JP2001100386A - Electric apparatus system and photograph processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric apparatus system which allows the visible check of the state of the apparatus driven during a power saving mode even when the electric apparatus of high electric power consumption and large noise is held shutdown and a photograph processing device. SOLUTION: The electric apparatus system constituted to allow the changeover to an ordinary running mode and the power saving mode in which the electric power consumption is suppressed has a main controller which has a mode switching means for operating the system to change over the same to the ordinary running mode and the power saving mode, a sub-controller which is connected to the main controller and has a drive control section fro controlling the drive of the apparatus to be activated in the power saving mode, a state detector which detects the state of the apparatus to be activated in the power saving mode and a state display device of the low electric power consumption which displays the state of the apparatus to be activated at least in the power saving mode. The sub-controller is constituted to determine the display contents of the state display device in accordance with the detection result of the state detector.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention makes it possible to switch between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed in order to save power in an electric equipment system including electric equipment using a CRT or the like. It relates to an electrical equipment system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, electric devices such as CRTs whose internal devices generate heat when energized during normal operation are usually provided with a cooling fan. It is preferable to turn off the power when not in use. In particular, the cooling fan emits a loud noise during operation, so it is preferable to turn off the power to prevent noise when not in use.

[0003] In addition, in the electric equipment system, there is a type in which a normal operation mode and a power saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed can be switched to save power. In a power saving mode in which a standby operation or a preparatory operation other than the normal operation is performed, the power is turned off for power saving, and only some devices are operating.

[0004]

In a photographic processing apparatus which is an example of such an electric equipment system, most electric equipment is turned off in a power saving mode during a standby operation at night, for example. Only the control unit is operating in preparation for the start of operation the next morning. Then, when the preparatory operation start time comes, the operation shifts to the preparatory operation state, and the temperature of each processing liquid in the processing liquid tank in the developing processing unit is adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the temperature adjustment control of the control circuit, and the operation preparation is completed. .

[0005] When the preparatory operation is completed, the power saving mode is released, the normal operation mode is set, and other electric devices such as a CRT connected to the control device are also turned on, and various information is displayed on the CRT screen. Will be done.

Therefore, in the above-described photographic processing apparatus, the power of the CRT is turned off until the normal operation mode is set. Therefore, the state of the equipment during the standby operation and the preparation operation, for example, the current temperature of the processing solution, How many times are you preparing to drive, or are you ready to drive?
Furthermore, it was difficult to know from the outside whether any trouble had occurred.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for changing the state of a device driven during a power saving mode even when a display device such as a CRT that consumes a large amount of power and generates a large amount of noise is stopped during the power saving mode. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric device system and a photographic processing device that can be visually confirmed.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems Claim 1 of the present invention
In the electric equipment system capable of switching between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed, the electric equipment system switches the operation between the normal operation mode and the power saving mode. A main control device having a sub-control device connected to the main control device and having a drive control unit for driving and controlling a device operated in the power saving mode, and a state detection device detecting a state of the device operated in the power saving mode A status display device for displaying at least the status of the device to be operated in the power saving mode.The sub control device controls the display content of the status display device based on the detection result of the status detection device. Configuration.

The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
In the electrical equipment system according to the above, the status display device,
It consisted of a liquid crystal display that displays the status of the devices operated in the power saving mode and the mode status.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrical equipment system according to the first aspect, the status display device is configured by an indicator light that is turned on or off according to the status of the device that is operated in the power saving mode. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a photographic processing apparatus capable of switching between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed, the photographic processing apparatus switches between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode. A main control device having mode switching means for performing a switching operation, a sub-control device connected to the main control device and having a drive control unit for driving and controlling a device operated in the power saving mode, and a state of the device operated in the power saving mode. A status detection device for detecting, and a status display device for displaying at least the status of the device to be operated in the power saving mode, the sub-control device, based on the detection result of the status detection device, the display content of the status display device The configuration is such that it is controlled to be determined.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the photographic processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the status display device includes a liquid crystal display for displaying a status of a device operated in the power saving mode and a mode status.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the photographic processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the status display device includes an indicator light that is turned on or off according to the status of the device operated in the power saving mode. .

