
      The scanner module  10  projects light onto documents, and converts light reflected from the documents into an electric signal, that is, digital images, through a sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a contact image sensor (CIS).  
      The photocopier module  20  outputs onto paper the digital images produced through the scanner module  10 .  
      The printer module  30  receives a signal from a host PC, processes the signal into digital images, and outputs the digital images onto paper.  
      The fax module  40  transmits through a communication channel the digital images obtained from the scanner module  10 , and receives and outputs the images through the communication channel, and the fax module  40  can be structured with an interface circuit to interface the scanner module  10  and public switched telephone network (PSTN).  
      The image storage part  50  stores the digital images produced from the scanner module  10 , the photocopier module  20 , the printer module  30 , and the fax module  40 .  
      The character recognition part  60  divides the images stored in the image storage part  50  into character-recognizable sections (text sections) and character-unrecognizable sections (non-text sections), and recognizes characters on the text sections. Here, the character recognition part  60  may be an optical character reader (OCR).  
      The translation part  70  translates data recognized as characters by the character recognition part  60  into a different language selected by a user. Here, the available languages for translation can be added when the combination machine is upgraded.  
      The operation part  93  may include a key panel (not shown) having keys to enable a user to operate the scanner module  10 , the photocopier module  20 , the printer module  30 , and the fax module  40 , and keys to enable a user to operate a function of translation into a different language, and a display window (not shown) to display states of the combination machine. The display window can display an option menu to enable a user to select a language of original documents before the original documents are translated and a foreign language to translate the documents thereto (hereinafter, referred to as a target language) when the user presses a key reserved for the function of translation into a different language, and the options can be updated when available languages of translation are added. The display window may be constructed with an LCD, LED, or touch screen.  
      The controller  90  controls the overall operations of the combination machine according to programs.  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination machine having the function of translating the image data into the different language as shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a user can select on the operation part  93  any one of a fax translation mode to translate received and transmitted fax documents, a photocopier translation mode to translate photocopied documents, a scanner translation mode to translate scanned documents, and a host PC translation mode to translate data received from the host PC (operation S 100 ).  
      In the operation S 100 , the user checks whether the fax translation mode is selected (operation S 102 ) and, if selected the user selects a fax-reception translation mode or a fax-transmission translation mode (operation S 110 ). If the fax-reception translation mode is selected, the combination machine receives fax documents (operation S 112 ), and stores digital images, which are the received fax data, into the image storage part  50  (operation S 114 ), and the character recognition part  60  recognizes characters or text (operation S 116 ), and the translation part finally translates the recognized characters into the language to which the user has set (operation S 118 ). Next, the translated documents are output (operation S 119 ). The translated documents may be output together with the original documents.  
      If the fax-transmission translation mode is selected, the scanning module  10  scans the fax documents to be transmitted, and produces digital images (operation S 122 ). The subsequent operations S 124 , S 126 , and S 128  are the same as operations S 114 , S 116 , and S 118  described above. Furthermore, the translation part  70  translates the recognized characters (operation S 128 ), and the translated documents are faxed out through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) (operation S 129 ).  
      If the fax-translation mode is not selected in operation S 102 , the combination machine checks whether the photocopier-transmission translation mode is selected (operation S 104 ). If the photocopy translation mode is selected, the photocopier module  20  scans the documents to be photocopied to create digital images (operation S 132 ), and can photocopy and output the original documents. The subsequent operations S 134 , S 136 , and S 138  are the same as operations S 114 , S 116 , and S 118  described above. Next, the combination machine outputs the translated documents (operation S 139 ).  
      If the photocopier translation mode is not selected in operation S 104 , the combination machine checks if the scanner translation mode is selected (operation S 106 ). If the scanner translation mode is selected, the scanner module is used to scan the original documents and create digital images (operation S 142 ), and the subsequent operations S 144 , S 146 , and S 148  are the same as operations S 114 , S 116 , and S 118  described above. Further, the translated documents can be stored in a predetermined storage part (operation S 149 ), and can be output if set by the user to do so.  
