JP2013049248A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can improve the energy saving performance from the past.SOLUTION: In an MFP 10 that has at least two states of a normal state and a deep sleep state where consumption of the electric power is fewer than that of the normal state, a data generating means for return generates data for the return on the RAM 40, when the state shifts from the normal state to the deep sleep state; a power control means stops the feeding of the electric power to printer 13, when the state is the deep sleep state, and supplies the electric power only to the memory-chip in which data for return is memorized for refreshing in the RAM 40; and a data use means for return extends the return data on the RAM 40 on the RAM, 40, when the state returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state.

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printers having a normal operation mode that is a normal state and a power saving mode that is an energy saving state are known as image forming apparatuses that can shift to an energy saving state that consumes less power than the normal state (for example, , See Patent Document 1). In the printer, when the state shifts from the normal operation mode to the power saving mode, the program stored in a plurality of RAMs is recorded in a part of RAM, and the part of RAMs is set in a self-refresh state. Power supply to RAMs other than some of the RAMs is stopped. Then, when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state, the printer quickly reads out the program stored in the RAM and immediately executes it by canceling the self-refresh state of the partial RAM. .

JP 2011-59937 A

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, since power supply to the RAMs other than the part of the RAMs is stopped in the power saving mode, the energy saving performance is high. However, improvement of the energy saving performance of the image forming apparatus is a problem that is always required by users of the image forming apparatus.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can improve energy-saving performance as compared with the related art.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having at least two states of a normal state and an energy saving state in which power consumption is less than that in the normal state, and includes a printing unit that performs printing, and a work area. A printing control unit that includes a RAM and controls printing by the printing unit, a power control unit that controls supply of power, and data that is used when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state. Return data using means for using return data, and return data generating means for generating the return data by compressing data on the RAM immediately before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. The RAM includes a plurality of sections that can be separately controlled in power supply, and the return data generation means includes: When the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state, the return data is generated on the RAM, and the power control means supplies the printing unit to the printing unit when the state is the energy saving state. Power supply is stopped, power is supplied for refreshing only to the partition in the RAM where the return data is stored, and the RAM other than the partition in which the return data is stored The supply of power to the partition is stopped, and the return data using means expands the return data on the RAM onto the RAM when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state. It is characterized by.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention compresses and generates the return data that is held in the energy saving state. Therefore, compared with the conventional configuration in which the return data is not compressed, The number of sections to which power needs to be supplied in the energy saving state can be reduced. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can reduce the power consumption in the energy saving state as compared with the conventional configuration in which the restoration data is not compressed. That is, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the energy saving performance as compared with the conventional one.

  Further, the return data generation means of the image forming apparatus of the present invention applies the return data to the return data so that the number of the partitions including the empty area is the smallest and the number of the partitions that are the entire empty areas is the maximum. By rearranging the data before compression on the RAM, a continuous free area that is a continuous free area is generated on the RAM so that the number of the partitions in which the return data is stored is minimized. Alternatively, the return data may be generated in the continuous free area.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is supplied with power for refreshing in the energy saving state of the RAM as compared with the configuration in which the control considering the partition of the RAM is not performed when the restoration data is generated. Since the number of sections that need to be reduced can be reduced, energy saving performance can be improved.

  In addition, the restoration data generation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention generates data before compression into the restoration data by deleting a type of data that is preset as unnecessary data. May be.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can reduce the size of the return data compared to the configuration in which the return data is generated without deleting unnecessary data. The number of partitions that need to be supplied with power for refresh can be reduced. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve energy saving performance.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the energy saving performance as compared with the prior art.

