JP2007090832A - Extension device having power-saving mode and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an extension device which has a power-saving mode that can promote further saving of power of a printer, by activating or stopping the operation of a power factor improvement circuit of a power supply part by a power load of the extension device, and eliminating the consumption of wasteful power, and also that can be configured inexpensively, without having to prepare a plurality of power supplies, and to provide a printer. <P>SOLUTION: In the printer, which makes transition to the power-saving mode, by stopping the action of the power factor improvement circuit of the power supply part equipped with the power factor improvement circuit, and in the extension device attachable and detachable to the printer, a circuit is provided which controls the operation and stopping of the power factor improvement circuit. When the extension device is not set in the printer, the extension device with the power-saving mode makes transition to the power-saving mode, by stopping the operation of the power factor improvement circuit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an expansion device and a printing device for promoting further power saving in a printing device that can be equipped with an expansion device and has a power saving mode.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various devices have been devised in accordance with a request for energy saving in electrical devices such as printing devices. For example, the printing device has a power saving mode that consumes less power than the standby mode that allows immediate printing, and automatically switches to the power saving mode when it does not operate for a certain period of time, reducing power consumption and saving power. Promoting In addition, there is a system in which an expansion device incorporating a hard disk, a silicon disk, or the like can be attached and expanded to a printing apparatus or the like. On the other hand, in recent years, a power supply provided with a power factor improvement unit such as an active filter has been developed for power factor improvement of the entire device and harmonic countermeasures.

  This power factor correction unit performs a switching operation using a switching circuit, thereby correcting the current waveform to a sine wave shape similar to the voltage waveform of the AC input power supply (AC) in a macro manner, and the power factor viewed from the AC power supply side. To suppress the generation of harmonics.

Further, in Patent Document 1, a device has a large-capacity converter unit and a small-capacity converter unit, and the large-capacity converter unit is provided with an active filter for power factor improvement in front of the switching control unit. As the switching element of the large-capacity converter unit, a configuration is disclosed in which oscillation is stopped by an external signal.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-200254

  As described above, the power factor correction unit of the power supply is in an operating state regardless of the presence or absence of the expansion device in both the operation mode and the power saving mode. When the printing apparatus is transitioning to the power saving mode, wasteful power is consumed by the switching operation of the power factor improvement unit to prevent power saving even though the power consumption of the printing apparatus itself is small. Further, even in a state where the expansion device is not attached and the power consumption is low, useless power is consumed by the switching operation of the power factor correction unit, thus preventing power saving. Further, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to prepare a large-capacity and a small-capacity converter unit, which is expensive.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and by operating or stopping the switching operation of the power factor correction circuit of the power supply unit by the power load of the expansion device, printing without wasteful power consumption is achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide an expansion apparatus and a printing apparatus having a power saving mode that can promote further power saving of the apparatus and that can be configured at low cost because a plurality of power supplies are not prepared.

  A system unit that improves the power factor by switching the power factor correction circuit (active filter), then controls the power supply and host interface that supplies power to the device, processes print data from the host, and passes the data to the engine And a printing device comprising an engine unit consisting of a mechanism required for printing such as a head drive mechanism and a paper supply / conveyance mechanism, and an expansion device with a built-in hard disk and the like mounted on the printing device for use in a first power saving mode Is activated in a state where the power factor correction circuit in the power supply unit is switched when the printing device is activated, and when the system unit in the printing device detects the absence of the expansion device, the switching operation of the power factor correction circuit in the power supply unit To stop. When the system unit in the printing apparatus detects the presence of the expansion device, it communicates with the expansion device to obtain the power load of the expansion device. The switching operation of the power factor correction circuit in the power supply unit is stopped or the operation is determined, the switching operation of the power factor improvement circuit in the power supply unit is determined to be operated or stopped, and power is supplied to the printing apparatus. To do.

  In the second power saving mode, the system unit supplies power to the printing apparatus in a state where the switching operation of the power factor correction circuit in the power supply unit is stopped when the print data from the host interface does not reach a certain time. Configure.

  Further, when the system unit detects print data when the printing apparatus is in the power saving mode, the system unit starts the switching operation of the power factor correction circuit in the power supply unit, and the power supply unit is in the operation mode state. The printing apparatus is configured to supply power.

