JP2002067449A - Imaging apparatus having backup means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To read out normal data even when a device malfunctions during a energy saving mode by storing data in a different storage part when the device is shifting to the energy saving mode. SOLUTION: A main CPU 3 in charge of the center of a printer controller 1 stores data received from an external device via an external device interface(I/ F) control part 7 as video data to a first storage part 11. A sub CPU 4 having a third storage part is responsible for a function of controlling to save an energy, controlling to back up, monitoring stored data and detecting devices. An engine plot control part 13 connected to an engine I/F control part 10 has a second storage part. When the apparatus is shifting to the energy saving mode, data stored in the first storage part 11 are stored as backup data to the second storage part in the engine plot control part 13 and to the third storage part in the sub CPU 4, and moreover, a DC source B system for supplying to the main CPU 3, etc., is turned off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a backup unit, and more particularly, to a printer device and a facsimile device capable of reliably performing a data storing operation when shifting to an energy saving mode or returning from an energy saving mode. And an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent image processing apparatuses, low power consumption is required by the Energy Conservation Law and international energy stars. Conventionally, all devices including printers have been developing products having an energy saving mode function, but further reduction in power consumption will be required in the future.

A printer control device connected to a host computer and a facsimile device for the purpose of providing a printer control device which can save energy and is economical is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-154552. Have been. When receiving communication data from the facsimile apparatus, the printer control device switches the switch means from the ON state to the OFF state and sets the main CPU in the printer control apparatus.
The supply of the clock signal to the CPU is stopped, and the function of the main CPU is interrupted. During the interruption of the function of the main CPU, the facsimile data is processed by the sub CPU.

[0004] Further, by reducing the power consumption of the heater in the plotter system, energy saving can be achieved.
A facsimile apparatus aiming at enabling a sufficient response to an incoming call or the like from the other party is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-2654.
No. 65 is disclosed. This facsimile apparatus can respond to incoming calls within 6 seconds by dial-in when detecting an incoming call and turning on the power supply 5V to start up the system in the energy saving mode in which the power supply 5V such as the CPU is turned off. It will be.

[0005]

In an apparatus having an energy-saving mode function, an ideal energy-saving measure can be taken by turning off a power switch of the apparatus body and reducing power consumption to zero. Device that communicates with
When a print request occurs, it is necessary to immediately return from the energy saving mode to the normal mode and respond to a response with the external device. For this purpose, power must be supplied to some devices such as a control unit that controls the external device interface (I / F) even in the energy saving mode.

[0006] The apparatus of the present invention is provided with a means for supplying power during such an energy saving mode and a means for turning off the power. Another object of the present invention is to store data upon returning from the energy saving mode so that normal data can be read even if a device to which power is supplied during the energy saving mode has a problem.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the first technical means is that a main CPU, a sub CPU, and a control program are stored. ROM, an external device I / F control unit,
A first storage unit for storing data received from an external device;
An engine I / F control unit, an engine plot control unit for transmitting data stored in the first storage unit as video data via the engine I / F control unit, an operation unit for inputting setting information, and the setting unit In an image forming apparatus provided with a backup unit comprising a display unit for displaying information and apparatus status information, the data stored in the first storage unit is subjected to the engine I / F control when shifting from a normal mode to an energy saving mode. The data is stored as backup data in a second storage unit in the engine plot control unit and a third storage unit in the sub CPU via a unit.

The second technical means is the image forming apparatus provided with the backup means of the first technical means, wherein the sub CPU has a storage data monitoring control function, and when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, The data stored in the first storage unit and the data stored in the second storage unit of the engine plot control unit were compared with the data in the third storage unit in the sub CPU, and the data did not match. The data of the third storage unit in the sub CPU is stored in the storage unit, and is rewritten to normal data.

