KR101324192B1 - Printing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method thereof. The printing apparatus includes: at least one device unit for performing printing; A main control unit for controlling the device unit; A main power supply unit supplying power to the main control unit; A command receiver for receiving a printing command of a user; The power consumption is smaller than that of the main control unit, and when the printing command is received by the command receiving unit while the power supply to the main control unit is stopped, the main power unit includes a main power supply unit so that power is supplied to the main control unit. This can reduce power consumption and improve the reliability of the operation.

Description

Printing apparatus and its control method {PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a power switch unit and a switch state output unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a differential circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: printing apparatus 101: device unit

102a: ASIC 102b: DRAM

102c: ROM 103: main power supply

104: USB controller 105: auxiliary power supply

106: micom 107: power switch unit

108: switch status output unit

109: buffer section 110: OPE

111: fax unit 112: LED

113: differential circuit 114: logical product circuit

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method thereof, which can reduce power consumption and improve reliability of operation.

A printing apparatus such as a printer, a multifunction printer, or the like performs printing by forming an image on a sheet based on the printing data. Typically, the printing apparatus includes a device unit such as a motor for performing printing, a laser scanning unit (LSU), and the like, and a control unit for controlling the device units. The controller may be implemented as a CPU that executes a computer program required for printing. In addition, the printing apparatus further includes a power supply unit such as a switched mode power supply (SMPS) for supplying power of a level necessary for the device unit and the controller to perform an operation.

The printing apparatus may have a state of stopping power supply to the device unit (hereinafter referred to as “standby state”) in order to reduce power consumption while not performing printing. In this case, the CPU and the power supply are always in operation to determine the state of the printing device and to control the power supply to the device so that the printing device can enter or exit the standby state. Consumes.

On the other hand, high specification printing has recently been requested, and as a result, the performance of the CPU is also increasing. These high performance CPUs consume a lot of power during operation. Even when the printing device performs a printing operation as well as in a standby state, the power consumed by the CPU and the power supply often exceeds several watts (W). Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the power consumption of the printing apparatus, especially in the standby state in which the printing operation is not performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a method of controlling the same, which can reduce power consumption.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a control method thereof which can improve the reliability of the operation while reducing the power consumption.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing apparatus comprising: at least one device unit for performing printing; A main control unit controlling the device unit; A main power supply unit supplying power to the main control unit; A command receiver for receiving a printing command of a user; The power control unit which consumes less power than the main control unit and controls the main power supply unit to supply power to the main control unit when the printing command is received by the command receiving unit while the power supply to the main control unit is stopped. It provides a printing apparatus comprising a.

The command receiving unit may include a USB controller that communicates with a predetermined host device according to the USB standard to receive the printing command.

The printing apparatus may include a power switch unit that is turned on or off by a user's operation; And a switch state output unit configured to output a switch state signal corresponding to a turn-on or turn-off state of the power switch unit, wherein the power controller controls the main control unit according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit. When it is determined that the power switch unit is turned on while the power supply is stopped, the main power unit may be controlled to supply power to the main control unit.

The switch state output unit may include a photo coupler for outputting the switch state signal according to the intensity of light corresponding to the turn-on or turn-off state of the power switch unit.

The USB controller is reset when the power switch unit is turned on in a state in which power supply to the main control unit is stopped according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit, and the control unit returns to the main control unit. When the USB controller is reset and the power switch unit is turned on while the power supply is stopped, the main power unit may be controlled to supply power to the main control unit.

The printing apparatus may further include a differential circuit for differentiating the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit to the USB controller.

The control unit outputs a standby state signal indicating a standby state in a state in which power supply to the main control unit is stopped, and logically multiplies the signal output by the differential circuit and the standby state signal output by the controller. The logic multiplication circuit output to the reset terminal of the controller may be further included.

The printing unit may further include a buffer unit interposed between the main control unit, the power control unit, and the command receiving unit to block the flow of leakage current.

The printing apparatus may further include an auxiliary power supply unit supplying power to the command receiving unit and the power control unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, comprising: at least one device unit for performing printing; A main control unit controlling the device unit; A main power supply unit supplying power to the main control unit; A power switch unit turned on or off by a user's operation; A switch state output unit configured to output a switch state signal corresponding to a turn on or turn off state of the power switch unit; A power control unit for controlling the main power supply unit to supply power to the main control unit when the power switch unit is turned on in a state in which power supply to the main control unit is stopped according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit; It can also be achieved by a printing device comprising a.

