JP2013196485A - Electronic apparatus and electronic apparatus control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose effective configurations other than turning on a whole electronic apparatus by starting an arithmetic device of an integrated system in the combination of the integrated system and a WOL(Wake On LAN) function.SOLUTION: In a compound machine 1, when a LAN controller 17 receives a start packet and outputs a start signal, a start signal control part 31 to which the start signal is input supplies an enable signal to start a sub-power source circuit 25 as the object of start, to the circuit 25 among sub-power source circuits 25a to 25c. Thus, it is possible to start the sub-power source circuit 25 without starting a main power source circuit 23.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device control system including a LAN controller having a WOL (Wake On LAN) function.

  Embedded systems are used in most products that require electronic control, such as household equipment, industrial equipment, and medical equipment. An embedded system is also referred to as an embedded system, and is a computer system that is incorporated into a home appliance or machine in order to realize a specific function.

  Unlike general-purpose computer systems such as personal computers, the required functions and performance are extremely limited, and the available resources are strongly restricted due to severe cost restrictions. For example, it has a configuration in which an inexpensive CPU, a small amount of memory, and a ROM containing a program are mounted on a control board.

  Also, in recent electronic devices capable of network connection, the power is turned on by receiving special network packets (hereinafter referred to as activation packets) such as Magic Packet (registered trademark) from another terminal on the network. Many have a WOL (Wake On LAN) function to be in a state.

  In an electronic device having the WOL function, even if the power of the electronic device is off, the LAN controller network port provided in the electronic device is linked up and can receive an activation packet. When receiving the activation packet, the LAN controller outputs a signal for activation and activates the CPU. When the CPU receives the activation signal, the power of the electronic device is turned on, and each function on the control board on which the CPU is mounted can be operated. As prior art documents describing an electronic device having a WOL function, for example, there are Patent Documents 1 and 2.

JP 2010-11341 A (published January 14, 2010) JP 2010-35209 A (released on February 12, 2010)

  With the spread of today's wireless LANs, it is assumed that many household devices will be connected to other terminals on the network via the LAN in the future. For this reason, it is fully conceivable that the WOL function is mounted on a household device using an embedded system.

  For example, a built-in system is also used in a digital multifunction peripheral, but the CPU of the digital multifunction peripheral is activated by mounting a WOL function in the multifunction peripheral and transmitting an activation packet to a LAN controller included in the multifunction peripheral. It is also possible.

  However, the combination of the embedded system and the WOL function has not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, the configuration remains such that the CPU of the embedded system used in the electronic device is activated to turn on the electronic device, and no further effective configuration has been proposed.

  For example, in an electronic device in which the control board on which the CPU is mounted controls each function, the operation of all functions is performed when the power of the CPU is off (the main power of the control board on which the CPU is mounted is off). Is impossible. In other words, even when it is desired to enable only one of the functions, it is necessary to turn on the control board.

  For this reason, for example, in a multi-function machine, even if the room temperature at the installation location rises and the temperature inside the machine rises and it is desirable to move the cooling fan as one function, the main power source of the multi-function machine It cannot be moved without a mark.

  On the other hand, the WOL function is installed in the embedded system installed in the multifunction device, and a startup packet is sent from another terminal device that manages the temperature on the network to which the multifunction device is connected, so that the main power supply of the multifunction device You can turn on the fan to turn on.

  However, by turning on the main power supply of the multifunction device, all the functions other than the fans are enabled, so that the power consumption is wasted and it takes time until the control board is completely activated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to propose an effective configuration other than turning on the entire electronic device by starting an arithmetic unit of the embedded system in a combination of the embedded system and the WOL function. It is said.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a main power supply unit of the control board and at least one provided independently of the main power supply unit on the control board on which the arithmetic device is mounted. Two sub-power supply units, a LAN control unit that receives a start-up packet from a control terminal on the network and outputs a start-up signal, and when the start-up signal output from the LAN control unit is input, activates the sub-power supply unit A first signal to be supplied to the sub power supply unit, and the first power output unit is activated without activating the main power supply unit, and the sub power supply unit is activated, The operation unit using the sub power supply unit as a power supply source operates.

  According to this, when the LAN control unit receives the activation packet from the control terminal on the network, the first signal output unit supplies the first signal for activating the sub power supply unit to the sub power supply unit. Thereby, the sub power supply unit is activated without activating the main power supply unit, and the operation unit using the sub power supply unit as a power supply source starts operation.

