JP2009207006A - Multifunction apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction apparatus wherein a plurality of load circuits can be appropriately turned on according to a switching factor of operation mode from power save mode to normal mode. <P>SOLUTION: The multifunction apparatus includes: a plurality of different load circuits; a power supply for supplying electricity to the load circuits; an operation mode changing section for changing operation mode to normal mode and between operation mode and power save mode wherein a supply of electricity to the load circuits is interrupted to reduce power consumption in comparison with the normal mode; a sequence information memory means which holds a plurality of power input sequence information to regulate a power-on sequence when the operation mode changing section turns on the power in each of the load circuits; a reception detection means for detecting the reception of FAX; and an operation detection means for detecting operator's operation. The operation mode changing section reads out a power-on sequence information from the sequence information memory means on the basis of detected results from the reception detection means and the operation detection means, and power-on operation is performed according to the read power-on sequence information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-function peripheral. More specifically, power is supplied to a plurality of different load circuit units, the operation mode is set to the normal mode, and the power supply to the load circuit unit is cut off, thereby reducing the power consumption compared to the normal mode. The present invention relates to an improvement of a multifunction device that switches between lower power saving modes.

  A multifunction peripheral is known as an image processing apparatus having a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like. In general, such a multi-function peripheral includes a plurality of load circuit units such as a scanner unit that reads image data and generates image data, a power supply unit that supplies constant voltage power to these load circuit units, and an operation mode. And an operation mode switching unit for switching between. In order to reduce the power consumption, the operation mode switching unit switches between the normal mode and the power save mode in which the power consumption is lower than the normal mode by shutting off the power supply to the load circuit unit. Switching operation is performed with.

  In general, when switching the operation mode from the power save mode to the normal mode, when power is simultaneously applied to each load circuit unit, the current that can be supplied is the sum of the current consumption in each load circuit unit due to the inrush current during energization. It is conceivable that the upper limit is exceeded. Therefore, in order to prevent the consumption current from exceeding the current capacity of the power supply unit due to the inrush current at the time of energization, a technique for turning on the power in order from the load circuit unit having a large inrush current has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). ). In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when power is supplied to a plurality of load circuit units, power is first supplied to a scan motor of a scanner unit having a large inrush current at startup.

However, the load circuit unit that is to be activated early when the operation mode is switched to the normal mode is not necessarily a load circuit unit with a large inrush current. For this reason, as described above, in a device that turns on power from a load circuit unit with a large inrush current, there is a problem in that the load circuit unit that is to be started up earlier is delayed in power, resulting in a delay in desired operation. It was. For example, in a multi-function peripheral equipped with a communication control unit for transmitting and receiving image data by facsimile as a load circuit unit, the operation mode is automatically switched from the power save mode to the normal mode when a facsimile is received. In such a case, it may be desirable to activate the communication control unit earlier than the scanner unit from the viewpoint of preventing omission of reception of image data.
JP 2004-138840 A

  As described above, the conventional multi-function machine has a problem that a desired operation is delayed because the power supply to the load circuit unit that is to be started up earlier is delayed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of appropriately turning on power to a plurality of different load circuit units in accordance with the switching factor of the operation mode from the power save mode to the normal mode. The purpose is to provide. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-function machine that can appropriately turn on the power depending on whether the switching factor is a facsimile incoming call or an operation by an operator.

  The multifunction machine according to the first aspect of the present invention includes two or more different load circuit units, a power supply unit that supplies power to each of the load circuit units, a normal operation mode, and a power supply to the load circuit unit is cut off. A multi-function machine having an operation mode switching unit that switches between power save modes in which power consumption is lower than that in the normal mode, when the operation mode switching unit powers on each load circuit unit Switching operation mode switching means comprising: order information storage means for holding two or more power-on order information that respectively define the order of turning on; incoming call detection means for detecting a facsimile incoming call; and operation detection means for detecting an operation by an operator. Read out the power-on sequence information from the sequence information storage unit based on the detection results by the incoming call detection unit and the operation detection unit. Configured to perform power-on the basis of the read power on sequence information.

  In this multi-function peripheral, order information that defines the turn-on order when the power is turned on is stored in advance, and the operation mode is switched from the power save mode to the normal mode based on the result of detecting the incoming facsimile and the operation by the operator. At this time, order information is read based on the detection result indicating whether the detected input is a facsimile incoming call or an operator operation, and power is turned on based on the read order information. According to such a configuration, the power can be turned on depending on whether the detected input is a facsimile incoming call or an operator operation, so that the power can be turned on appropriately according to the switching factor. .

