JP2016142579A - Human body sensing device, image formation device, information processing device, and control method of human body sensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a human body sensing device capable of preventing degradation of precision in human body sensing and allowing temperature sensing means to be incorporated in equipment.SOLUTION: A human body sensing device 10 that is disposed in equipment which an operator approaches to operate includes human body sensing means 11 that senses a change in infrared radiation and outputs a human body sense signal, temperature sensing means 12 that is incorporated in the equipment and senses the temperature of the inside of the equipment at regular intervals, a sense temperature control unit 15 that, when the sense temperature (C) sensed by the temperature sensing means 12 rises continuously over a predetermined period, adds a correction value to the sense temperature and outputs a sense temperature correction value (C+α) that is higher than the sense temperature, and that, when the sense temperature remains constant over the predetermined period, outputs the sense temperature without correcting the sense temperature, and a gain control unit 16 that adjusts an output gain for the human body sense signal outputted from the human body sensing means 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a human body detection apparatus, an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus including the human body detection apparatus, and a method for controlling the human body detection apparatus.

  Copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multi-function machines that combine these using an electrophotographic process are becoming compatible with energy saving performance and convenience. In particular, in order to shorten the return time from the energy saving mode in the image forming apparatus, a technique for detecting the presence of a person in advance using a human sensor and returning the device from the energy saving mode in advance is already known (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  A human sensor such as an infrared sensor detects the presence of a human body by changing the sensor output depending on the difference between the heat source (person) and the environmental temperature. Therefore, the sensor output at the detected temperature is detected according to the detected outside temperature by providing the temperature detecting means around the human sensor and detecting the environmental temperature (outside machine temperature) outside the machine. There is a technique for adjusting the gain of the sensor output of the human sensor so that the sensor output coincides with the sensor output at the reference temperature (Patent Document 2).

  However, in Patent Document 2 described above, the air inside the machine is rarely in contact with the air outside the machine, and when one of the temperatures changes, a time difference occurs even when the two temperatures coincide with each other. It was necessary to provide it at a position where it can be touched.

  The position where the temperature detection means can be touched by outside air is often limited by the mounting position of the board. Therefore, when integrating the temperature detection means on the substrate, the temperature detection means is provided in the machine, and the detection accuracy of the human sensor deteriorates when there is a difference between the temperature inside the machine and the temperature outside the machine.

  In particular, when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature, the gain is set low according to the low inside temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. If the low gain is applied to the sensor output of a human sensor that detects a change in temperature difference between a high external temperature and the human body temperature, the minimum required sensor output cannot be obtained and the detection accuracy of human body detection deteriorates. . Therefore, there is a possibility that the human body detection result cannot be obtained well.

  Further, when the temperature detection means is provided separately from the substrate on which the human sensor is mounted, the cost increases compared to the case where the temperature detection means is integrated on the substrate.

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a human body detection device capable of consolidating temperature detection means in an aircraft while preventing deterioration of human body detection accuracy.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in one aspect of the present invention, a human body detection device installed in a device that an operator approaches and operates,
Human body detection that is installed inside the device and detects a change in infrared rays in a predetermined range near the device and outputs a human body detection signal so as to detect whether the operator is within the predetermined range from the device Means,
A temperature detection means installed inside the device and detecting the temperature inside the device at regular intervals;
When the detected temperature detected by the temperature detecting means continues to rise for a predetermined period, a correction value is added to the detected temperature to output a detected temperature correction value higher than the detected temperature, and the detected temperature is predetermined. When the period is constant, a detected temperature control unit that outputs the detected temperature without correction, and
A gain control unit that adjusts an output gain of the human body detection signal output from the human body detection unit according to the detected temperature correction value output from the detection temperature control unit or the detected temperature.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, in the human body detection device, temperature detection means can be integrated in the aircraft while preventing deterioration of human body detection accuracy.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a human body detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a characteristic example of a human body detection sensor of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of a detection area of a human body detection sensor in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a structural example of the human body detection part in embodiment of this invention. It is the graph which shows the outline | summary of correction | amendment of detected temperature, and its enlarged view. It is an enlarged view of the temperature rise part of FIG. 4A. An example of correction of the detected temperature is shown. The whole flowchart in a control part is shown. The detailed flowchart of the setting of a gain is shown. The detailed flowchart of the setting of a detected temperature correction value is shown. 1 is an external view of a full-color digital composite copying machine that is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an internal configuration diagram of the full-color digital composite copying machine of FIG. 9. It is a system block diagram of the information processing apparatus carrying the human body detection apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram in which a human body detection unit 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on an image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a human body detection unit 10 that detects a person, a system control unit 20 and an engine control unit 30 that control the entire apparatus, an operation unit 300 that inputs operation of the apparatus, a reading unit 100 that reads a document, and image formation An engine (printer unit) 200 and a power source 40 are provided.

  The operation unit 300 is an interface for the user to operate the device, draws information necessary for the operation of the device on the operation screen, and sends the user operation instruction content to the system control unit 20.

  The reading unit 100 is a device for reading an original, optically reads the original, and transmits the read image data to the system control unit 20 via the engine control unit 30.