  Therefore, by connecting a part of the operating unit of the electronic device to the sub power supply unit, the sub power supply unit can be started up and the operation unit connected to it can be operated without starting the main power supply unit. Can be made.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the combination of the control board constituting the embedded system and the LAN control unit having the WOL function, an effective configuration other than starting the arithmetic device of the control board and turning on the entire electronic device. Can be proposed.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, when the activation signal output from the LAN control unit is input, the second signal output unit that supplies the second signal to the arithmetic device, the first signal output unit, A switching unit that exclusively controls switching of signal supply of the first signal and the second signal in the second signal output unit based on a set value, and the arithmetic device receives the second signal. The main power supply unit may be activated to enable the function of each operation unit on the control board.

  According to this, like the conventional WOL function, the main power supply unit of the electronic device can be activated to activate the entire electronic device.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, when there are a plurality of sub power supply units, the switching unit selects a sub power supply unit that is a supply destination for supplying the first signal based on a set value. It is good also as a structure which can do.

  According to this, by changing the setting value, it is possible to selectively start the sub power supply unit to which the operation unit to be operated is connected, including the case where the entire electronic device is started up. improves.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, the electronic device further includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information about whether or not the sub power supply unit to which the first signal is supplied is activated, and the first signal output unit includes: An enable signal is supplied as the first signal. Based on the information of the information acquisition unit, the enable signal is activated when the sub power supply unit is not activated, and the enable signal is activated when the sub power supply unit is activated. Is preferably inactive.

  This makes it possible to perform alternate control such as turning on or off the sub power supply unit each time a start-up packet is received, thereby further improving convenience.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, it is preferable that the electronic device further includes an initialization unit that returns the LAN control unit to a state in which the activation packet can be received when the first signal is output from the first signal output unit. .

  Depending on the configuration of the LAN control unit, once the startup packet is received, there is a configuration in which the next startup packet is not received until the initialization packet is initialized. Acceptance is possible.

  The present invention also includes an electronic device control system that includes the electronic device of the present invention described above and a control terminal that is connected to the electronic device via a network and transmits a start packet to the electronic device. .

  According to the present invention, a part of the operation unit of the electronic device is connected to the sub power supply unit, so that the sub power supply unit is started up without being activated, and the operation unit connected thereto Can be operated. In this way, an effective configuration other than turning on the entire electronic device by activating the arithmetic device of the control board in the combination of the control board constituting the embedded system and the LAN control unit having the WOL function is proposed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction device control system including a multifunction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the starting signal management circuit mounted in the control board of the said multifunctional device. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in a remote activation mode in the multifunction machine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction peripheral (electronic device) 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to a control PC (control terminal) 8 that transmits an activation packet via a network 3. The multifunction device 1 and the control PC 8 constitute a multifunction device control system (electronic device control system) 100.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction machine control system 100. The multifunction machine 1 has a control board 10 on which a processor (arithmetic unit, CPU) is mounted. The control board 10 constitutes an embedded system. The control board 10 is defined as a processor 21 mounted on a wiring board. That is, the processor 21 is a component of the control board 10.

  The control board 10 also includes a main power supply circuit (main power supply unit) 23, three sub power supply circuits (sub power supply units) 25a to 25c, a LAN controller (LAN control unit) 17, an activation signal management circuit 19 and the like. .

  When the main power supply circuit 23 of the control board 10 is turned on (activated), power is supplied to the processor 21 and the processor 21 is activated. The processor 21 enables the function of each operation unit in the multifunction device 1 and controls it.

  The sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c are provided independently of the main power supply circuit 23 and are independent of each other. The sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c are turned on when the enable signal is active and turned off when the enable signal is inactive. The enable signal is input from the processor 21 or the activation signal management circuit 19. In a normal startup mode that is not a remote startup mode, the processor 21 that is started by turning on the main power supply circuit 23 activates an enable signal supplied to the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c. Thereby, the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c are turned on.

  The operation units controlled by the processor 21 include, in addition to the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c, a print engine unit that prints an image based on the image data, and reads the image data from the original and outputs the image data, although not particularly illustrated. There are a scanner unit to be generated, a paper transport unit that supplies paper to the print engine unit, an operation panel unit that enables instruction input to the multi-function peripheral 1, and the like.

  The LAN controller 17 enables connection between the multifunction device 1 and the network 3. The LAN controller 17 corresponds to a WOL (Wake On LAN) function. The LAN controller 17 can receive the start-up packet transmitted from the control PC 8 on the network 3 even when the main power supply circuit 23 is off, because the network port is linked up.

  When receiving the activation packet, the LAN controller 17 determines whether or not the received activation packet is addressed to itself. Then, when it is addressed to itself, it outputs a start signal to the start signal management circuit 19.