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electric equipment system and a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings, taking a photographic processing apparatus as one of the electric equipment systems as an embodiment thereof.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main unit, which includes a keyboard 11, a display unit 12, and a main control unit 13. The display unit 12 is composed of, for example, a CRT type monitor.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a development processing section for performing development processing of the photosensitive material using various processing liquids. A sub-controller 21 for controlling internal equipment, a processing liquid tank 22 for storing various processing liquids, It has.

The main controller 13 and the sub controller 21 are connected via a communication line. The main controller 13 controls the driving of each internal device and controls the switching of the photo processing device of the present invention between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed. The power saving mode is activated when the photo processing apparatus performs standby operation and preparation operation.

Further, in synchronization with the mode switching, a control signal for mode switching in the development processing unit 2 is output from the main controller 13 to the sub controller 21 via a communication line. In the power saving mode, since the power of the main control device 13 is turned off, the main control device 13 is set to be turned on when the power saving mode ends.

Then, the sub control unit 21 of the developing unit 2
Controls the internal devices by the drive control unit 21a, and controls the development processing unit 2 to switch to standby operation, operation preparation, and normal operation based on a control signal from the main control device 13 of the main device 1. It is supposed to.

The display unit 12 of the main unit 1 is turned on only in the normal operation mode, and is turned off in the power saving mode in the standby operation and the preparatory operation.
In the power saving mode, control is performed so that power is not consumed.

The main controller 13 and the sub controller 21 are connected to RTCs (real time clocks) 71 and 72 having independent power supplies, respectively.
The time can be managed by the TCs 71 and 72.

Heaters 23 are provided in the processing liquid tank 22 of the development processing section 2 for heating the processing liquid. These heaters 23 are transmitted to the sub-control device 21 through the heater control circuit 5. It is connected. In the processing liquid tank 22,
A temperature sensor 6, which is a state detection device for detecting the internal temperature, is provided.
1, each processing solution tank 2 detected by the temperature sensor 6
2 is output to the sub-control device 21.

Further, the liquid temperature of the processing liquid tank 22 set by the main controller 13 is output to a sub-controller 21, and the set temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 6 from the sub-controller 21 are used as a heater. The temperature is output to the control circuit 5, and the heater control circuit 5 compares the set temperature with the detected temperature to perform temperature control.

Although not shown, each processing solution tank 22
Is provided with a liquid level detector, and the detection result by the liquid level detector is input to the sub-control device 21. When the liquid level drops below a predetermined position, the sub-control device 21 determines that there is an abnormality in the processing liquid tank 22 and outputs the abnormality to the display control means 3a.

4a is a state of the apparatus which is mainly operated during the standby operation and the preparation operation which are the power saving mode, specifically, the state of the developing unit 2, for example, the temperature of the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank 22, , A state display device for displaying an operation mode state, an abnormal operation state, and the like, and is configured by a display made of liquid crystal with low power consumption.

The status display device 4a is connected to the display control means 3a controlled by the sub-control device 21, and determines the content to be displayed on the display screen of the status display device 4a by the display control means 3a. ing.

More specifically, the photographic processing apparatus sets the normal operation mode when the photographic processing operation is being performed, and after the photographic processing operation is completed and the apparatus is inspected, enters a standby operation at night, The operation enters the power saving mode from the standby operation. The photo processing device operates in the power saving mode from the night standby operation to the next morning preparation operation.

In the power saving mode, the main controller 1 of the main unit 1
The power supply of the power supply 3 and the electric equipment such as the display unit 12 which is directly driven and controlled by the main controller 13 are turned off. The sub control device 21 is operating in preparation for the start of operation the next morning.

