JP5546411B2 - Power saving power control device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power saving power control device and an image forming apparatus, and is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral) equipped with these functions. In particular, the present invention relates to a power-saving power source control device and an improvement of the image forming apparatus.

  In this type of image forming apparatus, printing (printing) is generally performed in which image data is optically read from image information on a document, a toner image is formed based on the image data, and is transferred and fixed onto a sheet. In addition to the functions, it has a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data by facsimile and various other image data processing functions.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses have a power saving mode in which power is supplied only to the configuration required for startup and the power supply is cut off for other configurations to reduce power consumption for the purpose of energy saving (power saving) specifications. (Sleep mode or power saving mode) function is mounted, the user enters the power saving mode by operating the sleep key, and returns to the normal mode by operating the sleep key again. Transition control between the power saving mode and the normal mode is executed by a power saving control unit having a processing unit).

  Conventionally, the switching operation input configuration between the sleep mode and the normal mode has been configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

  That is, in the image forming apparatus, the sleep operation line L1 is pulled out from the power saving control unit 1 that is supplied with power in both the sleep mode and the normal mode, and the sleep key SW1 is connected between the sleep operation line L1 and the ground. Are connected, and the sleep key SW1 is operated to connect the sleep operation line L1 to the ground, so that the power saving control unit 1 is alternately switched between the normal mode and the sleep mode.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus has an operation panel unit 3 for operating the operation of the apparatus itself. Under the normal mode, the operation panel unit 3 is supplied with drive power from the power saving control unit 1 side. While the operation panel control unit 5 centrally accepts operations from various operation keys SW2 other than the sleep key SW1 (only one is shown in FIG. 4), the operation panel unit 3 from the power saving control unit 1 in the sleep mode. However, the drive power supply is cut off and the power saving state is maintained.

  When the operation key SW2 is operated in the normal mode, a key detection signal flows from the key detection line L2 of the operation panel control unit 5 to the ground via the operation key SW2, the diode D1, and the transistor Q, and the operation panel control unit 5 While the operation of the operation key SW2 is detected, the LED signal flows from the LED line L3 of the operation panel control unit 5 to the ground through the light emitting diode D2 and the transistor Q, and the light emitting diode D2 emits light, and the operation operation of the operation key SW2 is performed. Recognized visually.

  A scan line L4 from the operation panel control unit 5 is for scanning and turning on the transistor Q in order to periodically detect a plurality of operation keys SW2, and reference numerals R1 to R3 in the figure are resistors. is there.

  By the way, as general publicly known patent documents relating to the transition control between the power saving mode and the normal mode, for example, a document reading and recording apparatus such as Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-135487 (Patent Document 1), and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-8790. There is a communication terminal device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-135487 A JP 2003-8790 A

  However, in the conventional configuration described above, the power to the operation panel unit 3 is shut off in the sleep mode in the image forming apparatus, and an operation to the operation key SW2 connected to the operation panel control unit 5 cannot be accepted. To return to the normal mode, the sleep key SW1 connected to the power saving control unit 1 that does not shut off the power even in the sleep mode is operated.

  In this configuration, when returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode, it is difficult to return to the normal mode only when the sleep key SW1 is operated as a release key. It was inconvenient because there was a difficulty in general operation.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and only the dedicated key is used for shifting to the sleep mode, and any key operation is possible for returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode. An object of the present invention is to provide a power-saving power control device and an image forming apparatus that can easily improve the operability of the image forming apparatus.

In order to solve such a problem, a power-saving power supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention switches the operation state of the device between a normal mode and a sleep mode, which is a power-saving state. A control unit, a sleep key for accepting a switching operation between the normal mode and the sleep mode from the outside, and an operation to at least the sleep key, and based on this, a power saving control unit is provided between the normal mode and the sleep mode. A first detection unit for switching operation, a plurality of operation keys other than the sleep key arranged on the operation panel unit, and a sleep signal line for adding a sleep signal indicating a sleep state from the power saving control unit are connected. a second detection unit for detecting an operation to any of the operation keys under mode state, is inserted into the sleep signal line, the operation panel ; And a switch for intermittently controlling the output to the second detection portion of the sleep signal by arranged key parts, the first detection unit, the operation to the sleep mode under the operation key the When the two detection units detect, it is assumed that there is an operation similar to the operation on the sleep key, and the power saving control unit is switched to the normal mode.

In the power-saving power supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the second detection unit is configured to ensure the operation of the operation key and detect the operation to the operation key in the sleep mode state.