  An example of the activation packet is a magic packet (registered trademark). If the activation packet is a magic packet (registered trademark), the LAN controller 17 determines that the activation packet is addressed to itself when the MAC address in the magic packet (registered trademark) matches the self-confidence MAC address. To do.

  When the activation signal is input from the LAN controller 17, the activation signal management circuit 19 can output a first signal that turns on (activates) at least one of the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c. The activation signal management circuit 19 can output a second signal to be output to the processor 21 when the activation signal is input from the LAN controller.

  The activation signal management circuit 19 exclusively outputs the first signal and the second signal based on the setting content of the setting unit 32 described later. That is, when the setting for outputting the first signal to at least one of the sub power supply circuits 25 a to 25 c is made, the second signal is not output to the processor 21. Similarly, when the setting for outputting the second signal to the processor 21 is made, the first signal is not output to any of the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c.

  The activation signal management circuit 19 outputs, for example, an enable signal as the first signal. The activation signal management circuit 19 sends an enable signal to the selected sub power supply circuit 25 among the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c. Thereby, only the selected sub power supply circuit 25 is turned on / off based on the enable signal. At this time, since the second signal is not sent to the processor 21, the main power supply circuit 23 remains off.

  The activation signal management circuit 19 outputs the activation signal input from the LAN controller 17 as it is as the second signal, for example. Thereby, the function similar to the conventional WOL works. That is, the main power supply circuit 23 is turned on by the processor 21 that has received the activation signal, and power is supplied to the processor 21 to activate the processor 21.

  Thereby, the function of each operation unit in the multifunction machine 1 becomes effective. The same applies to the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c that are one of the operation units. When the enable signal supplied from the processor 21 to the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c is activated, all the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c are turned on. To do.

  The sub power supply circuits 25 a to 25 c are connected to the fan 11, the LED 13, and the air purifier, which are one of the operation units in the multifunction machine 1. Specifically, the fan 11 is connected to the sub power circuit 25a, the LED 13 is connected to the sub power circuit 25b, and the air cleaner 15 is connected to the sub power circuit 25c.

  The fan 11 cools the inside of the multifunction device 1 by sending an air flow into the multifunction device 1. The LED 13 is a light emitting unit provided in the operation panel unit of the multifunction machine 1. The air cleaner 15 cleans indoor air mounted on the multifunction device 1. The fan 11, the LED 13, and the air cleaner 15 start to operate when the sub power supply circuit 25 to which the fan 11, the LED 13, and the air cleaner 15 are connected is turned on.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the activation signal management circuit 19. As shown in FIG. 2, the activation signal management circuit 19 includes an activation signal control unit (first signal output unit, second signal output unit, switching unit) 31, setting unit 32, LAN controller initialization unit (initialization unit). 36, and a power state management unit (information acquisition unit) 35.

  When the activation signal from the LAN controller 17 is input to the activation signal control unit 31, the activation signal control unit 31 sets the enable signal as the first signal to the selected one of the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c. Or an activation signal as the second signal is sent to the processor 21. The activation signal control unit 31 determines which of the sub power supply circuits 25 a to 25 c to send the enable signal or whether to send the activation signal to the processor 21 based on the setting contents of the setting unit 32.

The setting unit 32 includes a setting register 33 and a physical switch 34, and outputs an enable signal to any of the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c using either the setting register 33 or the physical switch 34, or an activation signal. Can be set to be output to the processor 21. By providing the setting register 33, the user can perform the above-mentioned setting in advance in software, and by providing the physical switch 34, the user can perform the above-described setting physically in advance.

  For example, a setting value “1” is assigned to the processor 21, “2” is assigned to the sub power circuit 25a, “3” is assigned to the sub power circuit 25b, and “4” is assigned to the sub power circuit 25c. To do. Here, when “1” is set in the setting register 33, the activation signal control unit 31 outputs the activation signal to the processor 21 as it is. Similarly, when “3” is set, for example, the activation signal control unit 31 outputs an enable signal to the sub power supply circuit 25b. Note that the processor 21 and the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c are exclusively selected, but a plurality of selections are possible in the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c.

  The physical switch is the same, and the processor 21 and the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c are exclusively selected, but a plurality of selections are possible in the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c. is there.

  In particular, in the configuration including a plurality of independent sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c as in the present embodiment, the number of sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c is increased by increasing the number of bits in the setting register 33 and the number of physical switches 34. Selection within 25c becomes possible.

  The setting for the setting register 33 can be edited via the processor 21 while the main power supply circuit 23 is on. Specifically, it can be set from an operation panel unit provided in the multifunction device 1 while the multifunction device 1 is activated.