      If the scanner translation mode is not selected in operation S 106 , the combination machine checks whether the host PC translation mode is selected (operation S 108 ). If the host PC translation mode is selected, data to be translated is received from a host PC (operation S 150 ). The combination machine checks whether the received data is in a text format or in a digital image format (operation S 151 ). If in the digital image format, the character recognition part  60  recognizes the characters that it can recognize (operation S 152 ). Next, the translation part  70  translates the recognized characters, that is, text, into a language that the user has selected (operation S 153 ). If the received data is determined to be in the text format in operation S 151 , the character recognition part  60  translates the text into a language that the user has selected (operation S 153 ). The translated data can be stored at a predetermined storage part (operation S 154 ), and if the user wants the translated data to be faxed or printed (operation S 155 ), the translated data can be processed into images and faxed by the fax module  40  (operation S 156 ) or printed by the printer module  30  (operation S 157 ).  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a combination system having a function of translating image data into a different language according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the combination system may include a combination machine  200  and a host PC  300 .  
      The combination machine  200  of the combination system of  FIG. 4  may include a scanner module  210 , a photocopier module  220 , a printer module  230 , a fax module  240 , a host PC interface  280 , and a combination machine controller  290 .  
      The scanner module  10 , photocopier module  20 , printer module  30 , and fax module  40  shown in  FIG. 2  can be used for the scanner module  210 , photocopier module  220 , printer module  230 , and fax module  240 , respectively.  
      The host PC interface  280  interfaces with the host PC  300  to allow smooth communications, and the combination machine controller  290  controls individual components of the combination machine  200  and drives the combination machine  200 .  
      The host PC  300  may include a combination machine driver  310 , an image storage part  320 , an I/O interface  330 , a host PC controller  340 , and a host input part  350 .  
      The combination machine driver  310  controls the combination machine  200  to be driven normally under an operating system of the host PC  300 , and interfaces with a user. Further, the combination machine driver  310  may include a character recognition part  313  to recognize characters on images, a translation part  316  to translate the recognized characters into a language that the user has selected, and a driver controller  319  to control the entire driving of the combination machine driver  310 . Menu windows can be provided so that the user can select a target language into which the recognized characters can be translated, and the available languages of translation can be added when the combination machine  200  is upgraded.  
      The image storage part  320  receives and stores digital images from the combination machine  200 , and provides the character recognition part  313  with the digital images from which the characters are recognized.  
      The I/O interface  330  interfaces with the combination machine  200  to allow smooth communications.  
      The host controller  340  controls the individual components of the host PC  300 , receives a user&#39;s input instructing the combination machine  200  to carry out translations, drives the combination machine driver  310 , and controls the driving of a corresponding module of the combination machine  200 .  
      The host input part  350  can be provided with keys to control the combination machine  200 , including a key to translate into a different language.  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination machine system having the function of translating the image data into the different language as shown in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a user can select a translation mode by use of the host input part  350  (operation S 400 ).  
      The combination machine  200  checks whether the fax-translation mode is selected in the operation S 400  (operation S 402 ), and, if the fax-translation mode is selected, the combination machine  200  checks whether the fax-reception translation mode or the fax-transmission translation mode is selected (operation S 410 ). If the fax-reception translation mode is selected, the combination machine  200  receives fax documents in a digital image format, and transmits the received digital images to the host PC  300  (operation S 412 ). The host PC  300  stores the received digital images in the image storage part  320  (operation S 413 ). The character recognition part  313  of the combination machine driver  310  recognizes characters on the stored digital images (operation S 414 ), the translation part  316  translates the recognized characters (operation S 416 ). Next, the combination machine driver  310  controls the combination machine  200  to print translated documents onto paper (operation S 418 ). The fax module  210  of the combination machine  200  may output the translated documents together with the received original fax documents.  
