JP2010201705A - Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer device capable of suppressing unnecessary power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: As for the printer device, when the line quality of a network is degraded and the connection is not established, the power source of its body is turned off. In addition, when an error, such as using up of paper or a decrease in an amount of remaining ink, from which the printer can recover, occurs, the printer shifts to a power-saving state, from which the printer can also recover. When it is determined that the cause of an error is removed by replenishing the printer with paper or ink, the printer returns to a normal condition which enables printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and a program, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that suppresses power consumption when a communication error occurs and notifies a user, and an image forming apparatus control method and program. .

  With the further progress of integrated circuit technology and the rapid development of information communication technology, information devices such as personal computers and digital cameras have been widely spread for office use and home use, and their performance has been remarkably improved.

  In addition, with the widespread use of the above information devices, the demand for printer devices as output devices is also increasing. In particular, ink jet printer apparatuses that form images with ink droplets of a plurality of colors are used in various industrial fields and for home use.

  In particular, in recent years, the advancement of inkjet printer technology has led to printer devices capable of outputting high-definition color images such as color photographs, and large-format printer devices capable of outputting to large recording media having A0 and B0 widths. Has been developed.

  In recent years, network technology has rapidly advanced, and it is common for a printer apparatus to be provided with a network interface and to share the printer apparatus connected to the network among a plurality of users.

  Incidentally, in recent years, there has been a demand for lower power consumption of electrical devices, and in printer apparatuses, it is also required to keep power consumption as low as possible not only during printing but also during standby or when an error occurs. In particular, in a printer device connected to a network and shared by many host devices, it is necessary to perform power management according to the state of the printer device without impairing the convenience of the user.

  2. Description of the Related Art A printer system is known that includes a power supply control unit that turns off a printer device if the printer device generates a connection confirmation command and the printer device cannot decode the connection confirmation command to which the host device responds ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 35922216

  However, in the above conventional printer system, the user cannot decode the connection confirmation command from the host device such as the host computer, and therefore can determine whether the power is turned off or the power is intentionally turned off. Can not. For this reason, since the connection confirmation command from the host device cannot be decoded, there is a problem that a plurality of users repeatedly turn on the power even though the power is off.

  Further, in an environment where a plurality of computer devices are connected to a network, there is a problem that functions for decoding and issuing a connection confirmation command must be installed in all the host devices.

  Furthermore, the printer device has a problem that a desired function cannot be realized unless a connection confirmation command is issued to all host devices connected to the network and the response is decoded.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printer apparatus that can suppress unnecessary power consumption.

  The present invention is a printer apparatus that turns off the power of the printer apparatus main body when the line quality of the network is deteriorated or when the connection cannot be established.

  In addition, the present invention shifts to a recoverable power saving state when a recoverable error such as out of paper or low ink level occurs, detects the cause of the error by replenishing paper or ink, and prints normally. This is a printer device that returns to a state.

  According to the present invention, when a communication error occurs a certain number of times or more on the network interface, the user is notified of the occurrence of the error, and the power consumption of the printer device can be minimized. .

1 is a block diagram of a printer apparatus 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the input / output of the power supply circuit 129. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence between an operation mode of the printer apparatus and each power source. It is a figure which shows the communication error display circuit of a display means. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure in operation | movement in normal operation mode. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a printing processing operation.

  The mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer apparatus 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The printer apparatus 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus that has a power saving operation mode that consumes less power than when waiting for receiving image data, generates image forming data from the image data, and forms an image on a storage medium. The printer apparatus 100 includes an image forming controller apparatus 101, a printer engine 133, a power supply circuit 129, and a sensor 131.

  The image forming controller device 101 receives a print instruction and image data for printing from a host device such as a personal computer, and converts the received image data into binary image data that can be printed by the printer engine 133. ,Output.

  The image forming controller device 101 includes a CPU 102, a network interface 103, a display unit control circuit 104, an operation unit control circuit 105, a serial communication control circuit 106, and an EEPROM controller 107. The image forming controller device 101 includes a RAM controller 108, a ROM controller 109, an expansion bus circuit 110, an image processing unit 111, a sensor control circuit 112, and a printer engine interface 113.