In addition, the object of the present invention, in the control method of the printing apparatus comprising at least one device unit for performing printing, a main control unit for controlling the device unit, and a command receiving unit for receiving a user's printing command, Supplying power to the main control unit; Stopping power supply to the main controller when there is no printing command from the user for a predetermined time; When the printing command is received while the power supply to the main control unit is stopped, the method may be achieved by a control method of the printing apparatus, including resuming power supply to the main control unit.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 100 receives printing data from the host apparatus 200 and forms printing on the paper based on the printing data.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 100 may include a device unit 101 that includes a motor, an LSU, and the like to perform printing, a microprocessor that executes a computer program to control the device unit 101, and the like. ASIC 102a, which is an integrated circuit, a DRAM 102b and a ROM 102c, which are memories required for the operation of the ASIC 102a, a device unit 101, an ASIC 102a, a DRAM 102b, and a ROM. A main power supply 103 for supplying the power supply 3.3V (M) to the 102c and the like, and a microcomputer 106 for controlling the power supply of the main power supply 103. The ASIC 102a and the microcomputer 106 are examples of the main control part and the power supply control part of the present invention, respectively.

The printing apparatus 100 has a standby state for stopping power supply to the device unit 101 and other components while not performing a printing operation in order to reduce power consumption. The ASIC 102a operates so that the printing device 100 enters the standby state when there is no printing command for a predetermined time in the normal state. That is, the ASIC 102a has a status display port indicating whether to enter the standby state, and activates the status display port when there is no printing command for a predetermined time in the normal state.

The microcomputer 106 monitors the status display port of the ASIC 102a and transmits a power off signal to the main power supply 103 when the status display port is activated. The main power supply 103 stops the operation when the power-off signal is transmitted from the microcomputer 106. As a result, when the printing apparatus 100 is in the standby state, power supply to the device unit 101, the ASIC 102a, the DRAM 102b, the ROM 102c, and the like are stopped, and the main power supply unit 103 also stops operating. Therefore, power consumption is greatly reduced.

On the other hand, the printing apparatus 100 further includes an auxiliary power supply 105 for supplying power 3.3VS to the microcomputer 106 or the like when the main power supply 103 has stopped operating. The auxiliary power supply 105 performs an operation even in the standby state to supply the power 3.3VS. The main power supply 103 and the sub power supply 105 may be implemented by switched mode power supply (SMPS), respectively.

The printing device 100 communicates with the host device 200 according to the universal serial bus (USB) standard, and further includes a USB controller 104 for monitoring whether there is a user's printing command from the host device 200. Include. The USB controller 104 receives the power (3.3VS) from the auxiliary power supply 105 and performs the monitoring operation even in the standby state. The USB controller 104 is an example of the command receiver of the present invention.

When the status display port of the ASIC 102a is activated and the printing apparatus 100 enters the standby state, the microcomputer 106 transmits a reset signal to the USB controller 104 and receives the user's data through the USB controller 104. Wait for the printing command.

When the USB controller 104 receives a reset signal from the microcomputer 106, the USB controller 104 performs a reset operation and monitors whether a user's printing command is received from the host device 200. When the user's printing command is received from the host device 200, the USB controller 104 transmits a standby signal to the host device 200 and transmits the received printing command to the microcomputer 106.

When the printing command of the user is transmitted through the USB controller 104 in the standby state, the microcomputer 106 moves the printing apparatus 100 out of the standby state to perform a normal printing operation. That is, when the user's printing command is transmitted through the USB controller 104, the microcomputer 106 transmits a power-on signal to the main power supply 103 so that the main power supply 103 supplies power to the ASIC 102a. The ASIC 102a is reset to perform a printing operation.

The microcomputer 106 may be implemented as a circuit having a relatively low power consumption compared to the ASIC 102a or the like. As a result, in the standby state, the ASIC 102a with high power consumption does not operate, but the microcomputer 106 having relatively low power consumption controls the state of the printing apparatus 100, thereby reducing power consumption. have.