      If the fax-transmission mode is selected in operation S 410 , the combination machine  200  scans fax documents, and transmits the scanned fax documents in a form of digital images, to the host PC  300  (operation S 422 ). Subsequent operations S 423 , S 424 , and S 426  are the same as operations S 413 , S 414 , and S 416 , and, in the next step, the fax module  240  faxes the translated documents (operation S 428 ). Further, the original documents before translated can be faxed together with the translated document when a certain key is selected.  
      If the fax translation mode is not selected in operation S 402 , the combination machine  200  checks whether the photocopier translation mode is selected (operation S 404 ), and, if the photocopier translation mode is selected, the photocopier module  220  scans documents loaded to be photocopied, creates digital images, and can photocopy and output the original documents. Furthermore, the photocopier module  220  sends the created digital images to the host PC  300  (operation S 432 ). Subsequent operations S 433 , S 434 , and S 436  are the same as operations S 413 , S 414 , and S 416 , and the photocopier module  220  outputs the translated documents onto paper (operation S 438 ).  
      If the photocopier translation mode is not selected in operation S 404 , the combination machine checks whether the scanner translation mode is selected (operation S 406 ). If the scanner translation mode is selected, the scanner module S 210  is used to scan the original documents and create digital images, and sends the created digital images to the host PC (operation S 422 ). Further, the created digital images can be stored in a memory of the host PC designated by the user.  
      Subsequent operations S 443 , S 444 , and S 446  are the same as operations S 413 , S 414 , and S 416 , and the translated documents are stored in a certain memory of the host PC (operation S 448 ).  
      If the scanner translation mode is not selected in operation S 406 , the combination machine  200  checks whether the host PC translation mode is selected (operation S 408 ). If the host PC translation mode is selected, that is, if the host PC translation mode is selected to translate data stored in the host PC  300 , the host PC  300  determines whether the data to be translated is in a text format or in an image format (operation S 450 ). If the data to be translated is in the image format, the character recognition part  313  recognizes characters on the images (operation S 451 ), the translation part  316  translates the characters (operation S 452 ), and stores the translated data in a certain memory (operation S 453 ). On the other hand, if the data to be translated is in the text format in operation S 450 , the translation part  316  translates the data without an extra character recognition step (operation S 452 ). The translated documents are stored in the memory (operation S 453 ), and, if the user wants the translated data to be faxed or printed (operation S 454 ), the translated data in storage can be sent to the combination machine  200  to be faxed (operation S 455 ) or printed (operation S 456 ).  
      The process as stated above enables the user to conveniently obtain, output, and receive and transmit the documents translated in a different language.  
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a combination machine having a function of converting image data into a voice signal according to yet another embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the combination machine may include a scanner module  510 , a photocopier module  520 , a printer module  530 , a fax module  540 , an image storage part  550 , a character recognition part  560 , a voice conversion part  570 , a host PC interface  580 , a controller  585 , an operation part  587 , and a voice recorder  590 .  
      The scanner module  510  projects light onto documents, and the light is reflected from the documents. A sensor such as the CCD or CIS converts the reflected light into an electric signal, that is, digital images.  
      The photocopier module  520  outputs the converted digital images on paper through the scanner module  510 .  
      The printer module  530  processes a signal from the host PC into digital images, and prints the digital images onto paper.  
      Further, the fax module  540  sends through a communication channel the digital images produced by the scanning module  510 , receives and outputs the images through the communication channel, and can be constructed with a circuit interfacing with the scanner module  510  and the public switched telephone network (PSTN).  
      The image storage part  550  stores digital images produced by the scanner module  510 , photocopier module  520 , printer module  530 , and fax module  540 .  
      The character recognition part  560  divides the images stored in the image storage part  550  into character-recognizable parts and character-unrecognizable parts, and recognizes characters on the character-recognizable parts. In here, the character recognition part can be an optical character reader (OCR).  
