JP2005269096A - Multifunction apparatus and its power saving control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction apparatus capable of fine power saving control at the level of an internal module mounted in a main controller, and to provide a power saving control method of the multifunction apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In a main controller 5, a CPU 6 detects start of transition to a power saving mode by timer interruption, outputs a control signal for turning off peripheral functional units other than an operating panel 16 based on setting information concerning power saving control stored in a memory 15 and configuration information of a connected apparatus to an external power supply control section 7, and transits to a power saving mode by outputting a control signal for interrupting an operation clock to each clock gate circuit of the internal module other than an operating panel interface 13 before the CPU 6 itself transits to sleep mode. Restoration operation at the operating panel interface 13 is detected by an interruption signal of the operating panel interface 13 and then a normal mode is reset. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for power saving control of a multi-function device, and is a unit of various internal modules including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a central processing unit mounted on a main controller according to the connection configuration of peripheral function devices. It is related with the technology which controls power saving.

  As a technique for performing power saving control on a conventional multi-function device, an “image processing device and its control method” disclosed in Patent Document 1 is disclosed.

  The invention of Patent Document 1 includes a controller power source that controls a power source that supplies power to each of a scanner, a printer, and an operation unit, and reduces power consumption by stopping power supply from the controller power source.

The controller turns off the power to the scanner, printer, and operation unit when the scanner, printer, and operation unit remain unused for a certain period of time.
JP 2002-9992 A.

  However, in the configuration of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the controller is always in a state where constant power is supplied in both the normal mode and the sleep mode, and the controller unit consumes even when optimal power saving control is performed. There was a problem that power consumption could not be reduced below power.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a multi-function device and a power-saving control method thereof capable of finely controlling power-saving control of a multi-function device at a chip level and a CPU level mounted on a main controller according to a connection configuration of peripheral devices. For the purpose of provision.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a main controller including a plurality of internal modules centered on a central processing unit, and a plurality of peripheral modules connected to the main controller and controlled by the main controller. A multi-function device having a determination unit for determining an internal module and an external module to be operated in a power-saving state corresponding to a connection configuration of peripheral modules to the main controller, and other than the internal module and the external module determined by the determination unit And a power saving control means for selectively controlling the internal module or the external module to the power saving state in the power saving state.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the determining means determines an internal module and an external module to be operated in a power saving state by a user setting corresponding to a connection configuration of peripheral modules to the main controller. And

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the power saving control means performs at least one of stoppage of selective power supply and clock supply to modules other than the internal module and the external module operated in the power saving state. It is characterized by selectively controlling an internal module or an external module other than the internal module and the external module to be operated in the power saving state by executing the power saving state.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the central processing unit can set a plurality of power saving modes, and the central processing unit corresponds to the connection configuration of the peripheral modules to the main controller. The power saving mode further includes setting means for selecting and setting the power saving mode from a plurality of power saving modes.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the internal module includes a printer interface, and the determining means operates in a power saving state depending on a state of a peripheral module connected to the printer interface. The setting unit determines and sets the power saving mode of the central processing unit according to the state of the peripheral module connected to the printer interface.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the internal module includes a printer interface, and the determining means determines a module other than the internal module and the external module to be operated in the power saving state according to a connection state of the peripheral module to the printer interface. The setting means selects and sets the power saving mode of the central processing unit according to the connection state of the peripheral modules to the printer interface.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power-saving multi-function device including a main controller having a plurality of internal modules centered on a central processing unit, and a plurality of peripheral modules connected to the main controller and controlled by the main controller. In the control method, the internal module and the external module to be operated in the power saving state are determined by the determining unit corresponding to the connection configuration of the peripheral modules to the main controller, and other modules excluding the internal module and the external module determined by the determining unit are determined. In the power saving state, the power saving control means selectively controls the power saving state.

  According to the present invention, since it is possible to perform fine power saving control in units of modules mounted on the main controller of the multi-function device, it is possible to obtain an effect of increasing power saving efficiency.

  Hereinafter, a multifunction device and a power saving control method in the multifunction device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first control configuration according to the multi-function device of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the multi-function device 1 provides a copy and scan function under the control of a plurality of peripheral function devices such as a scanner 3, a print engine 4, and an operation panel 16 controlled by a main controller 5.