In the power-saving power supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the second detection unit detects the first detection output in the input state of the sleep signal indicating the sleep mode state from the power-saving control unit side. It is the structure made to output to a part .

In the power-saving power supply control device according to claim 2 of the present invention, when the switching signal for causing the power-saving control unit to switch to the normal mode from the first detection unit continues several times or for a predetermined period, the normal mode It is the structure which carries out switching control to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising the power-saving power source control apparatus according to the first or second aspect, and an image forming unit that forms an image of image data.

In such a power-saving power supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention, when the first detection unit detects an operation on the operation key in the sleep mode state, the sleep unit Since the power saving control unit is switched to the normal mode even if there is an operation similar to the key operation , only the dedicated sleep key is used to switch to the sleep mode, and the sleep mode is returned to the normal mode. In any case, any key operation is possible, and it is easy to improve the operability for the user.

In the power-saving power supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the second detection unit confirms the operation of the operation key in the sleep mode state, so that the operation returns from the sleep mode to the normal mode. It is easy to ensure reliable key operation.

In the power saving power control device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the second detection unit detects an operation on the operation key in the input state of the sleep signal indicating the sleep mode state from the power saving control unit side. If the setting is made so that the sleep signal is not output from the power saving control unit side, it is possible to return to the normal mode using only the dedicated sleep key.

In the power-saving power supply control device according to claim 2 of the present invention, when the switching signal for causing the power-saving control unit to switch to the normal mode from the first detection unit continues several times or for a predetermined period, the normal mode Therefore, it is possible to avoid returning to the normal mode based on an erroneous operation on the operation key.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows embodiment of the power saving power supply control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the display operation part of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus including a power saving power control device according to the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the conventional power saving power supply control apparatus.

  Embodiments of a power saving power supply control device and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is common in a prior art example.

  In FIG. 1, a power saving power control device A of the present invention is configured to include a power saving control unit 1 and an operation panel unit 3.

  The power saving control unit 1 is supplied with power in both the sleep mode and the normal mode, and is in the image forming apparatus B. The normal mode supplies driving power to all the components based on an operation instruction from the outside. And, the power supply is supplied only to the configuration necessary for startup, and the other configuration has a function of switching and controlling alternately between the sleep mode that cuts off the power supply and reduces the power consumption. A main controller (unit) mainly composed of a CPU.

  The power saving control unit 1 is input with a sleep operation line L1 for inputting a switching signal for switching between the normal mode and the sleep mode from the operation panel unit 3, and in the sleep mode, the normal mode is set to the L level. Then, a sleep signal that becomes H level is output to the operation panel unit 3.

  The sleep operation line L1 is connected to the output of the first detector 7 described later. The first detection unit 7 is, for example, a two-input AND gate, and one input terminal is connected to the power source V1 that is on in both the normal mode and the sleep mode via a resistor R4, and has a two-terminal on / off type. It is connected to the ground via the sleep key SW1.

  The other input terminal of the first detection unit 7 is pulled up to the power source V1 by the resistor R6 so as to be at the H level in the normal mode, and is connected to a 3-state buffer 9a of the second detection unit 9 described later. Yes.

  Therefore, when the sleep key SW1 is not operated, the power supply side of the sleep key SW1 is at H level, and the first detection unit 7 sets the sleep operation line L1 to H level. Image forming apparatus B is maintained in the normal mode.

  When the sleep key SW1 is turned on / off, the power supply side of the sleep key SW1 once becomes L level and then becomes H level, and the first detection unit 7 once sets the switching signal of the sleep operation line L1 to L level. Therefore, the power saving control unit 1 detects the trigger signal and controls the image forming apparatus B to switch to the sleep mode, and switches the sleep signal from the H level in the normal mode to the L level in the sleep mode. .

  The gate of the 3-state buffer 9a forming the second detection unit 9 is L active and is connected to the sleep signal.

  Therefore, in the sleep mode, when the output of the three-state buffer 9a is changed by input and the other input terminal of the first detection unit 7 is changed to L level, even if the sleep key SW1 is not operated, Since the first detection unit 7 sets the switching signal of the sleep operation line L1 to the L level, the power saving control unit 1 switches the image forming apparatus B to the normal mode as will be described later.

  The operation panel unit 3 in the image forming apparatus A has a function of operating operations of the apparatus itself, such as an image reading operation, a printing (printing) operation, a facsimile transmission / reception operation, and other image processing operations. In addition to the panel control unit 5, two-terminal on / off type operation keys SW2 (only one is shown in FIG. 1), the transistor Q, the protective diode D1, and the light emitting diode D2, the second detection unit 9 is provided. Is formed. Reference numerals R2 to R6 in FIG. 1 are resistors.

