JP2009056780A - HDD mounted printer and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An HDD-equipped printer capable of performing HDD optimization processing without increasing the power supply capability of a printer power supply unit and without increasing system resources of a printer system control unit, and a control method thereof. Objective.
An amount of electric power when the printer operates in the sleep mode power regulation value during a period from when the printer enters the sleep mode or until a predetermined time after the previous HDD optimization process is interrupted is obtained. An optimization process within a time period during which the HDD optimization process can be performed is automatically executed by subtracting a power quantity actually consumed in the sleep mode from the obtained power quantity.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a power management control method for an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) mounted printer and an optimization processing control method for the mounted HDD.

  Conventionally, when an HDD of an HDD-installed printer is optimized, the printer is often optimized when the printer is in a standby state (print job waiting state).

  Originally, the optimization of the HDD can be performed without depending on the operation mode and the operation state of the main body of the HDD. In fact, in personal computers, there are products in which the user can freely start the implementation (defragmentation) of the installed HDD at any time. In order to perform the optimization process of the HDD, the apparatus control unit needs to frequently access the HDD and the memory, so that the load on the system resource of the apparatus control unit is large.

  Also, it is necessary to operate components that use large power consumption such as the HDD itself, the CPU of the control unit of the apparatus main body, the memory, and the HDC (Hard Disk Controller). In other words, in order to optimize the HDD, the HDD mounting apparatus needs to supply a lot of system resources and a large amount of power.

  However, in recent years, there has been a strong demand for low power consumption, low price, and high speed operation of printers, and it is difficult to supply a large amount of system resources and large power for HDD optimization processing.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional general HDD-mounted printer PRa.

  The conventional HDD-installed printer PRa includes a system control unit 10a, an engine control unit 30, a printer engine 40, and a power supply unit 50, and is connected to the host device 2.

  The host device 2 is a host device such as a personal computer connected to the printer PRa.

  The system control unit 10a controls the entire printer, receives print data (print job) from the host device 2, converts it into print bitmap data that can be handled by the engine control unit, and passes it to the engine control unit It is a system control part to perform.

  The system control unit 10a includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a host I / F 13, a RAM 14a, an image processing unit 15, an HDC 16, an HDD 17, a display control unit 18a, an operation panel 19, and a timing unit 20a. .

  The CPU 11 controls the entire system control unit. The ROM 12 is a ROM that stores firmware and various data to be executed by the CPU 11. The host I / F 13 receives a print job, a control command, and the like transmitted from the host device 2 and performs communication processing for transmitting printer status information and the like to the printer.

  The RAM 14a constitutes a system memory that stores programs executed by the CPU 11, print job data received from the host device 2, data before and after image processing of print data, and the like. The image processing unit 15 performs image processing for converting print data transmitted from the host device into print bitmap data that can be handled by the engine control unit.

  The HDC 16 controls the HDD according to an instruction from the CPU 11. The HDD 17 is mounted on the printer PRa and is controlled by the HDC.

  The display control unit 18a controls data displayed on the display unit of the operation panel. The operation panel 19 controls the operation of the printer PRa and displays status information of the printer PRa. The timer unit 20a includes a timer and a counter for recognizing a control timing necessary for the system control unit to control the system.

  The engine control unit 30 controls a mechanical mechanism of the engine unit, a printer head, and the like based on information from a sensor of the printer engine unit of the printer PRa. The printer engine 40 mainly has a mechanical mechanism for sequentially ejecting ink of a designated color to a designated place on the printing paper by moving and driving the printing paper or the printer head.

  The power supply unit 50 supplies power required by each functional block of the printer. When the printer is in the sleep mode, power to the non-operation unit such as the printer engine unit is stopped, and the printer enters a low power consumption state.

  In the above configuration, the HDD-mounted printer PRa receives the print job data received from the host device 2 via the host I / F 13 during the printing operation. The received print job data is stored in the HDD 17 under the control of the HDC 16 via a print job data reception buffer (not shown) on the RAM 14a.

  Next, the print job data stored in the HDD 17 is read out under the control of the HDC 16, the print data is extracted from the print job data, and stored in a print data reception buffer (not shown) on the RAM 14a. Next, in order to convert the print data stored in the print data reception buffer into bitmap data that can be handled by the engine control unit 30, the image data is processed via the image processing unit 15 and then the bit data is processed. Generate map data.

  The bitmap data is stored in a bitmap data buffer (not shown) on the RAM 14a. During this time, the CPU 11 controls the entire system control unit according to an appropriate timing generated by the time measuring unit 20a, controls the display control unit 18a, and displays status information and the like of the printer during the printing operation on the operation panel 19. .

  Next, the bitmap data in the bitmap data buffer is transferred to the engine control unit 30. The engine control unit divides the received bitmap data into data amount units in a range to be printed by one scan of the printer head, and arranges the bitmap data for convenience of the printer head. The data is transmitted to the printer engine 40 while changing. Next, the printer engine 40 drives the engine control unit from the printer head that moves under the control of the engine control unit 30 to the ink corresponding to the received bitmap data onto the moving printing paper. Discharge at the timing. A series of printing operations are performed by continuously executing the above operations.

  As described above, at the time of the printing operation of the HDD-mounted printer, most of the functional blocks of the printer are operated, and access to the RAM 14a and the HDD 17 is increased. Further, the series of operations of the system controller 10a must supply bitmap data without stopping the movement of the printer head of the printer engine.

