JP2020086486A - Electronic apparatus, power supply control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus, a method and a program capable of eliminating wasteful power consumption.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus is an apparatus for controlling power supply, and includes control means that starts the electronic apparatus, generation means that generates power supply for operating the control means, detection means that detects whether or not the electronic apparatus connects to other apparatus, and determination means that determines whether or not to cause the generation means to generate power supply according to the detection result of the detection means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device that controls a power supply, a power supply control method, and a program that causes a computer to execute the control.

2. Description of the Related Art Some electronic devices such as image forming apparatuses are equipped with a circuit for controlling a power supply and provided with a mechanism for automatically starting the device after recovery from a power failure (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

However, the conventional technique has a problem in that the device is automatically started when the power is restored from the power failure, resulting in wasteful power consumption.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, a method, and a program capable of eliminating wasteful power consumption.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in one embodiment of the invention, an electronic device for controlling a power supply,
Control means for activating the electronic device,
Generating means for generating a power supply for operating the control means,
Detection means for detecting the presence or absence of connection with other equipment,
There is provided an electronic device including: a determining unit that determines whether or not the generating unit should generate the power according to the detection result of the detecting unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary power consumption.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional power supply control unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first configuration example of a power supply control unit of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of power supply control in the power supply control unit shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the power supply control unit of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of power supply control in the power supply control unit shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions such as scanning, printing, copying, fax transmission/reception, and network communication as an example of electronic equipment. Note that the electronic device is not limited to the image forming device, and may be an image pickup device such as a digital camera or a spherical camera, an information input/display device such as an electronic blackboard, or a projection device such as a projector. ..

The image forming apparatus includes an operation unit 10, a controller unit 20, and an engine unit 30. The operation unit 10 includes a display unit 11 that displays an operation screen and an input unit 12 that receives a user operation. The operation unit 10 may be a display input unit such as a touch panel in which the display unit 11 and the input unit 12 are integrated.

The engine unit 30 includes a plotter 31 that executes printing, a scanner 32 that reads a document or the like, and a fax control unit (FCU) 33 that controls fax transmission/reception.

The controller unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a HDD 24, an operation unit I/F 25, an engine unit I/F 26, a communication I/F 27, and a power supply control unit 28.

The CPU 21 realizes each function of the controller unit 20 by executing a program stored in the ROM 22 or the HDD 24. The ROM 22 stores, for example, a program (boot program) for starting the image forming apparatus. The HDD 24 stores an OS that manages and controls the entire image forming apparatus, a program for realizing various functions, and the like. The RAM 23 provides a work area when the CPU 21 executes a program.

The CPU 21 functions as a control unit that starts the image forming apparatus by reading the boot program from the ROM 22 and executes the boot program, and controls the image forming apparatus by reading the OS from the HDD 24 and executing the OS.

The operation unit I/F 25 controls the exchange of information with the operation unit 10, and the engine unit I/F 26 controls the exchange of information with the engine unit 30. The communication I/F 27 connects to the network and controls communication with other devices on the network.

The power supply control unit 28 controls supply and cutoff of electric power to the operation unit 10 and the engine unit 30. In addition, the power supply control unit 28 also generates a power supply for operating the CPU 21, and supplies the generated power supply to the CPU 21.

Here, a configuration of a power supply control unit including a conventional CPU will be described with reference to FIG. The conventional configuration includes a CPU 40, a power switch 41, a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) 42, a NOR circuit 43 which is one of logic circuits, and a field effect transistor (FET) 44. The power switch 41, the microcomputer 42, the NOR circuit 43, and the FET 44 are supplied with the commercial power taken from the power plug, and the CPU 40 is supplied with the power generated by the FET 44. Hereinafter, the commercial power source will be referred to as VX power source, and the power source generated by the FET 44 will be referred to as VE power source.

The microcomputer 42 includes a ROM as a storage device, and a flag is set in the ROM by the notification of the microcomputer control signal from the CPU 40 and stored as flag information. When the microcomputer control signal is high, the flag is set, and when it is low, the flag is cleared. The flag information can be, for example, 1 when the flag is on and 0 when the flag is off. The microcomputer 42 always refers to the flag information stored in the ROM, sets the microcomputer output signal to high when the flag is set, and sets the microcomputer output signal to low when the flag is set.

The NOR circuit 43 calculates the logical sum of the push switch signal from the power switch 41 and the microcomputer output signal from the microcomputer 42, and outputs the calculation result as a FET control signal. The push switch signal is high only when the power switch 41 is pressed, and is low otherwise, so the FET control signal is linked to the microcomputer output signal. Therefore, when the microcomputer output signal is high, the FET control signal becomes high, and when the microcomputer output signal is low, the FET control signal becomes low.