In addition, by providing a USB controller 104 which enables bidirectional communication with the host apparatus 200, the host apparatus 200 monitors whether there is a user's printing command from the host apparatus 200, and the microcomputer 106 and the host apparatus ( Enable interface between 200).

On the other hand, the main power supply 103 is a power switch unit 107 that is turned on or off by the user's operation and the switch state output unit 108 for outputting a switch state signal indicating the state of the power switch unit 107 Include. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the power switch unit 107 and the switch state output unit 108 of this embodiment.

The power switch unit 107 is a mechanical switch having a turn-on or turn-off state and is interposed between the AC power source and the switch state output unit 108 to switch the supply of AC power to the switch state output unit 108. The switch state output unit 108 includes two diodes 108a, a capacitor 108b, a damping resistor 108c, and a photocoupler 108d, as shown in FIG. Two diodes 108a rectify the alternating current. Capacitor 108b smoothes the rectified current. The photocoupler 108d has a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the light emitting element generates light corresponding to the magnitude of the current flowing through the damping resistor 108c, and the light receiving element is turned on when the generated light is more than a predetermined value. The switch state signal is output in accordance with the turn-on or turn-off state of the light receiving element of the photocoupler 108d.

For example, when the power switch 107 is closed by the user, a current flows in the damping resistor 108c, and the light receiving element of the photocoupler 108d is turned on so that the switch state signal is low. Becomes

The microcomputer 106 monitors the switch state signal output by the photocoupler 108d. When the microcomputer 106 determines that the power switch unit 107 is open (turned off) and closed (turned on) in the standby state, the main power supply unit ( The power-on signal is transmitted to the 103 so that the main power supply 103 supplies power to the ASIC 102a or the like. The microcomputer 106 preferably stores the state information of the current power switch unit 107 to determine whether the power switch unit 107 is opened or closed from the switch state signal.

Hereinafter, the principle that the malfunction of the microcomputer 106 in the standby state by the switch state output unit 108 will be described. The main power supply 103 has a large capacity capacitor (not shown) required for a stable power supply operation. If there is no switch state output unit 108, when the power switch unit 107 is opened by the user in the standby state, the microcomputer 106 operates at a relatively low power by the residual power charged in the capacitor of the main power source 103 It may operate for this predetermined time.

In this case, the microcomputer 106 may not distinguish whether the power supply is stopped by the power switch unit 107 or the power supply is stopped due to the standby state. As a result, even if the power switch unit 107 is closed again by the user, since the microcomputer 106 continues to operate in the standby state, there is a problem that the printing apparatus 100 cannot return to the normal printing operation.

According to the present embodiment, the microcomputer 106 malfunctions in the standby state by outputting the mechanical state of the power switch unit 107 as an electrical switch state signal by the switch state output unit 108 having high operational reliability. By preventing the power consumption, the reliability of the printing apparatus 100 is improved.

The printing apparatus 100 further includes a buffer unit 109 interposed between the ASIC 102a, the microcomputer 106, and the USB controller 104. The buffer unit 109 blocks leakage current flowing from the microcomputer 106 and the USB controller 104 to the ASIC 102a in the standby state. Thereby, the power consumption of the printing apparatus 100 can be further reduced.

The printing apparatus 100 may further include an OPE (operating panel 110) for receiving a command of a user corresponding to resuming operation in the standby state, a fax unit 111 for receiving a fax in the standby state, and the like. In this case, when the microcomputer 106 requests to resume operation by at least one of the OPE 110 and the fax unit 111 in the standby state, the microcomputer 106 transmits a power-on signal to the main power supply 103 to print the apparatus 100. Return to normal state. In addition, the printing apparatus 100 may further include an LED 112 indicating whether the printing apparatus 100 is in a normal state or a standby state under the control of the microcomputer 106. In the standby state, the microcomputer 106 transmits a standby state signal corresponding to the standby state to the LED 112.