  That is, the series of operations of the system control unit must be processed within a certain time (that is, at high speed) determined by the printing mode of the printer PRa. This high-speed operation of the system control unit 10a increases power consumption in the printer.

  As described above, the printing operation processing of the HDD-installed printer requires a lot of system resources and a large amount of power. For this reason, in order to perform the HDD optimization process in parallel with the printing operation, more system resources of the system control unit of the printer and the power supply capability of the power supply unit are required, which increases the product price of the printer. It is a factor.

  For this reason, it is necessary to consider the execution timing of the HDD optimization of the device in which the HDD is mounted. During the printing operation of the printer, there is a problem of increasing the product price as described above. Therefore, it is conceivable to perform the HDD optimization process at the time of transition to the standby (print request waiting) state. In the standby state, the power consumption of the engine control unit and the printer engine unit that consumes a large amount of power is minimized, so that the system control unit also has a low system resource usage rate. For this reason, even if the HDD optimization process is performed in parallel, it is not necessary to increase the system resource of the printer and the power supply capability of the power supply unit more than during the printing operation.

  However, there is a high possibility that a print job will be sent from the host device side immediately after the transition to the standby state. Therefore, if the HDD is optimized after the transition to the standby state, the above optimization is performed by sending the print job from the host device. Processing must be interrupted. If the optimization is interrupted, the efficiency of the optimization is lowered. However, there is no problem in the process of restarting after the interruption. The problem is that when the optimization is interrupted, the interruption processing for interrupting the optimization takes time. Therefore, when the HDD is performing optimization processing while the printer is in the standby state, when the print job is received from the host device side, the print processing cannot be started until the optimization interruption processing is completed. In other words, the printing time of the first page print of printing becomes longer by the HDD optimization interruption processing time.

  Further, as described above, if the HDD optimization process is performed immediately after the transition to the standby state, there is a high possibility that the HDD needs to be interrupted. Therefore, there is a method in which the printer user sets the optimization start timing. However, it is difficult for the user of the printer to determine the optimization start timing, and the setting operation is troublesome, and there is a possibility that a state in which optimization is not performed due to forgetting the setting will continue.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the power consumption value in the sleep mode of the conventional printer PRa.

  In FIG. 7, the vertical axis 101 is a power consumption value, and the horizontal axis 102 is an elapsed time after shifting to the sleep mode.

  The sleep mode minimum power consumption value P0 103 is the minimum power consumption value of the printer PRa in the sleep mode. The average power consumption value 104 in the sleep mode is an average power consumption value in the sleep mode of the printer PRa. Generally, this value is a specification of the power consumption value in the sleep mode of the printer PRa. Normally, since the power consumption value in the sleep mode is defined by an average value, it can be shown to change as indicated by 114 until a predetermined time T.

  The regulation value A 105 is the regulation value A regulated by the sleep mode power regulation A defined by the power reduction environment regulation, and the regulation value B 106 is the sleep mode power regulation regulated by another power reduction environment regulation. This is a regulation value B of B. Normally, the power regulation value A and regulation value B in the sleep mode are also defined by average values, and thus change as indicated by 115 and 116 until a predetermined time T.

  The power consumption value P1 107 is the power consumption value P1 of the printer PRa when performing the ink stirring process, which is one of the maintenance processes performed by the printer PRa during the sleep mode. The power consumption value P2 108 is the power consumption value P2 when the printer PRa executes status monitor response processing performed by the printer PRa in order to respond to the status request command from the status monitor of the host device (2 in FIG. 6). It is. In the printer PRa, when executing the utility response process performed by the printer PRa in order to respond to the command from the printer control utility of the host device 2, the power consumption value is also the power consumption value when executing the status monitor response process. Is the same. That is, the power consumption value when executing the utility response process is also P2.

  As described above, the power consumption value (sleep power) of the printer PRa in the sleep mode is defined by the average power consumption value 104 of the printer in the sleep mode, and is considered to change as indicated by 114. However, in practice, the actual power value changes as indicated by 110. Immediately after the printer PRa shifts to the sleep mode, there is no processing that must be performed in the sleep mode, so the power consumption value P0 103 is the lowest power value in the sleep mode.

  That is, the position 109 is started. Some printers do some processing immediately after shifting to the sleep mode, and some do not start from the position 109.

  Since the status request command is issued from the status monitor of the host device 2 when the time t1 has elapsed from the transition to the sleep mode, the printer PRa supplies power to the necessary circuit blocks in order to perform the status monitor response process. And supply the clock. In order to cause the circuit block necessary for performing the status monitor response process to operate and perform the response process, the power consumption value increases during the period a of the process as shown in the status monitor response process 111. The power consumption value at this time is P2.

  Thereafter, when the time t3 elapses, a command is issued from the printer control utility of the host device 2, so the printer PRa supplies power and a clock to a circuit block necessary for performing the utility response process.

  In order to cause the circuit block necessary for performing the utility response process to operate and perform the response process, the power consumption value increases during the period b of this process, as indicated by the utility response process 112. The power consumption value at this time is also P2. Thereafter, when the time t5 has elapsed, the system control unit 10 of the printer PRa detects an ink stirring process start signal output by the time measuring unit 20a every predetermined time, and performs the ink stirring process. Supply power and clock to the necessary circuit blocks.