  In addition to the above configuration, the multifunction machine according to the second aspect of the present invention includes, as the load circuit unit, a display unit that displays operation information on a screen and a communication control unit that transmits and receives image data via a communication line. When the operation mode switching unit detects a facsimile incoming call, the communication control unit is first turned on, and then the display unit is turned on after the communication control unit is turned on. In such a case, the display unit is first turned on, and the communication control unit is turned on after the display unit is turned on. According to such a configuration, when the operation mode is switched from the power save mode to the normal mode due to incoming facsimile, the communication control unit can be activated earlier than the other load circuit units. Further, when the operation mode is switched from the power save mode to the normal mode by an operator operation, the display unit can be activated earlier than the other load circuit units.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the multifunction machine according to the third aspect of the present invention further includes a printer unit that prints image data on paper as the load circuit, and the operation mode switching unit detects when a facsimile incoming call is detected. The display unit is configured to be turned on after the printer unit is turned on.

  In addition to the above configuration, the multifunction machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention further includes, as the load circuit, a scanner unit that reads an original and generates image data, and a printer unit that prints the image data on paper, and the operation described above. The mode switching unit is configured to power on the communication control unit after powering on the scanner unit and the printer unit when an operator operation is detected.

  According to the MFP of the present invention, the power can be turned on according to the detection result of whether the detected input is a facsimile incoming call or an operator operation. It can be carried out. Further, when the operation mode is switched from the power save mode to the normal mode by incoming facsimile, the communication control unit can be activated earlier than the other load circuit units. Furthermore, when the operation mode is switched from the power save mode to the normal mode by an operator operation, the display unit can be activated earlier than the other load circuit units. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately turn on the power to a plurality of different load circuit units according to the switching factor of the operation mode from the power save mode to the normal mode.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing system 100 including a multifunction machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system 100 includes a multifunction device 1, a PC (personal computer) 2, a LAN 3, and a PSTN 4. The multifunction device 1 and the PC 2 can communicate with each other via the LAN 3.

  The multifunction device 1 is an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) having a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and can selectively execute these functions. The printer function is a function for printing image data on paper. For example, document data transferred from the PC 2 via the LAN 3 is printed.

  The scanner function is a function for reading image data and generating image data. The facsimile function is a function for transmitting and receiving image data by FAX (facsimile). For example, image data read from a document is transmitted to another communication apparatus via a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Networks) 4. Is done.

  The multifunction machine 1 is provided with an operation key 11 for key input and a display unit 12 for displaying operation information based on the key input on the screen. In this multifunction device 1, in order to reduce the power consumption, the operation mode is the normal mode, and the power saving mode (power saving mode) in which the power consumption is lowered compared to the normal mode by cutting off the power supply to the load circuit unit. ) Is switched between.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the multifunction machine 1 in the image processing system 100 of FIG. The multifunction device 1 includes a power supply unit 21, a power supply bus 22, a main substrate 23, a scanner substrate 24, a document reading unit 25, an operation panel substrate 26, a printer unit 27, and a switch 28.

  The power supply unit 21 is a power supply device that converts AC power supplied from the commercial power supply 5 into DC power and supplies constant voltage power to a plurality of load circuit units. Specifically, power of a predetermined voltage is supplied to the main board 23, the scanner board 24, the operation panel board 26 and the printer unit 27 via the bus 22.

  Converter circuits 31 and 33, a CPU 32 and a communication control unit 34 are arranged on the main board 23. The converter circuits 31 and 33 are both DC-DC converters for voltage conversion. The converter circuit 31 performs an operation of converting the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 into a voltage and outputting it to the CPU 32. The converter circuit 33 performs an operation of converting the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 into a voltage and outputting it to the communication control unit 34.

  The communication control unit 34 is a transmission / reception processing circuit for transmitting and receiving image data via a communication line, and includes a modem, an NCU (Network Control Unit), a communication CODEC, and a LAN interface. In the communication control unit 34, image data is transmitted / received via the LAN 3 or PSTN 4. Note that the FAX transmission / reception here includes a case where image data is transmitted / received using the LAN 3 and a case where image data is transmitted / received using the PSTN 4.

  A converter circuit 41, a reading control unit 42, and an image processing unit 43 are arranged on the scanner substrate 24. The converter circuit 41 performs an operation of converting the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 into a voltage and outputting it to the reading control unit 42 and the image processing unit 43.

  The document reading unit 25 is a reading device that optically reads a document, and includes an exposure light source, a CCD (charge coupled device), and a scanning motor. The reading control unit 42 is a control circuit for controlling the document reading unit 25. The image processing unit 43 is a circuit for processing image data read from a document by the document reading unit 25, and includes a scanner CODEC, a page memory, a shading correction circuit, and a γ correction circuit.

  A converter circuit 51, a key input unit 52, and a display unit 12 are disposed on the operation panel substrate 26. The converter circuit 51 performs an operation of converting the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 to a voltage and outputting it to the key input unit 52 and the display unit 12.