A third technical means is the image forming apparatus provided with the backup means of the first and second technical means, wherein the sub CPU has a device detection control function, and is used when shifting to the energy saving mode or returning to the energy saving mode. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the data storage operation is performed surely and a device failure is detected.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described based on Examples shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus including a backup unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus is a printer,
Although a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and the like are conceivable, a printer device will be described as an example. In FIG. 1, a printer as an image forming apparatus is roughly divided into a printer controller 1 and an engine controller 2. The printer controller 1 has a main CPU as a main control unit.
3. A sub CPU 4 is provided as an auxiliary control unit. The main CPU 2 and the sub CPU 3 have ROM 5, RAM 6,
An external device interface (I / F) control unit 7, operation unit 8, display unit 9, engine interface (I / F) control unit 10, and first storage unit 11 are connected via a system bus 12. The sub CPU 4 has a storage unit (third storage unit) (not shown) that stores data received via the external device I / F control unit 7. The engine controller 2 includes an engine plot control unit 13 connected via an engine I / F control unit 10, and has a storage unit (second storage unit) not shown therein.

The main CPU 3 communicates with an external device via an external device I / F control unit 7 based on a control program stored in a ROM 5, and obtains data obtained from an external device (not shown) as video data in a first storage unit. 11, and controls output of video data to the engine plot control unit 13 via the engine I / F control unit 10. Sub C
The PU 4 is a unit that performs energy saving control, backup control, stored data monitoring control, device detection control, and the like, and has a storage unit therein and functions as a third storage unit.
The external device I / F control unit 7 is a control unit that enables communication with external devices such as a Centronics I / F, a serial I / F, and a network I / F. For example, image data transmitted from the external device A drawing command, drawing information, and the like are received, and the image data is developed in the RAM 6. The image-developed data is plotted as video data by the engine plot control unit 13 via the engine I / F control unit 10.

The operation unit 8 and the display unit 9 are button switches,
It is composed of an LED, a liquid crystal panel, a touch panel, and the like, and can input setting conditions for the apparatus, refer to and display setting conditions and states of the apparatus. The setting and reference of the energy saving mode are also performed on the operation unit 8 and the display unit 9.

The engine I / F control unit 10 includes an interface for image data transmitted from the engine I / F control unit 10 to the engine plot control unit 13, information on the image data, status information and commands of each control unit. It has an interface for transmitting and receiving data.

The DC power is supplied from the engine plot controller 13 to the printer controller 1 via the engine I / F controller 10 to the printer controller 1 and the DC power source B.
Are provided. 1 is always supplied to the sub CPU 4 of the printer controller 1, the external device I / F control unit 7, the engine I / F control unit 10, and the first storage unit 11 even in the energy saving mode. Power supply. The DC power supply B shown by a solid line in FIG.
5, a power source supplied to the RAM 6, the operation unit 8, and the display unit 9.

First, a sequence at the time of shifting to the energy saving mode will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the printer shifts to the energy saving mode. Sub CPU
The end of data reception or the end of data processing operation is determined by the energy saving control means 4 based on the energy saving mode transition time t set on the operation unit 8 and the display unit 9 (step 1). If there is, a countdown is started (step 2). During the countdown, if data is received from an external device or the engine plot control unit 13 and it becomes necessary for the printer controller 1 to perform a processing operation, the countdown operation is canceled and the process returns to step 1 (step 3). The countdown is started by inputting a reset when the processing by the data reception is completed (step 2).

When the energy saving mode transition time t has been reached through step 3 (step 4), the data stored in the first storage unit 11 and the third storage in the sub CPU 4 are controlled by the stored data monitoring control means of the sub CPU 4. Are compared (step 5), and if they are not the same data, the sub CPU
4, the Busy A signal is asserted by the backup control means 4 and the data stored in the first storage 11 is
The data is stored in the third storage unit in the PU 4 (Step 6). Subsequently, similarly, the data stored in the third storage unit in the sub CPU 4 is compared with the data in the second storage unit in the engine plot control unit 13 by the stored data monitoring control unit of the sub CPU 4 (step 7). If the data is not the same, the signal of BusyB is asserted by the sub CPU4 backup means, and the data stored in the third storage unit is output to the engine I.
The data is stored in the second storage unit in the engine plot control unit 13 via the / F control unit 10 (step 8). If the comparison data is the same in steps 5 and 7, the operation of storing data in the second and third storage units is not performed, and the process proceeds to step 9.