  The main controller 5 includes a plurality of internal modules such as a CPU 6, an external power control unit 7, a scanner interface 8, a print engine interface 9, a memory controller 10, an image control unit 12, an operation panel interface 13, and an option interface 14. The modules are connected to each other via the bus 11 with the CPU 6 as the center.

  The CPU 6 has a power saving control function for shifting to a plurality of sleep modes by itself, in addition to the overall control of each internal module mounted on the main controller 5.

  For example, a mode that returns to the normal mode in a short time (hereinafter referred to as “sleep mode 1”), which has a small power saving effect, has a greater power saving effect than the sleep mode 1, and takes time to return to the normal state. Two sleep modes such as a mode (hereinafter referred to as “sleep mode 2”) can be selected according to the purpose.

  The external power supply control unit 7 is an internal module that performs ON / OFF control of the external power supply 2 based on a control signal from the CPU 6.

  The external power supply 2 is a power supply device that individually controls the supply and cut-off of power to the peripheral function devices of the scanner 3, the print engine 4, and the operation panel 16 according to a control signal from the external power supply control unit 7.

  The scanner interface 8 is an internal module that controls image reading processing in the connected scanner 3.

  The print engine interface 9 is an internal module that controls image forming processing in the print engine 4.

  The memory controller 10 is an internal module that intervenes between the bus 11 and the memory 15 and performs memory access control.

  The memory 15 is a storage unit composed of a memory device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores a program and parameters for controlling the multi-function device 1. Manages temporary storage areas of programs, configuration information of peripheral function devices connected when the power is turned on or during operation, power management when switching to the power saving mode, operation clock supply management, CPU sleep mode type, etc. Parameter information is stored.

  The image control unit 12 is an internal module that processes image data at high speed, and processes image data read from the scanner 3 at high speed.

  The operation panel interface 13 is an internal module that detects an input operation on the connected operation panel 16, outputs data to the CPU 6 via the bus 11, and controls conversion processing of display data to be output to the operation panel 16. .

  The option interface 14 is an internal module for adding a peripheral function device such as a printer by adding the peripheral function device option connection unit 17 to the multi-function device 1.

  An operation clock having a predetermined cycle is supplied to the CPU 6, the external power control unit 7, the scanner interface 8, the print engine interface 9, the memory controller 10, and the bus 11 mounted on the main controller 5 by a clock generator. .

  Each internal module includes a clock gate circuit (not shown) so that the supply of the operation clock can be stopped, and this clock gate circuit is controlled by a control signal from the CPU 6.

  Note that the circuit configuration is not limited to this configuration as long as the supply of the operation clock can be controlled for each internal module.

  Therefore, according to the configuration of FIG. 1, the CPU 6 can individually control the supply and cutoff of the operation clock to each internal module mounted on the main controller 5, and can turn on / off the power to each peripheral function device. OFF can be individually controlled.

  Next, a second control configuration for the multi-function device 1 shown in FIG. 1 to add peripheral function devices by connecting options will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration in which a peripheral function device option connection unit 17 for additionally connecting a printer or the like is connected to the option interface 14 in addition to the configuration of the main controller 5 shown in FIG. .

  In FIG. 2, a peripheral function device option connection unit 17 includes a network connection unit 18 for providing a network connection function, and an IEEE (Institut of Electrical And Electrical Engineers) 1284 connection unit when connected to the peripheral function device through a parallel port. (19) and a USB connection unit 20 that provides USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection.

  The option interface 14 controls mutual conversion between a bus interface standard and an interface standard such as IEEE1284 or USB for connecting peripheral function devices.

  Accordingly, when a peripheral function device is connected to the peripheral function device option connection unit 17, the option interface 14 outputs the connection information of the peripheral function device to the bus 11, and the CPU 6 identifies the connected peripheral function device. .

  The CPU 6 reflects the identified peripheral function device information in the configuration information stored in the memory 15.

  Next, a processing procedure when the main controller 5 of the multi-function device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 determines which control configuration is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and performs power saving control will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of power saving control in the multi-function device 1.

  In FIG. 3, the CPU 6 uses the external interrupt from the timer based on the transition condition to the power saving control such as the continuation of the abnormality for a certain period of time in the idle state or the arrival of the start time of the transition to the power saving control as a trigger. To start.

