JP5998902B2 - Image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a program.

  As a prior art described in the publication, there is a main switch and an energy saving cancel switch. When the main switch is turned on, the energy saving mode is entered. Power is supplied to only the minimum necessary parts for heating, shortening the rise time, and after the start-up is completed, the second power supply device is started, the second control means is started, the fixing device is restarted, and printing is performed. There is an image forming apparatus that shifts to the mode and controls the temperature of the fixing roller with a power that is more limited than that at the time of start-up in the print mode (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, as a prior art described in other publications, when printing out image data sent from an external computer, when the computer interface unit receives such a job command from the external computer, the computer sends the command to the CPU. Responds to the external computer through the computer interface unit, and at the same time, sends the job contents to the on / off control signal generation circuit. The on / off control signal generation circuit outputs a control signal to turn on the switch circuit, and the image processing unit There is an image forming apparatus in which power is supplied to each block of the image forming unit and the PDL developing unit (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-214734 A JP-A-8-295065

  An object of the present invention is to shorten the time required for returning from an energy saving (rational use of energy) state.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a functional unit including an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material, and an initial stage for realizing a predetermined function in the functional unit in response to a power-on request to the functional unit. Activating means for initializing and starting the functional means by executing the activation program; and stopping means for stopping the operation of the functional means in response to a power-off request to the functional means activated by the activation means; Storage means for storing initialization function information of the function means obtained by executing the initialization program after the start of the function means by the start means and before completion of the stop of the function means by the stop means; Based on the initialization function information read from the storage means in response to a power supply return request to the function means stopped by the stop means, Means without initializing, and a return means for returning to the state of being activated by said activation means, said storage means, can hold information even without power supply is stored, The activation history of the function means being activated and the initialization function information of the function means are stored, and the stop means is added to the initialization function information read from the storage means in response to a power-off request to the function means. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that after the function unit is returned to the state activated by the activation unit, the operation of the function unit is stopped .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in response to a power-on request to a functional unit having a predetermined function, the initialization unit for causing the functional unit to realize the predetermined function is executed. Activating means for initializing and activating the functional means, stop means for stopping the operation of the functional means in response to a power-off request to the functional means activated by the activating means, and activation of the functional means by the activating means Storage means for storing initialization function information of the function means obtained by execution of the initialization program after the start and before completion of the stop of the function means by the stop means, and the function stopped by the stop means Based on the initialization function information read from the storage unit in response to a power supply return request to the unit, the function unit is not initialized, And a returning means for returning to the state activated by the activation means, said storage means, can hold information even without power supply stores, execution history by the functional unit is activated And the initialization function information of the function means, and the stop means activates the function means based on the initialization function information read from the storage means in response to a power-off request to the function means. After returning to the activated state by the means, the information processing apparatus stops the operation of the functional means .
According to a third aspect of the invention, based on the previous SL execution history, the or activate the functional means by the activation means, or further comprising a selection means for selecting whether to restore the function unit by the returning means The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the storage means stores the initialization function information of the functional means after a power-on request to the functional means and before completion of the first activation of the functional means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in response to a power-on request to a functional unit having a predetermined function, the computer executes an initialization program for causing the functional unit to realize the predetermined function. The function means for initializing and starting the function means, the function for stopping the operation of the function means in response to the power-off request to the activated function means, and the function means before complete stop, the function of storing the initialization function information of the functional means obtained by the execution of the initialization program in the storage unit, with the power recovery request for being stopped the functional means reads from the storage unit was based on the initialization function information function, the function means without initialization, which is and a function to return to a state of being activated, causes the stored The storage unit capable of holding the stored information without supplying power stores the activation history of the function unit and the initialization function information of the function unit, and stops the function unit. The function is returned to the state activated by the function to activate the function unit based on the initialization function information read from the storage unit in response to a power-off request to the function unit, and then the function unit This program is characterized by stopping the operation .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the time required for the image forming apparatus to return from the energy saving state can be shortened as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.
According to invention of Claim 2, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the time required for a functional means to return from an energy-saving state can be shortened.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the execution time of the process for initializing the functional means can be shortened in the restart after the power is turned off, compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.
According to the invention described in claim 4, it is not necessary to execute the process of initializing the functional means after the initial activation is completed, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the time required for the functional means to return from the energy saving state can be shortened as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining start-up processing and mode transition processing of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 3 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of a startup process and a mode transition process of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining a transition process from the standby mode to the power-off mode of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows an example of the communication procedure of the control part and peripheral device in a starting process of OS and an application. FIG. 6 is a hardware block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining start-up processing and mode transition processing of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. 10 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of a transition process from a state in which a main power SW of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 is off to a standby mode.