The write data and the read data are compared by the device detection control means of the sub CPU 4 (step 9), and if they are the same data, the energy saving request signal x is asserted (step 11). If the data are not the same in step 9, after the fact that the device is defective is displayed on the display unit 9, the energy saving request signal x is asserted (step 11). Next, when the data storage in the second storage unit and the third storage unit is completed, the assertion of the respective BusyA signal and BusyB signal is released, and the engine controller is ready to shift to the energy saving mode. It is determined whether or not the signal y has been asserted (step 12).

After confirming that the Busy A signal and the Busy B signal have been deasserted and the energy saving request response signal y has been asserted, an energy saving start signal z is issued to the engine plot controller 13 via the engine I / F controller 10. (Step 13). The engine plot control unit 13 detects the assertion of the energy saving start signal z, shifts the inside of the engine controller 2 to the energy saving mode, and turns off the DC power supply B.
(Step 14), and shift to the energy saving mode (step 15). The power supply system of the DC power supply A is supplied to the sub CPU 4, the external device I / F control unit 9, the engine I / F control unit 10, and the first storage unit 11 of the printer controller 1. The control is working. Conversely, the other control units that supply the power of the DC power supply B, that is, the main CPU 3, the ROM 5, the RAM 6, the operation unit 8, and the display unit 8 have the DC power supply B during the energy saving mode.
The power supply is cut off so that it does not operate, thereby saving power consumption.

FIG. 2 shows a case where the data stored in the first storage unit 11 is stored as video data in the second storage unit in the engine plot control unit 13 and the third storage unit in the sub CPU 4 at the time of shifting to the energy saving mode. 6 is a timing chart illustrating a storage sequence control. The data stored in the first storage unit 11 and the data stored in the second storage unit
4, if the data is not the same as the data stored in the third storage unit, the first storage unit 11
To the third storage unit and from the third storage unit to the second storage unit for rewriting. At the start of rewriting, the Busy A signal falls, and then the Busy B signal falls. When the Busy A signal and the Busy B signal both assert and fall, the energy saving cancellation request signal x falls. Energy saving release request signal x
Rises at the timing when the inside of the engine controller 1 is ready to shift to the energy saving mode and the energy saving request response signal y falls. The data is stored in the second storage unit and the third storage unit, the Busy A signal and the Busy B signal rise, and the energy saving start signal z falls at the timing when the energy saving request response signal y falls, and the mode shifts to the energy saving mode.

Next, a sequence when the energy saving mode is canceled will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the printer shifts from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. Factors that cause the printer controller 1 to return from the energy saving mode to the normal mode include a case where print data is received from the external device I / F control unit 7 and a case where data such as a command, status, and error are received from the engine controller 2. , (Step 21), when these factors occur, the process proceeds to Step 22.

The data stored in the first storage unit 11 and the sub C
Compare the data in the third storage unit in PU4 (step 2
2) If the data is not the same, the signal of BusyA 'is asserted by the backup control means of the sub CPU 4 and the data stored in the third storage unit in the sub CPU 4 is stored in the first storage unit 11 (step 23). ). Subsequently, similarly, the data stored in the second storage unit in the engine plot control unit 13 and the data stored in the third storage unit in the sub CPU 4 are compared by the stored data monitoring control unit of the sub CPU 4 (step 24). , If not the same data, sub C
The signal of BusyB 'is asserted by the backup control means of the PU 4, and the data stored in the third storage section of the sub CPU 4 is stored in the second storage section of the engine plot control section 13 (step 25).

The write data and the read data are compared by the device detection control means of the sub CPU 4 (step 26).
Is asserted (step 28). In step 26, if the data is not the same, a device failure is indicated
Is displayed (step 27), an energy saving request signal x 'is asserted (step 28). Next, step 23,
In step 25, when the data storage in the first storage unit 11 and the third storage unit is completed, the respective BusyA 'signals,
The assertion of the BusyB 'signal is released, the engine controller is ready to shift to the normal mode, and it is determined whether or not the energy saving request response signal y' has been asserted (step 29).