  Further, each of these blocks is connected to the system bus bridge 114 via bus lines 115a to 115l. In the first embodiment, these blocks are realized as a system LSI as an image forming controller ASIC 116 sealed in one package. ASIC is an Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

  Further, the image forming controller device 101 includes a display unit 117, an operation unit 118, an RTC unit 120, an EEPROM 122, a RAM 124, a ROM 126, and an expansion slot 127 in which a function expansion unit is mounted.

  The CPU 102 controls the entire image forming controller device 101. The CPU 102 controls the network interface 103, the display unit 117, and the operation unit 118 by sequentially reading and executing control procedures stored in the ROM 126 or RAM 124. The CPU 102 controls the image processing unit 111 for converting the received image data into image formation data, and controls the printer engine interface 113 for transferring the generated image formation data to the printer engine 133.

  Further, when detecting a communication abnormality in the network interface 103, the CPU 102 controls the power supply circuit 129 to turn on the communication abnormality display power supply and turn off the other power supplies. Further, the CPU 102 has a sleep function for stopping the processing operation until an interrupt is input.

  The network interface 103 is a block that provides a wired transmission / reception function conforming to a network communication system such as 1000BASE-T or 100BASE-TX. The network interface 103 transmits / receives data to / from a host device such as a personal computer or a workstation connected via a network. Further, the network interface 103 detects the attachment / detachment of the network cable by observing the potential change, and notifies the CPU 102 as an interrupt.

  The display means control circuit 104 outputs an electrical signal to the liquid crystal display device and the LED lamp that constitute the display means 117.

  The operation means control circuit 105 notifies the state of the electrical signal output from the switch constituting the operation means 118 as register information in response to a read command from the CPU 102. Further, the operation means control circuit 105 generates an interrupt signal to the CPU 102 when a change occurs in the state of the electrical signal output from the switch.

  The serial communication control circuit 106 controls the RTC unit 120 connected to the image forming controller ASIC 116 via the serial communication interface 119.

  The CPU 102 can read information from the connected RTC unit 120 by reading and writing to the serial communication control circuit 106, and can write information to the RTC unit 120. Note that the communication method of the serial communication interface 119 may be any method such as I2C (registered trademark) of a two-wire interface, SPI (registered trademark) or Microwire (registered trademark) of a three-wire interface.

  The EEPROM controller 107 controls the EEPROM 122 connected to the image forming controller ASIC 116 via the serial communication interface 121. The EEPROM controller 107 generates a necessary control signal in response to a read request from the CPU 102, reads data stored in advance in the EEPROM 122, and sends back the read content to the CPU 102 via the system bus bridge 114. The EEPROM controller 107 generates a necessary control signal on the serial communication interface 121 in response to a write request from the CPU 102 and rewrites the contents of the EEPROM 122. Note that the communication method of the serial communication interface 121 is any method such as I2C (registered trademark), SPI (registered trademark), or Microwire (registered trademark), as with the serial communication interface 119 connecting the RTC unit. Also good.

  In the first embodiment, the RTC unit 120 and the EEPROM 122 are controlled by different control blocks, that is, the serial communication control circuit 106 and the EEPROM controller 107. However, an RTC device and an EEPROM device may be connected to one control block, and a device to be accessed may be specified by device address information.

  The RAM controller 108 controls the RAM 124 connected to the image forming controller ASIC 116 via the RAM bus 123. The RAM controller 108 relays data to be written or read between each block having the CPU 102 and the DMAC and the RAM 124. The RAM controller 108 generates a necessary control signal in response to a read request or a write request from the CPU 102 and each block, writes it to the RAM 124, and reads it from the RAM 124.