Since the flag is stored in the ROM, which is a non-volatile memory that retains the memory even if power is not supplied, even if the VX power supply that is the power supply of the microcomputer 42 is cut off due to a power failure or the like, the flag information remains unchanged. Maintained. That is, if the flag is set, the state of standing is maintained.

The FET 44 starts by receiving the supply of the VX power supply, receives the high FET control signal from the NOR circuit 43, generates the VE power supply, and supplies the VE power supply to the CPU 40.

The CPU 40 is activated by receiving the VE power supply, sets the microcomputer control signal to high instead of the power supply holding signal, and sets the flag in the microcomputer 42. The microcomputer 42 refers to the flag information and sets the microcomputer output signal to high. While the image forming apparatus is being activated, the power switch 41 is pressed down, and unless the power is turned off, the flag in the microcomputer 42 is maintained.

When the power switch 41 is pressed down while the image forming apparatus is activated and the power is turned off, the push switch signal becomes high. When the CPU 40 detects this, it sets the microcomputer control signal to low and clears the flag in the microcomputer 42. The microcomputer 42 sets the microcomputer output signal to low in response to the fall of the flag. The NOR circuit 43 sets the FET control signal to low in response to the fact that the microcomputer output signal has become low. In response to the FET control signal becoming low, the FET 44 stops the generation of the VE power source, the supply of the VE power source to the CPU 40 is stopped, and the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned off.

The power supply control of the image forming apparatus during normal operation is as described above, but the power supply control when a power failure occurs while the image forming apparatus is operating is as follows.

If a power failure occurs during the startup of the image forming apparatus, the VX power supply is cut off and the image forming apparatus does not start. However, the flag in the microcomputer 42 is maintained in a standing state.

Next, the power supply control when returning from a power failure is as follows.

When the power is restored from the power failure and the VX power is supplied, the microcomputer 42 is activated and the flag is set. Therefore, the microcomputer output signal is set to high, and the NOR circuit 43 also sets the FET control signal to high. Is generated and VE power is supplied to the CPU 40. Then, the CPU 40 is activated, and the image forming apparatus is powered on.

As described above, in the conventional configuration, when the power is restored from the power failure, the image forming apparatus is always automatically turned on and started. Therefore, for example, even if the fax cable of the image forming apparatus is unplugged and it is clear that the fax cannot be received, the image forming apparatus is activated. This consumes unnecessary power.

Requests for automatically recovering the image forming apparatus when the power is restored from a power failure include reception of a fax and reception of communication data addressed to itself. Therefore, the power supply control unit is configured so that the device is automatically activated in these cases.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first configuration example of the power supply control unit of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. The first configuration example is a configuration example of a power supply control unit including a CPU, which is automatically activated by the apparatus when a fax is received after a power failure is restored. This configuration includes a CPU 50, a power switch 51, a microcomputer 52, a NOR circuit 53, and a FET 54, as in the conventional configuration. The CPU 50 functions as a control unit that controls the image forming apparatus, and the FET 54 functions as a generation unit that generates the VE power supplied to the CPU 50.

In this configuration, the line control device 55 and the photo coupler 56 are further provided.

A line for transmitting and receiving a fax is a public line 57 such as a telephone line, and the public line 57 is composed of a line connecting the image forming apparatus and a station having a switching facility, and a line connecting the stations. The line connecting the image forming apparatus and the station is composed of two electric wires, and each electric wire has a voltage polarity of L1 and L2.

If the image forming apparatus is connected to the station by two electric wires, a line current flows from the station and a potential difference of about 48 Vdc is generated between the two electric wires. The supply of the minimum amount of electric power required for the telephone by the switching equipment of the station, that is, the flow of line current, is called station power supply.

The line control device 55 is a device having a function of connecting the above-described two electric wires, detecting a target party on the public line 57, and transmitting/receiving a fax. Some of the two electric wires are configured as, for example, a fax cable, and the line control device 55 is mounted on, for example, a fax board.

Therefore, if the image forming apparatus is equipped with a fax board and the fax cable is connected to the line control device 55, the station power supply can be detected. On the other hand, if the image forming apparatus is not equipped with a fax board, or if the fax board is equipped with the fax board and the fax cable is unplugged, the station power supply cannot be detected.

The photocoupler 56 is a circuit that detects station power supply, and functions as a detection unit that detects the presence/absence of connection with another device. In this example, the other equipment may be the switching equipment of the station.

