JP5723507B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of shifting to an energy saving state that consumes less energy than a normal state.

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus that can shift to an energy saving state that consumes less energy than the normal state, when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state, the RAM immediately before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. Data is generated on the non-volatile storage device by compressing the data, and the recovery data on the non-volatile storage device is expanded on the RAM when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state. An apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1-3).

JP 2004-38545 A Japanese Patent No. 4055357 JP201141016A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, an area corresponding to the maximum size of the return data is set in the non-volatile storage device so that the non-volatile storage device can reliably store the return data. Therefore, there is a problem that the use efficiency of the nonvolatile memory device is poor.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can improve the efficiency of use of a nonvolatile storage device.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having at least two states of a normal state and an energy saving state in which power consumption is less than that in the normal state, and includes a printing unit that performs printing, and a work area. A printing control unit that includes a RAM and controls printing by the printing unit; a non-volatile storage device; and a power control unit that controls supply of power; and when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state. The return data using means for using the return data that is used, and the return data is generated by compressing the data on the RAM immediately before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. Return data generating means, and the return data generating means, when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state, The restoration is performed by preferentially compressing the printing result influence data that is the data affecting the printing result by the printing unit among the data on the RAM immediately before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. Data is generated on the non-volatile storage device, and when the state is the energy saving state, the power control unit stops supplying power to the printing unit and the printing control unit, and The data use means is characterized in that when the state is restored from the energy saving state to the normal state, the restoration data on the nonvolatile storage device is expanded on the RAM.

  With this configuration, when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention stores not all the restoration data but the restoration data obtained by compressing the print result influence data on the nonvolatile storage device. As long as it can be generated, it is not necessary to always reserve an area of the maximum size of the return data for the return data in the nonvolatile storage device. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the efficiency of use of the nonvolatile memory device as compared with the conventional case.

  Further, the return data generation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention compresses the print result influence data and converts the return data into the non-volatile when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. Free space on the non-volatile storage device after compression from data other than the print result influence data among the data on the RAM immediately before the state is shifted from the normal state to the energy saving state after being generated on the storage device Additional data for restoration may be generated on the non-volatile storage device by selecting the amount of data that can be stored in the area based on a predetermined criterion and compressing the selected data.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is compared with a configuration in which only the return data obtained by compressing the print result influence data is generated on the nonvolatile storage device when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. Since a lot of return data is generated on the non-volatile storage device, when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state, the state of the RAM is brought close to the state of the RAM just before the transition from the normal state to the energy saving state. Can be restored.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the utilization efficiency of the nonvolatile memory device as compared with the conventional case.

2 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention in a normal state. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 in a light sleep state. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when in a deep sleep state. It is a block diagram of the function of the main system and subsystem shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of a RAM and a nonvolatile storage device of a main system when the state of the MFP illustrated in FIG. 1 is a normal state. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of a return data generation unit when the MFP state shown in FIG. 1 shifts from a normal state to a deep sleep state. When the state of the nonvolatile storage device of the main system shown in FIG. 1 is the state shown in FIG. 5, when return data is generated in the nonvolatile storage device of the main system based on the print result influence data on the RAM It is a figure which shows an example of the state of RAM of a main system, and a non-volatile storage device. When the state of the nonvolatile storage device of the main system shown in FIG. 1 is the state shown in FIG. 5, return data is generated in the nonvolatile storage device of the main system based on data other than the print result influence data on the RAM. It is a figure which shows an example of RAM of a main system and a non-volatile memory | storage device when it is carried out. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of power control means when the MFP state shown in FIG. 1 shifts from a normal state to a deep sleep state. The figure which shows an example of the state of RAM of a main system, and a non-volatile memory device when supply of the electric power to a main system is stopped when the state of RAM of the main system shown in FIG. 1 is the state shown in FIG. It is. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the return data using means when the MFP state shown in FIG. 1 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state. An example of the state of the main system RAM and the nonvolatile storage device when the state of the MFP returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state when the state of the RAM of the main system shown in FIG. 1 is the state shown in FIG. FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of MFP 10 according to the present embodiment in a normal state. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 10 in the light sleep state. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the MFP 10 in the deep sleep state.

  The MFP 10 has a normal state in which printing is possible (see FIG. 1), a light sleep state (see FIG. 2) that consumes less energy than the normal state, and an energy saving state of the present invention that consumes less energy than the light sleep state. As a deep sleep state (see FIG. 3). In the light sleep state, the return to the normal state is faster than the deep sleep state.