  The ROM controller 109 controls the ROM 126 connected to the image forming controller ASIC 116 via the ROM bus 125. The ROM controller 109 generates necessary control signals in response to a read request from the CPU 102, reads control procedures and data stored in advance in the ROM 126, and reads the contents read to the CPU 102 via the system bus bridge 114. Send back. Further, when the ROM 126 is configured by an electrically rewritable device such as a flash memory, the ROM controller 109 generates a necessary control signal and rewrites the contents of the ROM 126.

  The expansion bus circuit 110 controls the function expansion unit installed in the expansion slot 127, and performs control to transmit data to the function expansion unit and control to receive data output from the function expansion unit via the expansion bus 128. . In the expansion slot 127, a hard disk drive unit that provides a large-capacity storage function, or a communication unit that communicates with a host device by a communication function that conforms to IEEE1284 or the like in addition to USB or IEEE1394 can be mounted.

  The image processing unit 111 converts the image data received from the host device into printable binary image data by the printer engine 133.

  The sensor control circuit 112 has an analog-digital conversion circuit that digitizes an electrical signal output from the sensor 131 into a format that can be read by the CPU 102, and converts the sensor value into a digital output value in accordance with a read command from the CPU 102. Output as. Further, the sensor control circuit 112 generates an interrupt signal to the CPU 102 when a change occurs in the state of the electric signal output from each sensor constituting the sensor 131.

  The printer engine interface 113 is a block that transmits and receives data between the image forming controller device 101 and the printer engine 133. The printer engine interface 113 has a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller). Thus, the printer engine interface 113 sequentially reads the binary image data generated by the image processing unit 111 and stored in the RAM 124 via the RAM controller 108 and transfers the binary image data to the printer engine 133.

  Note that the image processing unit 111, the network interface 103, and the expansion bus circuit 110 have a DMAC and issue a memory access request, like the printer engine interface 113.

  The system bus bridge 114 connects blocks constituting the image forming controller ASIC 116, and arbitrates a bus right when an access request is issued simultaneously from a plurality of blocks. In some cases, the CPU 102 and each block having a DMAC issue access requests to the RAM 124 almost simultaneously via the RAM controller 108. In this case, the system bus bridge 114 can appropriately arbitrate according to a priority designated in advance.

  The display means 117 includes a liquid crystal display device and an LED lamp. The liquid crystal display device displays an operation state of the printer device 100 and displays a menu screen by operating a menu button or the like of the operation unit 118. The LED lamp displays an operation status and a warning display of the printer apparatus 100. In the first embodiment, the display unit 117 includes a communication error display LED lamp that notifies network communication abnormality, and when the notification power is supplied from the power supply circuit 129, the communication error display LED lamp is turned on.

  The operation means 118 is composed of switches that are linked to buttons for setting the operation of the printer apparatus 100, and outputs the states of these switches as electrical signals. Further, the operation means 118 outputs a change in the state of the switch due to the operation of the operation button as a change in the electrical signal.

  The operation unit 118 has a power button for instructing to turn the printer apparatus 100 on and off. Further, the operation means 118 includes an online button for switching the operation mode, a menu button for instructing display of the menu screen, an up / down / left / right cross button for selecting an item from the menu screen, and an OK button for confirming the selection item. And have. In addition, the operation unit 118 includes a stop button for instructing to stop printing and a paper feed selection button for selecting a paper feeding method for printing paper.

  The RTC unit 120 includes an RTC device having a serial communication interface, a crystal resonator for generating a reference clock, and the like. The RTC unit 120 measures the time in the year, month, day of the week, and second unit, and notifies the time information through the serial communication interface 119.

  The EEPROM 122 is composed of an EEPROM having a serial communication interface and stores parameters necessary for controlling the printer apparatus 100.

  The RAM 124 is configured by a double data rate type synchronous DRAM (DDR-SDRAM or DDRII-SDRAM) or the like. The RAM 124 is a memory block that provides functions such as storage of control procedures executed by the CPU 102, temporary storage of image forming data generated by the image processing unit 111, and work memory of the CPU 102. The RAM 124 temporarily stores image data received by the network interface 103 from the host device, temporarily stores data exchanged with a function expansion unit connected via the expansion bus 128, and the like. Provides the functionality of The RAM 124 formed of a synchronous DRAM has a self-refresh function, and can stop the clock supply during the self-refresh.