  In more detail, the present invention can solve the above problems by the following configuration.

  (1) Operation of the power factor correction circuit in a printing apparatus that realizes a power saving mode by stopping the operation of the power factor correction circuit of the power supply unit including the power factor correction circuit and an expansion apparatus that can be attached to and detached from the printing apparatus. And a circuit for controlling the stop, and when the expansion device is not attached to the printing device, the operation of the power factor correction circuit is stopped and the power saving mode is entered. An expansion device.

  (2) Operation of the power factor correction circuit in a printing apparatus that realizes a power saving mode by stopping the operation of the power factor correction circuit of the power supply unit provided with the power factor correction circuit and an expansion apparatus that can be attached to and detached from the printing apparatus. And a circuit for controlling the stop and the printing apparatus include means for reading the power consumption data of the expansion device, and controls the operation and stop of the power factor correction circuit based on the power consumption data of the expansion device, and a power saving mode. An expansion device having a power saving mode, characterized by determining whether or not to shift to the above.

  (3) In a printing apparatus having a plurality of standby modes capable of starting printing immediately after receiving print data and an expansion apparatus attachable to and detachable from the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus reads power consumption data of the expansion apparatus; An expansion device having a power saving mode, comprising a plurality of standby modes, wherein the standby mode is switched according to power consumption data of the expansion device.

  (4) In a printing apparatus that shifts to a power saving mode when print data does not come for a certain period of time, the printing apparatus includes a system unit that performs data processing, an engine unit that includes a mechanical mechanism necessary for printing, a first unit A power saving mode, a second power saving mode that consumes lower power than the power consumed in the first power saving mode, a power factor correction circuit, and a circuit that controls the operation and stop of the power factor correction circuit. A printing apparatus having a power saving mode, wherein the first power saving mode is realized by stopping the power factor correction circuit, and the second power saving mode is realized by stopping the engine unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the switching operation of the power factor correction circuit of the power supply unit is operated or stopped by the power load of the expansion device, and unnecessary power consumption is eliminated, thereby further reducing the power consumption of the printing apparatus. Can be promoted. In addition, since a plurality of power supplies are not prepared, it can be configured at low cost.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  The first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration for carrying out the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer (recording device) 3 is connected to a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) 1. An operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) 7 and an application program (hereinafter referred to as application) 5 are installed in the host 1. A printer driver 9 is installed in the OS 7.

  The printer driver 9 generates print data (recording data) corresponding to a drawing command from the application 5 in a data format that can be understood by the printer 3. Generally, the printer driver 9 is manufactured by the mechanism of the printer 3 and sends it to the user together with the printer 3. Provided and installed in the OS 7 by the user.

  The host 1 and the printer 3 are connected via a bidirectional communication interface 11 (hereinafter referred to as Centronics).

  The printer 3 includes an engine 13 including a mechanism necessary for printing (recording) such as a head driving mechanism and a paper supply / conveyance mechanism, and a controller 15 that processes print data from the host 1 and controls the print engine. The controller 15 is equipped with a host I / F 17 for communicating with the host 1, a CPU 19 for processing print data received from the host 1, and a program necessary for the operation of the CPU 19, as with a general printer. The ROM 19 and the CPU 19 are stored in the flash ROM 33 storing the operation program of the CPU 19 and the expansion board inserted in the expansion slot, the RAM 23 and the RAM 23 used as the main memory, work area, reception buffer, page memory, print buffer, and the like. With this instruction, a self-refresh state is established and power consumption can be suppressed. Furthermore, an EEPROM 25 for holding the current status of the set printer 3, a character generator (hereinafter referred to as CG) 27 holding font data, an engine interface 29 for communication with the engine 13, and power saving described later A power supply 24 having a mode and an expansion slot 31 for storing the expansion board 30 are provided. The CPU 19 can shift to the power saving mode by creating a halt state and stopping the operation.

