JP2011025423A - Electronic device and control method for storage part of electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend the service life of a large-capacity storage part by suppressing excessive ON/OFF operation of a power supply thereto. <P>SOLUTION: The large-capacity storage part 5 stores electronic data of the device. A power supply part 15 supplies a driving power supply to the large-capacity storage part 5. A starting count part 35 counts the number of times of starting of the large-capacity storage part 5. A recording part 7 records a reference number of times of starting related to the large-capacity storage part 5, an estimated number of years used, a fixed number of working days, and a limiting number of times of starting of the large-capacity storage part 5 per fixed period within the number of working days. A starting control part 37 calculates an exceeding number of times whereby a count value from the starting count part 35 for every fixed period exceeds the limiting number of times of starting of the fixed period, and calculates an actual limiting number of times of starting with the exceeding number of times subtracted from the limiting number of times of starting of the fixed period of the next time. The starting control part 37 controls the power supply part 15 to continue supply of the power to the large-capacity storage part 5 at the time of moving to a power-saving mode when the count value of the starting count part 35 exceeds the next time limiting number of times of starting next time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device and a storage unit control method for the electronic device, and relates to an electronic device such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function peripheral (MFP) equipped with a large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk (HDD). Further, the present invention relates to an improvement of a storage unit control method used therefor.

  In recent years, an electronic device reads a large amount of image data or forms an image, and has a large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk for storing such a large amount of image data or executing a sorting process.

  In the hard disk, data is stored and read by sliding the head while rotating the magnetic disk by a spindle motor or the like.

  However, in electronic devices, when switching to a power saving mode that saves power energy by cutting off the power supply to parts other than the minimum necessary for startup, the power supplied to the hard disk is generally also cut off to save power. When returning from the mode to the normal mode, the power is supplied again to restart the startup.

  In this case, in the hard disk, the head returns to the home position when the power is cut off, but the head is moved quickly when the power supply is resumed, which may cause damage to the surface of the magnetic disk. Devised to ensure the possibility.

  The recycling unit used in the image forming apparatus disclosed in JP 2001-51557 A (Patent Document 1) is of this type.

  Patent Document 1 forms a recycling unit from a motor unit, a switch unit, and a power supply unit, and information suitable for recycling of the motor unit, the switch unit, and the power supply unit is written in the recycling unit as information necessary for reproduction. A non-volatile memory is provided, and a specific unit used in the image forming apparatus is optimally replaced, repaired, etc., so that the unit alone can determine whether it is necessary to replace the component.

JP 2001-51557 A

  However, although the number of activations of a hard disk greatly affects the life of the hard disk, for example, Patent Document 1 does not pay much attention to the number of activations. This is also a concern.

  In recent years, in particular, there has been an increasing demand for power saving of electronic devices, and the power supply of the hard disk is frequently turned on and off. Depending on the usage status and power saving mode setting, the operation of the electronic device may be hindered due to malfunction of the hard disk. Anxiety is growing.

  Therefore, as a result of intensive observation and examination of the electronic device and the large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk mounted on the electronic device, the present inventor set an upper limit on the number of times of activation based on the operation date and the expected usage year of the large-capacity storage unit, particularly the hard disk. Based on this, the present invention has been completed by paying attention to the fact that it is possible to cope with the fatal failure of the mass storage unit by limiting the number of daily activation restrictions.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device capable of maintaining the lifetime of a large-capacity storage unit over a desired period and a storage unit control method used therefor. And

  In order to solve such a problem, an electronic device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a large-capacity storage unit that stores electronic data of the device, and a power supply unit that supplies driving power to the large-capacity storage unit. A start count unit that counts the number of times that the large-capacity storage unit is started, and a reference start number, a planned number of years of use, a fixed number of working days, and a limited number of start-ups within a certain period within the number of working days. For each recording period to be recorded, and for each fixed period, calculate the number of times that the count value from the start count section within this fixed period exceeds the start limit number of times for the fixed period, and overrun from the start limit number of times for the next fixed period. Calculate the next start limit number after subtracting the number of times, and when the count value from the start count unit exceeds the next start limit number at that time, the large capacity when entering the power saving mode And it includes an activation control unit for controlling the power supply unit so as to continue supplying power, to 憶部.

  An electronic apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention has a configuration in which the large-capacity storage unit is a hard disk.