When the energy saving request response signal y 'is asserted in step 29, the printer controller 1 asserts the energy saving cancellation start signal z' at the timing of detecting the assertion of the energy saving request response signal y '(step 30). The engine controller 1 detects the assertion of the energy saving release start signal z 'and starts supplying the DC power source B to the printer controller 1 (step 31), and the printer returns from the energy saving mode to the normal mode (step 32). ).

As described above, before the printer controller 1 asserts the energy-saving release request signal x 'in step 28, the storage data monitoring and control means of the sub CPU 4 reads out the data stored in the third storage section in the sub CPU 4. The data stored in the first storage unit 11 is compared with the data stored in the second storage unit of the engine plot control unit 13 (steps 22 and 24). Then, the data is rewritten from the first storage unit 11 and the second storage unit, and at the start of the rewriting, the signals BusyA 'and BusyB' are asserted (steps 23 and 25). At the end of rewriting, Busy
Deassert A ', BusyB'. The same storage sequence control (Busy
A signal, BusyB signal, energy saving request signal x, energy saving request response signal y, energy saving start signal z), Busy A 'signal, Busy
The B 'signal, the energy saving request signal x', the energy saving request response signal y ', and the energy saving start signal z' are controlled.

In the device failure detection control means of the sub CPU 4, for example, in step 9 at the time of shifting to the energy saving mode and at step 26 at the time of returning from the energy saving mode,
To determine whether the data storage operation has been performed reliably, after the data storage operation at the time of transition to the energy saving mode and at the time of returning from the energy saving mode, the read operation is performed again for each storage unit, and the data at the time of data storage and read If the data matches, the data storage is terminated.If the data at the time of data storage does not match the read data, the device is determined to be a defective device that cannot perform normal operation, and a defective device exists on the display unit. (Step 1
0) (Step 27).

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the data stored in the first storage unit at the time of transition to the energy saving mode is transferred to the engine plot control unit via the engine I / F control unit. 2 storage unit and 3rd in sub CPU
Store as backup data in the storage unit,
Since power supply to the U, ROM, RAM, operation unit, display unit, and the like is turned off, energy can be saved, and data can be accurately read when shifting to the energy saving mode or when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. In addition, even if the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, if the device to which power is supplied malfunctions and destroys or rewrites the data of the device, when the device returns from the energy saving mode, the backup device Normal data can be rewritten. Also, when shifting to the energy saving mode or returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode,
When any failure occurs in the device, the user can be notified of the occurrence of the failure in the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a backup unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing a storage sequence control when shifting to an energy saving mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when shifting to an energy saving mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer controller, 2 ... Engine controller, 3 ... Main CPU, 4 ... Sub CPU, 5 ... ROM,
6 RAM, 7 external device I / F control unit, 8 operation unit,
9: display unit, 10: engine I / F control unit, 11: first
Storage unit, 12: system bus, 13: engine plot control unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A main CPU, a sub CPU, a ROM storing a control program, an external device I / F control unit, a first storage unit for storing data received from the external device, an engine I / F. F control unit, and the engine I / F as data stored in the first storage unit as video data.
In an image forming apparatus provided with a backup unit including an engine plot control unit for sending out via a control unit, an operation unit for inputting setting information, and a display unit for displaying the setting information and apparatus state information, a normal mode At the time of shifting to the energy saving mode, the data stored in the first storage unit is backed up to the second storage unit in the engine plot control unit and the third storage unit in the sub CPU via the engine I / F control unit. An image forming apparatus comprising a backup unit that stores data as data. 2. The sub-CPU has a stored data monitoring control function. When returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, the sub CPU has data stored in the first storage unit and a second storage unit of the engine plot control unit. The data stored in the third storage unit in the sub CPU is compared with the data in the third storage unit in the sub CPU, and the data in the third storage unit in the sub CPU is stored in the storage unit where the data does not match. 2. An image forming apparatus provided with a backup unit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is rewritten with new data. 3. The sub-CPU has a device detection control function, and determines whether or not a data storage operation is being performed reliably when shifting to the energy saving mode or when returning from the energy saving mode to detect a device failure. An image forming apparatus comprising the backup unit according to claim 1.