  Since the circuit block necessary for performing the ink agitation process is operated and processed, the power consumption value increases during the period c of the process as indicated by a portion 113. The power consumption value at this time is P1.

  As described above, the power consumption after the HDD-mounted printer shifts to the sleep mode changes as indicated by 110 in FIG. Therefore, the average power consumption at the time when a predetermined time T has elapsed since the transition to the sleep mode is a power consumption value (equivalent to the power value transition line 114) indicated by 104 in FIG. This value is the power consumption value in the sleep mode after the HDD-mounted printer PRa shifts to the sleep mode.

  The power consumption value in the sleep mode at the time when a predetermined time T has elapsed from the measurement start point is the power regulation in the sleep mode defined by the energy reduction environmental regulation applied to the HDD-mounted pudding PRa. The value A 105 and the regulation value B 106 must not be exceeded. In the conventional example, the start point is a time point when the sleep mode is shifted.

  That is, it is necessary that the power value transition line 114 does not exceed the power value transition lines 115 and 116 of the regulation value A and the regulation value B.

  As described above, in the printer, the state of the minimum power consumption value P0 in the sleep mode is maintained for many times in the sleep mode, but the processing (communication processing with the host device 2 and the like) that must be performed in the sleep mode is maintained. Printer maintenance process). Since power and clocks are supplied to the circuit blocks necessary for performing this processing and operated, the power consumption temporarily increases. For this reason, the average power consumption value 104 during the sleep mode of the printer is the average power consumption between the minimum power consumption value P0 during the sleep mode and the power consumption values P1 and P2 during the processing executed in the sleep mode. It is prescribed by.

  The power consumption value in the sleep mode is not allowed to exceed the power regulation value A and the regulation value B in the sleep mode defined by the power reduction environment regulation. For this reason, the minimum power consumption value P0 in the sleep mode of the printer is such that the power consumption value in the sleep mode does not exceed the power regulation value A and the regulation value B in the sleep mode defined by the power reduction environment regulation. In addition, it is designed to have a low value with a sufficient margin.

  Furthermore, the printer user can often set the access interval from the host device 2 to the status monitor or utility printer. Therefore, even when the access interval from the host device 2 to the status monitor or utility printer is set to the shortest, the power consumption value in the sleep mode does not exceed the regulation value A or regulation value B. The design being considered is necessary. Further, the maintenance process that must be performed during the sleep mode of the printer includes a plurality of automatic ink suction processes in addition to the ink agitation process, and these processes may be executed at the same time. Even in such a case, the minimum power consumption value P0 in the sleep mode is a low value so that the power consumption value in the sleep mode does not exceed the regulation value A or the regulation value B and has a sufficient margin. Designed to be

  However, in recent years, printer users and their understanding of environmental regulations for energy reduction have been deepened, and polling intervals for status monitors and printer control utilities are often set longer. Also, there are many printer maintenance processes that have long intervals. For example, the ink agitation process is often performed every several tens of hours, and the automatic ink suction process is often performed at intervals of several hours to several tens of hours.

  For this reason, normally, the processing that the printer must perform in the sleep mode is infrequent. Therefore, there are an increasing number of printers that have a large power value difference between the power consumption value in the sleep mode of the printer and the power regulation value in the sleep mode defined by the power reduction environment regulation. Therefore, by utilizing the difference between the power consumption value in the sleep mode and the power regulation value in the sleep mode, other processes that require power while complying with the power regulation value in the sleep mode Can be done.

  As described above, there is no cause for an increase in the product price of the HDD-installed printer, and it is difficult to perform the HDD optimization process without complicated settings relating to the HDD optimization process of the printer user. is there.

For example, an invention has been proposed in which an optimization process is automatically executed when an HDD-mounted printer enters a sleep state (see, for example, Patent Document 1). That is, an invention has been proposed in which the HDD optimization process can be automatically performed without affecting the normal printing operation and without the trouble of the printer user intentionally instructing the optimization process.
JP 2000-335019 A (third embodiment)

  In recent years, there has been a strong demand for printers to reduce power consumption, cost, and operation speed, and the system resources of the printer and the performance of the power supply unit have been increased. On the other hand, it is desired not only to perform normal printing operation processing but also to increase the first page printing speed. Furthermore, international energy reduction environmental regulations such as International Energy Star and Blue Angel have severely restricted the power consumption during printer sleep mode.

  Therefore, in recent printers, when the printer shifts to the sleep mode, most of the non-operating parts are stopped from power, stopped from clock, and power consumption is limited. For example, in a recent printer, the HDD unit of the HDD shifts to a low power consumption mode, and power consumption of a spindle motor, an HDD control circuit, and the like is limited.

  The CPU enters a low power consumption mode and the basic operation clock is stopped. The RAM is in a self-refresh mode, the basic operation clock is stopped, and a low power consumption state is entered. In other words, the HDD, CPU, and RAM necessary for optimizing the HDD require a large amount of power in the normal operation mode, and thus power consumption is limited in some state during the sleep mode. Therefore, in recent printers, it is difficult to normally optimize the HDD during the sleep mode.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 specifies that an optimization process is automatically executed when a printer enters a sleep state. However, there is no mention of power supply means for optimizing the HDD when shifting to the sleep mode. Therefore, in recent printers, the HDD cannot be optimized unless the sleep mode state is canceled even if the above-described invention is to be implemented.

