Abstract: A control unit controls the use of a flash memory in which a recording area is divided into a plurality of blocks. The control unit includes a SRAM for storing management information regarding history that blocks have been used for recording information, the management information being updated every time each block has been used, and a selecting controller for selecting, with reference to the management information stored in the SRAM, a block in which information is to be written from among the plurality of blocks in the recording area of the flash memory so that all the blocks of the flash memory are uniformly used, wherein the information is recorded in the block selected by the selecting means in the flash memory. A facsimile machine has the flash memory for temporally recording image data to be transmitted and/or received, and the above control unit for controlling the flash memory so that the image data is recorded in a block of the flash memory.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as an electronic scanning camera, for use in conjunction with an electrophotographic reproduction device, such as a copier, recorder or printer, is provided for making reproductions of images from at least two separate and distinct image informational light paths. The light projected or reflected, from said paths, is received by an appropriate lens system, of the electronic scanning camera, for directing the light to a common image pickup member, such as a charge-coupled device. A pivotal mirror located within the electronic scanning camera has a first position removed from at least a first path. In a second position, the mirror is pivoted such that image light transmitted along a path, other than the first path, is directed, by reflection from the mirror, to the charge-coupled device. In this second position, the back of the mirror blocks light, thereby preventing light transmitted from all but the path which the mirror is reflecting, from impacting on the charge-coupled device.