In another embodiment, the microcomputer 106 may further improve the reliability of the operation by controlling the main power supply 103 using not only the switching state signal but also other information. To this end, the USB controller 104 may be reset when the power switch unit 107 is turned on in the standby state according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit 108. The microcomputer 106 controls the main power supply 103 so that power is supplied to the ASIC 102a and the like only when it is determined that the power switch unit 107 is turned on in the standby state and that the USB controller 104 is reset. do. The microcomputer 106 may check whether the USB controller 104 is reset by using the interrupt signal. As a result, malfunction of the microcomputer 106, which may occur when the power switch 107 is repeatedly turned on and off, may be prevented, thereby improving reliability of the operation.

The printing apparatus 100 may further include a differential circuit 113 for differentiating the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit 108 to the reset signal input port (not shown) of the USB controller 104. have. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the differential circuit 113. The differential circuit 113 is an RC circuit composed of a capacitor 113a and a resistor 113b. The output signal Vo of the differential circuit 113 has a form in which the waveform of the input signal Vs is differentiated. The input signal Vs is a step state switch state signal output by the switch state output unit 108. That is, when the switch state signal changes from low to high, the differential circuit 113 outputs a short pulse type output signal Vo having an active state for a transient response time of R * C. When the output signal Vo having an impulse type is input to the reset signal input port, the USB controller 104 determines that the reset signal is input and performs a reset operation. By the differential circuit 113, the USB controller 104 can be prevented from continuously performing a reset operation.

Furthermore, the printing apparatus 100 may logically multiply the output signal Vo output by the differential circuit 113 and the standby state signal output by the microcomputer 106 and output the result to the USB controller 104. 113, AND gate) may be further included. As a result, since the USB controller 104 is reset only in the standby state, the USB controller 104 can be prevented from malfunctioning in the event of an emergency.

On the other hand, as another embodiment, the printing apparatus 100 is composed of only the device unit 101, ASIC (102a), etc., the main power supply unit 103, and the microcomputer 106, except for the USB controller 104. May be

3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. First, the microcomputer 106 monitors the status display port of the ASIC 102a to check whether the printing apparatus 100 enters the standby state (S101). As a result of the check, when the printing apparatus 100 enters the standby state, the microcomputer 106 transmits a power-off signal to the main power supply 103 to stop supplying power to the device 101 and the ASIC 102a. (S102). In addition, the microcomputer 106 monitors whether a user's printing command is received from the host device 200 through the USB controller 104 (S103).

Next, if the user's printing command is not received through the USB controller 104, the microcomputer 106 checks whether the power switch unit 107 is turned on in the turn-off state by the user (S104). If the power switch unit 107 is not turned on in the turn-off state, step S103 is performed. In another embodiment, steps S103 and S104 may be performed in a reversed order.

On the other hand, if a user's printing command is received from the host device 200 through the USB controller 104 and the received printing command is transmitted to the microcomputer 106 or if the power switch unit 107 is turned on in the turn-off state, The microcomputer 106 sends a power-on signal to the main power supply 103 to resume power supply to the ASIC 102a or the like (S105).

As another embodiment, referring to FIG. 5, if it is determined in step S103 that a user's printing command is not received through the USB controller 104, the microcomputer 106 checks whether the USB controller 104 is reset. (S204). If it is determined in step S204 that the USB controller 104 has not been reset, step S103 is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S204 that the USB controller 104 is reset, step S104 is performed.

As another embodiment, step S103 may be omitted in FIGS. 3 and 5.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the standby state, a large power consumption circuit, such as an ASIC, does not operate, but rather a microcomputer with a relatively low power consumption controls the state of the printing apparatus, thereby reducing power consumption. Can be.

In addition, according to the present invention, by providing a USB controller that enables bidirectional communication with the host device, it monitors whether there is a user's printing command from the host device in the standby state, and enables an interface between the microcomputer and the host device.

Further, according to the present invention, by outputting the mechanical state of the power switch unit as an electrical switch state signal by a device having a high operation reliability such as a photocoupler, it prevents the microcomputer from malfunctioning in the standby state, while reducing power consumption Improve the reliability of the printing device.

In addition, according to the present invention, by cutting off the leakage current that can flow from the microcomputer and the USB controller to the ASIC in the standby state by a circuit element such as a buffer, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption of the printing apparatus.

In addition, when the power switch unit is turned on in the standby state and the USB controller is determined to be reset, power is supplied to the ASIC to prevent the malfunction of the microcomputer, which may occur when the power switch unit is repeatedly turned on and off. The operation can further improve the reliability.