  The CPU 6 monitors the predetermined duration and reads the configuration information of the peripheral function device stored in the memory 15 and the setting information of the power saving control parameter table 400 by a timer interrupt instructing a shift to power saving control ( Step 101).

  The CPU 6 identifies the peripheral function device that stops power supply during the power saving mode based on the connection configuration of the peripheral function device read in step 101 and the parameter table for power saving control, and turns off the power of the identified peripheral function device. The instructed control signal is output to the external power supply control unit 7.

  The external power control unit 7 controls the power switch of the peripheral function device instructed to turn off the power by the control signal from the CPU 6 to be turned off (step 102).

  Based on the read configuration information, the CPU 6 determines whether there is a peripheral function device additionally connected via the option interface 14 (step 103).

  When the peripheral function device is connected to the option interface 14 (YES in step 103), the CPU 6 determines whether the internal module other than the operation panel interface 13 and the option interface 14 is set based on the parameter table setting read from the memory 15. Then, supply of the operation clock is stopped (step 104).

  The CPU 6 determines the type of sleep mode of the CPU 6 itself based on the parameter table read from the memory 15, and gives priority to recovery in a short time suitable for a connection configuration with optional connection such as a printer "sleep mode 1". (Step 105).

  The CPU 6 monitors the generation of an external interrupt signal from the operation panel interface 13 and the option interface 14 to which the operation clock is continuously supplied after shifting to the power saving mode (NO in step 106).

  When the recovery operation from the operation panel 16 or the print request from the peripheral function device connected to the peripheral function device option connection unit 17 is detected (YES in step 106), the CPU 6 returns from the sleep mode to the normal mode (step). 107).

  The CPU 6 specifies the internal module that has stopped the operation clock from the parameter table stored in the memory 15, and outputs a control signal for restarting the supply of the operation clock to the clock gate circuit of each internal module (step 108).

  The CPU 6 identifies the peripheral function device that has stopped power feeding from the parameter table for power saving control, and outputs a control signal instructing resumption of power feeding to the external power control unit 7 (step 109).

  Returning to Step 103 again, if there is no option connection (NO in Step 103), the CPU 6 outputs a control signal for stopping the operation clock to each clock gate circuit of the internal module other than the operation panel interface 13 (Step S103). 110).

  As a sleep mode suitable for a configuration having no option connection, the CPU 6 selects and determines “sleep mode 2”, which has a large power saving effect and does not require restoration in a short time, by setting the parameter table read from the memory 15 and sleeps. The mode is changed (step 111).

  Next, an example of the power saving control parameter table 400 stored in the memory 15 of the multi-function device 1 will be described and described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a parameter table that manages setting information related to power saving control such as a peripheral function device that cuts off power supply during power saving control, an internal module that stops an operation clock, and a sleep mode of the CPU 6.

  In FIG. 4, the power saving control parameter table 400 is roughly classified into four setting areas such as an operation mode setting area 401, a peripheral function device-specific power supply setting area 402, a module-specific operation clock supply setting area 403, and a CPU sleep level setting area 404. be able to.

  The operation mode setting area 401 indicates the power saving mode classification for the multi-function device 1, and is an area for setting the handling of a print job generated during the power saving mode when the printer option is connected.

  The peripheral function device-specific power supply setting area 402 is an area for setting the power ON / OFF for each peripheral function device controlled by the main controller 5 for each power saving mode defined in the operation mode setting area 401.

  In the case of a configuration in which a printer is connected, the parameter setting is further managed for each print job handling category set in the operation mode setting area 401.

  Thus, by referring to the operation mode setting area 401, during the power saving mode, the peripheral function device to be turned off can be specified by the combination of the configuration of the connected peripheral function device and the power saving mode.

  The module-specific operation clock supply setting area 403 is an area for setting whether or not it is necessary to supply an operation clock during transition to the power saving mode for each internal module mounted on the main controller 5.

  The CPU sleep level setting area 404 is an area for setting the CPU sleep level for each power saving control mode defined in the operation mode setting area 401.

  Therefore, the CPU 6 performs power supply control of the peripheral function device, control of supply of the operation clock to the internal module, and selection of its own sleep mode according to the setting content corresponding to the power saving mode of each area of the power saving control parameter table 400. be able to.