  The host I / F 17 has a function of generating an interrupt signal to the CPU 19 when data is detected in the power saving mode. The expansion slot 31 has a function of transmitting / receiving data by communicating with the expansion board 30 to realize the function of the expansion board and a function of generating an interrupt signal to the CPU 19 when data is detected in the power saving mode. The CPU 19 can shift the printer 3 to the power saving modes 1 and 2, the printing mode, and the standby mode by a method described later. The power supply 24 supplies power to each element in the printer 3, but can be shifted to a power saving mode or an operation mode by a command from the CPU 19.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the power supply 24.

  The power source 24 converts the AC power source obtained via the power plug 241 into a DC power source via the full-wave rectifier circuit 242, and further converts the AC power source to a desired voltage via the power factor improving circuit 243 in the switching regulator circuit 244. The power is supplied to each part of the printer 3 after conversion. Reference numeral 246 denotes a power factor correction circuit control unit. These drawings are only schematically shown, and the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect may be obtained. The power factor correction circuit 243 includes an active filter, and includes an FET 245 as a switching circuit. This FET is feedback controlled by a feedback control circuit (not shown) to suppress the generation of high frequency.

  The operation of the power factor correction circuit 243 or the control of the operation stop will be described. The power factor improvement control unit 246 performs switching control of the FET 245 in the operation mode state (indicating the printing and standby state) of the printer 3 and sets the power factor improvement circuit 243 to the operation state. On the other hand, in the power saving mode state, the switching control of the FET 245 is stopped. Specifically, the generation of the switching control signal applied to the gate of the FET 245 is stopped, and the FET 245 is maintained in the off state. As a result, the power factor improvement circuit 243 enters an operation stop state, and the power consumed by the power factor improvement circuit 243 decreases. An instruction to the power factor correction circuit control unit 246 is given by the CPU 19. When receiving a stop command for the power factor correction circuit 243 from the CPU 19, the power factor improvement circuit control unit 246 performs control so that the switching control of the FET 245 is stopped after being held for a predetermined time. This certain time is a time required for the engine 13 and the controller 15 to shift to the power saving mode.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram when the expansion interface board 30 is connected to the expansion slot 31.

  Reference numeral 41 denotes an expansion slot controller which transmits and receives data obtained through the network controller 46 and the expansion host interface 45 in the expansion board 30 in accordance with a command from the CPU 19. Reference numeral 47 denotes a first extension interface, and the first extension interface of this embodiment uses a 33 MHz PCI bus. Reference numeral 42 denotes an expansion board detection terminal arranged on the expansion interface connector 60, which is connected to the expansion board terminal 43 on the expansion board 30 to detect the presence or absence of the expansion board 30. In this embodiment, the expansion board 30 is not connected when the expansion board detection terminal is at the high level, and is connected when it is at the low level. Further, when there is no response in communication between the expansion slot controller 41 and the network controller 46, it may be determined that there is no expansion board.

  A network controller 46 has a function of transmitting and receiving data through the host 1 and the extended host interface 45. When print data is received in the power saving mode state, the CPU 19 is notified that the print data has been received by the PME signal 57. A second expansion interface 48 is connected to 49 EEPROMs and the expansion slot controller 41, and communicates power consumption information of the expansion board 30 stored in the EEPROM 49. The power consumption information is a unique value for each expansion board. Reference numeral 60 denotes an expansion connector, which is a terminal for connecting the expansion slot 31 and the expansion device 30.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram when the hard disk expansion board 32 is connected to the expansion slot 31.

  Reference numeral 41 denotes an expansion slot controller that transmits and receives data through the HDD controller 51 and the first expansion interface 47 in the hard disk expansion board 32 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 19. Reference numeral 42 denotes an expansion board detection terminal disposed on the expansion interface connector 60, which is connected to the expansion board terminal 44 on the expansion board 32 and detects the presence or absence of the expansion board 32. In this embodiment, the expansion board 32 is not connected when the expansion device detection terminal is at the high level, and is connected when the expansion device detection terminal is at the low level. Further, when there is no response in communication between the expansion slot controller 41 and the HDD controller 51, it may be determined that there is no expansion board 32.