The present invention provides an HDD-equipped printer that can perform HDD optimization processing without increasing the power supply capability of the power supply unit of the printer and without increasing the system resources of the system control unit of the printer, and a control method therefor. With the goal.

The present invention has power amount measuring means for measuring the amount of power from a transition to the sleep mode or from a previous HDD optimization process interruption to a predetermined time. In addition, the present invention includes a power regulation value storage unit in the sleep mode that stores a power regulation value in the sleep mode that is a value of the amount of power regulated in the sleep mode. Furthermore, the present invention has a power consumption value storage means at the time of execution of the optimization process for storing a value of power consumption at the time of execution of the optimization process of the HDD mounted. In addition, according to the present invention, the power amount measuring means obtains the power amount when the printer is operated for the predetermined time with the power regulation value in the sleep mode after the predetermined time has elapsed. Find the amount of power minus the amount of power. The present invention is an HDD-equipped printer having a control unit that executes an optimization process within a time during which the HDD optimization process operation of the printer can be performed with the obtained electric energy.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform HDD optimization processing without increasing the power supply capability of the power supply unit of the printer and without increasing the system resources of the system control unit of the printer.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the HDD optimization process can be executed without affecting the normal printing operation of the printer.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically perform HDD optimization processing without making the printer user aware of troublesome settings and operations.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an HDD-mounted printer PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The system configuration of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 according to the first embodiment is such that the system control unit 10 is provided instead of the system control unit 10a in the HDD-mounted printer PRa shown in FIG.

  The system control unit 10 is a system control unit 10a in which a RAM 14 is provided instead of the RAM 14a, a display control unit 18 is provided instead of the display control unit 18a, and a time measuring unit 20 is provided instead of the time measuring unit 20a. is there.

  That is, the HDD-mounted printer PR1 can use the conventional HDD-mounted printer PRa. If a plurality of storage means and timers are added to the conventional HDD-mounted printer PRa, the HDD-mounted printer PR1 can be configured. The plurality of storage means and timers usually constitute a register in the RAM 14a of the system control unit 10a, serve as storage means, use a plurality of counter functions provided in the timing unit 20a, add timers, It is configurable.

  In the first embodiment, the same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of power consumption in the sleep mode of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 in the first embodiment.

  2, items corresponding to the same numbers as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 are the same as those described in FIG. The HDD optimization process 119 indicates a portion where the power consumption value in the sleep mode increases when the HDD optimization process is performed after a predetermined time T has elapsed since the transition to the sleep mode. The power consumption value at this time is Pdef118.

  2 is different from the transition example in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 in that the ink agitation process is performed when a predetermined time T has elapsed since the transition to the sleep mode. It is a point that is not executed.

  In general, the power consumption measurement condition in the sleep mode of the energy reduction environment regulation is often defined by a measurement value of average power consumption for about 1 hour or 2 hours. Therefore, the predetermined time T shown in FIGS. 6 and 2 described so far is set to 1 hour. As described in the above background art, the ink agitation process is often performed every several tens of hours, and therefore, the probability that the ink agitation process is executed before the predetermined time T is low. For this reason, FIG. 2 shows an example in which the ink agitation process is not performed until a predetermined time T.

  As described above, assuming that the power consumption measurement time specified in the power consumption measurement condition in the sleep mode of the energy reduction environment regulation is T, the processing performed between the start of measurement and the passage of T time is: Often less frequent. As shown in FIG. 2, when the status monitor response process 111 and the utility response process 112 are executed once, the power consumption value in the sleep mode is the actual power value 110 indicated by a solid line in FIG. It changes as follows.

  Considering the average power consumption for T time from the start of measurement, this is equivalent to the power value transition line 117. This power value transition line falls below the power value transition lines (115 and 116 in FIG. 7) of the power regulation value A and regulation value B in the sleep mode with a margin.

  Next, a description will be given of the amount of power in the margin in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the amount of power in a margin in the first embodiment.

  3, the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In order for the HDD-mounted printer PR1 to conform to the power regulation value A in the sleep mode defined by the power reduction environmental regulations, the amount of power that can be used at a predetermined time T from the transition to the sleep mode is (the regulation value). A) × T. That is, in the range from the time axis 0 to T shown in FIG. 3, the power value of the regulation value A is equivalent to the power value that has transitioned to T, and therefore the power indicated by the (rectangular) area below the power value transition line 115. Quantity can be used.

  On the other hand, the amount of power consumed in the sleep mode of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 according to the first embodiment is the power consumption value in the sleep mode of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 (the range from the time axis 0 to T in FIG. 3). The actual power value 110 shown in FIG. Therefore, the amount of power consumed by the HDD-mounted printer PR1 in the sleep mode is the area of the region filled with gray in the range from the time axis 0 to T in FIG. When this amount of power is averaged, it is equivalent to the power value transition line 117.

  Therefore, the HDD-mounted printer PR1 has an electric energy of an area (rectangular area) in the range from the power value transition line 115 and below to the power value transition line 117 in FIG. 3 in the time axis 0 to T shown in FIG. Can be used extra.

  If the HDD-mounted printer PR1 applies the power regulation value B in the sleep mode defined by the energy reduction environmental regulations, the power value transition line 116 and below, and the power value transition line 117 in FIG. The electric energy of the area (rectangular area) can be used extra.