  The ROM 126 is configured with a flash memory or the like, and stores a control procedure executed by the CPU 102. The flash memory is an electrically rewritable and non-volatile device, and the control procedure can be rewritten by following a predetermined sequence.

  In addition, each circuit block has a register for setting an operation mode and the like, and the CPU 102 can set the operation mode and the like of each circuit block via a register access bus (not shown).

  The power supply circuit 129 generates a DC power supply having a constant voltage from the AC commercial power supply, and supplies power to each circuit block via a power supply line (not shown). Details of the power supply circuit will be described later.

  The sensor 131 includes various sensors that detect the state of the printer. The sensor 131 includes sensors for detecting the presence or absence of printing paper, detection of opening / closing of the ink tank cover, detection of attachment / detachment of the roll holder, and the like. The state can be notified as a signal.

  The printer engine 133 is a printing mechanism that prints an image on a recording medium based on binary image data sent from the image forming controller device 101. In the first embodiment, the printer engine 133 is an ink jet system, and has six colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), light cyan (LC), and light magenta (LM). An image is recorded with ink.

  Next, a power supply circuit of the printer apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating input / output of the power supply circuit 129. The power supply circuit 129 receives an AC commercial power supply of 100V50Hz or 100V60Hz as an input. As the power to be supplied to each block of the printer apparatus 100, the main power (Vm), the sub power (Vs), the control power (Vc), and the notification power (Vn) are generated. Each of these power sources is a DC power source. The main power supply Vm and the sub power supply Vs generate power supplies having a plurality of output voltages in accordance with the voltages required for each block.

  The main power source Vm is supplied to a block that needs to be supplied with power even in the normal operation state during printing and printing standby and in the power saving mode. The sub power supply Vs is supplied to a block that needs to be supplied with power only in the normal operation state during printing and during printing standby.

  The control power supply Vc is supplied to a circuit block that controls on / off of the power supply of the printer apparatus 100. In the first embodiment, the control power source Vc is connected to one terminal of the power button of the operation unit 118 that controls the power on or off of the printer apparatus 100.

  The notification power source Vn is a power source that is supplied to the communication error display LED of the display unit 117 and its peripheral circuits when there is a network communication abnormality and the printer apparatus 100 is stopped.

  The power supply circuit 129 has a control signal input terminal, and can change the type of power to be generated according to the supplied control signal.

  The printer apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment has four operation modes including an on mode, a power saving mode, a communication error display mode, and an off mode.

  The on mode is an operation mode at the time of printing standby in which the printer apparatus 100 is performing a printing operation or can receive a print job. The on mode is an operation mode with the largest power consumption in the printer device 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The power saving mode is a mode that waits for reception of a new print job in an operation state that consumes less power than the on mode. It is possible to return from the power saving mode to the on mode in a relatively short time.

  In the power saving mode, the CPU 102 is in a sleep state until an interrupt is input. Further, the synchronous DRAM of the RAM 124 enters a self-refresh state, and the supply of the synchronous clock is stopped. In the power saving mode, power supply to the ROM 126 is stopped. Thus, in the power saving mode, the supply of power to some of the blocks constituting the printer device 100 is stopped.

  In the communication error display mode, when a print job cannot be normally received due to a network error or the like, power is supplied only to the error display LED circuit among the blocks constituting the printer apparatus 100, and power is supplied to other blocks. It is a mode to stop.

  The communication error display mode is substantially the same operation state as an off mode described later, but the user can discriminate between the two states by turning on the communication error display LED. The off mode is a state in which power supply to each block constituting the printer apparatus 100 is stopped and only the power switch is monitored.