  The expansion slot controller 41 has a function of transmitting / receiving data to / from the HDD controller 51 and a function of storing / reading print data in / from the hard disk 52. A hard disk controller 51 transmits and receives data to and from the hard disk through the hard disk interface 53. Then, during data transmission / reception, that is, during access, an access panel 54 notifies the operation panel (not shown) that access is in progress. Reference numerals 49 and 50 denote access signal terminals, which exchange access signals between the expansion slot 31 and the expansion board 32. A second expansion interface 48 is connected to 58 EEPROMs and the expansion slot controller 41 and communicates power consumption information of the expansion board 32 stored in the EEPROM 58. The power consumption information is a unique value for each expansion board. Reference numeral 60 denotes an expansion connector, which is a terminal for connecting the expansion slot 31 and the expansion board 32.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart when the power mode executed by the CPU 19 is switched in the printer 3.

  When the printer 3 is activated, the system unit 15 and the engine unit 13 are initialized to enter a standby mode (step S1). Next, the CPU 19 obtains whether or not there is an expansion board through the expansion slot controller 41 by the above-described method. If not, the process proceeds to step S5, and if present, the process proceeds to S3 (step S2). Further, the CPU 19 obtains power consumption information as communication data from the EEPROM 49 or 50 on the expansion board via the expansion slot controller 41 (step S3).

  The CPU 19 determines whether the operation of the power factor correction circuit is necessary from the obtained power consumption information. In this embodiment, when the interface expansion board 30 is connected, the CPU 19 determines that the power factor correction circuit is unnecessary, and the CPU 19 stops the power factor correction circuit 243 and proceeds to step S5. When the hard disk expansion board 32 is connected, the CPU 19 determines that the power factor correction circuit is necessary, and the CPU 19 stores data indicating that the power factor correction circuit 243 is necessary in an internal register (not shown). In this embodiment, this state is referred to as standby mode A, and the process proceeds to step S6 with the power factor correction circuit 243 operating (step S4).

  If it is determined that the power factor correction circuit 243 is unnecessary, a control signal is sent to the power factor correction circuit control unit 246 by the above-described method, the power factor improvement circuit 243 is stopped, and the power saving mode 1 is entered. At this time, the CPU 19 stores data indicating that the power factor correction circuit 243 is unnecessary in an internal register (not shown) (step S5).

  Next, the CPU 19 starts an internal timer (not shown) (step S6). Next, it is detected whether the print data is input from the communication interface 11 or the extended host interface 45. If there is no print data, the process proceeds to step S10, and if the print data is input, the process proceeds to step S8 (step S7). The CPU 19 that has detected the print data performs printing in the same manner as that of a general printer (step S8). Thereafter, an internal timer (not shown) is cleared, and the process returns to step S6 (step S9).

  In S10, it is detected whether or not an internal timer (not shown) of the CPU 19 has passed 15 minutes or more. If it is less than 15 minutes, the process returns to Step S7, and if 15 minutes or more has passed, the process advances to Step S11. Here, the elapsed time of the internal timer is set to 15 minutes, but the same effect can be obtained with this value set by the user or other values, and an example is shown in this embodiment. (Step S10) Thereafter, the CPU 19 clears an internal timer (not shown) (Step S11), turns off the engine unit 13 of the printer 3, and shifts to the power saving mode 2 state. At this time, if the power factor correction circuit 243 is in the operating state, a control signal is sent to the power factor correction circuit control unit 246, and the power factor correction circuit 243 is stopped (step S12).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart when the printer 3 is switched from the power saving mode 2 executed by the CPU 19 to the printing mode.

  When the printer 3 detects print data in the power saving mode 2, that is, when the network controller 46 receives the print data through the extended host interface 45 in the power saving mode 2 state, the print data is sent to the CPU 19 by the PME signal 47 that is output. When it is detected that it has been received (step S21), the power factor correction circuit 243 stored in an internal register (not shown) in the CPU 19 reads out data indicating that it is unnecessary or necessary, and enters the power saving mode 2 state. The state of the power factor correction circuit 243 before becoming is determined (step S22). When the power factor correction circuit 243 is necessary, a control signal is sent to the power factor correction circuit control unit 246 by the above-described method to set the power factor improvement circuit 243 in an operating state (step S23). If unnecessary, the printer 3 is shifted to the print mode state as it is (step S24).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in power consumption when the printer 3 is switched to the standby mode, the print mode, and the power saving modes 1 and 2.

