JP2022121130A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation device capable of properly supplying power for a power source to a memory based on the viewpoint of power consumption in a power saving mode and of a recovery time to a normal mode.SOLUTION: A system control unit 21, when an operation mode is switched from a normal mode to a power savings mode, (a) selects one or multiple ranks from the ranks in an on-board memory 31 and an additional memory module 41, (b) continues power supply for a power source to the selected one or multiple ranks, and stops the power supply for the power source to the other ranks. A memory setting unit 22 changes an address assignment of the on-board memory 31 and the additional memory module 41 so that the addresses of the selected one or multiple ranks are consecutive when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power savings mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

A certain image forming apparatus can be equipped with an optional DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) module. In a normal mode, power is supplied to the optional DRAM module. is stopped (see Patent Document 1, for example).

JP 2017-27458 A

In general, the fewer modules that provide power supply power, the lower the power consumption. Also, the more data held in the power saving mode, the faster the return from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

Therefore, it is preferable that the power supply to the memory is appropriately performed based on the power consumption in the power saving mode and the recovery time to the normal mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an image forming apparatus in which power is appropriately supplied to a memory based on the viewpoint of power consumption in a power saving mode and recovery time to a normal mode. The purpose is to obtain

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an arithmetic processing unit having an on-board memory and to which an expansion memory module can be connected; a system control unit for controlling power supply to the onboard memory and the expansion memory module; and a memory setting unit for assigning addresses to the onboard memory and the expansion memory module. Then, when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the system control unit (a) selects one or more ranks from among the ranks in the onboard memory and the expansion memory module, and ( b) continue power supply to the selected one or more ranks, and stop power supply to ranks other than the selected one or more ranks among the ranks in the on-board memory and the expansion memory module; , the memory setting unit configures the on-board memory and the expansion memory module so that the selected addresses of the one or more ranks are consecutive when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode. Change address assignments.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus in which power is appropriately supplied to the memory based on the power consumption in the power saving mode and the recovery time to the normal mode.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an onboard memory and an expansion memory module as a RAM used in the arithmetic processing unit 17 in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map in normal mode of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map in the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 (1/2). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map in the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 (2/2). FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 when the operation mode is shifted from the normal mode to the power saving mode.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Embodiment 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a printing device 11, a facsimile device 12, an image reading device 13, a storage device 14, a communication device 15, an operation panel 16, and an arithmetic processing device 17. FIG.

The printing device 11 is an internal device that prints an image page by page on printing paper based on print image data, for example, by electrophotography. The facsimile device 12 is an internal device that transmits and receives an image as a facsimile signal via a public telephone line or the like using a modem. The image reading device 13 is an internal device that optically reads a document image from a document and generates an image data file thereof.

The storage device 14 is a non-volatile storage device, and stores programs and data to be executed by the arithmetic processing device 17 .

The communication device 15 is, for example, a network interface, and is an internal device that is connected to a network and performs data communication with other devices (such as user terminal devices) connected to the network.

The operation panel 16 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying various information to the user, and an input device such as a touch panel and hard keys for accepting user operations.

Further, the arithmetic processing unit 17 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and loads a program from the storage device 14, ROM, etc. to the RAM, and loads the program into the CPU. Various processing units are realized by executing

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an onboard memory and an expansion memory module as a RAM used in the arithmetic processing unit 17 in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

The arithmetic processing unit 17 has an onboard memory 31 and is connectable with an expansion memory module 41 . Specifically, the on-board memory 31 in FIG. 2 is fixedly installed on the board on which the arithmetic processing unit 17 is provided. Further, the arithmetic processing unit 17 is provided with a connection portion 17a (connection terminal, socket, etc.) to which the expansion memory module 41 can be electrically and mechanically connected. An expansion memory module 41 is connected to the processing device 17 .

Furthermore, the arithmetic processing unit 17 includes a memory controller 32 and a main controller 33 . The memory controller 32 accesses (reads from or writes to) the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 via the pattern wiring on the substrate and the connecting portion 17a. The main controller 33 is, for example, the above-described CPU (Central Processing Unit) and operates as the system control section 21 and the memory setting section 22 .

System control unit 21 controls internal devices (printing device 11, facsimile device 12, image reading device 13, communication device 15, etc.) based on a job request received by communication device 15 or a job request accepted by operation panel 16. to execute the job requested in the job request (print job, scan job, copy job, facsimile send job, scan to send job, etc.). At this time, the system control unit 21 secures a storage area (work memory) required for the job in the onboard memory 31 , the expansion memory module 41 , or both the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 .

