JP3118088B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus applicable to a recording apparatus such as a laser printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a printing device such as a laser printer generates a bitmap image to be printed out from print data output from a host device via a host I / F. The power supply unit supplies power to both a print engine unit that prints image data output from the unit on paper and power to both of them. The main power consumption in the printing apparatus is an execution processing unit and a storage unit of the controller unit. In the print engine unit, a fixing unit heater and a driving motor are used.

Conventionally, in this type of printing apparatus, whether power is supplied or not is controlled by a power switch of a power supply unit that supplies power to each of a controller unit and a print engine unit. That is, after turning on the power switch,
Most of the printing apparatus was in the energized state until the FF was set.

[0004]

However, in a printing apparatus that is relatively infrequently used, the actual operation time of the printing apparatus is considerably shorter than the time that the printing apparatus is energized. In some cases, power is continuously supplied during the night without being used, and unnecessary power consumption is performed in the printing apparatus. Further, there is a problem that such continuous energization leads to shortening of the life of an electric component having a long life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling the host I / O when data communication with the host apparatus continues for a predetermined time or more during a non-printing period. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of reducing power consumption as a printing apparatus by setting a non-operating state except for the / F control unit.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention has the following constitution. An image processing device connected to a host device and having an image processing unit that performs image processing based on image data received from the host device; a communication control unit that controls communication with the host device; Determining means for determining the presence or absence of reception from the device, a power supply for supplying power to the image processing means, an auxiliary power supply independent of the power supply, and a determination result of no reception by the determination means Is obtained, the power is continuously supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit to the communication control unit, and the power control unit is configured to cut off the supply of power from the power supply unit to the image processing unit. When the judgment result is obtained,
The power supply unit includes a power return unit that returns the supply of power from the power supply unit to the image processing unit and controls the communication control unit to supply power from the power supply unit. More preferably, the image processing unit is configured to generate image data for printing based on image data received from the host device, and based on the image data for printing formed by the image forming unit. And printing means for forming an output image. More preferably, the power control means has a storage means for storing a state parameter at the time of operation when the supply of power is cut off, and the power return means, when the supply of power is returned, the storage means. A return unit that returns to a state before execution of the power control unit according to the stored state parameter;

[0007]

According to this configuration, when there is no reception from the host device, power is continuously supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit to the communication control unit, and power supply from the power supply unit to the image processing unit is cut off. When there is reception from the host device, power is supplied from the power supply unit to the image processing unit and the communication control unit.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A page printer is an example of a printing device. In the figure, 1
Reference numeral 00 denotes a print engine unit 20 based on print data output from the host device 400 and input via the host I / F.
A controller unit for generating (bitmap) image data for output to 0; 200, a print engine unit having a print mechanism unit and a print control unit for printing out image data output from the controller unit 100; Controller unit 100 and print engine unit 200
A power supply circuit section for supplying electric power required for
0 is a host device. An execution processing unit 101 controls the operation of the controller unit 100, generates image data, and controls communication with the print engine unit 200 and the host device 400. 101a is required for the operation of various tasks in the execution processing unit 101. Timer 102 for measuring time, etc.
Is a host I / F control unit that intervenes between the host I / F connected to the host device 400 and the execution processing unit 101, and electrically communicates data with the host device. During the operation state, the host I / F
An auxiliary power supply unit that supplies power to the control unit 102 in an auxiliary manner. A RAM 104 stores a work area and image data necessary for the operation of the execution processing unit 101, an execution program and text of the execution processing unit 101. It is a storage unit composed of a ROM for storing character font data and the like.

In FIG. 1, a host I / F control unit 102
Outputs a signal HRDY to the execution processing unit 101 and the auxiliary power supply unit 103 when the print data output from the host device 400 is received, and the execution processing unit 101
In response to the DY signal input, the print data received by the host I / F control unit 102 is received, and image data is generated. Here, the execution processing unit 101 generates one page of image data based on the print data from the host device 400, or after the output of the image data to the printer engine unit 200 is completed, Is monitored by the timer 101a, and when print data is not output from the host device 400 for a predetermined time t or more, that is, when HRDY is not output from the host I / F control unit 102 for a period t or more, The execution processing unit 101 sets the operation mode to the idle state (waiting state), and then shifts the operation mode to the non-operation (sleep mode) state.
MD time is output to the auxiliary power supply unit 103. Auxiliary power supply 10
3, when the SLPMD is output, instead of supplying power from the power supply circuit unit 300 to the host I / F control unit 102, power is supplied to the host I / F control unit 102 itself.
N / POFF is output to the power supply circuit unit 300 as a low level. PON / POFF is Hi for the power supply circuit section 300
gh, power is supplied to the controller unit 100 and the print engine unit 200.
When the FF is at the Low level, power supply is not performed.
The power supply circuit unit 300 supplies a power supply S to the auxiliary power supply unit 103.
A signal PSWON indicating the ON / OFF state of W is output.