  The image forming engine 200 is a device that forms an image of image data read by the reading unit 100 using a drawing material such as toner on a sheet, and includes a fixing device 270, an image forming unit 230 (see FIG. 10), and the like.

  The fixing device 270 includes a heater 273 as a heating unit, and fixes drawing data such as toner to paper by heat. The temperature of the heater 273 is not particularly limited, and can be selected depending on the type of image forming apparatus and the type of toner, but can be set to, for example, about 100 ° C. to 180 ° C., and generally about 160 ° C. Set around ℃.

  The power source 40 supplies power necessary for the device, and converts an input voltage from a commercial power source into a necessary voltage for the device.

  The system control unit 20 and the engine control unit 30 control the entire apparatus, and sequentially control the reading unit 100 and the image forming engine 200 according to each operation mode.

  The human body detection unit (human body detection device) 10 includes a human body detection sensor 11, a temperature detection sensor 12 that detects temperature (temperature value), and a sensor control unit 13 that controls signal output.

  A temperature detection sensor (temperature detection means) 12 detects the temperature in the machine and notifies the detected temperature value to the sensor control unit 13. The human body detection sensor (human body detection means) 11 detects a human body and outputs a detection signal (analog signal) to the sensor control unit 13.

  The sensor control unit 13 adjusts the analog output level (output gain) from the human body detection sensor 11 based on the detected temperature inside the machine, and notifies the system control unit 20 of the detection result. Specifically, the sensor control unit 13 includes a detection temperature extraction unit 14, a detection temperature correction unit 15, a gain control unit 16, a human body detection signal amplification unit 17, and a detection result output unit 18.

  The detection temperature extraction unit 14 is connected to the temperature detection sensor 12 and selects the median value of the data (a plurality of temperature values) acquired by the temperature detection sensor 12, or the maximum value and the minimum value of the plurality of temperature values. The detected temperature (detected temperature) is determined by calculating the average value excluding.

  The detected temperature correction unit (detected temperature control unit) 15 is connected to the detected temperature extraction unit 14 and corrects the temperature as necessary based on the extracted detected temperature (detected temperature correction value) or the detected temperature as it is. Is output as the detected temperature output value.

  The gain control unit 16 is connected to the detection temperature correction unit 15, and an output signal of the human body detection sensor 11 according to the detection temperature output value (detection temperature or detection temperature correction value) output from the detection temperature correction unit 15. Adjust the gain (amplification factor) setting value. Here, the temperature information includes temperature information (detected temperature value, detected temperature, detected temperature correction value, detected temperature output value) at each stage.

  The human body detection signal amplification unit 17 is connected to the human body detection sensor 11 and the gain control unit 16, and amplifies the output signal of the human body detection sensor 11 using the gain set by the gain control unit 16 and outputs the amplified signal. .

  The detection result output unit 18 is connected to the human body detection signal amplification unit 17, and a specific threshold voltage is set in advance, and the output level of the analog signal output from the human body detection signal amplification unit 17 is compared with the threshold voltage. Then, the system controller 20 is notified of a binary detection result indicating the presence or absence of human body detection.

  In such a configuration, the system control unit 20 and the engine control unit 30 control the apparatus so as to change the state of the image forming apparatus 1 to a standby mode, an operation mode, an energy saving mode in which the power state is the lowest.

  In the energy saving mode, at this time, only a part of the functions of the system control unit 20 and the human body detection sensor 11 and the temperature detection sensor 12 of the human body detection unit 10 are energized.

  In the above-described fixing device 270, in order to perform heat fixing satisfactorily, it is necessary to wait for the drive until the heater 273 of the fixing device 270 rises from the low temperature in the energy saving mode to the set temperature described above, and this waiting time is restored. It will be time.

  In order to shorten the return time, the presence of a person is detected in advance using the human body detection unit 10, the device is started to return from the energy saving mode in advance, and a person actually waits for the return time of the device near the device. Reduce time.

  FIG. 2 shows a characteristic example of the human body detection sensor 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the human body detection sensor 11 is a pyroelectric sensor.

  The pyroelectric sensor has “+ detection area (detection area (+))” and “− detection area (detection area (−))” for each location in the vicinity of the device. An analog signal is output according to the change in the amount of infrared rays.

  Therefore, the output voltage from the pyroelectric sensor increases when a person enters the detection area (+), and the output voltage from the pyroelectric sensor decreases when a person leaves the detection area (+). When the person is moving, the output voltage from the pyroelectric sensor does not change. In addition, the detection area (−) has a characteristic opposite to that of the detection area (+).

  Here, FIG. 2 generally shows a graph when a person crosses. When a person approaches from a far place, basically, as the distance from the pyroelectric sensor approaches, the amount of infrared light received by the pyroelectric sensor increases, resulting in a waveform different from the above waveform.

  FIG. 3A shows an example of a detection area set by the human body detection sensor 11 including a pyroelectric sensor in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B shows a configuration example of the human body detection unit 10 in the embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 3A assumes an ideal state in which the detection area is a sufficiently long distance in the traveling direction of the person and the sensor sensitivity of the detection area is uniform.