  An electronic apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention has a configuration in which the predetermined period is one day.

  The electronic device according to claim 4 of the present invention has a configuration in which the activation control unit performs display control on the display unit to indicate that the activation number of the certain period exceeds the activation limit number based on the calculation of the over frequency. Yes.

  The electronic device according to claim 5 of the present invention has a configuration in which the activation control unit controls display of the over frequency on the display unit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit control method for an electronic device, which is started and stopped by supplying and shutting off a driving power supply from a power supply unit, and the number of activations in a large-capacity storage unit that stores electronic data of the device. Count processing, using a recording unit that records the number of activation limits in a certain period within the number of working days, the reference number of activations related to the large-capacity storage unit in advance, the expected number of years of use, a certain number of working days, and for each certain period, Compare the count value from the start count within this fixed period with the start limit count for the fixed period, calculate the over count exceeding the start limit count, and subtract the over count from the start limit count for the next fixed period Calculate the startup limit count, and when the count value from the startup count section exceeds the next startup limit count next time, when entering the power saving mode And it includes a power supply control process for controlling the power supply unit so as to continue supplying power to the mass storage unit.

  In the electronic device storage unit control method according to claim 7 of the present invention, the large-capacity storage unit can be configured as a hard disk.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit control method for an electronic device, wherein the predetermined period is configured as one day.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit control method for an electronic device, wherein the power control process displays on the display unit that the number of activations for a certain period exceeds the number of activation restrictions based on the calculation of the number of overruns. Is also possible.

  The storage control method for an electronic device according to claim 10 of the present invention may be configured such that the power control process displays the over frequency on the display unit.

  In such an electronic device and a storage unit control method according to claims 1 and 6 of the present invention, the number of activations in the large-capacity storage unit that stores the electronic data of the device is counted, and within a certain period for each certain period. Compares the count value from the start count unit at the start count with the start limit count for the fixed period, calculates the over count that exceeds the start limit count, and calculates the next start limit count by subtracting the over count from the start limit count for the next fixed period In the next time, when the count value from the activation count unit exceeds the next activation limit number (today's activation limit number), control is performed so that power is continuously supplied to the large-capacity storage unit even when shifting to the power saving mode. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the life of the mass storage unit over a desired period.

  In the electronic device and the storage unit control method according to claims 2 and 7 of the present invention, since the large-capacity storage unit is configured as a hard disk, it is possible to maintain the lifetime over a desired period particularly in the hard disk.

  Since the electronic device and the storage unit control method according to claims 3 and 8 of the present invention set the predetermined period to one day, it is possible to suppress daily excessive wear.

  Since the electronic device and the storage unit control method according to claims 4 and 9 of the present invention display on the display unit that the number of activations in the certain period exceeds the activation limit number based on the calculation of the over frequency, It becomes possible to grasp excessive wear.

  Since the electronic device and the storage unit control method according to claims 5 and 10 of the present invention display the over frequency on the display unit, excessive wear for the user can be grasped more specifically.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows embodiment of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the setting information table of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the operation panel part of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the principal part of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic apparatus according to the invention.

  Embodiments of an electronic device and a storage unit control method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the memory | storage part control method which concerns on this invention is demonstrated in the process of explaining the electronic device which concerns on this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic apparatus A according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an electronic device A includes an image reading unit 3, a hard disk (mass storage unit) 5, a RAM 7, an operation panel unit 9, a communication unit 11, a printing unit 13, and a main controller 1. The power supply unit 15 is included, for example, constituting a multifunction machine. The electronic device A includes the power supply unit 17 and other components in addition to these, but is not a main part of the present invention, and thus description and illustration thereof are omitted.

  Here, the internal configuration of the electronic apparatus A as a multifunction machine will be briefly described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device A has a plurality of paper feed stages 23 (only one is shown in the figure) in which a sheet material 21 is set in a main body case 19 and a toner cassette based on image data to be described later. The transfer unit 25 that develops the toner on the photosensitive drum 25b with the toner from the toner 25a and transfers it to the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the fixing that fixes the transfer image of the sheet material 21 to which the toner image is transferred from the transferred intermediate transfer belt 27. A printing unit 13 including a paper discharge unit 31 that discharges the fixed sheet material 21 and the like.

