JP2005115478A - Control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system precluded from bringing cost increase by complication of circuit configuration, capable of discriminating restoration time, from an energy saving mode from a usual electric power feed time which does not to require reading unnecessary information again, even when astride date updating timing or the like, and capable of quickening operation in the restoration time from the energy-saving mode. <P>SOLUTION: This control system provided with a controlled device controlled by a controller, and constituted to break an electric power source of the controlled device in energy-saving mode is provided with a notification means for notifying the presence of the restoration from the energy saving mode from the controller to the control device, in the restoration time from the energy saving mode, and a switching means for switching operations in the restoration from the energy saving mode and the normal power source ON-time, based on the notification from the notification means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system represented by an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having these functions, to which an electrophotographic system or an inkjet printing system is applied. The present invention relates to a control system that can suppress the amount of communication when returning.

JP-A-8-292897

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having these functions, to which this type of electrophotographic method or ink jet printing method is applied, a printer engine that performs image formation and the printer And a controller for controlling the engine, and is configured to control the printer engine using communication from the controller via a communication line.

  The controller sends a command signal to the printer engine, reads all information related to the printer engine, and controls the printing operation of the printer engine based on all the read information of the printer engine.

  In addition, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine to which the above-described electrophotographic method or ink jet printing method is applied, in order to realize energy saving of the device, the image forming operation is not performed for a certain period of time or more. The printer engine or the like connected to the printer is completely powered down to prevent the printer engine from consuming power.

  By the way, in the printer configured to control the printer engine using communication from the controller as described above, the communication amount of the command may be a problem.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine to which the above-described electrophotographic method or ink jet printing method is applied, the printer engine power supply is completely turned off in order to save energy, such as when the image forming operation is not executed for a certain time or more However, when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, it is not possible to distinguish between returning from the energy saving mode and turning on the power. A command signal is sent to the printer engine, all information relating to the printer engine is read, and an operation for controlling the printing operation of the printer engine is performed based on all the read information of the printer engine.

  However, in the above printer, when returning from the energy saving mode, all the information related to the printer engine is transferred from the printer engine in the same way as when the power is turned on normally even though the controller already has all the information related to the printer engine. Since it is necessary to execute the operation of reading the information again, unnecessary commands are communicated, and there is a problem that the return from the energy saving mode is delayed.

  Therefore, as a technique that can solve such a problem, for example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-292897.

  The information processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-292897 is an information processing apparatus having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether or not its function is normal and a clock function for calculating time even when the power is off. Based on the output from the clock function when the power is turned on, the judging means for judging whether or not the power has already been turned on that day, and when the power has not been turned on that day, Means for making a diagnosis and means for skipping at least a part of the diagnosis when the power has been turned on on that day are provided.

  However, the conventional technique has the following problems. That is, in the case of the information processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-292897, it is determined whether or not the power has already been turned on that day. It is not possible to distinguish when returning from the mode, and when returning from the energy saving mode, it is necessary to re-read all information related to the printer engine from the printer engine in the same way as when the normal power is turned on. Had problems.

  Further, in the case of the information processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-292897, at least a clock function for calculating time and as a judgment means for judging whether or not the power has already been turned on that day. Since a non-volatile memory is required, the circuit configuration is complicated, resulting in an increase in cost, and there is a problem that initialization processing is also performed when the date change timing is straddled. .

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to make the circuit configuration complicated and not to increase the cost. Even when crossing over, it is possible to distinguish between when returning from energy saving mode and when the power is turned on normally, so that unnecessary information does not need to be read again, and operations when returning from energy saving mode are performed quickly It is to provide a control system capable of doing this.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a control system including a controlled device controlled by a control device and configured to shut off a power source of the controlled device in an energy saving mode. ,
Notifying means for notifying that the control device is returning from the energy saving mode when returning from the energy saving mode;
A control system comprising switching means for switching an operation between a return from an energy saving mode and a normal power-on state based on a notification from the notification means.

  Further, the invention described in claim 2 is the control system according to claim 1, wherein the switching means switches the operation so as to omit a part of the initialization process performed when the power is turned on. .

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is unnecessary when the switching means performs a normal initialization operation until a notification from the notification means is received, and notification that the return from the energy saving mode is received. 2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the initializing process is stopped.

  Further, the invention described in claim 4 is an operation which is not omitted even if a notification that the normal initialization operation performed before the switching unit receives a notification from the notification unit is a return from the energy saving mode. The control system according to claim 3, wherein the control system is performed with priority.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 5 is the control system according to claim 1, wherein the notification means uses means used for other purposes.

  The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that the notification means uses a communication line used for control between the control device and the controlled device. Control system.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the notification means uses a control command used for control between the control device and the controlled device. Control system.