  Since the pyroelectric sensor is an infrared sensor, the output voltage from the pyroelectric sensor increases or decreases to change the amount of analog signal output (the magnitude of the output signal) from the temperature difference between the heat source (human body) temperature and the outside air temperature. Depends on the outside temperature. Specifically, the pyroelectric sensor has a characteristic that the output voltage from the sensor increases when the outside air temperature is low, and the output voltage from the sensor decreases when the outside air temperature is high.

  Therefore, a sensor at the detected temperature is provided according to the detected outside temperature by providing a temperature detection sensor around the pyroelectric sensor and detecting the environmental temperature (outside machine temperature) outside the apparatus. The output is controlled to match the sensor output at a reference temperature (for example, 25 ° C.). Adjustment of the sensor output is performed by the control unit (gain control unit 16, human body detection signal amplification unit 17) adjusting the gain (amplification degree) of the sensor output.

In this case, the pyroelectric sensor is controlled as follows.
(1) High outside air temperature: Small temperature difference between human body temperature and outside air temperature: Low output voltage: High gain setting (2) Low outside air temperature: Large temperature difference between human body temperature and outside air temperature: Increase in output voltage: Gain Low setting Here, when the gain is high, a subtle change in the output voltage can be detected, and the detection accuracy is increased. As described above, since the output voltage from the human body detection sensor depends on the outside air temperature, the gain is appropriately set based on the acquired temperature. Thereafter, the human body detection result is output as a result of comparison with a predetermined threshold using the human body detection result signal amplified with the set gain.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, in the embodiment of the present invention, the temperature detection sensor 12 is arranged only in the machine, and therefore the human body detection unit 10 is integrated on the board 19 (one substrate) in the machine of the image forming apparatus 1. ing.

  However, when the temperature detecting means is installed in the machine, there is a possibility that an appropriate gain cannot be set for the output of the human body detection sensor because there is a temperature difference between the inside of the machine and the outside (outside air). In a situation where there is a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the machine, especially when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature, the gain is set to be low according to the low inside temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor. If the low gain is applied to the output of a pyroelectric sensor that detects a change in temperature difference between the high external temperature and the human body temperature, the minimum required sensor output cannot be obtained and the detection accuracy deteriorates. Therefore, it cannot be appropriately compared with the threshold value, and the human body detection result cannot be obtained well.

  In this case, therefore, it is necessary to correct the actual detected temperature and set the gain. A correction example is shown below.

FIG. 4 shows a graph relating to temperature control of the present invention. In this correction example, a thermistor will be described as an example of temperature detection means.
Here, on the premise of (1) and (2) described above, the characteristics of the human body detection sensor tend to be as follows.
(3) When the thermistor temperature correction value> outside machine temperature of the image forming apparatus: the detection sensitivity is increased. (4) When the thermistor temperature correction value <the outside temperature of the image forming apparatus: the detection sensitivity is lowered. In the situation of 4), for example, in the situation such as the beginning of heating in the winter and after cooling off in the summer, there is a possibility that the fluctuation amount of the output voltage of the human body detection sensor cannot be obtained up to a predetermined amount. Therefore, the gain is set to be high by setting the thermistor temperature correction value> the temperature outside the image forming apparatus to compensate for the detection sensitivity.

  Specifically, in the present invention, temperature information (temperature value) is acquired at regular intervals, and when A <B <C, the detected temperature correction value is set higher than the detected temperature.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a thermistor temperature correction example. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of overall control of the human body detection unit 10, FIG. 7 shows a detailed flowchart of the gain control unit 16, and FIG. 8 shows a detailed flowchart of the detection temperature correction unit 15. The control of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In S1 of FIG. 6, the temperature detection sensor 12 first reads the thermistor AD conversion value during the mask period after the power is turned on (first time).

  Here, referring to FIG. 5, in order to cancel noise in each temperature measurement process, reading of temperature (temperature value) is performed at a predetermined interval T1 (every first predetermined period). The temperature is read N times at a much shorter T2 interval, and the median value of the data group with the maximum and minimum values discarded is adopted (A ′). The conditions are as follows.

  For example, in the first temperature measurement process, temperature measurement is performed three times at intervals of T2 (every second constant period) for noise cancellation (N = 3).

When the three AD conversion values (temperature values) corresponding to the measured temperature are A′-1, A′-2, and A′-3, the thermistor temperature (detected temperature) A is employed as follows.
A'-1 <A'-2 <A'-3⇒ Thermistor temperature A = A'-2
A'-1 = A'-2 <A'-3⇒ Thermistor temperature A = A'-1 (= A'-2)
A'-1 <A'-2 = A'-3⇒ Thermistor temperature A = A'-2 (= A'-3)
A'-1 = A'-2 = A'-3⇒ Thermistor temperature A = A'-1 (= A'-2 = A'-3)
As described above, the detection temperature extraction unit 14 selects the median value among the plurality of thermistor AD conversion values (a plurality of temperature values) as described above, and based on the median value, detects the thermistor temperature (detection) from the temperature table. Temperature) (A ° C.) is determined (S2).

  Alternatively, the detected temperature extraction unit 14 discards the maximum value and the minimum value among a plurality of thermistor AD conversion values (temperature values) detected at intervals of T2 a plurality of times (for example, even times) for noise cancellation. Then, the average value of a plurality of temperature values excluding the maximum value and the minimum value from the target is calculated (the trim average value is rounded down), and the thermistor temperature (A ° C.) is calculated from the temperature table based on the average value. May be determined (S2).