  Therefore, after the time T has elapsed since the HDD-mounted printer PR1 entered the sleep mode, the power amount indicated by the hatched portion in FIG. The HDD optimization process can be executed. Let d be the time during which this HDD optimization processing can be executed. When the HDD optimization process is performed for d hours or less, the power consumption amount in the sleep mode at the time t7 when the optimization process is interrupted is the power value transition line 114 in FIG. It is equivalent to the case where The power value transition line 114 increases more than the power value transition line 117 up to time T, but does not exceed the power value transition line of the regulation value A. Therefore, the regulation A can be observed.

  Next, how to obtain the time d during which the HDD optimization process can be performed will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the example at the time of applying the power regulation value A at the time of sleep mode is shown. The amount of power that can be used extra in the sleep mode is the actual power value from the power amount when the power consumption value in the sleep mode changes on the power value change line 115 in the time axis 0 to T in FIG. This is the amount of power obtained by subtracting the amount of power when transitioning at 110. The amount of power W1 when the power consumption value in the sleep mode changes on the power value change line 115 is expressed by the following (Equation 1).

W1 = (Regulation value A) × T (Formula 1)
Similarly, when the power regulation value B in the sleep mode is applied, the power amount W2 when the power consumption value in the sleep mode changes on the power value change line 116 is expressed by the following (Equation 2). Indicated.

W2 = (Regulation value B) × T (Formula 2)
Further, the power amount W3 when the power consumption value in the sleep mode changes at the actual power value 110 is expressed by the following (Equation 3).

W3 = (P0 * t1) + (P2 * (t2-t1)) + (P0 * (t3-t2))
+ (P2 × (t4−t3)) + (P0 × (T−t4)) (Formula 3)
Next, when the HDD optimization process is performed for d time (t7-T) after the time T has elapsed since the HDD-mounted printer PR1 shifts to the sleep mode, the electric energy W4 indicated by the hatched portion in FIG. Is
d = t7−T (Formula 4)
W4 = (Pdef−P0) × d (Formula 5)
It is.

Usually, the operation of an electronic device such as a printer consumes the same power every time when the same processing is performed under the same conditions. That is, if the power values P0, P1, P2, and Pdef described above are measured once in advance, the measured values can be fixedly used thereafter. Further, the regulation value A and the regulation value B are determined in advance by the sleep mode power regulation to be applied. Normally, printer status monitor response and utility response processing are performed for a certain period of time determined by product specifications. That is, the status monitor response time a and the utility response processing time b are fixed values determined in advance according to the specifications of the HDD-mounted printer PR1. If the processing times of the status monitor response time a and utility response processing time b are different for each processing execution,
a = t2-t1 (Formula 6)
b = t4-t3 (Formula 7)
Ask for. T is also predetermined.

Therefore, the condition that the electric energy indicated by the hatched portion in FIG. 3 is equal to or less than the extra electric energy in the sleep mode is as follows from Equation 1, Equation 3, and Equation 5.
(W1-W3)> W4
From this equation and equation 5,
(W1-W3)> (Pdef-P0) × d
d <(W1-W3) / (Pdef-P0) (Equation 8)
It is. That is, even when the HDD optimization process for d time or less that satisfies Expression 8 is executed, the power regulation value A in the sleep mode can be observed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a register in the first embodiment.

  The specific system configuration of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 includes a storage register in the memory of the RAM 14 of the system control unit 10 and has the register shown in FIG. Register R0 which is a storage means capable of storing the lowest power consumption value P0 in the sleep mode, and registers R1 to Rn which are storage means capable of storing the power consumption values P1 to Pn when the processes 1 to n performed in the sleep mode are executed. Have

  Further, it has registers RA to RN which are storage means for storing power regulation values defined by a plurality of power regulations that regulate power consumption in the sleep mode. In addition, it has a register Rdef which is a storage means for storing a power consumption value at the time of executing the optimization process of the mounted HDD.

  Then, a timer 1 that measures the time from when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 enters the sleep mode or the previous HDD optimization process is interrupted, and a timer 2 that measures the time since the start of the HDD optimization process. (Both are constituted by the timer 20a of FIG. 6). In addition, the processing / time information storage unit 210 shown in FIG. 4 is provided. The processing / time information storage unit 210 is configured to store the timer 1 at the start point and end point of each process performed when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 is in the sleep mode or when the HDD optimization process is interrupted. The time information to be output is stored. In this case, the time information output from the timer 1 is stored in association with the start / end of the process performed in the sleep mode. That is, the processing / time information storage unit 210 is included.

  Next, the operation in the sleep mode of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 will be described.

  First, register values of the registers R0 to Rn, RA to RN, and Rdef are set when the system is initialized such as when the power of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 is turned on. In the HDD-mounted printer PR1, the minimum power consumption value P0 (value 103 in FIG. 3) in the sleep mode is set in the register R0. In the registers R1 to R3, the power consumption value P1 (the value 107 in FIG. 7) during the ink agitation processing operation, the power consumption value P2 (the value 108 in FIG. 3) during the status monitor response processing operation, and the ink automatic A power consumption value P3 (not shown) during the suction processing operation is set. The number of registers for setting the power consumption value at the time of execution of the processing performed in the sleep mode differs depending on the HDD-mounted printer PR1. For this reason, in FIG. 4, expressions such as registers R0 to Rn are used.