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 10 that forms an image on a recording material such as paper, an image reading unit 20 that reads an image recorded on a recording material such as paper, and a scan function, a print function, and a copy function from a user. In addition to receiving instructions related to operations using the facsimile function, the user interface (UI) 30 that displays a message to the user and data transmission / reception between the external facsimile apparatus and the like via the network Unit 40, LED (Light Emitting Diode) 50 for notifying the power supply state of image forming apparatus 1 by lighting state, control unit for controlling operations of image forming unit 10, image reading unit 20, UI 30, transmitting / receiving unit 40, and LED 50 60.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a power supply unit 80 that receives power supply from an outlet, a main power supply SW (Switch) 90, and a sub power supply SW100.
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is supplied to the first power control SW 11 that controls the power supplied to the image forming unit 10, the second power control SW 21 that controls the power supplied to the image reading unit 20, and the UI 30. A third power control SW31 that controls the power to be transmitted, and a fourth power control SW41 that controls the power supplied to the transceiver 40.

In the image forming apparatus 1, a print function is realized by the image forming unit 10, a scan function is realized by the image reading unit 20, and a copy function is realized by the image forming unit 10 and the image reading unit 20. The reading unit 20 and the transmission / reception unit 40 implement a facsimile function. Note that the transmitter / receiver 40 may be provided separately for the Internet line and the telephone line, for example.
The image forming unit 10, the image reading unit 20, the UI 30, the transmission / reception unit 40, and the like are examples of functional units. In the following description, the image forming unit 10, the image reading unit 20, the UI 30, and the transmission / reception unit 40 may be collectively referred to as “peripheral devices”.

  One end of the main power supply SW90 is connected to the power supply unit 80, and the other end is connected to the control unit 60, the first power supply control SW11, the second power supply control SW21, the third power supply control SW31, and the fourth power supply control SW41. Further, the sub power supply SW100 is connected to the control unit 60.

  The control unit 60 as an example of the information processing apparatus sequentially reads a program that is an instruction sequence and executes various operations, thereby controlling each unit of the image forming apparatus 1, a start unit, a stop unit, a return unit, and a selection unit A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61 as an example of the means and a bus bridge 62 connected to the CPU 61 and exchanging various data with the CPU 61 are provided. In the control unit 60, the bus bridge 62 includes a memory bus 63 that exchanges data with a first clock and a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) that exchanges data with a second clock having a frequency lower than that of the first clock. ) Bus 64 is connected.

  The control unit 60 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 65, a volatile RAM (Random Access Memory) 66 and a nonvolatile RAM 67 as an example of a storage unit. The ROM 65, the volatile RAM 66, and the nonvolatile RAM 67 are each connected to the memory bus 63. In the control unit 60, the CPU 61 can directly access the ROM 65, the volatile RAM 66, and the nonvolatile RAM 67.

  The control unit 60 also includes a print interface circuit (PrintIF) 71 for controlling the image forming unit 10, a scan interface circuit (ScanIF) 72 for controlling the image reading unit 20, and a UI for controlling the UI 30. An interface circuit (UIIF) 73, a general-purpose interface circuit (general-purpose IF) 74 for controlling the transmission / reception unit 40, a general IO 75 capable of monitoring and changing an external signal, and a pulse output circuit 76 are provided. ing. The PrintIF 71, ScanIF 72, UIIF 73, general-purpose IF 74, and GeneralIO 75 are connected to the PCI bus 64, respectively.