  In S3, the detected temperature correction unit 15 outputs the detected temperature output value to the gain control unit 16 without correcting the thermistor temperature. The detected temperature correction unit 15 automatically estimates that there is no temperature change since there is no comparison object with the previous time in the first detection, and the thermistor temperature correction value = thermistor temperature. The detected temperature output value (thermistor temperature output value) is used without correction.

  In this way, the gain control unit 16 acquires the first thermistor temperature output value (FIG. 7: S101). The gain controller 16 adjusts the gain of the human body detection sensor 11 based on the thermistor temperature output value (= thermistor temperature A) (FIG. 6: S4, FIG. 7: S102).

  Specifically, when the detected temperature output value (the output detected temperature or the detected temperature correction value) is higher than the reference temperature, the gain control unit 16 increases the output gain of the detection signal of the human body detection sensor 11. Set to. When the detected temperature output value is lower than the reference temperature, the gain control unit 16 sets the output gain of the detection signal of the human body detection sensor 11 to be low.

  In the state set in this way, the human body detection sensor 11 detects the approach and separation of the human body by detecting a change in the amount of infrared rays with respect to the detection area, and outputs a detection voltage (human body detection signal) ( FIG. 6: S6).

  At this time, the human body detection signal amplification unit 17 amplifies the human body detection signal detected by the human body detection sensor 11 with the set gain and outputs the amplified signal (S7).

  Then, the detection result output unit 18 compares the amplified human body detection signal with a predetermined threshold value, and outputs the human body detection result to the system control unit 20 based on the comparison result (S7).

  The steps from S1 to S4 described above until the temperature (temperature value) is detected and the gain is set based on the temperature information (detected temperature output value) are executed every predetermined period T1. The second and subsequent controls will be described below.

  The temperature detection sensor 12 checks whether or not a period T1 has elapsed since the first reading (FIG. 7: S103). Here, until the period T1 elapses (NO in S103), the human body is continuously detected with the output gain set in S102. It should be noted that the temperature detection is performed intermittently continuously regardless of whether or not the human body is approaching during the T1 period (regardless of the state (mode) of the image forming apparatus 1).

  After the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the temperature detection sensor 12 performs the second thermistor AD conversion value reading (FIG. 6: S1). Also in the second reading, the temperature detection sensor 12 reads the temperature values (B′−1, B′−2 and B′−3) N times at T2 intervals as in the first reading.

  As with the first time, the detected temperature extraction unit 14 discards the maximum value and minimum value of the temperature value (read thermistor AD conversion value) and selects the median value, or excludes the maximum value and minimum value of a plurality of temperature values. The average value obtained is calculated. Then, based on the selected median value or the calculated average value, the thermistor temperature is determined from the temperature table (B ° C.) (S2).

  Here, referring to the flow of FIG. 8, in S201, the detected temperature correction unit 15 determines whether the detected temperature is higher than the previous detection (S201), or whether the detected temperature and the previous detected temperature are higher than the previous detected temperature (S203). ). However, in the second detection, regardless of the comparison result between the detected temperature and the previous detected temperature, the detected temperature does not exist two times before, so that it is necessarily NO in S203. Therefore, since continuation of the temperature rise (rising tendency) cannot be determined, in the second detection, the thermistor temperature is not corrected as in the first detection, but is output as the thermistor temperature output value (S202).

  In this way, the gain control unit 16 acquires the second thermistor temperature output value (= thermistor temperature) (FIG. 6: S5, FIG. 7: S105).

  Then, the above processing (temperature detection to gain setting) is repeatedly performed at regular intervals until the image forming apparatus S106 is powered off.

  Here, the flow in the third temperature detection will be described. First, similarly to the previous time, the temperature detection sensor 12 reads the thermistor AD conversion values (C′−1, C′−2, C′−3) N times (FIG. 6: S1).

  Then, the detected temperature extraction unit 14 selects a median value of a plurality of thermistor AD conversion values (temperature values), or calculates an average value excluding the maximum value and the minimum value of the plurality of temperature values, The thermistor temperature is determined using the average value (C ° C.) (S2).

  The detected temperature correction unit 15 compares the adopted AD conversion value with the previous two adopted values, and when A <B <C, that is, when the temperature rises continuously for a predetermined period, the thermistor temperature of “C + α ° C.” The correction value is the thermistor temperature output value. In other conditions (when the detected temperature is constant for a predetermined period, when the temperature falls, etc.), the thermistor temperature C ° C. is set as the thermistor temperature output value (S3).

  Specifically, in the flow of FIG. 8, the detected temperature correction unit 15 first compares whether the thermistor temperature C detected this time is higher than the thermistor temperature B detected last time (B <C) (S201).

  Subsequently, it is compared whether the thermistor temperature C detected this time and the thermistor temperature B detected last time are larger than the thermistor temperature A detected last time (A <B <C) (S203).