The system control unit 21 switches the operation mode between the normal mode and the power saving mode according to predetermined conditions. For example, in normal mode, when the non-operation time exceeds a predetermined threshold or when a predetermined user operation is detected, the operation mode is switched from normal mode to power saving mode (an operation mode that consumes less power than normal mode). When a job request is accepted or a predetermined user operation is detected in the power saving mode, the operation mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Note that the initial operation mode when the image forming apparatus 1 is started is the normal mode. In the power saving mode, power supply to some internal devices such as the printing device 11 is stopped.

The system control unit 21 controls power supply to the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 according to the operation mode. That is, when the operating mode is switched between the normal mode and the power saving mode, the power supply pattern is switched as described below.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map in normal mode of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing examples of memory maps in the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the on-board memory 31 includes a plurality of ranks of DRAM chips, and the expansion memory module 41 is, for example, a DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module) and includes a plurality of ranks of DRAM chips. In the case shown in FIG. 3, the onboard memory 31 has two ranks (ranks 0 and 1) and the expansion memory module 41 has two ranks (ranks 2 and 3).

When the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the system control unit 21 (a) selects one or more ranks from among the ranks in the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41, and (b) selects Power supply to one or more ranks is continued, and power supply to ranks other than the selected one or more ranks among the ranks in the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 is stopped.

Note that the ranks to which power is continuously supplied perform self-refresh operation in the power saving mode.

Further, in the first embodiment, the system control unit 21 changes the ranks of the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 from the ranks in the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode according to the user's operation or user setting. Select one or more ranks as described above.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, power supply power is supplied to all ranks in the normal mode, and when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode, as shown in FIGS. Then, the system control unit 21 selects a pattern corresponding to the storage capacity designated by user operation or user setting from a plurality of patterns #1 to #6, and continues power supply based on the selected pattern. Choose your rank.

The memory setting unit 22 also assigns addresses to the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 . Then, the memory setting unit 22 sets the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory so that the addresses of the one or more ranks selected as described above are continuous when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode. Change the address assignment of the module 41 . For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the ranks to which the intermediate address spaces are assigned are not used due to the operation mode switching to the power saving mode, in order to avoid the discontinuity of the address spaces, the addresses should be consecutive. Address reassignment is performed to

The ranks in the on-board memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 may have the same storage capacity, but in the first embodiment, a plurality of ranks with different storage capacities are included. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, in this embodiment, the storage capacity of ranks 0, 2, and 3 is 1 GB, and the storage capacity of rank 1 is 512 MB. The four ranks 0-3 in 41 contain multiple ranks of different storage capacities.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

(a) Operation when the image forming apparatus 1 is started

When the image forming apparatus 1 is started, the system control unit 21 sets the operation mode to the normal mode, and supplies power to all ranks in the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 .

(b) Operation when switching from normal mode to power saving mode

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 when the operation mode is shifted from the normal mode to the power saving mode.

In the normal mode, the system control unit 21 monitors whether or not the conditions for switching to the power saving mode are satisfied (step S1). The size of the work memory (used area) in the power saving mode that should be secured in the expansion memory module 41 is specified based on the user's operation, etc., and the size is determined from the ranks 0 to 3 of the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41. (as a rank that maintains the power supply even in the power saving mode) according to (step S2).

Next, the system control unit 21 retrieves the data of the unselected ranks (that is, the ranks for which the power supply is stopped in the power saving mode) among the ranks 1 to 4 of the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41. , whether or not to save to the selected rank (step S3), and if it is decided to save the data of the unselected rank to the selected rank, save the data (step S4). ). On the other hand, when it is determined not to save the data of the unselected rank to the selected rank, the system control unit 21 does not save such data.

For example, if data related to a function or internal device that can be used even in the power saving mode is in a rank that has not been selected, the system control unit 21 determines that the data should be saved, and saves the data. I do.

In addition, for example, the system control unit 21 determines that data for hardware initialization processing, data for a snapshot image of the display screen of the operation panel 16, and the like, which are used when returning to the normal mode, are in unselected ranks. , it is determined that the data should be saved, and the data is saved.

Next, the memory setting unit 22 determines whether or not to change the address allocation for the ranks 0 to 3 when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode (step S5).

Specifically, when the address space in the power saving mode becomes discontinuous due to unusable ranks that have not been selected, the memory setting unit 22 sets addresses for ranks 0 to 3. It is determined to change the allocation, otherwise it is determined not to change the address allocation for ranks 0-3.