In this case, it is possible to prevent the USB controller from continuously performing a reset operation by supplying the step state switch state signal to the USB controller. In addition, by multiplying the switch state signal and the standby state signal by the logic controller and supplying them to the USB controller so as to be reset only when the USB controller is in the standby state, it is possible to prevent the USB controller from malfunctioning.

Claims (17)

In the printing apparatus, At least one device unit for performing printing; A main control unit controlling the device unit; A main power supply unit supplying power to the main control unit; A command receiving unit including a USB controller that communicates with a predetermined host device according to the USB standard and receives a user's printing command; The power control unit which consumes less power than the main control unit and controls the main power supply unit to supply power to the main control unit when the printing command is received by the command receiving unit while the power supply to the main control unit is stopped. Printing apparatus comprising a. delete The method of claim 1, A power switch unit turned on or off by a user's operation; Further comprising a switch state output unit for outputting a switch state signal corresponding to the turn on or turn off state of the power switch unit, The power control unit may be configured to supply power to the main control unit when it is determined that the power switch unit is turned on in a state in which power supply to the main control unit is stopped according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit. Printing apparatus, characterized in that for controlling the main power supply. The method of claim 3, And the switch state output unit comprises a photo coupler for outputting the switch state signal according to the intensity of light corresponding to a turn-on or turn-off state of the power switch unit. The method of claim 3, The USB controller is reset when the power switch unit is turned on while the power supply to the main controller unit is stopped according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit. The power controller controls the main power supply unit to supply power to the main control unit when it is determined that the USB controller is reset and the power switch unit is turned on while the power supply to the main control unit is stopped. Printing device. The method of claim 5, And a derivative circuit for differentiating the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit and outputting the derivative to the USB controller. The method according to claim 6, The power control unit outputs a standby state signal indicating a standby state in a state in which power supply to the main controller is stopped, And a logical AND circuit for performing an AND operation on the signal output by the differential circuit and the standby state signal output by the power supply controller to output to the reset terminal of the USB controller. The method of claim 1, And a buffer unit interposed between the main control unit and at least one of the power control unit and the command receiving unit to block a flow of leakage current. The method of claim 1, And an auxiliary power supply for supplying power to the command receiving unit and the power control unit. In the printing apparatus, At least one device unit for performing printing; A main control unit controlling the device unit; A main power supply unit supplying power to the main control unit; A power switch unit turned on or off by a user's operation; A switch state output unit including a photo coupler for outputting a switch state signal according to the intensity of light corresponding to a turn-on or turn-off state of the power switch unit; A power control unit for controlling the main power supply unit to supply power to the main control unit when the power switch unit is turned on in a state in which power supply to the main control unit is stopped according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit; Printing apparatus comprising a. delete The method of claim 10, And a buffer unit interposed between the main control unit and the power control unit to block the flow of leakage current. At least one device unit for printing, a main control unit for controlling the device unit, and a command receiving unit including a USB controller for receiving a user's printing command by communicating with a predetermined host device according to the USB standard; In the control method of the printing apparatus, Supplying power to the main control unit; Stopping power supply to the main controller when there is no printing command from the user for a predetermined time; And if the printing command is received while the power supply to the main control unit is stopped, resuming power supply to the main control unit. delete 14. The method of claim 13, The printing apparatus may include a power switch unit that is turned on or off by a user's operation; Further comprising a switch state output unit for outputting a switch state signal corresponding to the turn on or turn off state of the power switch unit, The resuming of the power supply may be performed when the power switch unit is turned on in a state in which power supply to the main control unit is stopped according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit. Control method of a printing device, characterized in that to resume the power supply. 16. The method of claim 15, And the switch state output unit comprises a photocoupler for outputting the switch state signal according to the intensity of light corresponding to a turn-on or turn-off state of the power switch unit. 16. The method of claim 15, The USB controller is reset when the power switch unit is turned on while the power supply to the main controller unit is stopped according to the switch state signal output by the switch state output unit. The resuming of the power supply may include: resuming power supply to the main control unit when it is determined that the USB controller is reset and the power switch unit is turned on while power supply to the main control unit is stopped. Control method of the device.

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