  Next, the output power supply state of the power supply circuit 129 in each operation mode of the printer apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the correspondence between the operation modes of the printer apparatus 100 and the respective power supplies output from the power supply circuit 129. The image forming controller device 101 can output a control signal according to the operation mode. By inputting this control signal to the power supply circuit 129, the power supply circuit 129 outputs a power supply of a predetermined system.

  During a printing operation or in a print standby where the printer apparatus 100 can receive a print job, the control power supply Vc, the main power supply Vm, and the sub power supply Vs are on, and the notification power supply Vn is off. In the power saving mode, the control power source Vc and the main power source Vm are on, and the sub power source Vs and the notification power source Vn are off. On the other hand, in the communication error display mode, the control power supply Vc and the notification power supply Vn are on, and the main power supply Vm and the sub power supply Vs are off.

  In the off mode, the printer apparatus 100 stops operating, only the control power supply Vc is on, and the main power supply Vm, the sub power supply Vs, and the notification power supply Vn are off. If the printer apparatus 100 is not connected to an external commercial power supply, all power output is turned off.

  Next, a communication error display circuit constituting the display unit 117 of the printer apparatus 100 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication error display circuit of the display means. The communication error display circuit includes an LED 401 and a resistor R402. The anode of the LED 401 is connected to the notification power supply Vn output of the power supply circuit 129 through the resistor R402. The cathode of the LED 401 is connected to the ground. The LED 401 of the communication error display circuit is turned on when the notification power Vn is supplied during the communication error display mode, and is turned off in the other modes.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the printer apparatus 100 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure during operation in the normal operation mode in which the printer apparatus 100 can receive a print job. While the printer apparatus 100 is operating in the normal operation mode, the CPU 102 executes a control procedure of a program stored in advance in the ROM 126 or the RAM 124, and executes the processing procedure shown in FIG.

  That is, in step S <b> 501, the CPU 102 determines whether reception of a print job from the host device is started via the network interface 103. If the reception of the print job has been started, the process proceeds to S502. If the reception of the print job has not been started, the process returns to S501.

  In step S <b> 502, the CPU 102 receives a print job via the network interface 103. The received print job data is stored in the RAM 124. When the print job data is received, the process proceeds to S503.

  In step S <b> 503, the CPU 102 determines whether a protocol error exceeding a certain ratio has not occurred in the network protocol interpretation during reception of the print job. If a protocol error exceeding a certain ratio has not occurred, the process proceeds to S504. On the other hand, if a protocol error has occurred at a certain rate or more, the process proceeds to S505. In step S504, the CPU 102 executes a normal print processing operation. Details of the print processing operation will be described later.

  On the other hand, if a protocol error of a certain ratio or more is detected in S503, the CPU 102 shifts to the communication error display mode in S505, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the communication error mode to the power supply circuit 129. By this control, the power supply circuit 129 turns on the notification power supply, energizes the communication error display LED, and turns off the other power supply to shift the printer apparatus 100 to the off state. At this time, since the power supply of the CPU 102 is also stopped, the processing flow is stopped in this step.

  Next, the print processing operation of the printer apparatus 100 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a print processing operation executed when the printer apparatus 100 receives a print job from the host apparatus. When the printer device 100 receives a print job from the host device while operating in the normal operation mode, the CPU 102 executes a control procedure stored in advance in the ROM 126 or the RAM 124, and in the middle of the processing procedure shown in FIG. Execute.

  That is, in S601, the CPU 102 determines whether or not a print sheet corresponding to the received print job is set in the printer apparatus 100. If a certain sheet is set, the process proceeds to S602. On the other hand, if the printing paper corresponding to the print job is not set, the process proceeds to S604.

  In step S602, the CPU 102 detects the remaining ink amount, determines whether or not each color ink remains, and proceeds to step S603 if ink remains. On the other hand, if no ink remains, the process proceeds to S604.

  In step S <b> 603, the CPU 102 performs image processing on the received print job data, and converts the image data into a format printable by the printer engine 133. Further, the converted image data is transmitted to the printer engine 133, print processing is performed, and this processing operation ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S601 that no paper is set, or if it is determined in S602 that no ink remains, the process proceeds to S604. In step S604, the CPU 102 outputs a control signal to the display unit 117 via the display unit control circuit 104 so as to perform a corresponding error display, and the process proceeds to step S605.