      The voice conversion part  570  converts into a voice signal data recognized as characters by the character recognition part  560 .  
      The voice recorder  590  records the converted voice signal onto a certain recording medium. In here, the voice recorder  590  can be any of a USB storage device, a CD recording medium, and a floppy disc drive that enables mass storage, and the recording medium can be a memory stick, a CD, a floppy disc, or the like.  
      The controller  585  controls the overall operations of the combination machine according to a main program to control the combination machine.  
      The operation part  587  can be provided with a key panel (not shown) having keys to enable a user to operate the scanner module  510 , photocopier module  520 , printer module  530 , and fax module  540  and a key to enable the user to select a voice conversion mode, and a display window (not shown) to display states of the combination machine. In here, the display window may be formed of an LCD, LED, or touch screen.  
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination machine having the function of converting the image data into the voice signal as shown in  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a user selects a voice conversion mode on the operation part  587  (operation S 600 ). The voice conversion mode includes a fax document-to-voice conversion mode to convert fax-reception and transmission data into a voice signal, a photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode to convert photocopied documents into a voice signal, a scan document-to-voice conversion mode to convert scanned documents into a voice signal, and a host PC document-to-voice conversion mode to convert documents received from a host PC into a voice signal.  
      The combination machine checks whether the fax document-to-voice conversion mode is selected in operation S 600  (operation S 605 ), and, if the fax document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine checks whether a fax-transmission mode or a fax-reception mode is selected. If the fax-reception mode is selected, the combination machine receives fax documents through the fax module  510 , and, if the fax-transmission mode is selected, the combination machine transmits fax documents (operation S 610 ), the combination machine stores in the image storage part  550  the digital image data, being the fax-received data or the digital images produced when faxed out (operation S 650 ).  
      If the fax document-to-voice conversion mode is not selected in operation S 605 , the combination machine checks whether the photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode is selected (operation S 615 ). If the photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine photocopies the documents (operation S 620 ), and stores the digital images created upon the photocopy into the image storage part  550  (operation S 650 ).  
      If the voice conversion mode is not selected in operation S 615 , the combination machine checks whether the scan document-to-voice conversion mode is selected (operation S 625 ). If the scan document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine creates digital images through scanning (operation S 630 ), stores the digital images in a certain memory of the host PC as well as in the image storage part  550  (operation S 650 ).  
      If the digital images have been stored in the image storage part  550  with respect to the fax document-to-voice conversion mode, photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode, and scan document-to-voice conversion mode (operation S 650 ), the character recognition part  560  recognizes characters on the stored digital images (operation S 660 ), and the voice conversion part  570  converts the characters recognized by the character recognition part  560  into a voice signal (operation S 670 ).  
      Next, the converted voice signal is stored in a certain recording medium through the voice recorder  590  (operation S 680 ).  
      If the scan document-to-voice conversion mode is not selected in operation S 625 , the combination machine checks whether the host PC document-to-voice conversion mode is selected (operation S 635 ). If the host PC document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine receives data from the host PC (operation S 640 ). The combination machine then checks whether the data received from the host PC is in an image format or in a text format (operation S 645 ), and, if in the image format, the combination machine stores the data in the image storage part  550  (operation S 650 ), recognizes characters through the character recognition part  560  (operation S 660 ), and converts the recognized characters into voice through the voice conversion part  570  (operation S 670 ). If in the text format, the combination machine directly converts the recognized characters into voice through the voice conversion part  570  (operation S 670 ). Next, the converted voice signal is recorded on a certain recording medium through the voice recorder  590  (operation S 680 ).  
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a combination machine system having a function for converting image data into a voice signal according to still another embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the combination machine system may have a combination machine  700  and a host PC  800 .  
      The combination machine  700  may have a scanner module  710 , a photocopier module  720 , a printer module  730 , a fax module  740 , a host PC interface  780 , and a combination machine controller  790 .  