  In the present embodiment, the standby mode in which printing can be started immediately upon reception of print data, the mode print mode during printing, and the power consumption of the engine unit 13 is cut off to lower the power consumption in the standby mode. There are a power saving mode 2 to consume, and an off mode in which the power supply plug is simply connected to the AC. The standby mode includes a standby A in which the power factor improvement circuit 243 is in an operating state and a power saving mode 1 in which the power factor improvement circuit 243 is in a stopped state. When the time t1 is counted in the standby mode after the printing operation is completed, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode 2. In this embodiment, the time t1 is 15 minutes as described above. In the power saving mode state 2, the power of the engine unit 13 is turned off to reduce power consumption. At this time, when print data is detected, the CPU 19 supplies power to the engine unit 13 and shifts to the print mode. After the end of printing, the elapse of time t1 is waited as described above. The off mode is performed when a pressing of a power switch (not shown) is detected.

The block diagram which shows the basic composition for implementing this invention The figure which showed the power supply 24 typically Block diagram when the expansion interface board 30 is connected to the expansion slot 31 Block diagram when the hard disk expansion board 32 is connected to the expansion slot 31 Flowchart at the time of switching the power mode executed by the CPU 19 in the printer 3 In the printer 3, a flowchart for switching from the power saving mode 2 executed by the CPU 19 to the printing mode. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a change in power consumption when the printer 3 is switched to a standby mode, a printing mode, and a power saving mode 1 and 2.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host computer 3 Printer 5 Application 7 Operating system 9 Printer driver 11 Bidirectional interface 13 Printer engine 15 Controller 17 Host I / F
19 CPU
21 ROM
23 RAM
24 power supply 25 EEPROM
27 CG
29 Engine I / F
30 Expansion board 31 Expansion slot 33 Flash ROM
41 expansion slot controller 42 expansion board detection terminal 43 expansion board terminal 45 expansion host interface 46 LAN controller 47 first expansion interface 48 second expansion interface 49, 58 EEPROM
51 HDD controller 52 HDD
53 Hard disk interface 54 Access signal 57 PME signal 60 Expansion interface connector 241 Power plug 242 Full wave rectifier circuit 243 Power factor improvement circuit 244 Switching regulator circuit 245 FET
246 Power factor correction circuit controller

Claims (4)

  In the printing apparatus that realizes the power saving mode by stopping the operation of the power factor improvement circuit of the power supply unit including the power factor improvement circuit and the expansion apparatus that can be attached to and detached from the printing apparatus, the operation and stop of the power factor improvement circuit are performed. An extension having a power saving mode, characterized by comprising a circuit for controlling and stopping the operation of the power factor correction circuit and shifting to a power saving mode when the extension device is not mounted on the printing device apparatus.   In the printing apparatus that realizes the power saving mode by stopping the operation of the power factor improvement circuit of the power supply unit including the power factor improvement circuit and the expansion apparatus that can be attached to and detached from the printing apparatus, the operation and stop of the power factor improvement circuit are performed. The control circuit and the printing apparatus include means for reading power consumption data of the expansion device, and controls the operation and stop of the power factor correction circuit according to the power consumption data of the expansion device, and shifts to the power saving mode. An expansion device having a power saving mode characterized by determining whether or not.   In a printing apparatus having a plurality of standby modes capable of starting printing immediately after receiving print data and an expansion apparatus attachable to and detachable from the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus includes means for reading power consumption data of the expansion apparatus and a plurality of standby apparatuses. An expansion device having a power saving mode, characterized in that a standby mode is switched according to power consumption data of the expansion device.   In a printing apparatus that shifts to a power saving mode when print data does not arrive for a certain period of time, the printing apparatus includes a system unit that performs data processing, an engine unit that includes a mechanical mechanism necessary for printing, and a first power saving mode. And a second power saving mode that consumes lower power than the power consumed in the first power saving mode, a power factor correction circuit, and a circuit that controls the operation and stop of the power factor correction circuit. The power-saving mode is realized by stopping the power factor correction circuit, and the second power-saving mode is realized by stopping the engine unit.

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