The operation panel control unit 5 is supplied with driving power from a power source (not shown) different from the power source V1 that is on in both the normal mode and the sleep mode, and in the normal mode, the power saving control unit 1 side The operation panel unit 3 is supplied with drive power, receives operation of the operation key SW2, and the drive power supply is cut off in the sleep mode.
The operation panel control unit 5 includes a key detection line L2, an LED line L3, and a scan line L4, and has a function of executing an operation corresponding to the operation key SW2 that is turned on while scanning the plurality of operation keys SW2. ing.

  The key detection line L2 of the operation panel control unit 5 is supplied with drive power from the power saving control unit 1 side power source V1, is connected to the collector of the transistor Q via the operation key SW2 and the diode D1, and the LED The line L3 is also connected to the collector of the transistor Q via the light emitting diode D2.

  The scan line L4 of the operation panel control unit 5 is supplied with driving power from the power source V1, and is connected to one input terminal of the two-input NAND gate 9b forming the second detection unit 9, and the other A sleep signal is connected to the input terminal from the power saving control unit 1 side.

  The output of the NAND gate 9b is connected to the gate of the transistor Q, and the emitter of the transistor Q is connected to the ground.

  Therefore, since the other input terminal (sleep signal) is maintained at the H level in the normal mode, the output of the NAND gate 9b becomes the H level when the scan line L4 becomes the L level. When SW2 is operated, the transistor Q is turned on, and the key detection line L2 of the operation panel control unit 5 becomes L level to detect the key operation.

  On the other hand, in the NAND gate 9b, the other input terminal (sleep signal) is maintained at the L level and the scan line L4 is maintained at the H level in the sleep mode, so that the output is at the H level. When SW2 is operated, the transistor Q is turned on, and the key detection line L2 becomes L level to detect the key operation.

  The operation panel unit 3 has a display operation unit 11 as shown in FIG.

  The display operation unit 11 is a known liquid crystal display panel that can display various operation states by the operation panel control unit 5 under the control of the main control unit 13 to be described later, and an operation for receiving an operation instruction of the apparatus. It has a function as an input unit such as a touch switch as the key SW2.

  That is, the display operation unit 11 changes setting items related to various operations such as print (copy) processing, printer processing, scanner processing, facsimile transmission / reception processing and the like, as well as the selection key 11a for selection. In addition to the known numeric keypad 11b and start key 11c for input, the display panel unit 11e for displaying the operation status of the apparatus is provided.

  The selection key 11a, the numeric keypad 11b, the start key 11c, and the like correspond to the operation key SW2, and the sleep key SW1 is independently arranged at a position away from the display operation unit 11.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the drive power supply side of the operation key SW <b> 2 is connected to the input end of the 3-state buffer 9 a forming the second detection unit 9.

  The 3-state buffer 9a is supplied with drive power from the power saving control unit 1 side, and is also supplied with a sleep signal from the power saving control unit 1, and is inactive (non-operating state) when the sleep signal is in the H level state. The output becomes H level by the power supply, while it becomes active (operating state) when the sleep signal is at L level, and if the input from the operation key SW2 is at L level, the function of setting the output to L level is provided. Have.

  Next, the operation of the above-described power-saving power supply control device A according to the present invention will be briefly described.

  First, the operation under the normal mode will be described.

  In this state, drive power is supplied to the power saving control unit 1 and the operation panel unit 3, and when the sleep key SW1 is operated, the power supply side of the sleep key SW1 becomes L level, and the first detection unit 7 performs the sleep operation. Since the switching signal of the working line L1 is once set to the L level, the power saving control unit 1 controls the image image forming apparatus B to switch to the sleep mode, cuts off the driving power supply to the operation panel unit 3, and the second The sleep signal to the detection unit 9 is changed from H level to L level. In FIG. 1, only the power supply of the operation panel control unit 5 is cut off.

  Under the normal mode, when the operation key SW2 is operated in the operation panel unit 3, the transistor Q is turned on, and the key detection line L2 becomes L level and the operation is detected by the operation panel control unit 5, while Since the 3-state buffer 9a of the second detection unit 9 does not operate, the output of the 3-state buffer 9a remains at the H level, and the operation of the first detection unit 7 does not change.

  Next, the operation under the sleep mode will be described.

  In this state, the drive power supply from the power saving control unit 1 to the operation panel unit 3 is interrupted, but if the sleep key SW1 is operated, the operation is accepted in the same manner as the operation under the normal mode described above, and the power saving is achieved. The control unit 1 controls the image image forming apparatus B to switch to the normal mode, restarts the driving power supply to the operation panel unit 3, and changes the sleep signal to the second detection unit 9 from the L level to the H level.