  In the power saving control process shown in FIG. 3, when there is a peripheral function device connected as an option, the operation clock to the option interface 14 is supplied even during the power saving control in order to prevent a print job from being missed. However, if the user has made a setting that allows the user to miss a print job that occurred in the process of returning to the normal mode, the operation clock stop control for the peripheral function device option connection unit 17 is performed in step 104, or The sleep mode of the CPU 6 in step S106 may be set to “sleep mode 2”.

  In addition, in the power saving control parameter table 400 shown in FIG. 4, the selection of each power saving mode defined in the operation mode setting area 401, the power management setting shown in the power supply setting area 402 for each peripheral function device, and the operation clock supply for each module The user interface control means that can be selected and set by the user on the operation panel 16 is added to the main controller 5 for the operation clock supply setting shown in the setting area 403, and the power saving control is performed with the parameters set by the user. Also good.

  The multi-function device and the power-saving control method in the multi-function device of the present invention can be effectively used for power saving of a device that provides multi-functions by controlling a plurality of peripheral function devices by a main controller. This is effective when fine power-saving control at the module level mounted on the main controller is required.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first control configuration in the multi-function device of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second control configuration in the multi-function device of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a power saving control processing procedure in which the first configuration shown in FIG. 1 and the second configuration shown in FIG. 2 are discriminated in the multi-function device of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the parameter table which manages the setting information regarding power saving control, such as the peripheral function apparatus which interrupts | blocks the electric power feeding in power saving control, the internal module which stops an operation clock, and the sleep mode of CPU.

Explanation of symbols

1 Multifunctional Device 2 External Power Supply 3 Scanner 4 Print Engine 5 Main Controller 6 CPU
7 External power supply control unit 8 Scanner interface 9 Print engine interface 10 Memory controller 11 Bus 12 Image processing module 13 Operation panel interface 14 Option interface 15 Memory 16 Operation panel 17 Peripheral function device option connection unit 18 Network connection unit 19 IEEE 1284 connection unit 20 USB Connection unit 400 Power saving control parameter table 401 Operation mode setting area 402 Power supply setting area for each peripheral function device 403 Operation clock supply setting area for each module 404 CPU sleep level setting area

Claims (7)

In a multi-function device having a main controller having a plurality of internal modules centered on a central processing unit, and a plurality of peripheral modules connected to the main controller and controlled by the main controller,
Determining means for determining an internal module and an external module to be operated in a power-saving state corresponding to a connection configuration of the peripheral module to the main controller;
A power saving control means for selectively controlling other internal modules or external modules other than the internal module and the external module determined by the determining means to be in a power saving state in the power saving state. The determining means includes
The multi-function device according to claim 1, wherein an internal module and an external module to be operated in the power saving state are determined by a user setting corresponding to a connection configuration of the peripheral module with respect to the main controller. The power saving control means includes:
The other internal module and the external module are selectively controlled to a power saving state by executing at least one of a selective power supply stop or a clock supply stop to the other internal module and the other external module. The multi-function device according to claim 1. The central processing unit is
Multiple power saving modes can be set,
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to select and set a power saving mode of the central processing unit from the plurality of power saving modes corresponding to a connection configuration of the peripheral module with respect to the main controller. A multi-function device according to any one of the above. The internal module is
Including a printer interface,
The determining means includes
The other internal modules and external modules are determined according to the status of peripheral modules connected to the printer interface,
The setting means includes
The multi-function device according to claim 4, wherein the power saving mode of the central processing unit is selected and set according to a state of a peripheral module connected to the printer interface. The internal module is
Including a printer interface,
The determining means includes
The other internal modules and external modules are determined according to the connection state of peripheral modules to the printer interface,
The setting means includes
The multi-function device according to claim 4, wherein a power saving mode of the central processing unit is selected and set according to a connection state of peripheral modules to the printer interface. In a power saving control method for a multi-function device having a main controller having a plurality of internal modules centered on a central processing unit, and a plurality of peripheral modules connected to the main controller and controlled by the main controller,
The internal module and the external module to be operated in the power saving state corresponding to the connection configuration of the peripheral module to the main controller are determined by the determining unit,
A power saving control method for a multi-function device, wherein the internal module and the external module other than the internal module and the external module determined by the determining means are selectively controlled to a power saving state by the power saving control means in the power saving state. .

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