When exchanging signals between the public line 57 and a device that operates with a VX power supply such as the operation unit 10, the engine unit 30, the CPU 21 of the controller unit 20 in the image forming apparatus, the ground (GND) is different. It is necessary to take signals separately and exchange signals while electrically insulating. The photocoupler 56 is composed of a light emitting body (LED) that emits light by local power feeding from the public line 57, and a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting body and converts it into an electric signal, and is an electrically insulated LED. Light is exchanged between the light receiving element and the light receiving element.

In the photocoupler 56, the LED does not emit light when there is no office power supply, and the light receiving element outputs, for example, a high office power supply detection signal. On the other hand, in the photocoupler 56, the LED emits light when there is station power supply, and the light receiving element outputs, for example, a low station power supply detection signal.

The microcomputer 52 is connected to the photo coupler 56 and receives a local power supply detection signal from the light receiving element. Then, the microcomputer 52 confirms the presence or absence of station power supply from the received station power supply detection signal, and determines whether the microcomputer output signal is to be high or low. The microcomputer output signal is interlocked with the FET control signal that is input to the FET 54 that generates the VE power, so the microcomputer 52 functions as a determining unit that determines whether or not to generate the VE power according to the presence or absence of station power supply. ..

With this configuration, after the power failure is restored, the microcomputer 52 automatically starts the image forming apparatus irrespective of the flag only when the local power supply detection signal from the photocoupler 56 is low.

The flow of power supply control after power failure recovery in the configuration shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. After the power failure is restored, the VX power is supplied, and when the microcomputer 52, the NOR circuit 53, the FET 54, and the photocoupler 56 start operating, control is started from step 400.

In step 401, the photocoupler 56 detects station power supply and outputs a station power supply detection signal. The photocoupler 56 outputs a low station power supply detection signal when detecting station power supply, and outputs a high station power supply detection signal when not detecting station power supply.

In step 402, the microcomputer 52 determines whether to output a high or low microcomputer output signal according to the local power supply detection signal from the photocoupler 56. When the station power supply detection signal is low, it is decided to set the microcomputer output signal to high to automatically start the device and enable fax reception. When the station power supply detection signal is high, it is not necessary to automatically start the device. Therefore, it is decided to set the microcomputer output signal to low.

When the microcomputer output signal is high, the process proceeds to step 403, the NOR circuit 53 sets the FET control signal to high, and in step 404, the FET 54 generates VE power and supplies the CPU 50 with VE power. In step 405, the CPU 50 is started by receiving the VE power supply, and the device is automatically restored. The CPU 50 sets the microcomputer control signal to high in step 406. Then, in step 407, it is confirmed whether the power is turned off by pressing the power switch 51 or the like. If the power is not turned off, the process returns to step 406, the microcomputer control signal is maintained high, and the flag in the microcomputer 52 is maintained.

As long as the VX power is supplied, the NOR circuit 53 keeps the FET control signal high and the FET 54 continues to generate the VE power while the flag is maintained.

When the power is turned off in step 407, the process proceeds to step 408, and power control ends.

If the microcomputer output signal is low in step 402, the process proceeds to step 408 and the device is not automatically restored.

Next, a configuration of a power supply control unit including a CPU, which is automatically activated by the device when receiving communication data, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the power supply control unit of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. This configuration also includes a CPU 50, a power switch 51, a microcomputer 52, a NOR circuit 53, and a FET 54, like the conventional configuration. The CPU 50 functions as a control unit that controls the image forming apparatus, and the FET 54 functions as a generation unit that generates the VE power supplied to the CPU 50.

In this configuration, a network PHY 58 is further provided instead of the line control device 55 and the photo coupler 56. The CPU 50, the power switch 51, the NOR circuit 53, and the FET 54 have the same functions as the CPU and the like in the first configuration example shown in FIG. 3, and therefore description thereof will be omitted here.

The communication data is sent via a public network 59 such as the Internet to which the image forming apparatus is connected. The communication data includes print data and mail. The network PHY 58 is connected to the public network 59 and a MAC (Media Access Control) in the CPU 50 and operates by a VX power supply. The network PHY 58 has a flash ROM for holding address information such as its own IP address.

The network PHY 58 functions as a detecting means, is started by receiving the supply of VX power after the power failure is restored, and is connected to another device, that is, the address information of itself transmitted from the other device through the network. Check if there is communication data for the destination. Whether or not the communication data is addressed to itself can be confirmed by checking whether or not the address information included in the header forming the communication data matches the address information held in the flash ROM. As a result of the confirmation, the network PHY 58 outputs a network return signal to the microcomputer 52 when there is communication data addressed to itself.