  If the detected temperature C is lower than or equal to the previous detected temperature B in S201, and if the detected temperature C and the previous detected temperature B are lower than or equal to the previous detected temperature A in S203, the first time and the second time are detected. Similarly, the thermistor temperature C is set as the thermistor temperature output value (S202).

  Further, when the detected temperature C and the previous detected temperature B are higher than the detected temperature A two times in advance, that is, when A <B <C (YES in S203), in S204, the thermistor temperature correction value (corrected) that is the detected temperature C + α ° C. Is the detected temperature output value (thermistor temperature output value).

  Then, the set detected temperature output value (detected temperature C or detected temperature correction value C + α) is output (S205, FIG. 6: S3).

  Based on the set detected temperature output value, the gain controller 16 sets the gain of the human body detection sensor (FIG. 6: S4, FIG. 7: S105).

  Thereafter, the above processing (temperature detection to gain setting) is repeatedly performed a predetermined number of times intermittently at regular intervals until the power of the image forming apparatus S106 is turned off.

  By providing the human body detection unit 10 as described above, when the in-machine temperature (detected temperature) continuously increases (A <B <C), a detected temperature correction value that is higher by α than the detected temperature is detected. By setting the temperature output value, the sensitivity of the human body detection sensor 11 is set high. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a reduction in human body detection sensitivity that occurs when the in-machine temperature is lower than the outside air.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the position of the temperature detection sensor 12 is arranged inside the airframe, and it does not directly measure the temperature by directly contacting the outside air to be measured or contacting the human body, The temperature outside the machine is estimated indirectly using only the temperature information obtained in the machine. And by controlling the gain of the human body detection signal based on the outside temperature (correction temperature) estimated from the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor 12 arranged in the machine, the human body detection accuracy is not deteriorated. As shown to 4B, the human body detection part 10 can be integrated on a board. As a result, it can be mounted on-board without increasing costs.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the external appearance of the full-color digital multi-function copier 1 that is a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The full-color copying machine MF1 is roughly divided into units of an operation unit (operation board) 300, a reading unit (color scanner) 100 including an automatic document feeder (ADF) 120 and a reading stand 111, and a printer unit 200. It consists of

  The operation unit 300 and the color scanner 100 with the ADF 120 are units that can be separated from the printer unit 200. The color scanner 100 includes a control board having a power device driver, sensor input, and controller, and an engine controller. The document image is read by controlling the timing by directly or indirectly communicating with the document.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the mechanism of the printer unit 200 that functions as the image forming engine of the multifunction copying machine 1 of FIG. The printer unit 200 of this embodiment is a laser printer.

  The printer unit 200 includes a paper feeding unit 210, an exposure device 220, an image forming unit 230, a toner filling unit 240, a first transfer unit 250, a second transfer unit 260, a fixing device 270, a transport unit 280, and a paper discharge stack 290. .

  The printer unit 200 of the present embodiment is a full-color image forming apparatus that combines a quadruple drum system (tandem system) and a direct transfer system and an indirect transfer system. Specifically, four sets of toner image forming units (image forming units) 230M, 230C, 230Y, and 230K that form images of each color of magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (black: K). Are arranged in order, and a first transfer belt 251 is provided facing these.

  A paper feed unit 210 including paper feed trays 211 and 212 for storing paper (transfer paper) and a paper feed (conveyance) roller 213 is provided below the printer unit 200. A conveyance path (conveyance guide) for conveying the sheet is formed between the sheet feeding roller 213 and the registration roller 214. The uppermost sheet stored in one of the sheet feed trays 211 and 212 is conveyed by the sheet feed roller 213 one by one to the registration roller 214 via a plurality of conveyance guides.

  The exposure apparatus (writing unit) 220 includes a light source (LD light source) 221 and irradiates the surface of the uniformly charged photoconductors 231M to 231K as a latent image with light information corresponding to full-color image formation by a known laser method. To do. In the present embodiment, the exposure apparatus 220 uses a laser system, but an exposure apparatus including an LED array and an image forming unit can also be used.

  In each of the image forming units 230M to 230K, photoconductors 231M to K that are rotatably supported and rotate in the direction of the arrow are provided, and a drum cleaning device 232 and a static eliminator 233 are provided on the outer periphery of the photoconductors 231M to 231K. A charging device 234 and a developing device 235 are provided.

  Above the first transfer belt 251 and below the paper discharge stack 290, there is a toner filling portion (accommodating portion) 240 that can accommodate toner bottles (toner cartridges) 241M, 241C, 241Y, and 241K for accommodating replenishing toner. It is provided. There are four toner colors, magenta, cyan, yellow, and black, which are interchangeable. The toner bottles 241M to 241K are appropriately replenished to the corresponding color developing device 235 by a powder pump or the like.

  A space through which optical information emitted from the LD light source 221 of the exposure device 220 passes is secured between the charging device 234 and the developing device 235.

  There are four photoconductors 231 (M, C, Y, and K), but the image forming component configuration provided around each is the same, and the color of the color material (toner) handled by the developing device 235 is different. In this embodiment, the photoconductors 231M to 231K are drum roll photoconductors, but a belt-like photoconductor can also be used.