  The key input unit 52 is an input circuit that generates a predetermined key input signal based on the operation of the operation key 11 by the operator. The display unit 12 is an output circuit for displaying operation information based on key input and incoming information when a FAX is received, and is configured by an LCD (liquid crystal display) and an LCD driver.

  The printer unit 27 is an image forming unit that prints image data on a sheet, and includes a photosensitive drum motor, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, a printer CODEC, and a page memory. Electric power is supplied to the printer unit 27 from the power supply unit 21 via the switch 28.

  In the CPU 32, control for switching the operation mode between the normal mode and the power save mode is performed. The switching of the operation mode is performed by controlling the converter circuits 33, 41, 51 and the switch 28. Specifically, it is performed by turning on or off the converter circuits 33, 41, 51 and the switch 28, respectively. For example, when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power save mode, the power supply is cut off by turning off all of the converter circuits 33, 41, 51 and the switch 28, thereby entering the power save mode.

  In the multi-function device 1, the communication control unit 34, the reading control unit 42, the scanner unit including the document reading unit 25 and the image processing unit 43, the key input unit 52, the display unit 12, and the printer unit 27 are powered. It is a load circuit unit to be switched to the save mode. Here, in the normal mode, the communication control unit 34, the scanner unit, the key input unit 52, the display unit 12, and the printer unit 27 are energized, and in the power save mode, the power supply to these load circuit units is cut off. To do.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the multifunction machine 1 in FIG. 2, and illustrates an example of a functional configuration in the CPU 32. The CPU 32 includes an order information storage unit 101, an incoming call detection unit 102, an operation detection unit 103, and an operation mode switching unit 104. The operation mode switching unit 104 performs an operation of outputting a control signal for switching the operation mode between the normal mode and the power save mode.

  The sequence information storage unit 101 is a memory that holds a plurality of power-on sequence information 111 in association with the operation mode switching condition 112 for switching to the normal mode. The power-on order information 111 is information for defining the order in which the operation mode switching unit 104 turns on each load circuit unit. The switching condition 112 is identification information corresponding to a switching factor when the operation mode switching unit 104 switches the operation mode from the power save mode to the normal mode, and is information indicating either a FAX incoming call or an operator operation.

  Specifically, the power-on sequence information “power-on sequence 1” stipulates that the communication controller 34, the printer unit 27, the key input unit 52, the display unit 12, and the scanner unit are powered on in this order. This power-on sequence information “power-on sequence 1” is associated with the FAX reception as “switching condition 1”.

  Further, the power-on sequence information “power-on sequence 2” stipulates that the key input unit 52, the display unit 12, the scanner unit, the printer unit 27, and the communication control unit 34 are powered on in this order. This power-on order information “power-on order 2” is associated with the operator operation as “switching condition 2”.

  The incoming call detection unit 102 performs an operation of detecting a FAX incoming call. The incoming call detection unit 102 detects a print request from the PC 2 that receives an incoming call via the LAN 3 and a reception request from another communication apparatus that receives an incoming call via the PSTN 4. The operation detection unit 103 performs an operation for detecting an operator operation. The operation detection unit 103 detects an operation by the operator based on a key input signal from the key input unit 52. This operator operation includes, for example, setting of a sheet on a document table or attachment / detachment of a tray or cassette for storing the sheet.

  The operation mode switching unit 104 performs an operation of switching the operation mode from the power save mode to the normal mode based on the detection results by the incoming call detection unit 102 and the operation detection unit 103. At this time, it is determined whether the detected input is a FAX incoming call or an operator operation, and the power-on sequence information 111 is read from the sequence information storage unit 101 based on the determination result. Then, the power is turned on based on the read power-on sequence information 111.

  For example, when a FAX incoming call is detected, the power-on order information 111 corresponding to the FAX incoming call is read, and the power is turned on according to the power-on order information 111. In this case, power is turned on in the order of the communication control unit 34, the printer unit 27, the key input unit 52, the display unit 12, and the scanner unit. That is, the communication control unit 34 is first turned on, and the display unit 12 is turned on after the communication control unit 34 is turned on. In addition, after the printer unit 27 is turned on, the display unit 12 is turned on. As a result, when the FAX is received, the communication control unit 34 is activated quickly, so that reception of image data can be prevented from being missed.

  On the other hand, when an operator operation is detected, the power-on sequence information 111 corresponding to the operator operation is read, and the power is turned on according to the power-on sequence information 111. In this case, the key input unit 52, the display unit 12, the scanner unit, the printer unit 27, and the communication control unit 34 are powered on in this order. That is, the display unit 12 is first turned on, and the communication control unit 34 is turned on after the display unit 12 is turned on. Further, after the power to the scanner unit and the printer unit 27 is turned on, the communication control unit 34 is turned on. As a result, when the operator operates, the display unit 12 is activated quickly, so that the operation information can be immediately confirmed on the display screen.