  The invention described in claim 8 is the control system according to claim 1, wherein the notification means uses a signal for sending image data. As a signal for sending the image data, for example, a video signal line is used.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 9 is the control system according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is provided independently. This independent notification means may be a line that can send a signal that can be turned on and off, for example, and identifies whether it is a return from the energy saving mode in the ON state or the OFF state. Or the number of ON-OFF times or the like is used to identify whether or not it is a return from the energy saving mode.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printer system as a control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer system 1 according to this embodiment includes a controller 2 as a control device and a printer engine 3 as a controlled device. The printer 2 and the printer engine 3 are: The communication lines 4 are connected so as to communicate with each other. The printer engine 3 is controlled by the controller 2 and executes a printing operation based on image data sent from a personal computer (not shown). Here, the controller 2 may be independently manufactured as the controller of the printer 1, or a personal computer or the like may be used as the controller as it is.

  The controller 2 includes a controller control unit 5, and the controller control unit 5 is connected to an energy saving control unit 6. The controller control unit 5 directly controls the entire controller 2 including the energy saving control unit 6. The controller control unit 5 is configured to indirectly control the entire system 1 by operating the engine control unit 7 of the printer engine 3 through serial communication via the communication line 4.

  The energy saving control unit 6 is connected to the printer engine 4 via the communication line 4, and is configured to manage the energy saving mode, monitor the entire system 1 and appropriately switch to the energy saving mode. . More specifically, the energy saving control unit 6 manages the power supply of the entire system 1 including the power supply 8 of the printer engine 3, and when the printer engine 3 does not execute a printing operation for a certain time or longer, the printer engine 3. The energy saving mode that completely stops the power supply to the camera is realized. In addition, the energy saving control unit 6 is configured to print the printer engine when the entire system 1 is turned on, when a print signal is input, when the print button is pressed, or when the energy saving mode cancel button is pressed. 3 is controlled so as to turn on the power supply 8.

  The printer engine 3 includes an engine control unit 7, and the engine control unit 7 controls the entire printer engine 3. Therefore, when the power 8 of the printer engine 3 is turned on and power is supplied, the engine control unit 7 initializes the necessary device 9 and waits for an instruction from the controller 2 side. . The engine control unit 7 is configured to control each device 9 such as a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device of the printer engine 3.

By the way, in this embodiment, in a control system that includes a controlled device that is controlled by the control device and is configured to shut off the power source of the controlled device in the energy saving mode.
A notification means for notifying that the control device is returning from the energy saving mode when returning from the energy saving mode;
A control system comprising switching means for switching operation between when returning from the energy saving mode and when a normal power supply is turned on.

  That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the controller control unit 5 as the notification unit on the controller 2 side returns from the energy saving mode when returning from the energy saving mode by a signal from the energy saving control unit 6. This is configured to notify the engine control unit 7 via the communication line 4. In addition, when the engine control unit 7 receives a signal from the controller control unit 5 notifying that it is a return from the energy saving mode, the engine control unit 7 has a function as switching means for switching between normal power-on and operation.

  More specifically, the engine control unit 7 is configured to transmit all information related to the printer engine 3 to the controller control unit 5 when the normal power is turned on, and when returning from the energy saving mode, Only information that may be changed in the energy saving mode is configured to be transmitted to the controller control unit 5.

  In the above-described configuration, in the printer system according to this embodiment, the circuit configuration is complicated as described below without causing a cost increase, and even when the date change timing is straddled. It is possible to identify the time of return from the energy saving mode and the time of normal power-on, and to read unnecessary information again and to quickly perform the operation when returning from the energy saving mode.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the controller and the printer engine operate when the printer system 1 is powered on as usual.

When the power of the printer system 1 is turned on, the controller 2 and the printer engine 3 initialize the controller 2 as shown in FIG. 2 (step 101). The communication line 4 is initialized (step 102), and the printer engine 3 itself is initialized (step 103).
Since FIG. 2 is not a return from the energy saving mode but an operation when the power is turned on normally, the printer engine 3 performs all initialization as it is and enters a normal print instruction waiting state (step 104). When the initialization is completed, the controller 3 communicates with the printer engine 3 using a normal control command in order to acquire the status of the printer engine 3 (step 105), and thereafter enters a normal process for waiting for a print request from the user. (Step 106).

  On the other hand, FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the printer engine is turned on as a return from the energy saving mode. When the return condition from the energy saving mode to the normal mode is satisfied, the energy saving control unit 6 turns on the power supply 8 of the printer engine 3 to return from the energy saving mode (step 201). When the power supply 8 is turned on, the printer engine 3 starts an initialization operation (step 202). Here, the printer engine 3 preferentially initializes the communication line 4 with the controller 2 so that information from the controller 2 can be acquired (step 202). When communication with the printer engine 3 becomes possible, the controller 2 transmits an energy saving start command for notifying the printer engine 3 that the power is turned on as a return from the energy saving mode (step 203). Thereafter, the controller 3 enters a normal process for accepting a print request from the user (step 204). When the printer engine 3 receives the energy saving start command from the controller 2, the printer controller 3 can recognize that the current state is a return from the state where the power is turned off in the energy saving mode. Some are omitted (step 205). The printer engine 3 then waits for an instruction from the controller 2 and executes normal processing (step 206).