  If the activation signal control unit 31 determines from the contents set in the setting unit 32 that the activation signal is to be sent to the processor 21, the activation signal control unit 31 sends the activation signal to the processor 21 without any special processing.

  On the other hand, when the activation signal control unit 31 specifies the target to which the enable signal is to be sent from the contents set in the setting unit 32, the activation signal control unit 35 first receives the enable signal from the power supply state management unit 35. The on / off state of the sub power supply circuit 25 to be sent is acquired.

  The power supply state management unit 35 acquires on / off information of each of the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c. The power supply state management unit 35 only needs to acquire at least the on / off state of the sub power supply circuit 25 to which the enable signal is transmitted. The power supply state management unit 35 outputs an on / off notification signal, which is a signal indicating whether the sub power supply circuit 25 to which the enable signal is transmitted is on or off, to the activation signal control unit 31.

  When the target sub power supply circuit 25 to which the enable signal is sent is off, the activation signal control unit 31 sends the enable signal to the target sub power supply circuit 25 by making it active (valid). As a result, the target sub power circuit 25 is turned on. On the other hand, when the target sub power supply circuit 25 to which the enable signal is sent is ON, the enable signal is sent to the target sub power circuit 25 in an inactive (invalid) state. As a result, the target sub power circuit 25 is turned off.

  When the enable signal is output from the activation signal control unit 31, the LAN controller initialization unit 36 returns the LAN controller 17 to a state in which the activation packet can be received. When the activation packet is a magic packet (registered trademark), once the activation packet is received, a general LAN controller does not accept the next activation packet until initialization is performed.

For this reason, when the processor 21 receives the activation signal and starts up the main power supply circuit 23, the processor 21 initializes the LAN controller 17 by outputting an initialization instruction signal to the LAN controller 17 when activated. As a result, the LAN controller 17 can accept the next activation packet.

  The LAN controller initialization unit 36 outputs the same signal as the initialization instruction signal from the processor 21 to the LAN controller 17 to initialize the LAN controller 17. When the state of the enable signal output to at least one of the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c detects a change from active to inactive or switching from inactive to active, the LAN controller initialization unit 36 sends an initialization instruction signal to the LAN. Output to the controller 17. As a result, the LAN controller 17 can be initialized while the main power supply circuit 23 is off, and the LAN controller 17 can be made ready to accept the next activation packet.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the remote activation mode in which the multifunction device 1 receives the activation packet and activates the main power circuit 23 via the sub power circuits 25a to 25c or the processor 21.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the MFP 1, when the LAN controller 17 receives an activation packet addressed to itself (S 1), it outputs an activation signal to the activation signal management circuit 19. The activation signal control unit 31 of the activation signal management circuit 19 determines what is the activation target to be activated based on the setting contents of the setting unit 32 (S2). That is, in the case of the processor 21 or the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c, it is determined which sub power supply circuit 25 is activated.

  When the activation target is the processor 21, the process proceeds to S <b> 3 and outputs an activation signal to the processor 21. When the activation signal is input, the processor 21 turns on the main power supply circuit 23 (S4). As a result, power is supplied from the main power supply circuit 23 to the control board 10 including the processor 21, and the control board 10 is started up. Then, the activated processor 21 outputs an initialization instruction signal to the LAN controller 17 to initialize the LAN controller 17. As a result, the LAN controller 17 can receive the next activation signal. After S5, the process returns to S1.

  On the other hand, when the activation target is any of the sub power supply circuits 25a to 25c in S2, the process proceeds to S6. In S <b> 6, the activation signal control unit 31 determines whether the sub power circuit 25 to be activated is in the on state or the off state based on the on / off notification signal from the power state management unit 35. When it is in the off state, the process proceeds to S7, and the activation signal control unit 31 activates an enable signal to be input to the activation-target sub power circuit 25. As a result, the sub power supply circuit 25 to be activated is turned on (S8).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S6 that the sub power circuit 25 to be activated is in the on state, the process proceeds to S10, and the activation signal control unit 31 inactivates the enable signal input to the sub power circuit 25 to be activated. Thereby, the sub power supply circuit 25 to be activated is turned off (S11).

  After turning off or turning off the sub power circuit to be activated in S8 or S11, the LAN controller initialization unit 36 outputs an initialization instruction signal to the LAN controller 17 to initialize the LAN controller 17 (S9). .