2 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention in a normal state. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 in a light sleep state. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of an MFP shown in FIG. 1 when in a deep sleep state. It is a block diagram of the function of the main system and subsystem shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of a RAM of a main system when the state of the MFP illustrated in FIG. 1 is a normal state. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of a return data generation unit when the MFP state shown in FIG. 1 shifts from a normal state to a deep sleep state. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of the RAM of the main system when unnecessary data is deleted from the RAM of the main system when the state of the RAM of the main system illustrated in FIG. 1 is the state illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of the main system RAM when a continuous free area is generated in the main system RAM when the state of the main system RAM illustrated in FIG. 1 is the state illustrated in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of the RAM of the main system when return data is generated in the RAM of the main system when the state of the RAM of the main system illustrated in FIG. 1 is the state illustrated in FIG. 8. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of power control means when the MFP state shown in FIG. 1 shifts from a normal state to a deep sleep state. The figure which shows an example of the state of RAM of the main system when supply of the electric power to a part of RAM of the main system is stopped when the state of the RAM of the main system shown in FIG. 1 is the state shown in FIG. It is. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the return data using means when the MFP state shown in FIG. 1 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state.

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

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

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

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

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

  The MFP 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes the display unit 12, the printer 13, the scanner 14, and the configuration other than the memory chip 44 in the main system 30. This shows that power is not supplied to the main system 30 other than the memory chip 44.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The RAM 40 includes memory chips 41 to 44 which are IC (Integrated Circuit) chips for storing information. The memory chips 41 to 44 can be separately controlled in power supply, and constitute a section of the present invention.

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

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

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main system 30 is data that will be described later, which is data used when the state of the MFP 10 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state by the CPU 31 executing a program stored in the ROM 32. Return data use means 30a that uses the return data 40d, and return data that generates the return data 40d by compressing the data on the RAM 40 immediately before the MFP 10 changes from the normal state to the deep sleep state. It functions as the generation means 30b.

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

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

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the MFP 10 is in the normal state, the RAM 40 includes data 40a and a free area 40b.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  As shown in FIG. 6, the return data generation means 30b deletes from the RAM 40 the type of data that is preset as unnecessary data, such as a read cache, by executing a cache flush (S101). As a result, the data 40a before compression into the restoration data 40d is generated. For example, if the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 5 before the processing in S101, the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 7 by executing the processing in S101.

  Next, the return data generation means 30b executes a garbage collection or the like so that the number of memory chips including free areas is minimized and the number of memory chips that are entirely free areas is maximized. By rearranging the data 40a before compression into the data 40d on the RAM 40, a continuous free area 40c is generated on the RAM 40 (S102). For example, if the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 7 before the process of S102, the state shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by executing the process of S102.

  Next, the return data generation means 30b generates the return data 40d in the continuous free area 40c of the RAM 40 based on the data 40a so that the number of memory chips storing the return data is minimized (S103). ). For example, when the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 8 before the process of S103, the state shown in FIG. 9 is obtained by executing the process of S103.

  Next, the return data generation means 30b notifies the subsystem 60 of the completion of the generation of return data and the memory chip that generated the return data 40d in S103 (S104), and ends the processing shown in FIG. To do.

  The power control means 60a of the subsystem 60 starts the processing shown in FIG. 10 when the completion of the generation of the return data is notified from the main system 30 in S104.

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

  As shown in FIG. 10, the power control means 60a stops the supply of power to the display unit 12, the printer 13, and the scanner 14 as shown in FIG. 2 (S121).

  Next, the power control unit 60a stops the supply of power to the main system 30 except for the memory chip notified from the main system 30 as the memory chip for which the return data is generated (S122), and the process shown in FIG. The processing shown in FIG. That is, when the return data 40d is stored in the RAM 40, the power control means 60a supplies power for refreshing only to the memory chip in the RAM 40 in which the return data 40d is stored. Among them, the supply of power to the memory chips other than the memory chip in which the return data 40d is stored is stopped (partial power down). A memory chip to which power is supplied is in a self-refresh mode. For example, when the memory chip 44 is notified from the main system 30, the power control unit 60 a stops supplying power to the components other than the memory chip 44 in the main system 30 as shown in FIG. 3. At this time, if the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 9 before the process of S122, the process of S122 is executed to enter the state shown in FIG.