  In step S605, the CPU 102 performs processing for shifting to the power saving mode. In the first embodiment, a process for shifting to the power saving mode and an instruction code to be resumed by an interrupt input (S606) are stored in the cache memory of the CPU 102, and the process in this step is performed by executing the code on the cache memory. Execute. In this step, the RAM 124 is shifted to a self-refresh operation, and the clock supplied to the RAM 124 is stopped. Further, the CPU 102 outputs a control signal corresponding to the power saving mode to the power supply circuit 129. By this control, the power supply circuit turns off the sub power supply, and power supply to the ROM 126 and the like is stopped. In S605, after ending the process of shifting to the power saving mode, the CPU executes a WAITI instruction to stop in the sleep state until receiving an interrupt, and stops this processing operation.

  Thereafter, when the printing paper is set or the ink tank is set, the sensor 131 detects it, and the sensor control circuit 112 notifies the CPU 102 as an interrupt. When the CPU 102 receives an interrupt from the sensor control circuit 112, the CPU 102 returns from the sleep state and resumes execution after the instruction following the WAITI instruction. In this processing operation, the process returns to S601, and if a certain sheet and ink are set, the printing process is executed according to the operation procedure described above.

  As described above, by performing the processing according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when a communication error occurs on the network interface, the user is notified of the occurrence of the error, and the printer apparatus 100. Power consumption can be minimized. Furthermore, when there is a shortage of recording members such as recording media or ink, it is possible to suppress power consumption of the printer apparatus 100, detect replenishment of the recording media or recording members, and return to normal operation.

  In addition, the said Example can be applied to the system comprised by the some apparatus, and may be applied to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  Further, the above embodiments may be realized by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above embodiments to the system or apparatus. In other words, the above embodiment may be realized by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code can also realize the above-described embodiment. As a storage medium for providing the program code, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used. The program code read out by the computer may include a case where the OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  In addition, the program code read from the storage medium includes a case where the CPU of the expansion board or the expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above embodiments are realized by the processing. . At this time, the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then based on the instruction of the program code. Executed.

  According to the above embodiment, when a communication error occurs a certain number of times or more on the network interface, it is possible to notify the user of the occurrence of the error and to suppress the power consumption of the printer apparatus to the minimum. Further, according to the above embodiment, when the recording medium or the recording member is insufficient, the power consumption of the printer device 100 can be suppressed, the replenishment of the recording medium or the recording member can be detected, and the normal operation can be restored.

  In the above embodiment, the network interface 103 is an example of a communication unit that communicates with another electronic device via a network. The CPU 102 is an example of a determination unit that determines whether a communication abnormality has occurred during communication performed by the communication unit. A display unit 117 is an example of a display unit that displays an operation state of the image forming apparatus.

  The power supply circuit 129 is an example of a first power supply unit that supplies power to the display unit. The sensor 131 is an example of a first detection unit that detects a shortage of recording media or recording members. The power supply circuit 129 is an example of a second power supply unit that supplies power for operating the image forming apparatus in a power saving operation mode.

  When the determination unit determines that a communication abnormality has occurred during communication, the CPU 102 causes the first power supply unit to supply power only to the display unit. The CPU 102 is an example of a first control unit. The first control means determines that the communication abnormality does not occur during communication, and when the first detection means detects that the recording medium or the recording member is insufficient, the second power supply means And a means for controlling the power to operate in the power saving mode.

  The sensor 131 is an example of a second detection unit that detects the replenishment of the recording medium or the recording member. The CPU 102 is an example of return means for returning from the power saving mode. The sensor 131 is an example of second control means that causes the return means to perform return processing when the second detection means detects replenishment of the recording medium or recording member.

  Further, the determination means is a means for determining that there is a communication abnormality when a communication protocol error has occurred a certain number of times within a certain time.