  In the MFP 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, the display unit 12, the printer 13, and the scanner 14 are hatched, which indicates that power is not supplied to the display unit 12, the printer 13, and the scanner 14.

  In the MFP 10 illustrated in FIG. 3, power is not supplied to the display unit 12, the printer 13, the scanner 14, and the main system 30 because hatching is drawn on the display unit 12, the printer 13, the scanner 14, and the main system 30. It is shown that.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 is a display device such as an operation unit 11 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by a user and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 12, a printer 13 as a printing unit of the present invention that is a printing device that performs printing on a recording medium such as paper, a scanner 14 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, and an external facsimile (not shown) Communicates with a fax communication unit 15 that is a fax device that performs fax communication with a device via a communication line such as a public telephone line, and an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Network communication device A network communication unit 16 that is a chair, and a controller 20 that controls the entire MFP 10.

  The operation unit 11 is an input device such as a button that forms a touch panel together with the display unit 12.

  The printer 13 is, for example, image data generated by the scanner 14, FAX data received from an external facsimile device via the fax communication unit 15, or printing received from an external device via the network communication unit 16. Print various data such as data.

  For example, the fax communication unit 15 transmits the image data generated by the scanner 14 to an external facsimile machine, or receives FAX data to be printed by the printer 13 from the external facsimile machine.

  For example, the network communication unit 16 transmits image data generated by the scanner 14 to an external device, or receives print data to be printed by the printer 13 from an external device.

  The controller 20 includes a main system 30 that controls the MFP 10 in the normal state and the light sleep state, and a subsystem 60 that controls the MFP 10 in the deep sleep state. The main system 30 is configured to control printing by the printer 13 in a normal state, and constitutes a printing control unit of the present invention.

  The main system 30 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32 that stores programs and various data in advance, and a rewritable volatile storage device that is used as a work area of the CPU 31. RAM (Random Access Memory) 40 and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and other non-volatile storage devices 50. The CPU 31 is an arithmetic processing unit that operates the main system 30 by executing a program stored in the ROM 32. The RAM 40 temporarily stores a program and various data when the CPU 31 executes the program. The main system 30 is not turned off when in the light sleep state, but is completely turned off when in the deep sleep state.

  The subsystem 60 includes a CPU 61, a ROM 62 that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM 63 that is a rewritable volatile storage device used as a work area for the CPU 61. The CPU 61 is an arithmetic processing unit that operates the subsystem 60 by executing a program stored in the ROM 62. The RAM 63 temporarily stores the program and various data when the CPU 61 executes the program.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of functions of the main system 30 and the subsystem 60.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main system 30 is data that will be described later, which is data used when the state of the MFP 10 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state by the CPU 31 executing a program stored in the ROM 32. The return data use means 30a using the return data 50d and 50e, and the return data 50d and 50e are generated by compressing the data on the RAM 40 immediately before the MFP 10 shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state. Functions as return data generation means 30b.

  The subsystem 60 functions as power control means 60 a that controls the supply of power when the CPU 61 executes a program stored in the ROM 62.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the state of the RAM 40 and the nonvolatile storage device 50 of the main system 30 when the MFP 10 is in the normal state.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the MFP 10 is in the normal state, the RAM 40 includes an OS management area 45 managed by an OS (Operating System) and a RAM disk area 46 used as a RAM disk. Has been. The RAM disk area 46 stores print result influence data 40a that is data that affects the result of printing by the printer 13, and data 40b other than the print result influence data 40a. Examples of the print result influence data 40a include font data used for printing by the printer 13, macro data for drawing graphics such as circles and squares used for printing by the printer 13, and the like. The data 40b includes, for example, print data that has already been printed by the printer 13.

  Further, when the MFP 10 is in the normal state, the nonvolatile storage device 50 includes the startup data 50a that is data used when the MFP 10 is started in order to speed up the startup of the MFP 10 and the startup data 50a. Data 50b and a free space 50c are arranged. The startup data 50a is data in which the data in the OS management area 45 immediately after startup is compressed. The data 50b includes data that should be retained even when the power supply to the MFP 10 is stopped, such as an address book. The empty area 50c may always have at least a fixed capacity for storing return data 50d to be described later.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 will be described.

<Transition to the light sleep state>
An operation of the MFP 10 when the state of the MFP 10 shifts from the normal state to the light sleep state will be described.

