JP2006254384A - Digital composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further save power by configuring that the power supplied to a circuit of return factor is cut by existence of connection of network/line. <P>SOLUTION: A digital composite machine is provided with a plurality of application functionalities including facsimile functionality and printer functionality, and power saving mode and return mode can be switched. The digital composite machine has power source ON/OFF means 5a, 6a, 7a which are arranged to the respective application functionalities, detect return factor, and perform ON/OFF of current-flowing to an external power source; connection detection means 5, 6, 7 which are arranged to the respective application functionalities, and detect existence of connection to a line or a network; and a main control means 4 which controls, based on detection of any one connection detection means, ON/OFF by the power source ON/OFF means which corresponds to the connection detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital multi-function peripheral having a facsimile (FAX) function, a printer function, etc., and more particularly to a digital multi-function peripheral capable of switching between a power saving mode (sleep mode) and a return mode.

The digital multi-function peripheral has a printer function, a facsimile function, and other functions in addition to the copier function. When not in use, the power consumption can be reduced by switching to the power saving mode. In order to switch to the power saving mode, Patent Document 1 discloses a power saving mode when a switching signal from an external host machine to the communication means is input to a communication means that performs transmission and reception to a remote location. A structure for releasing is disclosed.
JP 2000-35732 A

  In digital multi-function peripherals, in addition to the original copier function, digital copiers have copier resources (scanners and electrophotographic plotters) and are combined with communication functions to provide both FAX and printer functions. The FAX function monitors incoming calls even when the device is in a power saving state, and energizes some circuits such as a line communication unit to restore the device. In the printer function, some circuits such as an I / F circuit are energized in order to restore the device in response to a print request.

  From the above, the digital multi-function peripheral includes a return monitoring circuit that monitors switching between the power saving mode and the return mode. Since power is always supplied to this recovery monitoring circuit, wasteful power is consumed by energizing the recovery monitoring circuit when the digital multifunction device is not connected to the line / network or when the line / network is disconnected. become.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital multi-function peripheral that can further save power by adopting a structure that cuts off power supplied to a circuit that causes a return depending on whether or not a network / line is connected.

  The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a plurality of application functions including a facsimile function and a printer function, and is provided for each of the application functions in a digital multi-function peripheral capable of switching between a power saving mode and a return mode. Provided for a plurality of power ON / OFF means for detecting a return factor to turn ON / OFF the power supply to an external power source, and for each of the application functions, and detecting presence / absence of connection to a line or a network. A plurality of connection detection means; and a main control means for controlling ON / OFF by a power ON / OFF means corresponding to the connection detection means based on detection by any one of the connection detection means. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the power ON / OFF means is a circuit breaker disposed between an external power source and each application function.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the connection detection means is at least one of a public line detection unit for detecting connection with a public line and a LAN detection unit for detecting connection with a network. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, the power supply ON / OFF means for detecting the return factor and turning on / off the power supply to the external power supply and the connection detection means for detecting the presence / absence of connection to the line or network are provided for each application function. The main control means controls the ON / OFF by the power ON / OFF means corresponding to the connection detection means based on the detection of any one of the connection detection means. Appropriate power saving can be performed.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main control unit, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the digital multi-function peripheral according to this embodiment includes an operation unit 1, a scanner unit 2, a plotter unit 3, a main control unit 4, a FAX reception detection unit 5, a printer data detection unit 6, and a thick plate opening / closing detection unit. 7, PSU 8 is provided.

  The operation unit 1 includes operation keys and display elements. The operation unit 1 allows the operator to specify an operation mode and input data. In this embodiment, there is provided a power saving key that is a key for shifting the entire multifunction peripheral to the power saving state by a pressing operation of the operator and for returning from the power saving state.

  The scanner unit 2 includes a light source, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD, a mechanical mechanism drive motor, a sensor, and the like. The plotter unit 3 employs an electrophotographic system, and includes a plotter load such as an electrophotographic process load, a paper transport motor, a photoreceptor driving motor, a paper detection sensor, and a clutch.

  The main control unit 4 controls operations of the scanner unit 2, the plotter unit 3, and the operation unit 1. In addition, the entire multifunction peripheral is controlled in cooperation with a function expansion controller described later. The main controller 4 can turn off the circuit breakers 17, 5 a, 6 a, and 7 a through the OFF signals 0 to 3. In this embodiment, a circuit breaker 5a, 6a, 7a is provided for each unit (scanner unit 2, plotter unit 3, function expansion control unit) that turns off power supply during power saving and for a circuit that detects a return factor during power saving. By controlling these functions, the multi-function peripheral enters the power saving mode. In this case, since power is supplied to the main control unit 4 even in the power saving state, the return factor from the power saving state can be monitored.

  The FAX reception detection unit 5 functions as one of recovery factor detection circuits. When the multifunction device is in the power saving state and power is supplied to the circuit, the return factor signal 1 is sent to the main control unit at the time of FAX reception. The public line detection unit 14 is connected to the FAX reception detection unit 5 and detects whether the multifunction peripheral is normally connected to the line by detecting a tone, and notifies the main control unit 4 of the detection result.