The microcomputer 52 receives the network return signal and determines to set the microcomputer output signal to high. When the microcomputer 52 does not accept the network return signal, it determines to set the microcomputer output signal to low.

The flow of power supply control after power failure recovery in the configuration shown in FIG. 5 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. After the power failure is restored, the VX power is supplied, and when the microcomputer 52, the NOR circuit 53, the FET 54, and the network PHY 58 start operating, control is started from step 600.

In step 601, the network PHY 58 confirms whether there is communication data destined for its own address information. If there is communication data, the process proceeds to step 602, and the network PHY 58 outputs a network return signal. On the other hand, if there is no communication data, the process directly proceeds to step 603.

In step 603, the microcomputer 52 determines whether to set the microcomputer output signal to high or low depending on whether or not the network return signal is received. It is decided to set the microcomputer output signal to high only when the network return signal is accepted. Therefore, even if the ROM flag in the microcomputer 52 is set, if the network recovery signal is not accepted, it is determined that the microcomputer output signal is set to low.

When the microcomputer output signal is high, the process proceeds to step 604, the NOR circuit 53 sets the FET control signal to high, and in step 605, the FET 54 generates VE power and supplies VE power to the CPU 50. In step 606, the CPU 50 is started by receiving the VE power supply, and the device is automatically restored. The CPU 50 sets the microcomputer control signal to high in step 607. Then, in step 608, it is confirmed whether the power is turned off by pressing the power switch 51 or the like. If the power is not turned off, the process returns to step 607, the microcomputer control signal is maintained high, and the flag in the microcomputer 52 is maintained.

As long as the VX power is supplied, the NOR circuit 53 keeps the FET control signal high and the FET 54 continues to generate the VE power while the flag is maintained.

When the power is turned off in step 608, the process proceeds to step 609 to end the power control.

If the microcomputer output signal is low in step 603, the process proceeds to step 609 and the device is not automatically restored.

As a trigger for automatically recovering the image forming apparatus when the power is restored from the power failure, whether or not the fax reception is possible and the presence or absence of communication data addressed to itself have been described as an example, but the trigger is not limited to these. Not a thing.

Further, instead of the FET 54, the photocoupler 56, the network PHY 58, etc., a circuit or the like activated by a VX power supply may be used, and the detection means, the generation means, etc. may be realized by executing a program.

As described above, unnecessary power consumption can be eliminated by not turning on the power of the image forming apparatus automatically when the power is restored, but by turning on the power only when necessary.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments described above as the electronic device, the power supply control method, and the program. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments, additions, changes, deletions, and the like can be modified within the scope that those skilled in the art can conceive. .. Further, in any of the aspects, as long as the action and effect of the present invention are exhibited, it is included in the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording medium in which the above program is recorded, a server device in which the above program is stored and which receives and provides a download request, a communication system including a communication terminal and electronic equipment, and the like. is there.

10... Operation part 11... Display part 12... Input part 20... Controller part 21... CPU
22...ROM
23... RAM
24... HDD
25... Operation unit I/F
26... Engine I/F
27... Communication I/F
28... Power control unit 30... Engine unit 31... Plotter 32... Scanner 33... FCU
40... CPU
41... Power switch 42... Microcomputer 43... NOR circuit 44... FET
50... CPU
51... Power switch 52... Microcomputer 53... NOR circuit 54... FET
55... Line control device 56... Photo coupler 57... Public line 58... Network PHY
59... Public network

JP, 2014-42439, A

Claims (6)

An electronic device that controls a power supply,
Control means for activating the electronic device,
Generating means for generating a power supply for operating the control means;
Detection means for detecting the presence or absence of connection with other equipment,
An electronic device, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the generation unit should generate the power supply according to the detection result of the detection unit. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means detects whether or not the other device is connected via a telephone line based on a potential difference between two electric wires forming the telephone line. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects whether or not there is a connection with the other device via a network based on the presence or absence of data having the electronic device as a destination. The determination unit holds flag information indicating whether or not to generate the power source set by the control unit, and when the detection result indicates that there is no connection with the other device, the flag information indicates the power source. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which determines not to generate the power supply even when it indicates to generate the power. A method for controlling a power supply of an electronic device, comprising:
A step of detecting whether or not there is a connection with another device,
Determining whether to generate a power supply for operating the electronic device according to the detection result of the detecting step,
Generating the power source if it is determined to generate the power source;
Supplying the generated power to the electronic device and activating the electronic device. A program for causing a computer to execute each step included in the method according to claim 5.