  When the MFP 10 is in the normal state as shown in FIG. 1, an instruction for shifting the state of the MFP 10 from the normal state to the light sleep state is input via the operation unit 11 or the network communication unit 16, When a predetermined condition for shifting the state of the MFP 10 from the normal state to the light sleep state occurs, such as no input to the fax communication unit 15 and the network communication unit 16 for a predetermined time or more, the subsystem 60 of the MFP 10 The power control means 60a stops the supply of power to the display unit 12, the printer 13, and the scanner 14, as shown in FIG. That is, the state of the MFP 10 shifts from the normal state shown in FIG. 1 to the light sleep state shown in FIG.

<Return from light sleep state>
An operation of the MFP 10 when the state of the MFP 10 returns from the light sleep state to the normal state will be described.

  When the MFP 10 is in the light sleep state as shown in FIG. 2, there is some input to the operation unit 11, the fax communication unit 15, and the network communication unit 16, for example, to return the MFP 10 from the light sleep state to the normal state. When a predetermined condition occurs, the power control unit 60a of the subsystem 60 of the MFP 10 starts supplying power to the display unit 12, the printer 13, and the scanner 14, as shown in FIG. That is, the MFP 10 returns from the light sleep state shown in FIG. 2 to the normal state shown in FIG.

<Transition to deep sleep state>
An operation of the MFP 10 when the state of the MFP 10 shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state will be described.

  When the MFP 10 is in the normal state as shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 state such as an instruction for shifting the MFP 10 state from the normal state to the deep sleep state is input via the operation unit 11 or the network communication unit 16. When a predetermined condition for causing the MFP 10 to shift from the normal state to the deep sleep state occurs, the return data generation unit 30b of the main system 30 of the MFP 10 starts the process illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the return data generation unit 30b when the MFP 10 shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the return data generation means 30b generates the return data 50d in the free area 50c of the nonvolatile storage device 50 based on the print result influence data 40a among the data on the RAM 40 (S101). For example, if the nonvolatile storage device 50 is in the state shown in FIG. 5 before the processing in S101, the nonvolatile storage device 50 is in the state shown in FIG. 7 by executing the processing in S101.

  Next, the return data generation means 30b selects from the data 40b on the RAM 40 the amount of data that can be stored in the free space 50c on the non-volatile storage device 50 after compression, based on a predetermined standard. Is generated in the free space 50c of the nonvolatile storage device 50 (S102). For example, if the nonvolatile memory device 50 is in the state shown in FIG. 7 before the process of S102, the state shown in FIG. Here, as the predetermined standard, for example, when the data to be compressed is print data, there are the order in which printing is performed in the latest order, the order in which the number of times printing is performed, and the like.

  Next, the return data generation means 30b notifies the subsystem 60 of the completion of generation of return data (S103), and ends the processing shown in FIG.

  The power control means 60a of the subsystem 60 starts the processing shown in FIG. 9 when the completion of the generation of the return data is notified from the main system 30 in S103.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the power control unit 60a when the MFP 10 shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the power control means 60a stops the supply of power to the display unit 12, the printer 13, and the scanner 14 as shown in FIG. 2 (S121).

  Next, the power control means 60a stops the supply of power to the main system 30 as shown in FIG. 3 (S122) and ends the process shown in FIG. At this time, if the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 8 before the process in S122, the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 10 by executing the process in S122. In FIG. 10, since the RAM 40 is not supplied with power necessary for holding data, the entire area is a free area 40c.

  As described above, the MFP 10 shifts from the normal state shown in FIG. 1 to the deep sleep state shown in FIG.

  In the above, the operation of the MFP 10 when the state of the MFP 10 transitions from the normal state to the deep sleep state has been described. However, the same applies to the operation of the MFP 10 when the state of the MFP 10 transitions from the light sleep state to the deep sleep state. is there. That is, when the MFP 10 is in the light sleep state as shown in FIG. 2, the state of the MFP 10 is changed to the light sleep state, such as when there is no input in the operation unit 11, the fax communication unit 15 and the network communication unit 16 for a predetermined time or more. When a predetermined condition for shifting from the state to the deep sleep state occurs, the state of the MFP 10 shifts from the light sleep state to the deep sleep state shown in FIG. 3 by the operations of the return data generation unit 30b and the power control unit 60a. To do.

<Return from deep sleep state>
An operation of the MFP 10 when the state of the MFP 10 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state will be described.

  When the MFP 10 is in the deep sleep state as shown in FIG. 3, there is some input to the operation unit 11, the fax communication unit 15 and the network communication unit 16 to return the MFP 10 from the deep sleep state to the normal state. When a predetermined condition occurs, the power control unit 60a of the subsystem 60 of the MFP 10 starts supplying power to the display unit 12, the printer 13, the scanner 14, and the main system 30 as shown in FIG.