  In addition to the PCI bus 64, the general IO 75 is connected to the first power control SW11, the second power control SW21, the third power control SW31, the fourth power control SW41, the LED 50, and the sub power SW100. The General IO 75 monitors, for example, a signal transmitted from the sub power source SW 100 and notifying the power on / off state of the sub power source SW 100.

Further, a pulse output circuit 76 that controls the lighting state of the LED 50 is connected to the LED 50.
The control unit 60 in the present embodiment is configured by, for example, a one-chip microcontroller. However, the control unit 60 may be composed of a plurality of chips.

  The ROM 65 stores a basic program such as an OS (Operating System) and an initialization program that is executed on the OS to realize a predetermined function in a peripheral device. Various PROMs (Programmable ROM: OTP ROM (One Time Programmable ROM), UV-EPROM (Ultra-Violet Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM)), flash memory, and the like. In this example, a flash memory is used as the ROM 65.

  The volatile RAM 66 is configured by a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) or an SRAM (Static RAM) that cannot hold stored information unless power is supplied. In this example, a DRAM is used as the volatile RAM 66.

  The nonvolatile RAM 67 stores MRAM (Magnetoresistive RAM), FeRAM (Ferroelectric RAM), PRAM (Phase change RAM), ReRAM (Resistance RAM), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. even if power is not supplied. It is constituted by a non-volatile memory capable of holding the stored information. In this example, an MRAM that can read and write data faster than the flash memory used as the ROM 65 is used as the nonvolatile RAM 67.

  In the present embodiment, the volatile RAM 66 and the nonvolatile RAM 67 both read and write data at the first clock. For this reason, the nonvolatile RAM 67 has the same read / write performance as the volatile RAM 66.

Next, two modes representing the state of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, a power-off mode and a standby mode will be described.
In the power OFF mode, only the main power SW 90 is turned on and the sub power SW 100 is turned off. When the main power supply SW 90 is turned on, power is supplied from the power supply unit 80 to the control unit 60. Then, the activation of the OS by the CPU 61 is completed, and the operation of each peripheral device is stopped. However, the setting of the basic function commonly used for operating the peripheral device is completed. OFF mode. In the power-off mode, the volatile RAM 66 is initialized with an application for controlling peripheral devices (hereinafter, “application for controlling peripheral devices” may be referred to as “application”). There are cases where things are stored and cases where things are not stored. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the Standby mode, both the main power SW90 and the sub power SW100 are turned on. For this reason, power is supplied to peripheral devices in addition to the control unit 60. The standby mode is a state in which the activation of the OS by the CPU 61 is completed, the activation of the application is also completed, and all the functions of the image forming apparatus 1 are usable.

  The power OFF mode is a mode in an energy saving state (rational use of energy) while the image forming apparatus 1 is not used. Since no power is supplied to the peripheral devices, the amount of power supply can be reduced as compared to the standby mode. Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 is used again, a waiting time required for the image forming apparatus 1 to return from the power-off mode to the standby mode (hereinafter, “the image forming apparatus 1 returns from the power-off mode to the standby mode). The waiting time required until the time until the image forming apparatus 1 is not supplied with power may be set shorter than the waiting time required for shifting to the standby mode. Is possible.

  The peripheral devices are powered on / off by the first power control SW11, the second power control SW21, the third power control SW31, and the fourth power control SW41, respectively. When both the main power supply SW90 and the sub power supply SW100 are turned on, the GeneralIO 75 detects that the sub power supply SW100 is turned on. Then, the GeneralIO 75 turns on the first power control SW11, the second power control SW21, the third power control SW31, and the fourth power control SW41. As a result, the power of each peripheral device is turned on, and the application is started.