  Even in the sleep mode, the operation power is supplied to the operation key SW2 and the second detection unit 9 to ensure the operation. Therefore, when the operation key SW2 is operated on the operation panel unit 3, the output of the NAND gate 9b becomes H level. Therefore, the transistor Q is turned on, the key detection line L2 becomes L level, and the change is detected by the three-state buffer 9a of the second detection unit 9.

  The 3-state buffer 9a is activated by an L level sleep signal, and the output of the buffer 9a is switched to the L level by an input based on the L level at both ends of the key detection line L2, that is, the operation key SW2.

  In the first detection unit 7, since the sleep key SW1 is not operated and one input terminal is at the H level, when the output of the buffer 9a is switched to the L level, similarly to the sleep key SW1 operation, the power saving control unit 1 Switches the image forming apparatus B to the normal mode, restarts the driving power supply to the operation panel unit 3, and outputs an H level sleep signal to the second detection unit 9.

That is, the first detection unit 7 switches the normal mode and the sleep mode on the assumption that there is an operation similar to the operation on the sleep key SW1 by switching the output of the 3-state buffer 9a of the second detection unit 9 to the L level. The power saving control unit 1 has a function of switching between the two.

  Next, an image forming apparatus B of the present invention equipped with the above-described power saving power supply control apparatus A will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus B includes an image capturing unit 15, a storage unit 17, a printing unit 19, the above-described operation panel unit 3, the power saving control unit 1 and the like with the main control unit 13 as a center. Configures a multifunction device. Although the image forming apparatus B has various configurations other than this, the description and illustration thereof are omitted because they are not the main part of the present invention.

  DC power or AC power is supplied from the power supply unit 21 to the main control unit 13, the image capturing unit 15, the storage unit 17, the display operation unit 15, and the printing unit 19 via the power saving control unit 1.

  The main control unit 13 controls the image capturing unit 15, the storage unit 17, the printing unit 19, and the operation panel unit 3. Details will be described later.

  The image capturing unit 15 is arranged at the upper part of a main body case (not shown), and under the control of the main control unit 13, optically reads the image state of the paper surface from the original paper on which the original image is displayed, and performs filter processing and the like. The paper image data thus generated is sequentially stored in the storage unit 17 for each page of the document.

  The storage unit 17 is a readable / writable hard disk (HDD) that stores image data from the image capturing unit 15, an operation program of the main control unit 13, an operation screen, and the like.

  The operation panel unit 3 is disposed on the upper part of the main body case, has the above-described configuration, and the display panel unit 11 e is controlled by the display operation unit 11 via the main control unit 13.

  The printing unit 19 is arranged in the main body case, and supplies toner based on print image data obtained by developing the above-described image data on a paper feed stage in which paper is set and paper fed from the paper feed stage and conveyed. An image forming unit that forms a toner image with an agent, a transfer fixing unit that transfers and fixes the toner image onto a sheet, and the like have a function of discharging monochrome printing or color printing.

  The main control unit 13 includes a main CPU, a memory unit that stores a startup program for the CPU, and an input / output interface (none of which is shown). The image capturing unit 15, the storage unit 17, and the printing unit 19 described above. It controls the operation panel unit 3 and takes part of it.

  The power supply unit 21 is a well-known switching regulator or a DC-DC converter (not shown) that generates a DC power source such as 24V or 3.3V from a 100V commercial AC power source, and outputs the AC power source and the DC power source. To do.

Such a power-saving power supply control device A according to the present invention includes a power-saving control unit 1 that controls the operation state of the device between a normal mode and a sleep mode that is in a power-saving state, and the normal mode. A sleep key SW1 that accepts a switching operation between sleep modes from the outside, and a first operation that detects at least an operation to the sleep key SW1 and switches the power-saving control unit 1 between the normal mode and the sleep mode based on this Detection unit 7, a plurality of operation keys SW2 other than the sleep key SW1, and a second detection unit 9 for detecting an operation on any one of the operation keys SW2 in the sleep mode state. detector 7 of 1, upon detecting the operation to the operation key SW2 under the sleep mode is the second detection unit 9, similar to the operation to the sleep key SW1 Operating the power saving control unit 1 is configured to switching operation to the normal mode when there is.

  Therefore, only the dedicated sleep key SW1 is used to shift to the sleep mode, and any key SW1, SW2 can be used to return from the sleep mode to the normal mode, and the operability for the user is easily improved. .