As described above, in the MFP 1 and the MFP control system 100 according to the present embodiment, the main power supply circuit is received using the WOL function by receiving the activation signal from the control PC 8 connected on the network 3. Without activating 23, only the sub power supply circuit 25 is activated, and the fan 11, the LED 13, or the air purifier 15 that is the operation unit connected thereto can be operated alone.

  Therefore, for example, in the multi function device 1, the setting unit 32 is set so that the enable signal is input upon reception of the activation packet to the sub power supply circuit 25a to which the fan 11 is connected. Then, the control PC 8 monitors the temperature of the environment where the multifunction device 1 is installed, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, transmits a start packet to the multifunction device 1 to rotate the fan 11. When it is confirmed that the temperature has dropped, remote control such as sending a start packet to the multifunction device 1 again to stop the fan 11 is possible.

  Alternatively, in the multifunction device 1, the setting unit 32 is set so that an enable signal is input to the sub power supply circuit 25b to which the LED 13 is connected upon reception of the activation packet. The control PC 8 monitors the brightness of the environment in which the multifunction machine 1 is installed. When the environment becomes darker than a predetermined value (when the light is turned off), a start packet is sent. When it is transmitted to the multifunction device 1 and the LED 13 is turned on, and it is confirmed that it has become bright (when lighting is on and the day is dawn), the activation packet is transmitted to the multifunction device 1 again and the LED 13 is turned off. Remote control is possible.

  Alternatively, in the multifunction device 1, the setting unit 32 is set so that an enable signal is input to the sub power supply circuit 25c to which the air purifier 15 is connected upon reception of the activation packet. The control PC 8 monitors the contamination of the air in which the multifunction device 1 is installed. When the environmental air contamination exceeds a predetermined value, the control PC 8 transmits an activation packet to the multifunction device 1 to clean the air. When the machine 15 is operated and it is confirmed that the air contamination has been improved, remote control such as transmitting the activation packet to the multifunction machine 1 again to turn off the operation of the air cleaner 15 becomes possible.

  Here, the multi-function device 1 is illustrated as an electronic device using an embedded system, but the present invention can be applied to any electronic device that can be equipped with a LAN controller having a basic and WOL function. That is, it is only necessary to configure a part of the operation unit that controls the operation of the control board of the electronic device via the sub power supply circuit.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the present invention, some functions of an electronic device using an embedded system can be activated remotely without starting up the main power supply unit of the electronic device, so that the electronic device such as a household device, an industrial device, a medical device, etc. It can be applied to most products that require control.

1 Multifunction machine (electronic equipment)
3 Network 8 Control PC (control terminal)
10 Control board 11 Fan 13 LED
15 Air Cleaner 17 LAN Controller (LAN Control Unit)
19 Start signal management circuit 21 Processor (arithmetic unit)
23 Main power circuit (Main power supply)
25a to 25c Sub power circuit (Sub power unit)
31 Activation signal control unit (first signal output unit, second signal output unit, switching unit)
32 Setting part 33 Setting register 34 Physical switch 35 Power supply state management part (information acquisition part)
36 LAN controller initialization unit (initialization unit)
100 MFP control system

Claims (6)

On the control board on which the arithmetic unit is mounted,
A main power supply unit of the control board;
At least one sub power source provided independently of the main power source;
A LAN controller that receives an activation packet from a control terminal on the network and outputs an activation signal;
When the activation signal output from the LAN control unit is input, a first signal for activating the sub power supply unit is supplied to the sub power supply unit, and the sub power supply unit is activated without activating the main power supply unit. A first signal output unit to be activated,
An electronic device in which an operation unit using the sub power supply unit as a power supply source is activated when the sub power supply unit is activated. When the activation signal output from the LAN control unit is input, a second signal output unit that supplies the second signal to the arithmetic device;
A switching unit that exclusively switches and controls the signal supply of the first signal and the second signal in the first signal output unit and the second signal output unit based on a set value;
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic device activates the main power supply unit by receiving the second signal and validates the function of each operation unit on the control board. When there are a plurality of sub power supply units,
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the switching unit selects a sub power supply unit that is a supply destination to which the first signal is supplied based on a setting value. An information acquisition unit that acquires information about whether or not the sub power supply unit to which the first signal is supplied is activated;
The first signal output unit supplies an enable signal as the first signal, and based on the information of the information acquisition unit, activates the enable signal when the sub power source unit is not activated, and the sub power source unit The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enable signal is made inactive when the electronic apparatus is activated.   5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an initialization unit that returns the LAN control unit to a state in which the activation packet can be received when the first signal is output from the first signal output unit. Item 1. An electronic device according to item 1. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An electronic device control system including a control terminal connected to the electronic device via a network and transmitting an activation packet to the electronic device.

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