  When the main power SW 90 is turned off, the stored contents of the volatile RAM 66 provided in the control unit 60 are also cleared. On the other hand, even if the main power SW 90 is turned off, the stored contents of the ROM 65 and the nonvolatile RAM 67 provided in the control unit 60 are not cleared. The nonvolatile RAM 67 retains the contents stored before the main power SW 90 is turned off.

  Further, the general IO 75 or the pulse output circuit 76 transmits a signal to the LED 50 based on the power supply state of the image forming apparatus 1. The LED 50 changes the lighting state to one of lighting / flashing / extinguishing according to the received signal.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the activation process and the mode transition process of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. When the main power SW 90 is turned on (step 101), power is supplied to the control unit 60 and cold boot is started. The cold boot means that the image forming apparatus 1 is started from a state where power is not supplied. The CPU 61 reads the OS from the ROM 65, stores it in the volatile RAM 66, and starts the OS (step 102).

  Next, the CPU 61 determines whether the sub power SW 100 is off (step 103). If the determination is affirmative (Yes), the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power-off mode since the sub power SW 100 is turned off (step 104). Thereafter, when the CPU 61 accepts that the sub power SW 100 is turned on (step 105), the cold boot is continued. The CPU 61 reads the initialization program from the ROM 65, stores it in the volatile RAM 66, executes the initialization program, initializes and activates the application (step 106).

  If a negative determination (No) is made in step 103, the sub power supply SW100 is turned on, so the CPU 61 activates the application (step 106). In step 106, the control unit 60 communicates with the peripheral device and acquires device information of each peripheral device. Details will be described with reference to FIG. When the activation of each peripheral device is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the standby mode (step 107).

  When the CPU 61 accepts that the sub power SW 100 is turned off in the standby mode (step 108), a hardware reset is performed (step 109). The hardware reset means that the entire image forming apparatus 1 including the control unit 60 is restarted. The OS is restarted by the hardware reset by the CPU 61 (step 110). Further, the CPU 61 executes an initialization program to initialize and restart the application (step 111). Further, the application in the initialized state as an example of the initialization function information is stored in the volatile RAM 66 (step 112). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power OFF mode (step 113).

  Next, when the CPU 61 accepts that the sub power SW 100 is turned on in the power OFF mode (step 114), the CPU 61 does not execute the initialization program, and the initialization stored in the volatile RAM 66 in step 112. Read the state application. Then, the CPU 61 returns to the initialization state stored in the volatile RAM 66 in step 112 (step 115). When the return of the application to the initialized state is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the standby mode (step 116). Further, when the CPU 61 accepts that the sub power SW 100 is turned off in the standby mode, the process returns to step 108. Thereafter, the hardware reset in step 109 is performed by the CPU 61. Here, the shutdown sequence is performed from the time when the sub power supply SW100 is turned off in the standby mode to the time when the power supply OFF mode is entered (from step 108 to step 113), and after the sub power supply SW100 is turned on in the power supply OFF mode, The transition sequence (from step 114 to step 116) is taken as a return sequence.

  Steps 104 and 113 are both in the power OFF mode, but the contents stored in the volatile RAM 66 are different. In the power-off mode of step 113, after the application is restarted (step 111), the application in the initialized state is stored in the volatile RAM 66 (step 112). On the other hand, in the power OFF mode of step 104, the volatile RAM 66 does not store the application in the initialized state.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of a startup process and a mode transition process of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. First, when the main power SW 90 is turned on (S101 in FIG. 2), power is supplied to the control unit 60, and cold boot is started. When power is supplied to the control unit 60, the CPU 61 starts the OS (S102). In this example, since the sub power SW 100 is turned off, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power OFF mode after the activation of the OS by the CPU 61 is completed (S103, S104).

  In the power-off mode, the volatile RAM 66 composed of DRAM performs Self Refresh. DRAM retains information by storing electric charge in a capacitor. However, since the charge decreases with time, the DRAM needs to be replenished at regular intervals. This operation is called refresh, and is performed by an external refresh circuit in the conventional DRAM. Self refresh is a refresh circuit built in the DRAM so that the DRAM automatically refreshes. Since it is not necessary to operate an external circuit, power consumption can be suppressed as compared with the prior art.

