Interface circuit for utilizing a facsimile machine coupled to a PC as a scanner or printer
First Claim
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- A method of transferring a group III type facsimile machine'"'"'s digital signals between a computer and said facsimile machine to cause said facsimile machine to operate as a printing device, comprising the steps of;
(a) coupling the facsimile machine to the computer and isolating the facsimile machine from a telephone line;
(b) transmitting signals to the computer indicative of a facsimile ready function;
(c) operating a computer for initiating transmission of print data to said facsimile machine of a document to be printed by said facsimile machine;
(d) upon activating the send driver communications software of the computer the data from the computer passes without interruption through the receiving port of the facsimile machine;
(e) whereby the digital signals of the computer are processed by the circuitry of the facsimile machine into signals for printing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for interfacing a conventional facsimile machine with a PC enabling the use of the facsimile machine as a scanner or printer. A first switch assembly selectively couples the PC modem and facsimile machine either to independent telephone lines in a normal mode or to one another in a scan/print mode. A manually operated switch assembly is depressed for a brief interval sufficient to activate a ringing circuit which converts DC power from a small battery source to a 20 Hz sine wave of 90 volt amplitude and applies the sine wave signal to the PC to cause the PC or facsimile to enter into a scan or print mode, respectively. The manually operable switch is then released to apply a constant current to the facsimile machine to simulate an off-hook condition. A facsimile machine start button is then operated to start the facsimile machine which scans documents provided therein and transmits the scanned data in a conventional facsimile transmission format or activate the PC to transmit a fax in conventional facsimile transmission format to utilize the facsimile machine as a printer. The PC may be equipped with a suitable software program for converting non-graphic, i.e. such as word-type information into a binary format suitable for use in word processing applications and may store the data in a memory for subsequent use. An automatic circuit may be provided to initiate a scanning or printing mode responsive to receipt of a unique number received from either the facsimile machine or the PC, thus eliminating the need for switches.
38 Citations
7 Claims
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1. —
- A method of transferring a group III type facsimile machine'"'"'s digital signals between a computer and said facsimile machine to cause said facsimile machine to operate as a printing device, comprising the steps of;
(a) coupling the facsimile machine to the computer and isolating the facsimile machine from a telephone line;
(b) transmitting signals to the computer indicative of a facsimile ready function;
(c) operating a computer for initiating transmission of print data to said facsimile machine of a document to be printed by said facsimile machine;
(d) upon activating the send driver communications software of the computer the data from the computer passes without interruption through the receiving port of the facsimile machine;
(e) whereby the digital signals of the computer are processed by the circuitry of the facsimile machine into signals for printing. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
- A method of transferring a group III type facsimile machine'"'"'s digital signals between a computer and said facsimile machine to cause said facsimile machine to operate as a printing device, comprising the steps of;
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2. A method of transferring digital signals between a computer equipped with driver communications software and a facsimile machine via a bi-directional passive link, to cause said facsimile machine to operate as a printing device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) coupling the facsimile machine to the computer via the bi-directional passive link and isolating the facsimile machine and the computer from there respective telephone lines where required to enable the direct transfer of said digital signals;
(b) Operating a computer for initiating transmission of digital signals to said facsimile machine of a document to be printed by said facsimile machine;
(c) Upon activating the send driver communications software of the computer the digital signal data from the computer passes without interruption through the receiving port of the facsimile machine;
(d) Whereby, the digital signals of the computer are processed by the facsimile machine for printing.
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5. A method of performing a scanning function, to a pre-existing facsimile modem, connected to a facsimile machine, said facsimile modem being internal or external to a computer in order to enable a scanning function, said facsimile machine and fax modem are connected through a bi-directional direct connection via a passive link when transferring scanned signal data, said facsimile machine and fax modem being isolated from the public network telephone line, and by which the establishment of the transmission state within these types of connections include one of:
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a) External initiation including ringing, constant current, on/off hook, or any typical telephone or digital signaling protocols. b) internal initiation, including setting a manual receive mode, setting a specialized mode including a computer mode, and by pressing a start button on the facsimile machine. c) Initiation selected from a combination of a) and b). Said computer being equipped with send/receive driver communications software enabling the transfer of said scanning or printing signals between the computer and the facsimile machine. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeInfinity Computer Products Incorporated
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Original AssigneeBruce Gregory Nachman, Marvin Jules Nachman
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InventorsNachman, Bruce Gregory, Nachman, Marvin Jules
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Granted Patent
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Time in Patent OfficeDays
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Field of Search
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US Class Current358/442
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CPC Class CodesH04N 1/00236 using an image reading or r...H04N 1/00238 using an image reproducing ...H04N 1/00241 using an image reading devi...H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, ...H04N 2201/0062 Stand-alone interface deviceH04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/...