  Part of the four photoconductors 231M to 231 is in contact with the first transfer belt 251 of the first transfer unit 250. In the first transfer unit 250, the first transfer belt 251 is supported and stretched between the rotating support roller 252 and the driving roller 253 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow. Inside the loop of the first transfer belt 251, primary transfer rollers 254M, 254C, 254Y, and 254K are arranged in the vicinity of the respective photoconductors 231M to 231K.

  A first belt cleaning device 255 for the first transfer belt is disposed outside the loop of the first transfer belt 251. The first belt cleaning device 255 wipes off unnecessary toner remaining on the surface of the first transfer belt 251 after the first transfer belt 251 transfers the toner image to the paper or the second transfer belt 261.

  A second transfer belt 261 of the second transfer unit 260 is disposed on the right side of the first transfer belt 251. The first transfer belt 251 and the second transfer belt 261 come into contact with each other to form a predetermined transfer nip.

  The second transfer belt 261 is supported and stretched between the drive roller 263 and the support roller 264 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow. A second transfer roller 262 is provided on the inner side (back side) of the loop of the second transfer belt 261. A charger 265, a second belt cleaning device 266 for the second transfer belt 261, and the like are disposed outside the loop of the second transfer belt 261. The second belt cleaning device 266 removes unnecessary toner remaining on the surface of the second transfer belt 261 after transferring the toner onto the paper.

  A fixing device 270 is disposed above the second transfer unit 260. In the fixing device 270, the sheet is carried and conveyed between the heating roller 271 including the heater 273 and the pressure roller 272, whereby the image is fixed on the sheet.

  A paper discharge roller 281 and a guide 282 as a transport unit 280 are provided downstream of the fixing device 270 in the paper transport direction, and a paper discharge stack 290 is further provided downstream thereof.

Here, the operation of each unit during duplex printing will be described.
First, image formation is performed in each image formation unit 230M-K. Specifically, the light from the LD light source 221 of the exposure device 220 reaches the surface of the photoconductors 231M to 231K that are uniformly charged by the charging device 234 through the optical component, and becomes writing information (information corresponding to the color). A corresponding latent image is formed on the surface.

  The latent image on the photoconductor 231 is developed by the developing device 235, and a visible image (toner image) using toner is formed and held on the surfaces of the photoconductors 231M to 231K.

  This toner image is transferred by the first transfer rollers 254M to 254K to the surface of the first transfer belt 251 that moves in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductors 231M to 231K.

  Thereafter, the remaining toner on the surface of the photoconductor 231 is cleaned by the drum cleaning device 232, and the charge is removed by the static eliminator 233. The surface of the photoconductor 231 is ready for the next image forming cycle.

  The first transfer belt 251 carries the toner image transferred to the surface by the photoconductor 231M and moves in the direction of the arrow. A color image corresponding to cyan is transferred onto the first transfer belt 251 by the photosensitive member 231C at a position facing the image forming unit 230C.

  This C toner image is superimposed on the visible image of the previous color M already on the first transfer belt 251 and finally four colors are superimposed. In the case of monochrome printing, it is possible to form only monochrome black (K) using the image forming unit 250K.

  At this time, in synchronization with the first transfer belt 251, the second transfer belt 261 moves in the direction of the arrow, and at the secondary transfer nip formed by pressure contact with the second transfer roller 262 and the driving roller 253, the second transfer belt The toner image formed on the surface of the first transfer belt 251 is transferred to the surface of H.261.

  In the present embodiment, the first and second transfer belts 251 and 261 move to form an image while images are formed on the photosensitive members 231M to K of the four image forming units 230M to 230K in a so-called tandem format. Can be shortened.

  When the first transfer belt 251 moves to a predetermined position, a toner image to be formed on another surface (or another sheet) of the sheet is formed again by the photoconductors 231M to K in the process as described above. Then, paper feeding is started.

  In accordance with the formation of the toner image by the image forming units 230M to 230K, the uppermost sheet in the sheet feed tray (cassette) 211 or 112 is pulled out and conveyed to the registration roller 214.

  The timing is adjusted by the registration roller 214, the sheet is fed between the first transfer belt 251 and the second transfer belt 261, and the toner image on the surface of the first transfer belt 251 is formed on one side of the fed sheet. Then, the image is transferred by the second transfer roller 262.

  Further, the sheet is conveyed upward, and the toner image on the surface of the second transfer belt 261 is transferred to the other surface of the sheet by the charger 265. At the time of transfer, the sheet is conveyed at a timing so that the position of the image is normal.

  The sheet on which the toner images are transferred on both sides as described above is sent to the fixing device 270, and the toner image (both sides) on the sheet is melted at once by the heating roller 271 and the pressure roller 272, and fixed on the sheet. Is done.

  Then, after passing through the guide 282, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge stack 290 at the upper part of the main body frame by the paper discharge roller 281.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the transport unit 280 and the paper discharge stack 290 are configured, a surface (page) to be transferred to the paper later, that is, a surface directly transferred from the first transfer belt 251 to the paper. The lower surface is placed on the paper discharge stack 290. Therefore, in order to align the pages, the second page image is created first, the toner image is held on the second transfer belt 261, and the first page image is directly transferred from the first transfer belt 251 to the sheet. To do.