  Next, when the sub power supply SW100 is turned on in the power supply OFF mode (S105), the control unit 60 detects this and the cold boot is continued. Then, power is supplied to each peripheral device, and application activation is started (S106). When the activation of the application is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the standby mode (S107).

  In the prior art, when the sub power supply SW100 is turned off in the standby mode, the CPU 61 performs a hardware reset and restarts the OS. When the restart of the OS is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power-off mode without restarting the application. Next, when the sub power SW 100 is turned on in the power OFF mode, the application is restarted by the CPU 61 and the image forming apparatus 1 is ready for use.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the sub power supply SW100 is turned off in the standby mode (this time when the sub power supply SW100 is turned off is set to t1) (S108), a hardware reset is performed by the CPU 61 ( S109), the OS is restarted (S110). Furthermore, unlike the prior art, the application is also restarted and initialization is started (S111). When the initialization of the application is completed, the application in the initialized state is stored in the volatile RAM 66 (S112). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power OFF mode (S113). In the power OFF mode, power is supplied to the control unit 60. That is, since power is supplied to the volatile RAM 66, information stored in the volatile RAM 66 is retained. When the sub power source SW100 is turned on in the power off mode (this time when the sub power source SW100 is turned off is set to t2) (S114), the application in the initialization state stored in the volatile RAM 66 is read, Returning to the initialization state is performed (S115).

  In the present embodiment, the time required for shifting from the power-off mode to the standby mode, that is, the return time of the image forming apparatus 1 is shortened by the time when the application is initialized as compared with the conventional technique. That is, the initialization time of the application that has been conventionally included in the return sequence is made part of the shutdown sequence, so that the return time is shortened.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence chart for explaining the transition process from the standby mode to the power-off mode of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. This sequence chart corresponds to the flow from step 107 to step 116 in FIG. When the sub power SW 100 is turned off in the standby mode, the CPU 61 performs a hardware reset and restarts the OS. In addition, the application is also initialized and restarted. When everything is initialized, the application in the initialized state is stored in the volatile RAM 66. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power OFF mode. Thereafter, when the sub power SW 100 is turned on in the power OFF mode, the CPU 61 reads the application in the initialization state stored in the volatile RAM 66. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 can be quickly returned to the standby mode.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of a communication procedure between the control unit 60 and peripheral devices in the OS and application startup processing. This sequence chart corresponds to the description of the details of the flow from step 102 to step 106 and from step 110 to step 111 when a negative determination (No) is made at step 103 in FIG. In FIG. 5, time advances from top to bottom on the page.

  After starting the activation of the OS, the control unit 60 turns on the first power supply control SW11, the second power supply control SW21, the third power supply control SW31, and the fourth power supply control SW41. As a result, the power of each peripheral device is turned on and application initialization is started. Further, the control unit 60 transmits a signal for synchronizing with each peripheral device to each peripheral device. When the peripheral device receives the signal, the peripheral device executes processing for responding to the control unit 60. Then, the peripheral device transmits an acknowledgment signal Ack to the control unit 60. Thereby, communication is established between the control unit 60 and each peripheral device. Thereafter, the control unit 60 acquires device information of the peripheral device from each peripheral device and stores it in the volatile RAM 66 or the nonvolatile RAM 67. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 becomes operable.

In the present embodiment, the application is stored in the volatile RAM 66 in a state where information resources necessary for the application to operate are held. Therefore, there is a possibility that information resources cannot be reused when an application is read and started. For example, JOB processing such as time-specified facsimile and printing, and information resources used for an external server such as DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) cannot be reused because they are time-related information. Therefore, regarding such information resources, when the sub power supply SW100 is turned on and returns to the standby mode, the latest information is always acquired and updated.
Further, the device information of peripheral devices not related to time may be acquired by the control unit 60 during the activation of the application in step 111 of FIG. Then, when the sub power SW 100 is turned on in step 114 and the application returns to the initialized state, there is no need to acquire it again.