Before starting the standby operation, the main controller 13 sets the start time of the preparation operation the next morning,
Data is output from the main control device 13 to the sub-control device 21. When the sub-control device 21 enters the standby operation, the program timer operates. Further, when the preparatory operation start time set by the program timer comes, the operation shifts to the preparatory operation state, and the heater 23 is temperature-controlled by the heater control circuit 5 by the output from the sub-control device 21 to the heater control circuit 5, Each processing liquid in the processing liquid tank 22 in the development processing section 2 is adjusted to a predetermined temperature.

When the temperature of the treatment liquid is adjusted to a predetermined temperature, the preparatory operation is completed, the power of the main controller 13 is turned on, and the completion of the preparatory operation is established by the sub controller 21 connecting the communication line to the main controller 13. The power saving mode is released, the power saving mode is released, the normal operation mode is set, and the electric device such as the display unit 12 directly connected to the main controller 13 is turned on, and the display unit 12 is turned on.
, Various information is displayed.

In the above-described photo processing apparatus, when the standby operation in the power saving mode is started, the status display device 4a is controlled by the display control means 3a as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the screen during the operation of the program timer indicating the standby operation, the present time display, the preparation operation start time, and an error display when an abnormality occurs in the development processing unit.
The abnormalities in the development processing section include when the temperature of the processing liquid cannot be adjusted or when the liquid level of the processing liquid tank drops below a predetermined position.

Then, at the time of start of preparation operation, FIG.
As shown in (2), under the control of the display control means 3a, the display screen of the status display device 4a displays the display of the preparation operation, the display of the temperature adjustment of the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank, Of the processing solution, and an internal error in the developing section 2 are displayed.

Further, although not shown in the drawing, when the normal operation mode is entered, the display during normal operation and the processing liquid tank 22 are displayed on the display screen of the status display device 4a under the control of the display control means 3a.
The display indicates that the temperature of the processing liquid is being adjusted, the temperature of the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank 22, and the display of an internal error in the development processing unit 2. The display on the status display device 4a may be always displayed. However, when the normal operation mode is entered, the power of the display unit 12 of the main device 1 is turned on, and the display becomes possible. Therefore, the display on the status display device 4a may not be performed.

Further, when the apparatus enters the normal operation mode, each device is on standby in an operating state, and a predetermined developing process is performed each time a photosensitive material to be processed is set.

As described above, according to the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, in the power saving mode during the standby operation and the preparation operation, the power of the display unit 12 of the main device 1 is turned off, and the internal Although the status of the device is not displayed on the display unit 12, the display screen of the status display device 4a includes:
Since the state at that time is displayed, it is possible to easily and reliably confirm whether the operation is the standby operation, the preparation operation, the temperature of the processing liquid during the liquid temperature adjustment, or the like simply by looking at the state display device 4a. .

Further, even when the power of the display unit 12 is turned off due to the power saving mode, an error such as an abnormality affecting some kind of temperature control control or an abnormality of the liquid level of the processing liquid occurs in the status display device 4a. Since the error message is displayed, the error can be easily and reliably known.

Since the status display device 4a uses a liquid crystal display, it consumes less power. In the case of a liquid crystal display, the contents may be displayed in a considerably detailed manner as shown in FIG. 2. However, when there is only a limited space, the necessary minimum display is provided as shown in FIG. It may be performed.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described embodiment, the status display device 4a has a display display using a liquid crystal or the like. However, the status display device 4b according to the present embodiment is configured to operate the device in the power saving mode, specifically, It is composed of an indicator light that is turned on or off according to the state of the developing unit 2. Note that the overall configuration of the main device 1 and the sub control device 21 in the development processing unit 2 and the processing liquid tank 2
2, heater 23, heater control circuit 5, temperature sensor 6,
The RTC 72 is the same as in the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

More specifically, the control of turning on or off the status display device 4a, which is a display lamp, is performed through the display control means 3b controlled by the sub control device 21.

The status display device 4b has green and red light emitting diodes, and the lighting is controlled by the display control means 3b as follows.