  In the printing unit 13, the sheet material 21 is primary fed and secondary fed by a plurality of rollers 25 c that are driven to rotate by a motor, and fed and conveyed. The transfer unit 25 transfers image data to the photosensitive drum 25 b as a latent image. , And toner is developed and transferred to the sheet material 21. The photoconductor drum 25b in FIG. 2 has magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K) color transfer drums.

  The hard disk 5, RAM 7, operation panel unit 9, communication unit 11, and power supply unit 15 described above are arranged at appropriate positions in the main body case 19.

  Returning to FIG. 1, under the control of the main control unit 1, the image reading unit 3 optically reads an image from, for example, a printed document having a plurality of pages, generates digital image data, and generates a hard disk from the main control unit 1. 5 is a known scanner that outputs to 5 and functions as an image input unit.

  The hard disk 5 is a readable / writable mass storage unit (HDD) that stores and stores image data, various data, and the like under the control of the main control unit 1 so that the power supply unit 15 can turn on and off the power supply. It has become.

  The RAM 7 is a non-volatile memory as a recording unit that stores a startup program, a calculation operation program for the main control unit 1, a setting information table related to the hard disk 5, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the setting information table includes “upper limit on the number of startups”, “scheduled years of use”, “number of working days in a month”, “number of startups for one day”, and “the number of overruns on the previous day”. ”,“ Today's limit over number of times ”and“ Today's start limit number of times ”are set in a table so as to be changeable.

  For example, the “upper limit on the number of activations” is set in advance to “50,000 times”, the “scheduled use years” is set to “5 years”, and the “monthly working days” is set to “20 days”. The “day activation limit number” is calculated and set to “41 times” by the main control unit 1.

  The operation panel unit 9 in FIG. 1 is arranged on the upper part of the main body case 19 in FIG. 2, and is, for example, a known liquid crystal display as a display unit capable of displaying various operating states under the control of the main control unit 1. By touching the panel and the location where the image related to the operation of the device is displayed, input that accepts image reading, printing instructions, “upper limit on the number of startups”, “scheduled years of use”, “number of working days per month”, etc. It has a function as a part.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel unit 9 has a selection key 9a for performing various operation instructions and selections such as printing (printing, copying) processing, printer processing, scanner processing, fax processing, and the like. A numeric keypad 9b, a start key 9c, a display panel unit 9d, and the like are provided as input units for inputting settings, changes, and the like of the operation functions.

  As will be described later, the display panel unit 9d functions as a display unit that displays that the number of activations per day exceeds the activation limit number based on the calculation of the over number, preferably the over number.

  The communication unit 11 in FIG. 1 transmits / receives various image data and the like with a predetermined protocol to / from another multifunction device (none shown) via the network under the control of the main control unit 1. Interface unit that functions as an image input unit.

  As described above, the printing unit 13 is a color printing engine that transfers and fixes a toner image on the sheet material 21 based on image data and discharges the toner image.

  The power supply unit 15 controls the supply of drive power from the power supply unit 17 to the hard disk 5 under the control of the main control unit 1, and not only when the power source of the electronic device A main body is shut off but also at least for starting. When switching to the power saving mode (sleep mode) that cuts off the power supply to parts other than the necessary parts, the supply power is controlled to be cut off, the electronic device A main unit is turned on, and the power saving mode is changed to the normal mode. It has a function of resuming power supply when returning.

  The power supply unit 17 generates, for example, a predetermined DC power supply from a commercial AC power supply and supplies power to the hard disk 5 via the power supply unit 15 and supplies power to each part in the electronic apparatus A main body. is there.

  The main control unit 1 is formed mainly by a CPU, and controls the image reading unit 3, the hard disk 5, the RAM 7, the operation panel unit 9, the communication unit 11, the printing unit 13, the power supply unit 15, and the like described above, and performs predetermined processing. When there is no input instruction or operation of the printing unit 13 or the like from the operation panel unit 9 over a period (for example, 1 to several minutes), in addition to having a function of controlling the transition to the power saving mode, the activation number calculation unit 33, the activation count unit 35, It has functions as a start control unit 37 and a reset unit 39.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration centering on the activation number calculation unit 33, the activation count unit 35, the activation control unit 37, the reset unit 39, the power supply unit 7, and the hard disk 5.

  The activation number calculation unit 33 refers to the above-described setting information table in the RAM 7 and calculates the “one-day activation limit number” from the “activation number upper limit”, “scheduled year of use”, and “monthly working days”. It has a function of storing in the setting information table. The formula for calculating “the number of activation limits per day” is as follows.