  In the present embodiment, the volatile RAM 66 is used as the memory for storing the application in the initialized state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a nonvolatile RAM 67 may be used.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 6 is a hardware block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the volatile RAM 66 in the first embodiment is not provided. In the second embodiment, the nonvolatile RAM 67 plays the role of the volatile RAM 66 in the first embodiment. In addition, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are used for the same constituent elements of the second embodiment as those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the activation process and the mode transition process of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. When the main power supply SW90 is turned off (step 201) and the main power supply SW90 is turned on (step 202), power is supplied to the control unit 60 and cold boot is started. Then, the CPU 61 reads the BootLoader from the ROM 65 and activates the read BootLoader (step 203). The BootLoader is a program that is executed first when the main power SW 90 is turned on.

Next, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the current activation of the image forming apparatus 1 is the first activation based on the activation flag as an example of the activation history (step 204). The activation flag will be described later. If an affirmative determination (Yes) is made, that is, the first activation, the CPU 61 selects and executes reading of the OS from the ROM 65 and stores it in the nonvolatile RAM 67. Then, the CPU 61 starts the OS instead of the BootLoader from here (step 205).
Next, the CPU 61 reads the initialization program from the ROM 65, stores it in the nonvolatile RAM 67, executes the initialization program, initializes and starts the application (step 206). In step 205 and step 206, the OS and application in the initialized state are stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67. The area of the nonvolatile RAM 67 is defined as area 1. The area 1 is an area for storing a running OS or application.

  Further, the CPU 61 stores the OS and application in the initialized state in the nonvolatile RAM 67 (step 207). Here, assuming that the area of the nonvolatile RAM 67 for storing the OS and applications is an area 2, the area 2 is an area different from the area 1. The area 2 is an area for storing the OS and applications in the initialized state in preparation for returning the OS and applications to the initialized state. When the process of storing in the nonvolatile RAM 67 is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the standby mode (step 209).

When the CPU 61 accepts that the sub power SW 100 is turned off in the standby mode (step 210), the CPU 61 reads the OS and applications in the initialization state stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67 in step 207 from the area 2. Then, the CPU 61 stores the read OS and application in the initialized state in the area 1. As a result, the OS and application are returned to the initialized state (step 211).
Further, the CPU 61 sets, for example, “ON (1)” as the activation flag in the nonvolatile RAM 67, and leaves a history of activation of the image forming apparatus 1 (step 212). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power OFF mode (step 213).
Next, when the sub power SW 100 is turned on in the power OFF mode, the process proceeds to step 203. When the main power supply 90 is turned off in the power supply OFF mode, the process proceeds to step 201.

  If the determination in step 204 is negative (No), that is, if it is the second or subsequent activation, the CPU 61 stores the OS and applications in the initialized state stored in the area 1 of the nonvolatile RAM 67 in step 211. Select to run and run. As a result, the CPU 61 returns the OS and application to the initialized state (step 208). When the return to the initialization state is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the standby mode (step 209).

  The trigger for erasing the boot history stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67, for example, the trigger for setting the boot flag to “off (0)” can be considered when the ROM 65 is upgraded, or when a system failure occurs. By setting the activation flag to “off (0)”, the next time the BootLoader is activated, the CPU 61 determines that it is the first activation (step 204). For this reason, the CPU 61 does not read the initialization state stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67 but reads the program such as the OS from the ROM 65 again.

