JP5765011B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a power saving mode for reducing power consumption of the apparatus.

  Conventionally, a printing apparatus is configured to shift to a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced by reducing the amount of heat generated by a fixing device when a condition such that printing is not performed for a certain time is satisfied. . Further, the multifunction device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to set the reader to the power saving mode in accordance with the power consumption of the printer and the reader constituting the device, and to keep the total power consumption of the device within a certain value. Yes.

JP 2000-349948 A

  By the way, it is assumed that the printing apparatus is used in an environment where the power supply state is unstable, and when the power supply state to the printing apparatus deteriorates, other printing apparatuses that obtain power from the same power supply. It is desirable to suppress the power consumption of the printing apparatus as much as possible so as not to hinder the operation.

  However, in the multifunction device described in Patent Document 1, power is not saved according to the power supply state to the device itself, and when the power supply state deteriorates, the power saving mode is set by the user's operation. It was necessary to ease the transition conditions and facilitate the transition to the power saving mode.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that suppresses the operation of other apparatuses that obtain power from the same power source without bothering the user. To do.

  The printing apparatus disclosed in this specification includes a transition unit configured to shift the self apparatus to a power saving mode in which power consumption can be reduced as compared with the non power saving mode when a transition condition is satisfied during the non power saving mode, and a power source. It is characterized by comprising supply means for supplying supplied power to a part constituting the own apparatus, and determination means for determining the own apparatus as being in a poor state or a non-poor state based on the state of the power source. . In the case of the inferior state, the transition condition is changed to the first transition condition that is more easily established than the non-inferior transition condition that is the transition condition in the case of the non-inferior state, or the own device is set in the power saving mode It is characterized by comprising changing means for shifting to the above.

  According to such a configuration, for example, when the power supplied from the power source decreases, when the power becomes unstable, or when there is a concern about a decrease in the power, the printing apparatus is conserved. It is possible to facilitate the transition to the mode, or to shift the printing apparatus to the power saving mode. For this reason, there is a high possibility that the power consumption of the printing apparatus is automatically reduced, and it becomes easy to supply a large amount of power to other apparatuses that obtain power from the same power source. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operation of another device that is obtaining power from the same power source from being hindered without bothering the user.

  In general, in printing devices, when a print command is received during the power saving mode, printing is performed by temporarily canceling the power saving mode, but when the printer enters the power saving mode in a poor state However, execution of printing may be prohibited.

  That is, the printing apparatus disclosed in this specification includes a printing unit that executes a printing process in response to an instruction from the outside, and executes the printing process by the printing unit when the power saving mode is in an inferior state. And prohibiting means for prohibiting may be provided.

  By doing so, since the printing process is prohibited in a poor state, the power consumption of the printing apparatus can be suppressed, and the operation of other apparatuses that obtain power from the same power source can be prevented more reliably. This can be suppressed.

In addition, even in a poor state, it may be necessary to print immediately.
Therefore, in the printing apparatus disclosed in this specification, the prohibiting unit permits execution of the printing process by the printing unit when the user instructs to cancel the prohibition in the power saving mode and the poor state. To do.

  In this way, even if it is in a poor state, it becomes possible to perform printing when it is urgent, etc., and operation of other devices that obtain power from the same power source without impairing convenience Can be prevented.

  Note that the printing device disclosed in the present specification further includes a holding unit that holds the printing process prohibited from being executed by the prohibiting unit when the power saving mode is in a poor state, and the printing unit is in a poor state. When the state shifts to a non-poor state, the printing process held by the holding unit may be executed.

  In this way, when printing is instructed when the printer is in a poor state, printing is performed after returning to the non-poor state, so that power consumption in the poor state can be suppressed, and power can be supplied from the same power source. It is possible to prevent the operation of other devices that have obtained

  By the way, during the power saving mode, since the processing for maintaining the temperature of the fixing device for fixing the toner image on the paper at a high temperature is not performed, the printing apparatus can perform printing immediately in response to an instruction from the outside. Disappear. For this reason, if the printer returns to the non-poor state after becoming inferior and the need to reduce power consumption has decreased, the printer will frequently print more than necessary when it enters the power-saving mode. The usability of the device will deteriorate.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus disclosed in the present specification, the changing unit changes the transition condition to the second transition condition that is less likely to be established than the first transition condition when transitioning from the inferior state to the non-inferior state.