      It is possible to use the scanner module  10 , photocopier module  20 , printer module  30 , and fax module  40  shown in  FIG. 2  for the scanner module  710 , photocopier module  720 , printer module  730 , and fax module  740 , respectively.  
      The host PC interface  780  interfaces with the host PC  800  to allow smooth communications, the combination machine controller  790  controls individual components of the combination machine  700  and drives the combination machine  700 .  
      The host PC  800  may include a combination machine driver  810 , an image storage part  820 , an I/O interface  830 , a host PC controller  840 , a host input part  850 , and a voice recorder  860 .  
      The combination machine driver  810  controls the combination machine  700  to normally drive under an operating system of the host PC  800 , and interfaces with a user. Further, the combination machine driver  810  may include a character recognition part  813  to recognize characters on images, a voice conversion part  816  to convert the recognized characters into a voice signal, and a driver controller  819  to control the overall driving of the combination machine driver  810 .  
      The voice recorder  860  records the voice signal converted by the voice conversion part  816  of the combination machine driver  810 . Here, the voice recorder  860  can be any of a USB storage device, a CD recording medium, and a floppy disc drive that are for mass storage, and the recording medium can be a memory stick, a CD, or a floppy disc.  
      The image storage part  820  receives and stores digital images from the combination machine  700 , and provides the digital images to the character recognition part  813  for character recognition.  
      The I/O interface  830  interfaces with the combination machine  700  to allow smooth communications.  
      The host controller  840  controls the individual components of the host PC  800  in order for the combination machine  700  to be driven smoothly.  
      The host input part  850  controls the host PC  800 , and can be provided with keys reserved to drive the scanner module  710 , photocopier module  720 , printer module  730 , and fax module  740  and keys reserved to select a voice conversion mode.  
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating the operations of the combination machine system having the function of converting the image data into the voice signal as shown in  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a user can select a voice conversion mode (operation S 900 ). The voice conversion modes include a fax document-to-voice conversion mode to convert fax-reception/transmission data into a voice signal, a photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode to convert photocopy documents into a voice signal, a scan document-to-voice conversion mode to convert scanned documents into a voice signal, and a host PC document-to-voice mode to convert into a voice signal documents received from the host PC  800 .  
      The combination machine system checks whether the fax document-to-voice conversion mode is selected in operation S 900  (operation S 905 ). If the fax document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine system checks whether the fax-transmission mode or the fax-reception mode is selected, and, if the fax-reception mode is selected, the combination machine system receives fax documents through the fax module  710 , and, if the fax-transmission mode is selected, the combination machine system transmits fax documents, and sends to the host PC  800  digital images being the fax-received data or a digital image created when faxed out (operation S 950 ).  
      If the fax document-to-voice conversion mode is not selected in operation S 905 , the combination machine system checks whether the photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode is selected (operation S 915 ). If the photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine system photocopies documents (operation S 920 ), and sends to the host PC  800  the digital images produced when the documents are photocopied (operation S 950 ).  
      If the photocopy document-to-voice conversion mode is not selected in operation S 915 , the combination machine system checks whether the scan document-to-voice conversion mode is selected (operation S 925 ). If the scan document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine system produces digital images by scanning (operation S 930 ), sends the produced digital images to the host PC  800  (operation S 950 ), records the digital images in a certain memory (not shown), and stores the digital images in the image storage part  820  of the host PC  800  (operation S 960 ).  
      The character recognition part  813  of the combination machine driver  810  receives the digital images created in operations S 910 , S 920 , S 930 , and S 940  (operation S 950 ) and recognizes characters on the received digital images (operation S 970 ), and the voice conversion part  816  converts the recognized characters into a voice signal (operation S 980 ). Next, the converted voice signal is recorded on a certain recording medium by the voice recording part  860  (operation S 990 ), and the voice signal can be also controlled to be stored in a certain memory of the combination machine  700 .  