  In addition, the value of the power regulation value A in the sleep mode (105 in FIG. 3) and the value of the power regulation value B in the sleep mode (106 in FIG. 3) are set in the registers RA and RB, respectively. The If there are more power restrictions during sleep mode applied to the HDD-mounted printer PR1, registers corresponding to the number of applicable standards (up to the register RN) are prepared and their restriction values are set. Finally, the power consumption value (Pdef) when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 executes the optimization process is set in the register Rdef.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 shifts to the sleep mode.

  Thereafter, when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 shifts to the sleep mode, it operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 shifts from the normal mode (normal operation mode) to the sleep mode, the processing of the CPU 11 of the system control unit 10 shifts to S1. First, the timer unit 20 of the system control unit 10 is configured to shift to the sleep mode, and measures the time from when the HDD-installed printer PR1 shifts to the sleep mode or when the HDD optimization process is interrupted the last time. Timer 1 (not shown) is reset (S2).

  Next, it is checked whether or not a factor for returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode has occurred (S3). If the return factor has occurred, a process for immediately returning to the normal mode is performed (S18), and thereafter the mode is returned to the normal mode (S19). If the return factor has not occurred, the value of the timer 1 is monitored, and the time after shifting to the sleep mode is set to T (1 hour in the first embodiment) which is a predetermined time. .) Is checked (S4). If the T time has not elapsed, it is checked whether or not processing to be performed in the sleep mode has occurred (S5). If the process to be performed in the sleep mode has not occurred, the process returns to the return factor occurrence check process (S3).

  If processing to be performed in the sleep mode has occurred, the value of timer 1 immediately before starting the processing is associated with the start of this processing (start of status monitor response processing), and the processing / time information storage means Store in the first area (first line 210 in FIG. 4) (S6).

  Thereafter, processing (status monitor response processing) performed in the sleep mode is executed (S7). Then, the value of timer 1 immediately after the execution of the process to be performed in the sleep mode is associated with the end of this process (end of the status monitor response process) to the next area of the process / time information storage means (see FIG. 4 (210 2nd line)) (S8). Thereafter, the process returns to the return factor occurrence check process (S3).

  Therefore, when processing to be performed in the next sleep mode occurs, the processing of S6, S7, and S8 is similarly performed. Then, every time the processes of S6, S7, and S8, the value (time information) of the timer 1 associated with the start and end of the executed process is sequentially transferred to the next area of the process / time information storage means. It is stored (210 in FIG. 4). When the HDD-mounted printer PR1 performs the status monitor response process and the utility response process as shown in FIG. 3 after shifting to the sleep mode, information indicated by 211 in FIG. 4 is stored.

  When the value of the timer 1 becomes T (T time has elapsed) in S4 while operating as described above, each of the storage means described with reference to FIG. The power value information and the processing execution time information necessary for obtaining the value of d in Expression 8) are collected (S9).

  Next, based on the collected information, the value of the optimization processing operation possible time d is obtained (S10). Thereafter, in order to perform the optimization process during the optimization process operable time d, the timer 2 for measuring the time since the start of the optimization process time is reset (S11).

  Further, since this time d is likely to become long, it is checked whether or not a factor for returning to the normal mode has occurred (S12). This process is the same as the process of S3. If a return factor has occurred, a process for interrupting the optimization process being performed is performed (S13), and a process for immediately returning to the normal mode is performed as in the case of Yes in S3 (S18). Return to the normal mode (S19). If it is determined in S12 that no return factor has occurred, it is checked by looking at the timer 2 whether or not the optimization processing operation possible time d has elapsed (S14).

  When the optimization process operable time d elapses, a process for interrupting the optimization process being executed is executed (S15), and the process returns to the process (S2) immediately after the transition to the sleep mode. If the optimization process operable time d has not elapsed, the HDD optimization process is executed (S16).

  If fragmentation still remains as a result of the optimization processing, the process returns to S12, and the same operations as described in S12, 14, 16, and 17 are repeated until there is no fragmentation. If there is no fragmentation (No in S17), the process returns to the process (S2) immediately after the transition to the sleep mode. That is, after the previous optimization process is completed, the timer 1 is reset, the above-described operation is repeated, and after the time T has elapsed, the next optimization process is executed, and the fragmentation is performed. The optimization process is executed every t7 hours until it disappears.

As described above, even if the process shifts to the sleep mode and performs the optimization process within the optimization process operable time d or less, the power value transition line at the time t7 when the optimization process is interrupted is shown in FIG. This is equivalent to the power value transition line indicated by 114. That is, since it is below the regulation value A, the power regulation can be observed. Then, in order to automatically optimize the HDD during the sleep mode of the HDD-mounted printer PR1, the HDD optimization process can be executed without affecting the normal printing operation of the HDD-mounted printer PR1. it can. Further, the HDD optimization process can be automatically executed without making the user of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 aware of troublesome settings and operations.

  Since the HDD-mounted printer PR1 according to the first embodiment is an embodiment that regulates a plurality of sleep mode power regulation regulation values A, originally, the power regulation value storage registers RA to RN shown in FIG. Only one is enough. However, in recent years, environmental regulations have been increasingly demanding power reduction, and for this reason, multiple regulations such as International Energy Star and Blue Angel have been established. Of these regulations, which regulations are applied often differs depending on the region (country) in which the product is used. Therefore, products shipped worldwide can be adapted to multiple regulations.