  By doing so, it is possible to make it more difficult to enter the power saving mode when returning to the non-inferior state than when in the inferior state. For this reason, the frequency with which the printing apparatus shifts to the power saving mode can be suppressed, and the usability of the printing apparatus can be improved.

  Further, for example, when the power supplied from the power source is not stable, the printing apparatus may repeat the transition to the poor state and the return to the non-poor state. Assuming such a case, the second transition condition can be a condition that is more easily established than the non-inferior transition condition, and in this way, when the power supplied from the power source is not stable, It becomes possible to prevent the operation of other devices that obtain power from the same power source from being hindered.

Note that the printing apparatus may determine whether or not the printing apparatus is in a poor state as follows.
That is, in the printing apparatus disclosed in the present specification, the supply unit supplies power to a part using an AC power source installed outside as a power source, and the determination unit is based on the frequency of the AC power signal from the AC power source. The device itself may be determined to be in a poor state or a non-poor state.

More specifically, the determination unit may determine that the device is in a poor state or a non-poor state based on the zero cross interval in the AC power signal.
By doing so, when the printing apparatus obtains power from the AC power source, the power of the printing apparatus is deteriorated when the power supplied from the AC power source decreases or when the power becomes unstable. And preventing the operation of other devices that obtain power from the same AC power source can be suppressed.

It is also assumed that power is supplied from a battery provided inside or outside the printing apparatus.
Therefore, in the printing apparatus disclosed in the present specification, the supply unit supplies power to the site using a battery provided inside or outside the apparatus as a power source, and the determination unit is configured according to the remaining amount of the battery. The device is determined to be in a poor state or a non-poor state.

  In this way, when the printing apparatus is receiving power from the battery, if the remaining amount of the battery is reduced, the printing apparatus is put in a poor state, and the operation of another apparatus that receives power from the battery is not performed. It is possible to suppress obstruction and to suppress a decrease in the remaining amount of the battery.

  In addition, when an AC power source or the like is used as the power source of the printing apparatus and the power supplied from the AC power source decreases, or when the power supply from the AC power source stops, a spare battery or the like is used instead of the AC power source. A case of using a power supply is also assumed. When power is obtained from a backup power source such as a battery, there is a concern that the power supplied from the backup power source may decrease when the printing apparatus is operated for a long time.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus disclosed in this specification, the supply unit supplies power to the site using an external power source installed outside as a power source, and when the power supply from the external power source stops, Power is supplied to the site using a spare power source provided inside or outside the power source, and the determination means determines whether the device is in a bad state or a non-poor state depending on whether power is supplied from the external power source. Is determined.

  By doing so, when the printing apparatus obtains power from the standby power supply, the printing apparatus can be brought into a poor state. For this reason, it can suppress that the operation of the other apparatus using the same backup power supply is prevented, and the fall of the remaining amount of the battery used as the backup power supply can be suppressed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer. It is a flowchart about a power saving transition condition control process. It is a flowchart about a power supply determination process. It is a flowchart about a printing control process. It is a flowchart about selection operation reception processing. It is a flowchart about a power saving mode cancellation | release process. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the power supply part etc. of the printer of 2nd, 3rd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the power supply part etc. of the printer of 4th embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
[Description of configuration]
FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer 100 according to the first embodiment. The printer 100 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (printing apparatus), and includes a control unit 110, a communication unit 120, a data input unit 130, a storage unit 140, a UI control unit 150, an image forming unit 160, and a power supply unit 170. ing.

The control unit 110 performs overall control of each part of the printer 100, and includes a CPU 111, a ROM 112, and a RAM 113.
The communication unit 120 is an interface for performing data communication with one or a plurality of personal computers (PCs) 10.

The data input unit 130 includes a connector for connecting the memory card 20 and has a function of reading / writing data from / to the memory card.
The storage unit 140 is a non-volatile storage device capable of rewriting stored data. In the first embodiment, a flash memory is used.

  The UI control unit 150 is an input device for inputting a command by an operation from a user. The UI control unit 150 is an operation unit including various operation buttons and an output device for displaying various information as an image. It is comprised from the provided display part.

  The image forming unit 160 forms a monochrome image by fixing toner as an image forming material on a sheet as a recording medium. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing the surface of a uniformly charged photoconductor based on binary image data, and a toner image is formed by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image. To do. Then, the toner image is transferred to a sheet conveyed by the conveying belt, and further heat-fixed by a fixing device, whereby an image is formed (printed) on the sheet.