On the other hand, when the state transits to the non-operation state, only the host I / F control section 102 is supplied with power from the auxiliary power supply section 103 and is in the operation state. Host I / F
When the control unit 102 receives and outputs HRDY, the auxiliary power supply unit 103 sets PON / POFF to High level,
As a result, the power supply circuit unit 300 restarts power supply to the controller unit 100 and the print engine unit 200.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the auxiliary power supply unit 103. The auxiliary power supply unit 103 includes a backup power supply 103a for supplying power to the host I / F control unit 102 and a power supply from the backup power supply 103a or a power supply from the power supply circuit unit 300 in the non-operation state. Power supply selection unit 103b for selecting either one
And a power supply instructing unit 103c for instructing the power supply circuit unit 300 to supply power. In the figure, the power supply selection unit 103b inputs PSWON and SLPMD, and the power supply SW is ON (PSWON = High).
In the non-operating state (SLPMD = Low), the backup power supply 103a is operated (SLPMD = Hi).
gh) and the power switch is OFF (PSWON = L)
In ow), the power supply circuit unit 300 is selected. The power supply instruction unit 103c operates in the operation state (SLPMD = High, P
SWON = High and non-operating state (SLPMD =
HRDY is H at Low, PSWON = High)
When it becomes high, PON / POFF is set to High.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the data communication between the host device and the printing device is not performed for a predetermined time or more during the non-printing period, the host I / F control is performed. Unnecessary power consumption in the printing apparatus is minimized by stopping the power supply to all the controller units and the print engine unit except for the unit and making it inactive. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, when an HRDY is not output from the host I / F control unit 102 for a predetermined time t or more (when communication is not performed), an execution processing unit 101 sends a message to a non-volatile memory 105 such as an EEPROM. Then, a parameter describing the communication mode or the like of the host I / F control unit 102 is stored, and then the SL
The PMD is output to the auxiliary power supply unit 103 and transitions to the non-operation state. In this non-operating state, the host I / F control unit 102 receives the print data from the host device 400 and outputs HRDY, whereby the controller unit 1
00 and the print engine unit 200 have transitioned to the operating state, the execution processing unit 101 stores the parameters describing the communication mode and the like in the host I / F control unit 102 in the operating state before the non-operating state. Read it out and restart the operation.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the danger of continuous energization due to forgetting to turn off the power supply or the like can be eliminated, and the life of electric components and the like can be extended. The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or to an apparatus including a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, unnecessary power consumption in the printing apparatus can be suppressed, and the burden on the auxiliary power supply can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an auxiliary power supply unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 controller unit 101 execution processing unit 101a timer 102 host I / F control unit 103 auxiliary power supply unit 103a backup power supply 103b power supply selection unit 103c power supply instruction unit 104 storage unit 105 non-volatile memory 200 print engine unit 300 power supply circuit unit 400 host device

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An image processing apparatus connected to a host device and having image processing means for performing image processing based on image data received from the host device, a communication control for controlling communication with the host device Means, determination means for determining the presence or absence of reception from the host device, and a power supply unit for supplying power to the image processing means
And an auxiliary power supply unit independent of the power supply unit, and when a determination result of no reception is obtained by the determination unit, the communication control unit continues to supply power from the auxiliary power supply unit, a power control means for cutting the power supply to the image processing means, when there is a judgment result received by the determination means is obtained, as well as returning the power supply of the image processing unit f from the power supply unit From the power supply unit to the communication control means.
An image processing apparatus comprising: a power recovery unit that controls power supply . Wherein said image processing means includes an image generating means for generating image data for printing based on image data received from the host device, based on the image data for printing generated by the image generating means 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing unit that forms an output image by using the printing unit. 3. The power control means includes storage means for storing a state parameter during operation when the supply of power is cut off, and the power return means includes means for storing the power supply when the supply of power is restored. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a return unit configured to return to a state before execution of the power control unit in accordance with the state parameter stored by the control unit.