      If the scan document-to-voice conversion mode is not selected in operation S 925 , the combination machine system checks whether the host PC document-to-voice conversion mode is selected (operation S 935 ). If the host PC document-to-voice conversion mode is selected, the combination machine system checks whether the data of the host PC for conversion is in an image format or in a text format (operation S 940 ). If the data is in the text format, the combination machine system immediately converts the data into a voice signal (operation S 980 ). If the data is in the image format, the combination machine driver  810  recognizes characters on the image (operation S 970 ) and converts the recognized characters into a voice signal (operation S 980 ). Next, the converted voice signal is recorded on a certain recording medium by the voice recorder  860  (operation S 990 ), and the voice signal can be also controlled to be stored in a certain memory of the combination machine  700 .  
      Through the above process, the user&#39;s simple manipulation enables the combination machine system to translate and convert documents into voice.  
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating a combination machine having an image conversion function after translating into a different language according another embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 10 , the combination machine may include a scanner module  1001 , a photocopier module  1003 , a printer module  1005 , a fax module  1007 , a character recognition part  1009 , a translation part  1011 , an image conversion part  1013 , an image storage part  1015 , an image output part  1017 , a host PC interface  1019 , a controller  1021 , and an operation part  1023 .  
      The scanner module  1001  projects light onto documents, and the light is reflected from the documents. A sensor, such as a CCD or CIS, converts the reflected light into an electric signal, that is, into digital images.  
      The photocopier module  1003  outputs the digital images converted through the scanner module  1001  on a paper.  
      The printer module  1005  processes a signal from a host PC into digital images, and prints the digital images onto a paper.  
      The fax module  1007  sends through a communication channel the digital images produced by the scanning module  1001 , receives and outputs the images through the communication channel. The fax module  1007  can include a circuit interfacing with the scanner module  1001  and the public switched telephone network (PSTN).  
      The character recognition part  1009  divides digital image images stored in the image storage part  1015  into character-recognizable parts and character-unrecognizable parts, and recognizes characters on the character-recognizable parts. The character recognition part  1009  can be an optical character reader (OCR).  
      The translation part  1011  translates data recognized as characters by the character recognition part  1009  into a different language selected by a user. The available languages for translation can be added when the combination machine is upgraded.  
      The image conversion part  1013  converts the translated characters into images displayable on an external display device. To this end, the image conversion part  1013  can overwrite the translated characters on a corresponding position in an original documents, and thus generate images translated into a different language. The image conversion part  1013  converts the translated image into an image format displayable by a external display device (hereinafter, referred to as a displayable image).  
      The image storage part  1015  stores the digital images produced from the scanner module  1001 , the photocopier module  1003 , the printer module  1005 , and the fax module  1007 , and the displayable images. The image storage part  1015  can be an external storage medium having a mass storage memory to store the displayable images, and an interface to transmit and receive data to and from the external display device. It is advantageous that the interface of the external storage medium may support a universal serial bus (USB). The image storage part  1015  can transfer the displayable images to the external display device in real-time by use of a streaming function.  
      The image output part  1017  outputs the displayable images stored in the image storage  1015  to the external display device. The image output part  1017  may include an image output terminal.  
      The host PC interface  1019  interfaces with the host PC to allow smooth communications. Data transferred from the host PC can include print data and a control instruction to control the scanner module  1001 , the photocopier module  1003 , and the fax module  1007 . Especially, the transferred data include a control instruction to control the function of translating into a different language and the image conversion function.  
      The operation part  1023  can include a key panel (not shown) having keys to enable the user to operate the scanner module  1001 , the photocopier module  1003 , the printer module  1005 , and the fax module  1007 , and keys to enable the user to operate the translation function and the image conversion function, and a display window (not shown) to display states of the combination machine. The display window can display a menu to enable the user to select a language of original documents before the original documents are translated and a foreign language to translate the documents thereto when the user presses a key reserved for the translation function, and a menu to enable the user to operate an image conversion function such as storing and real-time transmission when the user selects the image conversion function. The display window may be constructed with a LCD, a LED, or a touch screen.  