  The image directly transferred from the first transfer belt 251 to the sheet is a normal image on the surface of the photoconductor, and the toner image transferred from the second transfer belt 261 to the sheet is a reverse image (mirror image) on the surface of the photoconductor. It is exposed as follows. Such image forming order for page alignment and image processing for switching between normal and reverse images (mirror images) are also performed by image data read / write control on the memory on the controller.

  After the transfer from the second transfer belt 261 to the paper, a second belt cleaning device 266 having a brush roller, a collection roller, a blade, and the like removes unnecessary toner and paper dust remaining on the surface of the second transfer belt 261. .

  FIG. 10 shows a state in which the brush roller of the second belt cleaning device 266 is separated from the surface of the second transfer belt 261, but the brush roller can swing around a fulcrum and is placed on the surface of the second transfer belt 261. It has a structure that allows contact and separation. Before the transfer onto the paper, the brush roller is separated when the second transfer belt 261 is carrying a toner image, and when cleaning is required, the brush roller is swung in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The removed unnecessary toner is collected in a toner collecting unit.

  The image forming process in the duplex printing mode in which the “duplex transfer mode” is set has been described above. In the case of duplex printing, printing is always performed by this image forming process.

  In the case of single-sided printing, two modes can be set: “one-sided transfer mode by second transfer belt 261” and “one-sided transfer mode by first transfer belt 251”.

  When the one-side transfer mode using the former second transfer belt 261 is set, a visible image formed in three colors, four colors overlaid or monochromatic black on the first transfer belt 251 is temporarily transferred to the second transfer belt 261. And transferred to one side of the paper. There is no image transfer on the other side of the paper. In this case, the printed paper is discharged onto the paper discharge stack 290 so that the upper surface of the printed paper becomes a print screen.

  When the single-sided transfer mode using the latter first transfer belt 251 is set, a visible image formed on the first transfer belt 251 in three colors, four colors, or monochrome black is transferred to the second transfer belt 261. Instead, it is transferred directly to one side of the paper. There is no image transfer on the other side of the paper. In this case, the printed paper is discharged onto the paper discharge stack 290 so that the lower surface of the printed paper becomes a printing screen.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 provided with the printer unit 200, by providing the human body detection unit 10 described above, the sensitivity of the human body detection sensor 11 is set higher as the in-machine temperature (detection temperature) continuously increases, and the outside air In comparison with this, it is possible to suppress the reduction in human body detection sensitivity that occurs when the in-machine temperature is low.

  Therefore, by indirectly estimating the outside temperature from the temperature detected by the in-machine temperature detection means, the system can be integrated without deteriorating human body detection accuracy, so that it can be mounted on-board without increasing costs. it can.

  By mounting the human body detection unit 10 as described above on the image forming apparatus 1, when the approach of the human body is detected, the temperature of the heater (heating means) 273 of the fixing device 270 is set to the set temperature and a temperature increase is started. Let This makes it possible to reach the set temperature required for image fixing earlier, and shortens the waiting time for heating, which takes a long rise time, thereby shortening the return time from the energy saving state until the operator can use the device. be able to.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 as described above, at least each component is in the operation mode (image formation mode) and the power of each component is turned off or paused under the control of the system control unit 20 and the engine control unit 30. State transitions can be made between modes. Each component includes a drive source of the display 310 of the operation unit 300 and a drive system of the printer unit 200 (for example, a power source of the light source 221, a feed roller 213, a photosensitive member 231, a drive source of the drive rollers 253 and 263, etc.). Etc. Alternatively, when the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is not used for a certain period of time in the operation mode, a pause mode in which the power consumption state is set before entering the energy saving mode may be set. When it is not used, it becomes energy saving mode.

  By mounting the human body detection unit 10 on such an image forming apparatus 1, when the human body is detected, the display of the operation unit 300 is displayed by the system control unit 20 and the engine control unit 30. Start supplying power to the drive train. As a result, each component of the machine will return from the energy-saving mode (or hibernation mode) more quickly, and by shortening the waiting time for activation to the operation mode, the operator can use the device from the energy-saving state. The return time can be shortened.

  In the above embodiment, an example of an image forming apparatus of a tandem type indirect transfer system has been described. However, the configuration of the image forming apparatus is an example, and the human body according to the embodiment of the present invention may be applied to other types of image forming apparatuses. A detection device may be mounted. For example, the image forming apparatus may be a tandem direct transfer system, a 1-drum indirect transfer system, a 1-drum direct transfer system, or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the human body detection device of the present invention is installed in the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any other device can be used as long as the device is operated by an operator.

Second Embodiment
For example, as a second embodiment, an example in which the human body detection device of the present invention is mounted on an information processing device is shown. FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus 1000 equipped with a human body detection unit 1100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing device used here is an information processing device shared in a certain space, for example, in-organization shared information, location information, product information, inventory information, and the like, which are arranged in public facilities such as offices, stores, and libraries. A search personal computer terminal or the like for searching collection information or the like can be conceived.

  The information processing apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment includes a human body detection unit 1100 having the same function and configuration as the human body detection unit 10 described above. The information processing apparatus 1000 may further include a main control unit 1200, a display controller 1300, a hardware controller 1400, a storage unit 1500, a peripheral device interface (I / F) 1600, and the like.