  The printer data reception detection unit 6 functions as one of the return factor detection circuits. When the MFP is in a power saving state and power is supplied to the circuit, a return factor signal 2 based on the print request is sent to the main control unit 4 when the print request is received. The LAN detection unit 15 is connected to the printer data reception detection unit 6 to detect whether the MFP is normally connected to the local network by detecting whether packet data is flowing on the network. Inform the main control unit 4 of the detection result.

  The pressure plate open / close detection circuit 7 sends a return factor signal 3 to the main control unit 4 when the pressure plate is opened / closed when power is supplied to the circuit in a power-saving state of the multifunction machine.

  The FAX reception detection unit 5, the print data reception detection unit 6, and the pressure plate open / close detection circuit 7 do not send a return factor signal to the main control unit 4 unless power is supplied.

  The copier control unit 11, the facsimile control unit 12, and the printer control unit 13 are extended function controller units. In the MFP of this embodiment, the copier control unit 11, the facsimile control unit 12, and the printer control unit 13 can be arbitrarily expanded by the user. FIG. 1 shows the case of this maximum expansion. Yes. In addition, although not shown in the figure, the function controller unit includes an image processing unit and an image memory, and performs processing such as copy image processing, FAX transmission / reception / printer reception data accumulation / development, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main control unit 4 has a CPU 21 as an element that actually controls the digital multifunction peripheral. In FIG. 2, the ROM 22 stores a program for controlling the entire digital multi-function peripheral and data necessary for the control. The RAM 23 is used by the CPU 21 to temporarily store control data and status.

  The non-volatile memory 24 is a memory that can retain data even when the power of the main control unit 4 is turned off, and a battery-backed RAM can be used. This nonvolatile memory is used for storing configuration data of extended functions. The real time clock 25 is used to measure time. The CPU 21 shifts to the power saving state when there is no operation for a certain time by measuring the time.

  The CPU 21 controls the scanner unit 2 and the plotter unit 3 by driving the controlled object and detecting the sensor signal via the I / O port 26. Further, the output of the OFF signals 0 to 2 and the detection of the return factor signals 1 to 3 are performed.

  A UART (serial communication unit) 27 exchanges commands / statuses for displaying / key detection on the operation unit. Also, command / status information is exchanged with each function controller of the copier control unit 11, the FAX control unit 12, and the printer control unit 13 to control the entire multifunction peripheral. Furthermore, the main control unit 4 communicates with each function controller at the time of initial control, and communication with each controller is established, so that the main control unit 4 can know the function that is currently added.

  In the above configuration, the main control unit 4 confirms whether or not it is normally connected to the public line and the local network based on the information from the public line detection unit 14 and the LAN detection unit 15 when not in the power saving state, and uses the information as the main control unit. 4 RAM 23. The multifunction device shifts to a power saving process depending on conditions such as a user pressing the power saving key or not operating for a certain period of time.

  FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of power saving in this embodiment. In the power saving operation, first, the OFF signals 0 to 3 are controlled, and the power is cut off by the circuit breakers 17 and 5a and 6a. Subsequently, when the connection to the public line is normally established based on the information before power saving, the OFF signal 1 is turned ON, and power is supplied to the FAX reception detection unit 5. If the line is not normally connected, the OFF signal 1 remains OFF and power is not supplied to the FAX reception detection unit 5.

  Similarly, when the connection to the local network is normal, the OFF signal 2 is controlled to supply power to the print request detection unit 6, and when the connection is not normal, the print request detection unit 6 is kept powered off. Become.

  Thereafter, detection of whether a return signal from a return factor that is energized is sent or whether the user presses the power saving key is continued. If a return factor is detected, the OFF signals 0 to 3 are controlled to turn on the circuit breakers 17, 5a, 6a, and 7a, thereby returning the multifunction device to the normal state.

  By performing the power saving process described above, it is possible to save power according to the connection state of the line and the network.

1 is a block diagram showing an entire embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of a main control part. It is a flowchart which shows control.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation part 4 Main control part 5 FAX reception detection part 6 Print request detection part 7 Pressure plate opening / closing detection part 14 Public line detection part 15 LAN detection part 17, 5a, 6a, 7a Breaker

Claims (3)

In digital multi-function peripherals that have multiple application functions including a facsimile function and printer function, and can switch between power saving mode and return mode.
A plurality of power ON / OFF means provided for each of the application functions, for detecting a return factor and turning ON / OFF the power supply to the external power supply;
A plurality of connection detection means provided for each of the application functions to detect the presence or absence of connection with a line or a network;
And a main control unit for controlling ON / OFF by a power ON / OFF unit corresponding to the connection detection unit based on the detection of any one of the connection detection units.   2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the power ON / OFF means is a circuit breaker disposed between an external power source and each application function.   2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the connection detection means is at least one of a public line detection unit for detecting connection with a public line and a LAN detection unit for detecting connection with a network.

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