Number of daily activation limit =
Maximum number of startups ÷ Expected years of use ÷ 12 ÷ Months of work days (rounded down to the nearest decimal point) ”

  The activation count unit 35 has a function of counting the number of activations of the hard disk 5 every day, and outputs a count value to the activation control unit 37. The number of activations of the hard disk 5 is also the number of activations of the electronic device A and the number of times of return from the power saving mode.

  The activation control unit 37 monitors whether or not the count value from the activation count unit 35 exceeds the “daily activation limit number” every day, and calculates an overtime number. , The number of over times is stored in the installation information table as “the current number of over times”, and the display panel unit 9d of the operation panel unit 9 has a function of controlling the display of the over number. The display on the display panel unit 9d may be a display indicating that the display is over.

  The activation control unit 37 has a function of controlling the power supply unit 15 so as to continuously supply power to the hard disk 5 when shifting to the power saving mode when exceeding the “restricted number of activations per day”. ing.

  On the next day, the activation control unit 37 replaces “the number of times of today's limit over” with “the number of times of overtime of the previous day”, and subtracts “the number of times of overtime of the previous day” from “the number of times of activation over the previous day”. Calculate “Today's start limit count” as “Limit count”, store the over count in the installation information table, and when the count value from start count unit 35 exceeds “Daily start limit count”, It has a function to perform the same operation.

  The reset unit 39 has a function of resetting the count value of the activation count unit 35 to “1” every time the date changes.

  Next, the operation of the electronic device A will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the setting information table as shown in FIG.

  When the electronic device A is activated for the first time every day, the operation program also starts to be activated, and in step S1, the activation control unit 37 sets “limit number of times of today” to “number of times of previous day” for the setting information table. In step S2, the reset unit 39 resets “the number of times of today's overtime”. In step S3, the activation control unit 37 changes the “number of times of overtime of the previous day” from “the number of times of activation over the day”. Subtract and set to “Today's startup limit count (next startup limit count)”.

  In subsequent step S4, the activation counting unit 39 counts the number of activations of the hard disk 5 (the number of activations of the device and the number of return from the power saving mode), and in step S5, the activation control unit 37 determines whether or not there is an over frequency. .

  If there is no over-count and step S5 is NO, the process proceeds to step S7. If there is an over-count and step S5 is YES, the activation control unit 37 sets “1” to “the current over-limit number” in step S6. Is added to update the setting information table, and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, an instruction to shift to the power saving mode is processed. In step S8, the activation control unit 37 determines whether or not there is an “over frequency”. If there is no “over frequency” and step S8 is NO, the process proceeds to step S9. The activation control unit 37 controls the power supply unit 15 to cut off the power supply to the hard disk 5 and returns to step S4. If there is an “over count” and step S8 is YES, the operation proceeds to step S10. The control unit 37 controls the power supply unit 15 to instruct the continuation of power supply to the hard disk 5 and returns to step S4. Note that the processing described above exits the processing loop by an appropriate operation.

  These steps and processing procedures correspond to the storage device control method according to the present invention.

  As described above, the electronic device A according to the present invention includes the hard disk (large-capacity storage unit) 5 that stores electronic data of the device, the power supply unit 15 that supplies driving power to the hard disk 5, and the activation of the hard disk 5 A start count unit 35 that counts the number of times, and a RAM (recording unit) that records the reference number of start times related to the hard disk 5, the expected number of years of use, the number of working days in one month, and the number of times the hard disk 5 is started up within the working days per day. ) 7 and the actual activation by calculating the number of times that the count value from the activation counting unit 35 on that day exceeds the activation limit number per day and subtracting the over number from the activation limit number in the next day When the limit number is calculated and the count value from the start count unit 35 in the next day exceeds the actual start limit number, During the transition to the force mode is provided an activation control unit 37 which controls the power supply unit 15 so as to continue supplying power to the hard disk 5, a.

  Therefore, when the hard disk 5 is turned on / off every day that exceeds the startup limit number of the day, the power supply to the hard disk 5 is not turned off at the time of shifting to the power saving mode, and excessive on / off repetition of the hard disk 5 is suppressed. It is possible to maintain the life of the hard disk 5 over a desired period.