In addition, since the second detection unit 9 secures the operation of the operation key SW2 and detects the operation of the operation key SW2 in the sleep mode state, the key operation for returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode is performed. Reliable operation is easy to be secured.

Further, since the second detection unit 9 detects an operation on the operation key SW2 in the input state of the sleep signal indicating the sleep mode state from the power saving control unit 1 side, the sleep signal is transmitted from the power saving control unit 1 side. If it is set not to output, it is possible to return to the normal mode only with the dedicated sleep key SW1.

  Specifically, in FIG. 1, a switch (not shown) is inserted into the sleep signal line from the power saving control unit 1 side, and the switch is turned on / off by a key (not shown) disposed on the operation panel unit 11, for example. The sleep signal output can be intermittently controlled by setting the control program for the power saving control unit 1.

  In the above-described configuration according to the present invention, when the power saving control unit 1 receives a switching signal for switching the power saving control unit 1 from the first detection unit 7 only once, the sleep mode changes from the normal mode to the normal mode. Therefore, it is possible to return to the normal mode due to an erroneous operation.

  In particular, since a return operation to the normal mode can be performed using a plurality of operation keys SW2 other than the sleep key SW1, the frequency of erroneous operations may increase.

  In order to cope with this, the power saving control unit 1 is based on an erroneous operation on the operation key if it is configured to perform switching control from the sleep mode to the normal mode when the input switching signal continues for a plurality of times or for a predetermined period. It is possible to avoid returning to the normal mode.

The first detection unit 7 in the present invention is not limited to the configuration formed by the AND gate as described above, and is arbitrary. At least the operation to the sleep key SW1 is detected, and based on this, the normal mode and the sleep mode are detected. In the sleep mode state, when the second detection unit 9 detects an operation on the operation key SW2, it is assumed that there is an operation similar to the operation on the sleep key SW1. What is necessary is just to switch the power saving control unit 1 to the normal mode.

  As described above, the second detection unit 9 is also optional other than the configuration of the buffer 9a and the NAND gate 9b, and may have a function of detecting an operation on any of the operation keys SW2 in the sleep mode state.

  By the way, the image forming apparatus B according to the present invention can be implemented in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, and the like, and if the above-described power saving power control apparatus A according to the present invention is mounted, the same effect can be obtained. Is possible.

  The power-saving power supply control device according to the present invention can be widely implemented in addition to the above-described image forming apparatus B such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine, and various electronic devices such as a computer (personal computer), a cellular phone, and the like. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power saving control part 3 Operation panel part 5 Operation panel control part 7 1st detection part 9 2nd detection part 9a Buffer (2nd detection part)
9b NAND gate (second detection unit)
11 Display / Operation Unit 11a Selection Key (Operation Key)
11b Numeric keys (operation keys)
11c Start key (operation key)
11d Stop key (operation key)
11e Display panel section 13 Main control section 15 Image capturing section 17 Storage section 19 Printing section 21 Power section A Power saving power control apparatus B Image forming apparatus D1 Diode D2 Light emitting diode L1 Sleep operation line L2 Key detection line L3 LED line L4 Scan line Q Transistor SW1 Sleep key SW2 Operation keys R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 Resistance

Claims (3)

A power saving control unit that controls the operation state of the device between a normal mode and a sleep mode that is in a power saving state; and
A sleep key for accepting an external switching operation between the normal mode and the sleep mode;
A first detection unit that detects at least an operation on the sleep key and switches the power saving control unit between the normal mode and the sleep mode based on the operation;
A plurality of operation keys other than the sleep key arranged on the operation panel unit ;
A second detection unit connected to a sleep signal line for adding a sleep signal indicating a sleep state from the power saving control unit, and detecting an operation to any of the operation keys under the sleep mode state;
A switch that is inserted into the sleep signal line and intermittently controls the output of the sleep signal to the second detection unit by a key disposed on the operation panel unit;
Comprising
When the second detection unit detects an operation on the operation key in the sleep mode state, the first detection unit assumes that the operation similar to the operation on the sleep key is performed and enters the normal mode. Switching the power saving control unit ,
The second detection unit secures the operation of the operation key in the sleep mode state and detects an operation to the operation key, and outputs the detection output in the input state of the sleep signal to the first detection unit. A power-saving power supply control device, characterized in that 2. The power saving power control device according to claim 1, wherein the power saving control unit performs switching control to the normal mode when a switching signal for switching to the normal mode from the first detection unit continues a plurality of times or for a predetermined period. . An image forming apparatus comprising: the power-saving power control device according to claim 1; and an image forming unit that forms an image of image data.

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