  In general, since the printer unit 27 requires time for idling, the time required for printing after the power is turned on is longer than that for other load circuit units. For this reason, when the operation mode is switched to the normal mode by an operator operation, the printer unit 27 is turned on after the scanner unit. Further, at the time of a copy operation or the like, since it is necessary to print after reading the original with the scanner unit, the scanner unit is powered on before the printer unit 27.

  Steps S101 to S114 in FIG. 4 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation in the multifunction machine 1 in FIG. First, when the incoming call detecting unit 102 detects a FAX incoming call (step S101), the operation mode switching unit 104 reads the power-on sequence information 111 corresponding to the FAX incoming call, and switches the converter circuits 33, 41, 51 and the switch 28. Turn on.

  That is, in this case, “power-on sequence 1” is selected (step S102), and the communication controller 34, printer unit 27, key input unit 52, display unit 12, and scanner unit are turned on in this order (step S103). To S105).

  On the other hand, if an operator operation is detected by the operation detection unit 103 (step S109), the power-on sequence information 111 corresponding to the operator operation is read and the converter circuits 33, 41, 51 and the switch 28 are turned on.

  In this case, “power-on sequence 2” is selected (step S110), and the power is turned on in the order of the key input unit 52 and the display unit 12, the scanner unit, the printer unit 27, and the communication control unit 34 (steps S111 to S114). ).

  When the power supply to each load circuit unit is completed, the normal mode is set, and printing of a document image or the like received by FAX is performed (step S106). Next, the operation mode switching unit 104 performs power-down processing for switching the operation mode to the power save mode when a predetermined time has elapsed after completion of a predetermined job such as printing (steps S107 and S108).

  According to the present embodiment, the power can be turned on according to the detection result of whether the detected input is a FAX incoming call or an operator operation, so the power is appropriately turned on according to the switching factor. be able to. In addition, when the operation mode is switched from the power save mode to the normal mode due to an incoming fax, the communication control unit 34 can be activated earlier than the other load circuit units. Further, when the operation mode is switched from the power save mode to the normal mode by an operator operation, the display unit 12 can be activated earlier than the other load circuit units.

1 is a system diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing system 100 including a multifunction machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a multifunction machine 1 in the image processing system 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the multifunction machine 1 in FIG. 2, in which an example of a functional configuration in a CPU 32 is illustrated. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the multifunction machine 1 in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 2 PC
3 LAN
4 PSTN
5 Commercial Power Supply 11 Operation Key 12 Display Unit 21 Power Supply Unit 22 Power Supply Bus 23 Main Substrate 24 Scanner Substrate 25 Document Reading Unit 26 Operation Panel Substrate 27 Printer Unit 28 Switch 31, 33, 41, 51 Converter Circuit 32 CPU
34 Communication control unit 42 Reading control unit 43 Image processing unit 52 Key input unit 100 Image processing system 101 Order information storage unit 102 Incoming call detection unit 103 Operation detection unit 104 Operation mode switching unit

Claims (4)

Two or more different load circuit units, a power supply unit for supplying power to the load circuit unit, an operation mode in a normal mode, and a power supply to the load circuit unit by cutting off power supply compared to the normal mode In an MFP having an operation mode switching unit that switches between lower power saving modes,
Order information storage means for holding two or more power-on sequence information respectively defining the power-on sequence when the operation mode switching unit powers on each load circuit unit;
An incoming call detection means for detecting a facsimile incoming call;
An operation detecting means for detecting an operation by an operator,
The operation mode switching unit reads the power-on sequence information from the sequence information storage unit based on detection results by the incoming call detection unit and the operation detection unit, and performs power-on based on the read power-on sequence information A multi-function machine characterized by The load circuit unit includes a display unit that displays operation information on a screen, and a communication control unit that transmits and receives image data by facsimile via a communication line.
The operation mode switching unit first powers on the communication control unit when a facsimile incoming call is detected, and powers on the display unit after powering on the communication control unit. 2. The multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein, when detected, the display unit is first turned on, and the communication control unit is turned on after the display unit is turned on. The load circuit further includes a printer unit that prints image data on paper,
3. The multi-function apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation mode switching unit powers on the display unit after powering on the printer unit when a facsimile incoming call is detected. The load circuit further includes a scanner unit that reads a document and generates image data, and a printer unit that prints the image data on paper.
The multifunction device according to claim 2, wherein the operation mode switching unit powers on the communication control unit after powering on the scanner unit and the printer unit when an operator operation is detected. .

Images