JP2006198794A - Power consumption control method of printer and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power consumption control method of a printer which carries out efficient power supply management in power supply management of the printer. <P>SOLUTION: In the power consumption control method, in the printer with a plurality of host interfaces to be connected to a plurality of host PCs, when a shift request to a power saving mode is given to the printer from any of the plurality of host PCs 206, 207 and 217, if at least one of the other interfaces is under communication or during printing, only an interface control part to which the request of shift to the power saving mode is given shifts to the power saving mode. If all of the interfaces are under non communication or during non printing, the whole printer is shifted to the power saving mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power consumption control method and a printing apparatus for a printing apparatus that receives data from an information processing apparatus via an interface and performs printing.

  In recent years, due to environmental considerations, power saving requirements for electrical products have been greatly increased. A printing apparatus that receives data from an information processing apparatus via an interface and performs printing is no exception, and regulations on power consumption are stricter in regulations such as International Energy Star and Blue Angel.

On the other hand, there is a high demand for speeding up printing apparatuses, and the speed of data transfer to a host IF that connects a host PC and a printing apparatus and transfers print data is also increasing. Conventionally, an IF for connecting a host PC and a printing apparatus is generally an IEEE 1284, but USB, IEEE 1394, Ethernet (registered trademark), etc. are used for speeding up and improving usability. Accordingly, the host IF for connecting the host PC and the printing apparatus is diversified. In order to cope with these diversified IFs, in recent years, more printing apparatuses support a plurality of IFs.
JP-A-6-318142 JP-A-8-234874 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-262048 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-10907

  In order to cope with diversified IFs, a printer having a plurality of types of IFs requires a control block for controlling the IFs. In order to operate the control block, it is necessary to supply power to the control block, but there is a problem that more power supply is required as the number of supported IF types increases. In order to respond to the recent demand for power saving, proposals such as Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Patent Document 4 have been made in order to reduce the power consumption of the printing apparatus.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 proposes that a printing apparatus has a power saving control unit independent from the power saving control unit of the host PC for the purpose of reducing power consumption in a system in which a host PC and a printing apparatus are combined. .

  In Patent Document 2, in an information processing system having a power management function capable of shifting to a suspend state in a plurality of modes, a connection status detection unit that detects a connection status of a predetermined peripheral device to the information processing device body, Event detection means for detecting an event for detecting an event that the peripheral device should enter the operating state is provided. When connection of the predetermined peripheral device is detected by the connection status detection means, the suspend state mode is set as the event input. In such a case, a configuration is proposed in which the mode is set so as to return from the suspended state to the operating state.

  In Patent Document 3, for a plurality of devices that are used in cooperation with a network connection or the like, the power supply of each device is automatically / systematic in consideration of the complicated dependency between the devices and the usage status of each device. A power supply management system that is turned on and off remotely is disclosed. That is, a plurality of devices having a power source, a power-on / off means for turning on / off the plurality of devices, and a power-on state for causing each of the plurality of devices to perform a predetermined operation Dependent device information storing means for storing dependent device information indicating other devices, power supply state storing means for storing power on / off states of a plurality of devices, dependent device information storing means, and power supply state storing means There has been proposed a power management system including power control means for controlling power on / off means with reference to stored information.

  In Patent Document 4, when the USB device is not connected to the USB port, the function of the USB host controller is stopped, thereby providing a power saving function that significantly reduces the wasteful power consumption when the USB device is not connected. Proposed.

  All of these proposals are intended to reduce power consumption, but there is no consideration regarding the increase in power consumption due to the increase in the types of IFs supported in devices with multiple types of host IFs. .

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a power consumption control method of a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus that perform efficient power management in power management of the printing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a printing apparatus that receives print data from a host PC and forms an image according to the received print data, and includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC. A connection detecting step for detecting whether or not the connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and a connection means power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the control block of the connection means with the host PC; The main control unit power management control process for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and the power management mode of each control block, at least three states for each control block: normal mode, power saving mode, power supply stop Any of the connection means with a plurality of host PCs When there is a request from the host PC to shift to the power saving mode, if at least one of the other connection means is connected and communicating or printing, the connection that has been requested to shift to the power saving mode When only the means control block is set to the power saving mode and the other connecting means is in the connected state and not communicating, not printing, or disconnected, the connecting means control block that requested the transition to the power saving mode and other The connection means control block and the main control block are in a power saving mode.