  When the supply of power to the main system 30 is started, the return data using means 30a of the main system 30 starts the processing shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the operation of the return data using unit 30a when the MFP 10 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the return data use means 30a uses the startup data 50a on the nonvolatile storage device 50 (S141). That is, the return data using means 30 a expands the startup data 50 a on the nonvolatile storage device 50 onto the RAM 40 and generates the OS management area 45 on the RAM 40.

  Next, the return data use means 30a uses the return data 50d and 50e on the nonvolatile storage device 50 (S142). That is, the return data using unit 30 a expands the return data 50 d and 50 e on the nonvolatile storage device 50 onto the RAM 40 and restores the print result influence data 40 a and the data 40 b on the RAM 40.

  Next, the return data using means 30a deletes the return data 50d and 50e (S143) and ends the processing shown in FIG. For example, if the RAM 40 and the non-volatile storage device 50 are in the state shown in FIG. 10 before the process shown in FIG. 11, the state shown in FIG.

  As described above, the MFP 10 returns from the deep sleep state shown in FIG. 3 to the normal state shown in FIG.

  As described above, when the state shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state, the MFP 10 stores not all the return data but the return data 50d obtained by compressing the print result influence data 40a. As long as it can be generated above, it is not necessary to always ensure the area of the maximum size of the return data in the nonvolatile storage device 50 for the return data. Therefore, the MFP 10 can improve the use efficiency of the nonvolatile storage device 50 as compared with the conventional case. In particular, the MFP 10 has a great effect when an optional RAM is added to the main system 30 to increase the capacity of the RAM disk.

  Further, since the MFP 10 does not always have to reserve an area of the maximum size of the return data in the nonvolatile storage device 50 for the return data, the MFP 10 has a maximum size of the return data in the nonvolatile storage device 50. The capacity of the nonvolatile memory device 50 can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the above-mentioned area is always reserved for the return data. Therefore, the MFP 10 can reduce the manufacturing cost.

  Further, when the state shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state, the MFP 10 generates not only the return data 50d obtained by compressing the print result influence data 40a but also the return data 50e on the nonvolatile storage device 50. Compared with the configuration in which only the return data 50d obtained by compressing the print result influence data 40a is generated on the nonvolatile storage device 50 when the state shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state, a lot of return data is nonvolatile. It is generated on the storage device 50. Therefore, when the state returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state, the MFP 10 can restore the state of the RAM 40 to a state close to the state of the RAM 40 immediately before the transition from the normal state to the deep sleep state.

  Note that the MFP 10 may be configured to generate, on the nonvolatile storage device 50, only the return data 50d obtained by compressing the print result influence data 40a when the state shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a fax dedicated machine, and a copy dedicated machine.

10 MFP (image forming apparatus)
13 Printer (printing section)
30 Main system (printing control unit)
30a Return data use means 30b Return data generation means 40 RAM
40a Print result influence data 40b Data 50 Non-volatile storage device 50d, 50e Data for restoration 60a Power control means

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus having at least two states: a normal state and an energy saving state that consumes less power than the normal state,
A printing unit that executes printing; a printing control unit that includes a RAM as a work area and controls printing by the printing unit; a non-volatile storage device; a power control unit that controls supply of power; Return data using means for using return data, which is data used when returning from the energy saving state to the normal state, and the RAM on the RAM just before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. A return data generating means for generating the return data by compressing the data,
The return data generation means, when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state, the printing unit among the data on the RAM immediately before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. By preferentially compressing the printing result influence data which is data affecting the printing result, the return data is generated on the nonvolatile storage device,
When the state is the energy saving state, the power control means stops all the areas of the RAM by stopping the supply of power to the printing unit and the printing control unit,
The return data using means expands the return data on the nonvolatile storage device onto the RAM when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state .
The return data generation means compresses the print result influence data and generates the return data on the nonvolatile storage device when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. An amount that can be stored in a free area on the non-volatile storage device after compression from data other than the print result influence data among the data on the RAM immediately before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the additional data for recovery is generated on the non-volatile storage device by selecting the data in accordance with a predetermined criterion and compressing the selected data .   When the data to be compressed is print data, the predetermined criterion is at least one of the order in which printing by the printing unit is performed in the latest order and the order in which printing by the printing unit is performed in descending order The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided.   The print result influence data includes at least one of font data used for printing by the printing unit and macro data for drawing a graphic used for printing by the printing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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