Then, if it is determined to change the address allocation for ranks 0 to 3, the memory setting unit 22 changes the address allocation for ranks 0 to 3 so that the address space in the power saving mode is continuous (step S6). In the normal mode, for example, when addresses are assigned as shown in FIG. 3, when pattern #3 or pattern #5 is selected from patterns #1 to #6 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, address reallocation is performed. executed.

After that, the system control unit 21 changes the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 from the normal mode to the power saving mode (step S7), and supplies power to some of the internal devices including the unselected ranks. is stopped (step S8). And in the power saving mode, the above-mentioned selected ranks in the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 operate in self-refresh mode.

(c) Operation when transitioning from power saving mode to normal mode

When the operation mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the system control unit 21 resumes the power supply to the ranks to which the power supply has been stopped, and restores all the ranks in the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41. supply power to the Note that the memory setting unit 22 does not change the address allocation of the on-board memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 when the operation mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and the address allocation in the power saving mode does not change. Used as is.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the system control unit 21 switches the operation mode between the normal mode and the power saving mode according to a predetermined condition, and switches the onboard memory 31 and the power saving mode according to the operation mode. It controls power supply to the expansion memory module 41 . The memory setting unit 22 assigns addresses to the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 . When the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the system control unit 21 (a) selects one or more ranks from among the ranks in the onboard memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41, and (b) continue power supply to the selected one or more ranks, stop power supply to ranks other than the selected one or more ranks among the ranks in the on-board memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41, and memory setting unit 22 changes the address allocation of the on-board memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 so that the addresses of the selected one or more ranks are consecutive when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode.

As a result, power is appropriately supplied to the memory based on the power consumption in the power saving mode and the recovery time to the normal mode. That is, when the power consumption should be reduced in the power saving mode, the power supply of relatively large ranks is stopped, and when the return time from the power saving mode should be shortened, the power supply of relatively few ranks is stopped. be.

In the first embodiment, depending on how much priority is given by the user to the power consumption in the power saving mode or the recovery time to the normal mode, for example, the power supplies of the ranks shown in FIGS. An on/off pattern is selected.

Embodiment 2.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, the system control unit 21 automatically stores the onboard memory 31 at the time of switching the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode according to the switching frequency of the operation mode. and one or a plurality of ranks from the ranks in the expansion memory module 41 .

For example, when the switching frequency (for example, the number of times of switching from the normal mode to the power saving mode in a predetermined unit time) increases, the area used in the power saving mode in the on-board memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 is increased. one or more ranks of are selected.

Other configurations and operations of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 are the same as those in Embodiment 1, so description thereof will be omitted.

Various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of its subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, the system control unit 21 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode according to the storage capacity required in the power saving mode and the data continuously held in the power saving mode. At times, one or more of the above ranks may be selected from the ranks in the on-board memory 31 and the expansion memory module 41 . For example, the rank is selected so that one or both of the above-described data saving and address reassignment for data to be continuously held in the power saving mode are unnecessary.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the system control unit 21, when selecting one or a plurality of ranks, controls the hardware initialization processing data, the display screen of the operation panel 16, which are used when returning to the normal mode. The rank including the data of the snapshot image of the image may be preferentially selected.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine.

1 image forming apparatus 17 arithmetic processing unit 21 system control section 22 memory setting section 31 onboard memory 41 expansion memory module

Claims (5)

A processing unit with onboard memory and connectable with an expansion memory module,
a system control unit that switches an operation mode between a normal mode and a power saving mode according to a predetermined condition, and controls power supply to the onboard memory and the expansion memory module according to the operation mode;
a memory setting unit that assigns addresses to the onboard memory and the expansion memory module,
When the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the system control unit (a) selects one or more ranks from ranks in the onboard memory and the expansion memory module, and (b) continuing power supply to the selected one or more ranks, stopping power supply to ranks other than the selected one or more ranks among the ranks in the onboard memory and the expansion memory module;
The memory setting unit sets the addresses of the on-board memory and the expansion memory module so that the selected addresses of the one or more ranks are consecutive when the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode. change the allocation of
An image forming apparatus characterized by: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ranks in the onboard memory and the expansion memory module include a plurality of ranks with different storage capacities. The system control unit selects one or more ranks from the ranks in the onboard memory and the expansion memory module when switching the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode according to a user operation or user setting. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a selection is made. The system control unit automatically selects 1 or 1 from the ranks in the onboard memory and the expansion memory module when switching the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode according to the switching frequency of the operation mode. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ranks are selected. According to the storage capacity required in the power saving mode and the data continuously retained in the power saving mode, the system control unit performs the 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or more ranks are selected from the ranks in the onboard memory and the expansion memory module.

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