      The controller  1021  controls the overall operations of the combination machine according to control programs.  
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating operations of the combination machine of  FIG. 10 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the user can select a mode for the translation and the image conversion by controlling the operation part  1023 . The mode may be selected by the control instruction input from the host PC (operation S 101 ).  
      The modes may include a fax document-to-image conversion mode to translate and convert data transmitted and received through the fax into displayable images, a photocopy document-to-image conversion mode to translate and convert photocopied documents into displayable images, a scan document-to-image conversion mode to translate and convert scanned documents into displayable images, and a host PC document-to-image conversion mode to translate and convert documents received from the host PC into displayable images.  
      The controller  1021  checks whether the fax document-to-image conversion mode is selected when the image conversion mode is selected through the operation part  1023  (operation S 1103 ).  
      If the fax document-to-image conversion mode is selected, the controller  1021  checks whether the fax-transmission mode or the fax-reception mode is selected. If the fax-reception mode is selected, the controller  1021  receives images through the fax module  1007 , and, if the fax-transmission mode is selected, the controller  1021  sends images through the fax module  1007  (operation S 1105 ).  
      The controller  1021  stores in the image storage part  1015  digital images which are the fax-received images or digital images created when faxed out (operation S 1140 ).  
      If the fax document-to-image conversion mode is not selected in operation S 1103 , the controller  1021  checks whether the photocopy document-to-image conversion mode is selected (operation S 1111 ). If the photocopy document-to-image conversion mode is selected, the controller  1021  photocopies documents (operation S 1113 ), and stores digital images created when photocopied in the image storage part  1015  (operation S 1140 ).  
      If the photocopy document-to-image conversion mode is not selected in operation S 1111 , the controller  1021  checks whether the scan document-to-image conversion mode is selected (operation S 1121 ). If the scan document-to-image conversion mode is selected, the controller  1021  produces digital images by scanning (operation S 1123 ), records the digital images in a certain memory (not shown) of the host PC, and stores the digital images in the image storage part  1015  (operation S 1140 ).  
      The character recognition part  1015  recognizes characters on the digital images corresponding to each of the fax document-to-image conversion mode, the photocopy document-to-image conversion mode, and the scan document-to-image conversion mode (operation S 1150 ) if the digital images are stored in the image storage part  1015  (operation S 1140 ). The translation part  1011  translates the recognized characters into a set language (operation S 1160 ), and the image conversion part  1013  converts the translated characters to the displayable images (operation S 1170 ). The converted displayable images are stored in the image storage part  1015  (operation S 1180 ), and output to the external display device (operation S 1190 ).  
      If the host PC document-to-image conversion mode is selected (operation S 1131 ), the controller  1021  receives documents from the host PC through the host PC interface  1019  (operation S 1133 ).  
      The controller  1021  checks whether the received documents are in a text format or in an image format (operation S 1135 ). In a case of the image format, the controller  1021  proceeds to the operation S 1140 . In a case of the text format, the controller  1021  proceeds to the operation S 1160  because the character recognition is not required.  
      Although the combination machines of  FIGS. 2, 6  and  10  are illustrated respectively by functions, a single combination machine can include all the functions for the document translation, the voice conversion, and the image conversion.  
      Accordingly, the combination machine of  FIG. 2  may include the voice conversion part  570  and the voice recorder  590  of  FIG. 6 , and the image conversion part  1013  and the image output part  1017  of  FIG. 10 .  
      As described above, the present general inventive concept enables documents to be translated and converted into a voice, and converted into images to be output to an external display device through user&#39;s simple manipulations by use of a combination machine into which a scanner, printer, photocopier, and a facsimile machine are incorporated.  
      The combination machine can be connected directly to the external display device without requiring an additional image processing device for the external display device. Thus, the images processed by the combination machine can be provided to the user.  
      Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.