  In this flowchart, the CPU 61 stores the OS and application in the initialization state read in step 211 in the area 1. However, in step 208, the CPU 61 stores the OS and application in the initialization state read in area 1. You may do it. That is, in step 208, the CPU 61 reads the OS and application in the initialized state stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67 in step 207 from the area 2, and stores the read OS and application in the initialized state in the area 1. May be. In this case, the CPU 61 selects and executes the OS and application in the initialization state stored in the area 1 after storing the read OS and application in the initialization state in the area 1.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of a transition process from the state where the main power supply SW 90 of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 6 is off to the standby mode. First, when the main power switch 90 is turned on (S202 in FIG. 7), the BootLoader is activated by the CPU 61, and the CPU 61 determines whether the activation of the image forming apparatus 1 is the first activation (S203, S204). In this example, since this is the first activation, the OS is read from the ROM by the CPU 61, and the read OS is activated (S205). After the OS startup is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power OFF mode. When the sub power SW 100 is turned on in the power OFF mode, the CPU 61 starts initialization and starts (S206). After the initialization of the application is completed, the state in which all of the OS and the application are initialized is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67 by the CPU 61 (S207). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the standby mode (S209).

  Here, in the first embodiment, when the sub power supply SW100 is turned off in the standby mode, the OS and the application are initialized and restarted after the hardware reset by the CPU 61. After the OS and application are restarted, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the power-off mode.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, when the sub power source SW100 is turned off in the standby mode (S210), unlike the first embodiment, the CPU 61 reads the OS and applications in the initialized state stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67. Then, the OS and application are returned to the initialized state by the CPU 61 (S211). The nonvolatile RAM 67 can hold stored information even when power is not supplied. Therefore, even if a hardware reset is performed by the CPU 61 after the sub power SW 100 is turned off, the OS and applications in the initialized state are held in the nonvolatile RAM 67. Therefore, the CPU 61 does not need to restart the OS and application, and can return the OS and application to the initialized state. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 is shifted to the power-off mode at a higher speed than in the first embodiment.

  Next, when the sub power SW 100 is turned on in the power OFF mode, since the history of the last activation remains, the CPU 61 determines that the activation is performed for the second time or later (step 204). Therefore, the CPU 61 reads the OS and applications in the initialized state stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67. Then, the CPU 61 returns the OS and application to the initialized state (step 208). In the present embodiment, the return time of the image forming apparatus 1 is shortened by the time required to initialize the OS and the application as compared with the prior art. Further, since the nonvolatile RAM 67 is used as an area for storing the OS and applications in the initialized state, the stored information is retained even when the main power supply SW 90 is turned off. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the time required to shift from the state where the main power supply SW 90 is turned off to the standby mode.

  In the first embodiment, a volatile RAM 66 composed of DRAM is used, and Self Refresh is performed by the volatile RAM 66 in the power OFF mode. For this reason, the volatile RAM 66 needs to be supplied with power necessary for Self Refresh. However, the nonvolatile RAM 67 used in the second embodiment can hold stored information even when power is not supplied. Therefore, it is possible to suppress power consumption in the power OFF mode as compared with the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the timing at which the CPU 61 stores the OS and applications in the initialized state in the nonvolatile RAM 67 is the first startup when the main power SW 90 is turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, at the first transition from the standby mode to the power-off mode, the hardware reset by the CPU 61 may be performed and the OS and applications may be initialized, and then stored in the nonvolatile RAM 67.

In the second embodiment, the control unit 60 does not include the volatile RAM 66. However, the control unit 60 may include the volatile RAM 66. In this case, for example, the CPU 61 may use the volatile RAM 66 as a work area of the program, and store data that is temporarily generated during execution of the program in the volatile RAM 66. However, the CPU 61 must store the application in the initialized state in the nonvolatile RAM 67.
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the CPU 61 is configured to store all of the applications in the initialized state in either the volatile RAM 66 or the nonvolatile RAM 67. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the CPU 61 may be configured to store a part of the application in the initialized state in the nonvolatile RAM 67 and store the rest in the volatile RAM 66.