  If each means in the above embodiment is replaced with a process, the above embodiment can be grasped as an invention of the control method of the image forming apparatus. In other words, the above embodiment includes a power saving operation mode that consumes less power than when waiting for receiving image data, generates image formation data from image data, and forms an image on a storage medium. It is an example. In addition, the embodiment includes a communication process, a determination process, a display process, a first power supply process, a first detection process, a second power supply process, and a first control process. It is an example of the control method of an image forming apparatus.

  Further, the above embodiment can be grasped as a program invention. In other words, the above embodiment includes a power saving operation mode that consumes less power than when waiting for receiving image data, generates image formation data from image data, and forms an image on a storage medium. It is an example of the program. In the above-described embodiment, the communication process, the determination process, the display process, the first power supply process, the first detection process, the second power supply process, and the first control process are performed by a computer. This is an example of a program to be executed.

100: Printer device,
101: Image forming controller device,
102 ... CPU,
104: Display means control circuit,
117: Display means,
124: RAM.

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus that has a power saving operation mode that consumes less power than when waiting to receive image data, generates image formation data that can be printed by the printer engine from the image data, and forms an image on a storage medium.
Communication means for communicating with other electronic devices via a network;
Determination means for determining whether a communication abnormality has occurred during communication performed by the communication means;
Display means for displaying an operation state of the image forming apparatus;
First power supply means for supplying power to the display means;
First detection means for detecting a shortage of recording media or recording members;
Second power supply means for supplying power for operating the image forming apparatus in a power saving operation mode;
When the determination means determines that a communication abnormality has occurred during communication, the first power supply means supplies power only to the display means, and the determination determines that no communication abnormality has occurred during communication. When the first determination unit detects that the recording medium or the recording member is insufficient, the second control unit controls the second power supply unit to supply power that operates in the power saving mode. With means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Claim 1 wherein
Second detection means for detecting replenishment of the recording medium or recording member;
Return means for returning from the power saving mode;
Second control means for causing the return means to perform return processing when the second detection means detects replenishment of the recording medium or recording member;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Claim 1 or claim 2, wherein
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is a unit that determines that the communication is abnormal when a communication protocol error has occurred a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined time. In a control method of an image forming apparatus that has a power saving operation mode that consumes less power than when waiting to receive image data, generates image formation data from image data, and forms an image on a storage medium.
A communication process for communicating with other electronic devices via a network;
A determination step of determining whether a communication abnormality has occurred during communication performed in the communication step;
A display step of displaying an operation state of the image forming apparatus on a display means;
A first power supply step for supplying power to the display means;
A first detection step of detecting a shortage of recording media or recording members;
A second power supply step for supplying power for operating the image forming apparatus in a power saving operation mode;
If it is determined in the determination step that a communication abnormality has occurred during communication, in the first power supply step, power is supplied only to the display means, and no communication abnormality has occurred during communication. When the first detection step detects the shortage of the recording medium or the recording member as determined in the determination step, the second power supply step controls to supply power that operates in the power saving mode in the second power supply step. A control process of;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: In a program of a control method of an image forming apparatus that has a power saving operation mode that consumes less power than when waiting to receive image data, generates image formation data from image data, and forms an image on a storage medium.
A communication process for communicating with other electronic devices via a network;
A determination step of determining whether a communication abnormality has occurred during communication performed in the communication step;
A display step of displaying an operation state of the image forming apparatus on a display means;
A first power supply step for supplying power to the display means;
A first detection step of detecting a shortage of recording media or recording members;
A second power supply step for supplying power for operating the image forming apparatus in a power saving operation mode;
If it is determined in the determination step that a communication abnormality has occurred during communication, in the first power supply step, power is supplied only to the display means, and no communication abnormality has occurred during communication. When the first detection step detects the shortage of the recording medium or the recording member as determined in the determination step, the second power supply step controls to supply power that operates in the power saving mode in the second power supply step. A control process of;
A program that causes a computer to execute.

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