  Further, in the power consumption control method for a printing apparatus according to the present invention, when there is a request for transition from the host PC to the printing apparatus to the power saving mode, any of the plurality of connection means with the host PC, It is characterized by identifying whether printing or communication is performed, and IF control blocks not used for printing or communication are also set in the power saving mode.

  Further, a printing apparatus that receives print data from the host PC and forms an image according to the received print data, and is a printing apparatus that includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC, and receives at least print data from the host PC. In the printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from the power saving mode by the connection detection step of detecting whether the connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and the power of the control block of the connection means with the host PC Connection means for controlling the management mode Power management control step, Main control unit power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and as a power management mode for each control block Mode, power saving mode, power supply When the print data is received from the host PC in any one of the connection means with multiple host PCs, the control block and the main control block of the connection means that received the print data are shifted to the normal mode. The other connection means control block is characterized in that the immediately preceding power management mode is maintained.

  Further, a printing apparatus that receives print data from the host PC and forms an image corresponding to the received print data, and is a printing apparatus that includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC, and at least operates the operation panel. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from a power saving mode, a connection detection step for detecting whether or not the connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and power management of a control block of the connection means with the host PC Connecting means for controlling the mode power management control process, main control unit power management control process for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and at least normal mode for each control block as the power management mode of each control block , Power saving mode, power supply stop It includes a tri-state, when the operation panel is operated, the main control block is shifted to the normal mode, connecting means control block is characterized by holding the power management mode just before.

  Furthermore, a printing apparatus that receives print data from the host PC and forms an image according to the received print data, and is a printing apparatus that includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from a power saving mode by performing an operation for product replacement, a connection detecting step for detecting whether or not a connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and the host PC Connecting means power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the control block of the connecting means, main control unit power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and power management mode of each control block As a normal mode at least for each control block It has three states of power saving mode and power supply stop. When an operation for exchanging consumables is performed, the main control block is shifted to the normal mode, and the connection means control block holds the previous power management mode. It is a feature.

  Further, the power consumption control method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the clock supply to each control block is controlled as the power saving mode.

  Further, the power consumption control method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the power supply to each control block is controlled as a power saving mode.

  According to the present invention, when a request for shifting to the power saving mode is made, the power saving mode can be determined flexibly according to the state of another interface. In addition, since the power saving mode can be determined according to the state of each of the plurality of interfaces when returning from the power saving mode, it is possible to provide a more efficient and low power consumption printing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Description of printer controller]
A case where print output is performed by a print system using an inkjet printer will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer and a printing system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer controller. In the print system shown in FIG. 1, image data generated by the host (101) is transferred to the printer (102) via the external bus (103), and print output processing is performed. The printer is divided into a printer controller (104) and a printer engine (105). In the printer controller (104),
○ IF control with external bus used for communication with host.
○ Interpretation of printer control commands (converted image data) transferred from the host and bitmap data generation.
○ Various image processing when generating bitmap data.
○ Accepts user operations and sends commands to the printer engine.
Is mainly done. The printer engine (105) receives the bitmap data generated by the printer controller,
○ Inkjet head ejection timing data generation ○ Printing processing ○ Ink supply / recovery processing to inkjet head ○ Motor control in paper transport and head operation is mainly performed. With the above processing, the image data received from the host is printed out.

  The configuration and schematic operation of the controller will be described with reference to FIG. The function and schematic operation of the controller unit will be described. The CPU 201 is connected to the host PC 206 (207, 217) via the USB interface 204, the IEEE 1394 interface 205, and the network interface 216, and stores a ROM 208 storing a control program, an updatable control program, a processing program, various constant data, and the like. The stored EEPROM 210 and the RAM 208 for storing command signals and image information received from the host PC 206 are accessed, and the recording operation is controlled based on the information stored in these memories. Instruction information input from the keys of the operation panel 212 is transmitted to the CPU 201 via the operation panel interface 211, and the LED lighting and LCD display of the operation panel 212 are similarly controlled via the operation panel interface 211 according to commands from the CPU 201. Is done. The expansion interface 215 is an interface for performing function expansion by connecting an expansion card such as an HDD. The image information is converted into dot data of each ink color by the image data processing block 213 and output to the engine (not shown). Similarly, various commands and status information are transmitted and received between the controller and the engine via the image data processing block 213. Further, the power management control of each main control unit and each interface control unit indicated by dotted lines is performed by each power management control unit (not shown).