  Further, as external devices of the information processing apparatus 1000, a display 2000, an external storage unit 3000, and peripheral devices 4000 such as a mouse 4100 and a keyboard 4200 may be physically and operably connected. Further, an external touch pen, a camera, or the like may be operatively connected.

  By indirectly estimating the outside temperature from the temperature detected by the in-machine temperature detection means by the above-described human body detection unit (human body detection device) 1100 provided in the information processing apparatus, while preventing deterioration in human body detection accuracy, The temperature detection means can be integrated in the machine.

  By mounting the above-described human body detection device on the information processing device, the human body can be detected when the operator approaches even if the operator does not operate the peripheral devices (monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc.) of the information processing device 1000 I can do it. Thus, before the operator touches the information processing apparatus 1000, the information processing apparatus 1000 can be returned from the sleep mode and the screen can be displayed on the display 2000.

  The invention is not limited by the embodiments described above and the accompanying drawings, but is defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention described in the claims, a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make various forms of substitutions, modifications and changes. These are also within the scope of the present invention.

1 System (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Human body detection part 20 System control part 30 Engine control part 40 Power supply 100 Reading part 200 Image formation engine (printer part)
270 Fixing device 273 Heater (heating means)
300 Operation section 310 Display 11 Human body detection sensor (human body detection means)
12 Temperature sensor (human body detection means)
13 Sensor Control Unit 14 Detection Temperature Extraction Unit 15 Detection Temperature Correction Unit (Detection Temperature Control Unit)
16 Gain control unit 17 Human body detection signal amplification unit 18 Detection result output unit 19 Board 210 Paper feed unit 220 Exposure device 230 Image forming unit 240 Toner filling unit 250 First transfer unit 260 Second transfer unit 271 Heating roller 272 Pressure roller 280 Conveying unit 290 Paper discharge stack 1000 Information processing device 1100 Human body detection unit (human body detection device)
1200 Main control unit 1300 Display controller 1400 Hardware controller 1500 Storage unit 1600 Peripheral device interface 2000 Display 3000 External storage unit 4100 Mouse 4200 Keyboard

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-320635 JP 2007-124468 A

Claims (8)

A human body detection device installed in a device that an operator approaches and operates,
Human body detection that is installed inside the device and detects a change in infrared rays in a predetermined range near the device and outputs a human body detection signal so as to detect whether the operator is within the predetermined range from the device Means,
A temperature detection means installed inside the device and detecting the temperature inside the device at regular intervals;
When the detected temperature detected by the temperature detecting means continues to rise for a predetermined period, a correction value is added to the detected temperature to output a detected temperature correction value higher than the detected temperature, and the detected temperature is predetermined. A detection temperature control unit that outputs the detection temperature without correction when the period is constant;
A gain control unit that adjusts an output gain of the human body detection signal output from the human body detection means according to the detected temperature correction value or the detected temperature output from the detected temperature control unit,
Human body detection device. The temperature detecting means detects the detected temperature inside the machine a plurality of times for each first fixed period, and in each detection, every second fixed period that is sufficiently shorter than the first fixed period. Get multiple temperature values,
In each detection, a median value of the plurality of temperature values or an average value excluding a minimum value and a minimum value of the plurality of temperature values is selected as the detection temperature,
The human body detection device according to claim 1. The human body detecting means is a pyroelectric sensor,
The human body detection device according to claim 1. The gain control unit sets the output gain of the human body detection signal of the pyroelectric sensor to be higher when the detected temperature is higher than a reference temperature continuously for a predetermined period, and the detected temperature continues for a predetermined period. When the temperature is lower than the reference temperature, the output gain of the human body detection signal of the pyroelectric sensor is set lower,
When the detected temperature continuously increases for a predetermined period, the output gain of the human body detection signal of the pyroelectric sensor is set to be increased according to the detected temperature correction value. ,
The human body detection device according to claim 3. The temperature detection unit, the detection temperature control unit, the gain control unit, and the human body detection unit are aggregated on one board,
The human body detection apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4. The human body detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
In response to the adjusted output gain, when detecting that the operator has approached in the human body detection device, a device control means for returning from the energy saving mode is provided.
Image forming apparatus. The human body detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
In response to the adjusted output gain, when detecting that the operator has approached in the human body detection device, a device control means for returning from the energy saving mode is provided.
Information processing device. A method for controlling a human body detection device installed in a device that is operated by an operator, the human body detection device including a human body detection unit and a temperature detection unit installed inside the device,
Detecting the temperature inside the device at regular intervals by the temperature detection means;
When the detected temperature continues to rise for a predetermined period, a correction value is added to the detected temperature and output as a detected temperature correction value higher than the detected temperature, and when the detected temperature is constant for a predetermined period, Outputting the detected temperature without correction; and
Detecting a change in infrared rays in a predetermined range near the device by the human body detecting means, and outputting a human body detection signal;
Adjusting an output gain of the human body detection signal according to the output detected temperature correction value or the detected temperature;
Comparing the human body detection signal amplified with the adjusted output gain with a predetermined threshold value, and outputting a detection result indicating whether the operator exists in the predetermined range near the device. ,
A method for controlling a human body detection device.