  Moreover, since the over frequency exceeding the activation limit number is calculated and managed every day as a fixed period, it is possible to suppress excessive wear from daily.

  Further, in the electronic device A of the present invention, it is possible to display on the operation panel unit 9 that the number of activations in the certain period exceeds the activation limit number based on the calculation of the over number, or to display the over number. In addition, excessive wear for the user can be grasped more concretely, more appropriate usage is possible, and the life of the hard disk 5 can be easily maintained.

  By the way, in the electronic device A of the present invention, the reference activation number, the expected number of years to use, a certain number of working days, and a certain period within the number of working days related to the hard disk 5 are “50,000 times”, “5 years”, “ It is not limited to “20 days”, “1 day”, etc., and can be arbitrarily set such that a certain number of working days is “30 days” and a certain period is “1 week”.

  In short, calculate the “next activation limit number” by subtracting the number of times of overrun from the activation limit number in the fixed period (1 day) of the next time (for example, the next day). When the count value exceeds “the next activation limit number (today's activation limit number)”, the power supply may be controlled so as to continue to be supplied even when shifting to the power saving mode.

  The electronic device A of the present invention is not limited to the hard disk 5 and can be implemented in a large-capacity storage unit that frequently turns on and off the power supply.

  Further, as described above, the electronic apparatus A according to the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and various kinds of information processing apparatuses such as computers, game machines, measuring instruments, and other large-capacity storage units such as the hard disk 5 are mounted. It can be implemented in electronic equipment.

  Furthermore, in the storage unit control method mounted on the electronic device A according to the present invention, the same effect as the electronic device A can be obtained.

1 Main control unit 3 Image reading unit (image input unit)
5 Hard disk (mass storage unit)
7 RAM
9 Operation panel 11 Communication unit (image input unit)
13 Printing section (image forming section)
15 Power supply unit 17 Power supply unit 19 Main body case 21 Sheet material 23 Paper feed stage 25 Transfer unit 25a Toner cassette 25b Photosensitive drum 25c Roller 27 Intermediate transfer belt 29 Fixing unit 31 Paper discharge unit 33 Number of activations calculation unit 35 Activation count unit 37 Start-up control unit 39 Reset unit A Electronic equipment (multifunction machine)

Claims (10)

A mass storage unit for storing electronic data of the device;
A power supply unit for supplying driving power to the mass storage unit;
An activation count unit for counting the number of activations of the mass storage unit;
A recording unit for recording the number of activation limits in a certain period within the working days, the standard number of activations related to the large-capacity storage unit, the expected number of years of use, the fixed working days, and the working days;
For each predetermined period, the number of times that the count value from the activation count unit within the certain period exceeds the activation limit number for the certain period is calculated, and the over number is calculated from the activation limit number for the next certain period. The next activation limit number is calculated by subtracting, and when the count value from the activation count unit exceeds the next activation limit number next time, the power is continuously supplied to the mass storage unit when shifting to the power saving mode. An activation control unit for controlling the power supply unit;
An electronic apparatus comprising: The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the mass storage unit is a hard disk. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is one day. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the activation control unit controls display on the display unit that the number of activations in the certain period exceeds the activation limit number based on the calculation of the over frequency. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the activation control unit controls display of the over frequency on the display unit. Start and stop by supplying and shutting off the drive power from the power supply unit, and count the number of activations in the mass storage unit that stores the electronic data of the device,
In advance, using a recording unit that records a reference activation number, a scheduled number of years of use, a certain number of working days, and a number of activation restrictions within a certain period within the number of working days, and for each certain period, the certain period The number of over times exceeding the start limit number is calculated by comparing the count value from the start count unit in the above and the start limit number of the fixed period,
Calculate the next actual activation limit number by subtracting the over number from the activation limit number in the next fixed period,
A power control process for controlling the power supply unit to continuously supply power to the large-capacity storage unit when shifting to the power saving mode when the count value from the activation count unit exceeds the next activation limit number at the next time; ,
A storage unit control method for an electronic device, comprising: The method for controlling a storage unit of an electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the large-capacity storage unit is a hard disk. The method for controlling a storage unit of an electronic device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the predetermined period is one day. The electronic device storage unit control method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the power supply control process displays on the display unit that the number of activations for a certain period exceeds the activation limit number based on the calculation of the over frequency. . The electronic device storage unit control method according to claim 9, wherein the power control process displays the over frequency on the display unit.

Images