  The function and operation outline of the engine unit will be described with reference to FIG. The engine unit is connected to a controller (not shown) via a band memory control block 312. The CPU 301 accesses a ROM 303 that stores a control program, an EEPROM 304 that stores updatable control programs and processing programs, various constant data, and a RAM 302 that stores command signals and image information received from a controller (not shown). The recording operation is controlled based on the information stored in these memories. The carriage 311 is moved by operating the carriage motor 309 via the output port 305 and the carriage motor control circuit 307, and the paper feed paper feed motor 308 is operated via the output port 305 and the paper feed motor control circuit 306. As a result, the paper conveyance mechanism 310 such as a conveyance roller is operated. Further, the CPU 301 can record a desired image on a recording medium by controlling the band memory control block 312 and the print head control block 314 based on various information stored in the RAM 302 and driving the print head 315. .

[Explanation of interface power saving mode transition / return method]
The USB is a serial interface composed of two differential signal lines D +, D−, 5v power supply line (bus power supply) and a GND line. In a system using USB, the system is expected to shift to a power saving mode in response to a suspend request from a USB host. The USB suspend request is always issued from the host device, and the method instructs the suspend by the host holding the USB bus line in an idle state for a certain period (3 msec or longer). The idle state is a K state in which the D + line is High and the D− line is Low (in the case of a full speed device). In other words, in the normal state, it recognizes that the device is in the normal state by recognizing the SOF packet issued from the USB host every 1 ms, and when the SOF packet from the host is stopped for a certain period of time, the device recognizes it By doing so, it can be identified that a suspend request is instructed from the host.

  IEEE 1394 can enter a power saving mode when receiving or transmitting a remote command packet in which a suspend activation command is set. That is, both the printer side and the host PC side can issue a remote command packet from themselves, and the suspend transmission source node and the suspend transmission destination node are simultaneously in the suspend state after the handshake. A specific handshake is a suspended state when both the suspended initiator and the target set the TpBias voltage to Low within a specified time. Return from suspend returns from suspend when a remote command packet in which a resume command is set is received or when there is a change in the port such as connector insertion or removal.

  In the network interface, there is no particular use for shifting to the power saving mode, so the host PC and the printer firmware can determine the instruction method for shifting to the power saving mode in the upper protocol layer by software. That's fine. To return from the power saving mode, the Wake On LAN function may be used. The Wake ON LAN is a function for remotely starting a device connected to the network, and a special packet for activation such as Magic Packet (registered trademark of AMD) may be used. Many control LSIs for network interfaces have the Magic Packet recognition function as a standard, and when the Magic Packet is detected, a signal for starting the system can be output. Return from mode can be realized.

[Process when entering power saving mode]
Next, the processing at the time of shifting to the power saving mode when the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing method when shifting to the power saving mode when the present invention is applied. Here, a case where a power saving mode shift request is issued from the host connected to the USB interface will be described as an example.

  Upon receiving an instruction to shift from the USB host to suspend, the controller sets the power management mode of the USB control unit to the power saving mode. Next, the operating state of the printing apparatus is checked. If printing or communication is not in progress, the other interface control block, the main control unit, that is, the entire printing apparatus is set to the power saving mode.

  If the operation state of the printing apparatus is printing or communicating, it is determined which interface is used for printing or communication. First, it is confirmed whether printing or communication is being performed by IEEE 1394. If printing or communication is not being performed by IEEE 1394, the IEEE 1394 control block is set to a power saving mode. Next, it is confirmed whether printing or communication is performed over the network. If printing or communication is not performed over the network, the network control block is set to the power saving mode. As for the main control unit, since printing or communication should be performed by any interface, the power management mode is not changed and the operation state is maintained.

  Note that the power saving mode in the above description means a state in which power consumption is reduced, such as a clock stop or power supply stop. The normal mode refers to a state in which control for reducing power consumption is not performed so that data reception and printing operations can be performed.