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

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

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

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

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

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the operation of the return data using unit 30a when the MFP 10 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal state.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the return data using means 30a uses the return data 40d on the RAM 40 (S141). That is, the return data using means 30 a expands the return data 40 d on the RAM 40 onto the RAM 40 and restores the data 40 a on the RAM 40.

  Next, the return data using means 30a deletes the return data 40d (S142) and ends the processing shown in FIG. For example, if the RAM 40 is in the state shown in FIG. 11 before the processing shown in FIG. 12, the state shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by executing the processing shown in FIG.

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

  As described above, since the MFP 10 compresses and generates the return data held in the deep sleep state, the MFP 10 has a deeper portion of the RAM 40 than the conventional configuration in which the return data is not compressed. The number of memory chips that need to be supplied with power in the sleep state can be reduced. Therefore, the MFP 10 can reduce power consumption in the deep sleep state as compared with the conventional configuration in which the return data is not compressed. That is, the MFP 10 can improve the energy saving performance compared to the conventional one.

  In addition, the MFP 10 rearranges the data 40a before compression into the restoration data 40d on the RAM 40 so that the number of memory chips including the empty area is minimized and the number of memory chips that are entirely empty areas is maximized. Thus, the continuous empty area 40c is generated on the RAM 40, and the return data 40d is generated in the continuous empty area 40c so that the number of memory chips storing the return data 40d is minimized. When generating 40d, the number of memory chips that need to be supplied with power for refreshing in the deep sleep state is reduced in the RAM 40 as compared with a configuration in which control in consideration of the memory chips of the RAM 40 is not executed. Can do. Therefore, the MFP 10 can improve the energy saving performance.

  Further, the MFP 10 generates the data 40a before being compressed into the return data 40d by deleting the type of data set in advance as unnecessary data, so that the MFP 10 can be used for recovery without deleting unnecessary data. Compared to the configuration for generating data, the size of the return data can be reduced. Therefore, the MFP 10 can reduce the number of memory chips that need to be supplied with power for refreshing in the deep sleep state in the RAM 40. That is, the MFP 10 can improve energy saving performance.

  The RAM 40 is refreshed by self-refresh in the present embodiment, but is refreshed by a method other than self-refresh, such as refresh using an external refresh circuit. Also good. However, self-refreshing can improve energy saving performance compared with refreshing using an external refresh circuit.

  The RAM 40 is configured with four memory chips in the present embodiment, but may be configured with a number of memory chips other than four.

  In addition, the partition of the present invention is a memory chip in this embodiment, but may be a partition other than the memory chip as long as power supply can be controlled separately.

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

10 MFP (image forming apparatus)
13 Printer (printing section)
30 Main system (printing control unit)
30a Return data use means 30b Return data generation means 40 RAM
40a data 40b free area 40c continuous free area 40d recovery data 41-44 memory chip (section)
60a Power control means

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus having at least two states: a normal state and an energy saving state that consumes less power than the normal state,
A printing unit that executes printing; a printing control unit that includes a RAM as a work area and that controls printing by the printing unit; a power control unit that controls supply of power; A return data using means for using return data which is data used when returning to the state, and compressing the data on the RAM immediately before the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state. And a return data generating means for generating the return data,
The RAM includes a plurality of partitions that can be separately controlled in power supply;
The return data generation means generates the return data on the RAM when the state shifts from the normal state to the energy saving state.
When the state is the energy saving state, the power control unit stops supplying power to the printing unit and refreshes only the section of the RAM in which the return data is stored. Supplying power, stopping the supply of power to a partition other than the partition in which the return data is stored in the RAM;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the return data using means expands the return data on the RAM onto the RAM when the state returns from the energy saving state to the normal state.   The return data generation means stores the data before compression into the return data on the RAM so that the number of the partitions including a free area is the smallest and the number of the partitions that are entirely free areas is the largest. By re-arranging, a continuous free area, which is a continuous free area, is generated on the RAM, and the return free area is stored in the continuous free area so that the number of the partitions storing the return data is minimized. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data is generated.   2. The return data generation means generates data before compression into the return data by deleting data of a type preset as unnecessary data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

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