  At that time, the engine control unit 7 performs a certain amount of time until the energy saving start command is received from the controller 2 after the initialization of the communication line 4 between the controller 2 and the controller 2 during the initialization. Until there is, it may be configured to perform normal initialization work. At this time, it is desirable that normal initialization work is performed in descending order of priority.

  4 and 5 describe the operations of the controller 2 and the printer engine 3 individually in a little more detail.

  FIG. 4 shows an operation algorithm of the controller 2.

  When power is turned on, the controller 2 first initializes the controller 2 itself (step 301). Thereafter, the controller control unit 5 enters a normal operation mode, and performs a printing operation by controlling the printer engine 3 according to a print instruction from the user (step 302). Then, it is determined that the conditions for shifting to the energy saving mode are met, such as the printer engine 3 is not used for a predetermined time (step 303), and the controller control unit 5 controls the energy saving control unit 6 to control the printer engine 3 The entire system 1 including is shifted to the energy saving mode (step 304). Thus, the power supply of the printer engine 3 itself is stopped by the energy saving control unit 6.

  Thereafter, when the controller control unit 5 determines that the transition condition to the normal mode is satisfied again (step 305), the controller control unit 5 returns the entire system 1 to the normal state. At this time, the controller control unit 5 controls the energy saving control unit 6 to turn on the power supply 8 of the printer engine 3 and starts supplying power to the printer engine 3 again (step 306). Further, the controller control unit 5 notifies the engine control unit 7 that the power supply is started by the transition from the energy saving mode to the printer engine 3 side (step 307). Thereafter, the controller control unit 5 shifts to a normal processing mode (step 302). The controller control unit 5 repeats the above operation until the power supply of the entire system 1 is stopped.

  FIG. 5 shows an operation algorithm of the printer engine 3.

  When the power of the printer engine 3 is turned on, the engine control unit 7 performs necessary initialization whether the power is turned on by returning from the energy saving mode or the power is turned on by a user using a power switch or the like. (Step 401). For example, when the engine control unit 7 is configured to use the control serial communication line 4 to know that it is a return from the energy saving mode, the engine control unit 7 relates to the serial communication line 4 during this initialization operation. Initialization is included (step 401). Next, the engine control unit 7 checks whether or not it has received a notification from the controller 2 that the power is turned on by returning from the energy saving mode (step 402). Then, if the power is generated by the transition from the energy saving mode, the engine control unit 7 does not need to perform a part of initialization, and omits this, and shifts to a normal printing operation (step 404). ). In the other cases, the engine control unit 7 performs the rest of initialization because the entire system 1 is powered on (step 403). If a message for returning from the energy saving mode is received while performing an optional initialization process, the initialization process is interrupted and a normal printing operation is performed (step 406).

  When the initialization is completed, the engine control unit 7 waits for control from the controller 2 for a normal print operation, and repeats the print operation until the energy saving mode shifts or the system power is turned off again (step 405). ).

  As described above, in the above embodiment, when returning from the energy saving mode, the controller control unit 5 notifies the engine control unit 7 of the printer engine 3 that the printer engine 3 has returned from the energy saving mode, and the engine control unit 7 Since the operation is switched between when returning from the energy saving mode and when the normal power is turned on, there is no need to execute unnecessary initialization operations when returning from the energy saving mode, and the circuit configuration is complicated. Therefore, even when the date change timing is straddled without increasing the cost, it is possible to quickly perform the operation when returning from the energy saving mode.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printer system as a control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer system as the control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer system as the control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation on the controller side of the printer system as the control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation on the printer engine side of the printer system as the control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1: printer system, 2: controller, 3: printer engine, 4: communication line, 5: controller control unit (notification unit), 6: energy saving control unit, 7: engine control unit (switching unit).

Claims (9)

In a control system comprising a controlled device controlled by a control device and configured to shut off the power source of the controlled device in the energy saving mode,
Notifying means for notifying that the control device is returning from the energy saving mode when returning from the energy saving mode;
A control system comprising switching means for switching operation between a return from an energy saving mode and a normal power-on state based on a notification from the notification means. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches the operation so that a part of the initialization process performed when the power is turned on is omitted. The switching unit performs a normal initialization operation until a notification from the notification unit is received, and stops an unnecessary initialization process when a notification indicating a return from the energy saving mode is received. The control system according to claim 1. The normal initialization operation that is performed before the switching unit receives a notification from the notification unit is performed by giving priority to an operation that is not omitted even if a notification that the return is from the energy saving mode is received. The control system according to claim 3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit uses a unit used for another purpose. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit uses a communication line used for control between the control device and the controlled device. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the notification unit uses a control command used for control between the control device and the controlled device. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit uses a signal to send image data. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is provided independently.

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