  The process at the time of shifting to the power saving mode is completed by the above method.

[Process when returning from power saving mode]
Next, processing when returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing method when returning from the power saving mode when the present invention is applied. Here, the case where the print data is transferred from the USB host to return from the power saving mode will be described as an example.

  When print data is received from the host PC connected by the USB interface, first, the power management mode of the USB interface control block is shifted to the normal mode. Next, the main control unit is shifted to the normal mode to start the printing operation. At this time, the power management modes of the IEEE 1394 interface control block and the network control block that have not received print data retain the previous state and are not changed.

  With the above method, the process for returning from the power saving mode when print data is received from the host PC is completed.

  A processing method for returning the power management mode from the power saving mode by operating the operation panel will be described.

  When the operation panel is operated by the user, the state change of the operation panel is detected, and the power management mode of the main control block is shifted to the normal state. At this time, the power management mode of each interface maintains the previous power management mode and does not change even if a change in the state of the operation panel is detected.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various applications are possible.

  In the present embodiment, an ink jet printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied when an interface such as LBP is connected or disconnected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given by taking a printer having an IEEE1394, USB, or network host interface as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to other interfaces such as IEEE1284.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a printer having three types of host interfaces of IEEE 1394, USB, and network has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a printer having more interfaces.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer and a print system. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer controller. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer engine. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation at the time of power saving mode transfer. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation at the time of returning to normal mode.

Explanation of symbols

101 Host 102 Printer 103 External Bus 104 Printer Controller 105 Printer Engine 201 CPU
202 Bus Bridge 203 Memory Controller 204 USB Interface 205 IEEE 1394 Interface 206 Host PC
207 Host PC
208 RAM
209 ROM
210 EEPROM
211 Operation Panel Interface 212 Operation Panel 213 Image Processing Block 214 DRAM
215 Expansion interface 216 Network interface 217 Host PC
301 CPU
302 RAM
303 ROM
304 EEPROM
305 Output port 306 Paper transport motor control circuit 307 Carriage motor control circuit 308 Motor 309 Motor 310 Paper transport mechanism 311 Carriage 312 Band memory control block 313 Memory 314 Print head control block 315 Print head

Claims (14)