In the standby operation in the power saving mode, the display control means 3b sets the drive signal which is turned on / off at a slow cycle until the program timer of the sub-controller 21 times out, that is, until the preparation operation start time. The green light-emitting diode is output to the display device 4b and blinks slowly from the standby operation to the preparation operation.

Further, when the program timer times out and enters the preparatory operation, a drive signal which is turned on / off in a short cycle until the temperature of each processing liquid tank 22 becomes an appropriate temperature is output, and during the temperature adjustment control in the preparatory operation. , Make the green light emitting diode blink quickly.

When it is confirmed by the temperature sensor 6 that the temperatures of all the processing liquid tanks 22 have reached a predetermined temperature, a drive signal for continuously lighting is output, and the temperature of each processing liquid is controlled by the temperature adjustment control. Is reached, and it is determined that the operation preparation is completed, and the green light emitting diode is continuously turned on.

When an error signal affecting the temperature control is output from the sub-controller 21 to the display control means 3b, a drive signal for blinking the red light emitting diode is output to the status display 4b, and the red light is emitted. Flashes the diode.

In the present invention, the status may be displayed on the display and the display may be displayed on the display. In this case, while the contents of the state can be known in detail on the display, it is possible to easily know the state even if the user is far away from the display.

The status display device is not limited to a liquid crystal display or a light emitting diode, and various display means with low power consumption can be used. Further, the status display device may be, for example, an audio display.

Further, the status display device may be provided in the main device, may be provided on the surface of the housing to make it easy to confirm from the outside, or may be provided in a portion which cannot be seen unless the door is opened. good.

[0048]

As described above, according to the electric equipment system and the photo processing device of the present invention, even if the display unit on the main device side is not operating in the power saving mode, it is possible to view the internal state only by looking at the status display device. Can be easily and reliably known.

Therefore, in a mode other than the normal operation mode, the state of the device operating in the power saving mode can be easily known while the power of the display unit is turned off to save power.

Further, when the status display device is constituted by a display for displaying the status of the device operated in the power saving mode and the mode status, the details of the status can be known in detail.

Further, when the status display device is constituted by an indicator light which is turned on or off according to the status of the device operated in the power saving mode, the status can be easily known even if the user is far away.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an electric equipment system and a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a display example of the status display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows another example of a display example of the status display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of an electric equipment system and a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 13 main control device 13a mode switching means 21 sub-control device 21a drive control unit 4a status display device (liquid crystal display) 4b status display device (indicator lamp) 6 temperature sensor (status detection device)

Claims (6)

[Claims] In an electric equipment system capable of switching between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed, the electric equipment system includes a mode switching means for performing a switching operation between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode. A main control device having, a sub-control device connected to the main control device and having a drive control unit for driving and controlling a device operated in the power saving mode, and a state detection device for detecting a state of the device operated in the power saving mode, A low-power-consumption state display device for displaying at least a state of the device to be operated in the power-saving mode, wherein the sub-control device determines display contents of the state display device based on a detection result of the state detection device. Electrical equipment system characterized in that: 2. The electric equipment system according to claim 1, wherein the state display device comprises a display for displaying a state of the equipment operated in the power saving mode and a mode state. 3. The electric device system according to claim 1, wherein the status display device comprises an indicator light that is turned on or off according to the status of the device operated in the power saving mode. 4. A photographic processing apparatus capable of switching between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed,
The photo processing device includes a main control device having a mode switching unit for performing a switching operation between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode, and a drive control unit connected to the main control device for driving and controlling a device that operates in the power saving mode. A sub-control device, a state detection device that detects the state of the device that is operated in the power saving mode, and a state display device with low power consumption that displays at least the state of the device that is operated in the power saving mode, the sub-control device is A photographic processing apparatus which controls so as to determine display contents of a state display device based on a detection result of the state detection device. 5. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the status display device comprises a display for displaying a status of the device operated in the power saving mode and a mode status. 6. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the status display device comprises an indicator light that is turned on or off according to the status of the device operated in the power saving mode.