  The HDD-mounted printer PR2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the HDD-mounted printer PR1 according to the first embodiment, but includes a plurality of power regulation value storage registers RA to RN as described above. Further, at the time of system initialization, the HDD-mounted printer PR2 stores in the plurality of power regulation value registers power regulation values during sleep mode corresponding to those regulations. Then, through the operation panel (configured with a plurality of operation keys and a display) of the HDD-mounted printer PR2, the HDD-mounted printer PR2 can select which sleep mode power restriction is applied.

Then, the restriction value corresponding to the selected sleep mode power restriction is read from the power restriction value register and used as the restriction value of the calculation formula of (Expression 2). For example, in the second embodiment, when the sleep mode power restriction B corresponding to the register RB is selected, W2 obtained in (Expression 2) is used instead of W1 in (Expression 8), and the HDD The optimization processing operation possible time dd is obtained. That means
dd <(W2-W3) / (Pdef-P0) (Formula 8B)
It becomes.

As shown in FIG. 3, if the regulation value B is larger than the regulation value A, the HDD optimization processing operation possible time d is longer than when the regulation value A is applied. That is, when the restriction value B is applied, the HDD optimization processing operation possible time d becomes longer. This improves the efficiency of HDD optimization and eliminates fragmentation early. Further, since the optimization efficiency is improved, the operation time of the HDD for performing the optimization process in the sleep mode is shortened. Therefore, it is possible to extend the life of the HDD as compared with the case where the regulation value A is selected.

  In recent years, with respect to HDDs installed in HDD-mounted printers, it has been required to be able to mount HDDs from multiple manufacturers in order to receive a stable supply and to reduce costs. In addition, the power consumption specification during operation of the HDD defines the maximum power consumption of the same value for each company, but the power during actual operation is often different. For this reason, in the HDD-mounted printers PR1 and PR2 of the first and second embodiments, if the manufacturer of the mounted HDD is changed, the power consumption value during the optimization processing operation when performing the optimization processing in the sleep mode ( Pdef: power value of the portion 119 in FIG. 3) is different. Therefore, the Pdef setting value in the ROM 12 in which the control firmware of the system control unit 10 is stored is changed when the system is initialized such as when the power of the HDD-mounted printer PR3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is turned on. That is, it is necessary to change the ROM.

  The configuration of the HDD-mounted printer PR3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as the configuration of the HDD-mounted printer PR1 according to the first embodiment or the HDD-mounted printer PR2 according to the second embodiment, and a plurality of mountable HDDs can be selected. . Storage means for storing the model number information of the plurality of HDDs and the plurality of HDDs in association with the power consumption value during execution of optimization processing when the plurality of HDDs are mounted in the HDD-installed printer PR3 and optimized in the sleep mode. (Not shown).

  The HDD-mounted printer PR3 according to the third embodiment reads the HDD model number information from the HDD mounted on the HDD-mounted printer PR3 at the time of system initialization such as when the power is turned on, and refers to the stored data in the storage unit. Then, the optimization process execution power consumption value associated with the HDD model number information is read, and the read optimization process execution power consumption value is set in the register Rdef.

  With this configuration, in the HDD-mounted printer PR3, when an arbitrary HDD is selected from the HDDs of the preset product model number and installed in the HDD-mounted printer PR3, the HDD is not changed in the sleep mode without changing the ROM. Optimization can be performed.

  In other words, the above-described embodiment includes the power amount measuring unit that measures the power amount from the time when the sleep mode is shifted or when the HDD optimization process is interrupted the previous time until a predetermined time. Moreover, the said Example has the power control value memory | storage means at the time of sleep mode which memorize | stores the power control value at the time of sleep mode which is the value of the electric energy controlled at the time of sleep mode. Further, the embodiment includes a power consumption value storage unit during execution of the optimization process for storing a power consumption value during execution of the optimization process of the mounted HDD. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the power amount measuring unit is configured to calculate the power amount when the printer is operated for a predetermined time with the power regulation value in the sleep mode after the predetermined time has elapsed. The electric energy obtained by subtracting the obtained electric energy is obtained. The above-described embodiment is an HDD-mounted printer having a control unit that executes an optimization process within a time in which the HDD optimization process of the HDD-mounted printer can be performed.

  In this case, a correspondence storage unit that stores a plurality of power regulations that regulate power consumption in the sleep mode and a power regulation value in the sleep mode that is defined by the plurality of power regulations in association with each other is stored. The power regulation selecting means for selecting an arbitrary power regulation to be applied to the HDD-mounted printer from the plurality of power regulations. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the power regulation value selected in the power regulation sleep mode of the power regulation selected by the power regulation selection means is calculated from the amount of power when the printer is operated for the preset time. The amount of power obtained by subtracting the amount of power measured by the amount measuring means is obtained. In addition, the above embodiment is a means for executing an optimization process within a time period during which the HDD optimization process of the HDD-mounted printer can be performed.

  In addition, the model number information of the plurality of HDDs and the power consumption value at the time of optimization processing when the plurality of HDDs are mounted on the HDD-installed printer and optimization is performed in the sleep mode are stored in association with each other. Correspondence storage means. In the above embodiment, the system control unit of the HDD-installed printer reads the model number information from the HDD installed in the HDD-installed printer, and executes the optimization process stored in association with the read model number information. HDD selection means for selecting the hourly power consumption value. Further, the control means uses the power amount measuring means based on the power amount when the printer is operated for the predetermined time with the power regulation value in the sleep mode after the predetermined time has elapsed. The amount of power obtained by subtracting the required amount of power is obtained. In addition, an optimization process is executed within a time period during which the HDD optimization process of the printer equipped with the HDD having the power consumption value at the time of execution of the optimization process selected by the HDD selection unit is possible.