  In a printing apparatus that receives print data from a host PC and forms an image according to the received print data, and includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC, the connection means with the host PC is the host PC A connection detection step for detecting whether or not the printer is connected, a connection means power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the control block of the connection means with the host PC, and a control of the power management mode of the main control block of the printer Main control unit power management control step and power control mode of each control block, each control block has at least three states of normal mode, power saving mode, power supply stop, and a means for connecting to a plurality of host PCs Power saving mode from host PC to printing device When at least one of the other connection means is in a connected state and communicating or printing, the connection means control block that has been requested to enter the power saving mode is set to the power saving mode. When other connection means are connected and not communicating, not printing, or disconnected, at least the connection means control block, other connection means control block, and main control block that have been requested to enter the power saving mode A power consumption control method for a printing apparatus, wherein the power saving mode is set.   2. When there is a request for transition from the host PC to the printing apparatus to the power saving mode among the plurality of connection means with the host PC in the power consumption control method of the printing apparatus according to claim 1, other connection means 2. The power consumption control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an IF control block that is not used for printing or communication is set in a power saving mode.   A printing apparatus that receives print data from a host PC and forms an image according to the received print data. The printing apparatus includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC, and is saved by at least receiving print data from the host PC. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from the power mode, a connection detection step for detecting whether or not the connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and a power management mode of a control block of the connection means with the host PC A power management control step for controlling the connection means, a main control unit power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and at least a normal mode for each control block as a power management mode for each control block, Power saving mode, power supply stop When the print data is received from the host PC at any one of the connection means with a plurality of host PCs, the control block and the main control block of the connection means that received the print data are shifted to the normal mode, and the other A method for controlling power consumption of a printing apparatus, wherein the connection means control block holds the immediately preceding power management mode.   A printing device that receives print data from the host PC and forms an image according to the received print data. The printing device includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from the mode, a connection detection step of detecting whether or not the connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and a power management mode of a control block of the connection means with the host PC Connection means for controlling power management control step, main control unit power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and power management mode of each control block at least for each control block, normal mode, saving 3 states of power mode and power supply stop Provided, when the operation panel is operated, the main control block is shifted to the normal mode, the power consumption control method for a printing apparatus connecting device control block, characterized in that to hold the power management mode just before.   A printing device that receives print data from the host PC and forms an image according to the received print data. It is a printing device that has multiple connections to the host PC, and at least replaces consumables such as ink and printing paper. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from a power saving mode by performing an operation for a connection, a connection detection step of detecting whether or not a connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and A connection means power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the control block of the connection means, a main control section power management control step for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and a power management mode for each control block. At least normal mode and power saving for each control block The main control block is shifted to the normal mode when the operation for exchanging consumables is performed, and the connection means control block maintains the previous power management mode. A power consumption control method for the printing apparatus.   6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a clock supply to each control block is controlled as a power saving mode by the power consumption control method of the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Power consumption control method.   6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein power supply to each control block is controlled as a power saving mode by the power consumption control method of the printing apparatus according to claim 1. Power consumption control method.   In a printing apparatus that receives print data from a host PC and forms an image according to the received print data, and includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC, the connection means with the host PC is the host PC A connection detection unit for detecting whether or not connected to the host PC, a connection unit power management control unit for controlling a power management mode of a control block of a connection unit with the host PC, and a power management mode of a main control block of the printer A main control unit power management control unit, and a power management mode of each control block, each control block has at least three states of a normal mode, a power saving mode, and a power supply stop, and a connection means with a plurality of host PCs One of them is shifting from the host PC to the printer to the power saving mode. When requested, if at least one of the other connection means is connected and communicating or printing, only the connection means control block that requested the transition to power saving mode is set to the power saving mode. When the connection means is connected and not communicating, not printing or disconnected, at least the connection means control block that requested the transition to the power saving mode, other connection means control blocks, and the main control block will save power. A printing apparatus characterized by a mode.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when any of the plurality of connection means with the host PC requests the host PC to transfer to the power saving mode, the other connection means performs printing or communication. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an IF control block that is not used for printing or communication is set in a power saving mode.   A printing apparatus that receives print data from a host PC and forms an image according to the received print data. The printing apparatus includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC, and is saved by at least receiving print data from the host PC. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from the power mode, a connection detection unit for detecting whether or not the connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and a power management mode of a control block of the connection means with the host PC A power management control unit for controlling the power management unit, a main control unit power management control unit for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and a power management mode for each control block, at least for each control block, in the normal mode, 3 states of power saving mode and power supply stop When the print data is received from the host PC by any of the plurality of connection means with the host PC, the control block of the connection means that has received the print data and the main control block are shifted to the normal mode, and other connection means A printing apparatus, wherein the control block holds the immediately preceding power management mode.   A printing device that receives print data from the host PC and forms an image according to the received print data. The printing device includes a plurality of connection means with the host PC. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from the mode, a connection detection unit for detecting whether or not the connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and a power management mode of a control block of the connection means with the host PC Connection means for controlling power management control unit, main control unit power management control unit for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and power management mode of each control block at least for each control block, normal mode, saving It has three states of power mode and power supply stop When the operation panel is operated, the main control block is shifted to the normal mode, connecting means control block printing apparatus characterized by holding the power management mode just before.   A printing device that receives print data from the host PC and forms an image according to the received print data. It is a printing device that has multiple connections to the host PC, and at least replaces consumables such as ink and printing paper. In a printing apparatus having a function capable of returning from the power saving mode by performing an operation for a connection, a connection detection unit for detecting whether a connection means with the host PC is connected to the host PC, and A connection means power management control section for controlling the power management mode of the control block of the connection means, a main control section power management control section for controlling the power management mode of the main control block of the printer, and a power management mode for each control block. At least normal mode and power saving mode for each control block Printing with three states of power supply stop, and when the operation for exchanging consumables is performed, the main control block is shifted to the normal mode, and the connection means control block holds the immediately preceding power management mode. apparatus.   13. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a clock supply to each control block is controlled as a power saving mode in the power consumption control method of the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12. .   13. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein power supply to each control block is controlled as a power saving mode in the power consumption control method of the printing apparatus according to claim 8. .

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