  In the first and second embodiments, the OS and the programs of the peripheral devices are arranged in the ROM 65, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, each program may be arranged in a server device connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a network, for example. Further, for example, the OS and programs of each peripheral device may be arranged in the nonvolatile RAM 67.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where an OS exists as a basic program has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the application may be directly activated instead of being activated on the OS.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the control unit 60 is incorporated in the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may be applied to an apparatus that is configured by a combination of a plurality of units and whose configuration can be changed as the plurality of units are attached and detached.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Image forming part, 11 ... 1st power supply control SW, 20 ... Image reading part, 21 ... 2nd power supply control SW, 30 ... UI, 31 ... 3rd power supply control SW, 40 ... Transmission / reception part 41 ... 4th power control SW, 50 ... LED, 60 ... control unit, 61 ... CPU, 62 ... bus bridge, 63 ... memory bus, 64 ... PCI bus, 65 ... ROM, 66 ... volatile RAM, 67 ... nonvolatile RAM, 71 ... PrintIF, 72 ... ScanIF, 73 ... UIIF, 74 ... General-purpose IF, 75 ... GeneralIO, 76 ... Pulse output circuit, 80 ... Power supply unit, 90 ... Main power supply SW, 100 ... Sub power supply SW

Claims (5)

Functional means including an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material;
In response to a power-on request for the functional means, an activation means for initializing and starting the functional means by executing an initialization program for realizing the predetermined function in the functional means;
In response to a power-off request to the functional means activated by the activation means, stop means for stopping the operation of the functional means;
Storage means for storing initialization function information of the function means obtained by executing the initialization program after the start of the function means by the start means and before completion of the stop of the function means by the stop means;
Based on the initialization function information read from the storage unit in response to a power supply return request to the function unit stopped by the stop unit, the function unit is not initialized and is activated by the activation unit and a returning means for returning to,
The storage means is capable of holding the stored information without supplying power, stores the activation history when the function means is activated and the initialization function information of the function means,
The stop means returns the function means to a state activated by the activation means based on the initialization function information read from the storage means in response to a power-off request to the function means, and then the function means To stop the operation of
An image forming apparatus. In response to a power-on request to a function unit having a predetermined function, the function unit starts and initializes the function unit by executing an initialization program for realizing the predetermined function. Means,
In response to a power-off request to the functional means activated by the activation means, stop means for stopping the operation of the functional means;
Storage means for storing initialization function information of the function means obtained by executing the initialization program after the start of the function means by the start means and before completion of the stop of the function means by the stop means;
Based on the initialization function information read from the storage unit in response to a power supply return request to the function unit stopped by the stop unit, the function unit is not initialized and is activated by the activation unit and a returning means for returning to,
The storage means is capable of holding the stored information without supplying power, stores the activation history when the function means is activated and the initialization function information of the function means,
The stop means returns the function means to a state activated by the activation means based on the initialization function information read from the storage means in response to a power-off request to the function means, and then the function means To stop the operation of
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above . Based on the previous SL boot history, claim 2, characterized by further comprising a selection means for selecting whether to restore the function unit by the or activating the functional means by the activation means or said restoring means The information processing apparatus described in 1. 3. The information processing according to claim 2 , wherein the storage unit stores the initialization function information of the functional unit after a power-on request to the functional unit and before the first activation of the functional unit is completed. apparatus. On the computer,
A function for initializing and starting the function means by executing an initialization program for causing the function means to realize the predetermined function in response to a power-on request to the function means having the predetermined function. When,
A function to stop the operation of the functional means in response to a power-off request to the activated functional means;
A function of storing the initialization function information of the functional means obtained by executing the initialization program in the storage unit after starting the functional means and before completing the stop of the functional means;
Based on the initialization function information read from the storage unit in response to a power supply return request to the stopped function means, a function to restore the activated state without initializing the function means is realized. ,
The function to be stored is stored in the storage unit capable of holding stored information without supplying power, and the history of activation of the functional unit and the initialization function information of the functional unit are stored. Let
The function to be stopped is based on the initialization function information read from the storage unit in response to a power-off request to the function unit, and then the function unit is returned to a state activated by the function to be activated. Stop the operation of the functional means
A program characterized by

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