Moreover, the said Example can be grasped | ascertained as invention of a method. In other words, the above embodiment has a power amount measuring step of measuring the power amount from the time when the sleep mode is shifted or when the HDD optimization process is interrupted the previous time until a predetermined time and storing it in the storage device. . Moreover, the said Example has a power regulation value storage process at the time of sleep mode which memorize | stores the power regulation value at the time of sleep mode which is the value of the electric energy regulated at the time of sleep mode in a memory | storage device. Further, the embodiment includes a power consumption value storage step at the time of executing the optimization process for storing the value of the power consumption at the time of executing the optimization process of the mounted HDD in the storage device. After elapse of the predetermined time, the power amount obtained in the power amount measurement step is subtracted from the power amount when the printer is operated for the predetermined time with the power regulation value in the sleep mode. Find the amount of power. And it has the control process which performs an optimization process within the time when the HDD optimization process operation of the said HDD mounting printer is possible.

1 is a block diagram showing an HDD-mounted printer PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of power consumption when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 is in a sleep mode in the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the electric energy of the part of the margin in Example 1. FIG. In Example 1, it is a figure which shows the structure of a register | resistor. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the HDD-mounted printer PR1 shifts to a sleep mode. It is a figure which shows the conventional general HDD mounting printer PRa. It is a figure which shows the example of a transition of the power consumption value at the time of sleep mode of the conventional printer PRa.

Explanation of symbols

PR1, PR2, PR3 ... HDD mounted printer,
2 ... Host device,
10: System control unit,
11 ... CPU,
12 ... ROM,
13: Host I / F,
14 ... RAM,
15: Image processing unit,
16 ... HDC,
17 ... HDD,
18 ... display control unit,
19 ... Control panel,
20 ... Timing section,
30. Engine control unit,
40 ... printer engine,
50: Power supply unit.

Claims (4)

An electric energy measuring means for measuring electric energy from a transition to the sleep mode or from a previous HDD optimization process interruption to a predetermined time;
A power regulation value storage means in the sleep mode that stores a power regulation value in the sleep mode, which is a value of the amount of power regulated in the sleep mode;
Power consumption value storage means during execution of optimization processing for storing power consumption values during execution of optimization processing of the mounted HDD;
Electric power obtained by subtracting the electric energy obtained by the electric energy measuring means from the electric energy when the printer is operated for the predetermined time with the electric power regulation value in the sleep mode after elapse of the predetermined time. A control means for executing the optimization process in a quantity less than a time during which the HDD optimization process operation of the printer is possible;
An HDD-equipped printer characterized by comprising: In claim 1,
Correspondence storage means for associating and storing a plurality of power regulations for regulating power consumption in the sleep mode and power regulation values for the sleep mode defined by the plurality of power regulations;
A power regulation selection means for selecting an arbitrary power regulation to be applied to the HDD-mounted printer from the plurality of power regulations;
And the control means operates the printer for a predetermined time with a power restriction value in a power restriction sleep mode selected by the power restriction selection means after the predetermined time has elapsed. In this case, the amount of power obtained by subtracting the amount of power measured by the power amount measuring unit from the amount of power in the case where the HDD is mounted is a unit that executes an optimization process within a time period during which the HDD optimization process of the printer with the HDD can be operated. A printer with HDD. In claim 1 or claim 2,
Second correspondence for associating and storing model number information of a plurality of HDDs and the power consumption value at the time of optimization processing when the plurality of HDDs are respectively mounted on the HDD-installed printer and optimization is performed in the sleep mode Storage means;
The system control unit of the HDD-installed printer reads the model number information from the HDD installed in the HDD-installed printer, and the optimization processing execution power consumption value stored in association with the read model number information is obtained. HDD selection means to select;
And the control means measures the power amount from the power amount when the printer is operated for the predetermined time with the power regulation value in the sleep mode after the predetermined time has elapsed. The amount of power obtained by subtracting the amount of power required by the means is optimized below the time in which the HDD optimization processing operation of the printer equipped with the HDD having the power consumption value at the time of execution of the optimization processing selected by the HDD selection means can be performed. An HDD-equipped printer, which is means for executing processing. A power amount measuring step of measuring a power amount from a transition to the sleep mode or from a previous HDD optimization process interruption to a predetermined time and storing it in a storage device;
A power regulation value storage step in the sleep mode in which a power regulation value in the sleep mode, which is a value of the amount of power regulated in the sleep mode, is stored in the storage device;
A power consumption value storage step at the time of execution of the optimization process for storing the value of power consumption at the time of execution of the optimization process of the mounted HDD in a storage device;
Electric power obtained by subtracting the electric energy obtained in the electric energy measurement step from the electric energy when the printer is operated for the predetermined time with the electric power regulation value in the sleep mode after the elapse of the predetermined time. A control step for performing the optimization process in a quantity that is less than a time during which the HDD optimization process operation of the printer is possible;
A method of controlling an HDD-mounted printer, comprising:

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