  The power supply unit 170 supplies power supplied from the AC power supply 30 installed outside to each part of the printer 100. The power supply unit 170 is an example of a supply unit in the claims. The AC power supply 30 is configured to supply power to a plurality of devices simultaneously.

  Next, the configuration of the power supply unit 170 and the configuration of the program of the control unit 110 for monitoring the power supply state to the printer 100 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the power supply unit 170 includes a zero-cross detection circuit 171 for detecting a zero-cross interval. The zero-cross detection circuit 171 is configured by a bridge circuit or the like, and is a signal that is L level when the absolute value of the AC voltage of the AC power supply 30 is less than the threshold and is H level when the absolute value is greater than or equal to the threshold. A zero cross pulse is generated.

Further, as a program of the control unit 110, a power supply monitoring unit 112a, a condition control unit 112b, and a power saving control unit 112c are provided.
The power monitoring unit 112a detects the frequency of the zero cross pulse, and determines whether the printer 100 is in a poor state or a non-poor state based on the frequency.

In addition, the condition control unit 112b sets a condition for shifting to the power saving mode for reducing the power consumption of the printer 100 according to whether or not the state is in a poor state.
Further, the power saving control unit 112c periodically performs a process of determining whether or not the transition condition is satisfied, and when the transition condition is satisfied, the printer 100 is shifted to the power saving mode, and the transition condition is not satisfied. The printer 100 is shifted to the non-power saving mode.

  The power saving control unit 112c performs various processes for reducing the power consumption of the printer 100 after shifting to the power saving mode. That is, during the non-power saving mode, a process of keeping the fixing device temperature constant in the image forming unit 160 is performed, but the power saving control unit 112c lowers the temperature of the fixing device or stops the processing during the power saving mode. This reduces power consumption. In addition to this, during the power saving mode, the power saving control unit 112c, for example, completely stops a motor for transporting paper, or puts the microcomputer provided in each part of the printer 100 into the low power consumption mode. By shifting, power consumption may be reduced.

  For this reason, during the power saving mode, in order to start printing, a print preparation operation such as a process of heating the temperature of the fixing device or a process of operating the motor is required, and the printer 100 receives a print command from the outside. Printing cannot be performed immediately. On the other hand, such a print preparation operation is not necessary during the power saving mode, and the printer 100 can immediately perform printing in accordance with an instruction from the outside.

The power monitoring unit 112a and the power saving control unit 112c are an example of determination means and transition means in the claims.
[Description of operation]
The printer 100 of the first embodiment shifts to the power saving mode when the shift condition is satisfied, but it is determined whether or not it is in a poor state based on the state of the AC power supply 30 (specifically, the frequency of the zero cross pulse). In such a case, the transition condition is relaxed and the transition to the power saving mode is facilitated. Hereinafter, a process for monitoring the state of the AC power supply 30 and a process for relaxing the transition condition will be described.

  First, the power saving transition condition control process in which the control unit 110 of the printer 100 sets the transition condition based on the state of the AC power supply 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is periodically executed by the condition control unit 112b which is a program of the control unit 110.

In S205, the CPU 111 executes a power supply determination process for monitoring the state of the AC power supply 30, and the process proceeds to S210.
In S210, the CPU 111 refers to the inferior state flag. If the inferior state flag is ON (S210: Yes), the process proceeds to S215, and if the inferior state flag is OFF (S210: No), the process proceeds to S230. When the printer 100 is turned on, the poor state flag is set to OFF.

  In S215, the CPU 111 refers to the transition condition relaxation flag. If the transition condition relaxation flag is ON (S215: Yes), the CPU 111 ends this process and if the transition condition relaxation flag is OFF ( (S215: No), the process proceeds to S220. When the printer 100 is turned on, the transition condition relaxation flag is set to OFF.

  In S220, the CPU 111 changes the transition condition to the power saving mode to the first transition condition that is more easily established than the non-inferior transition condition that is the transition condition in the non-inferior state, and shifts the processing to S225.

  Here, as the transition condition, for example, a standby time condition that the duration time of the standby state in which printing is not performed by the printer 100 exceeds a threshold value, an illuminance condition that the illuminance around the printer 100 falls below the threshold value, a printer The number-of-PCs condition that the number of operating PCs 10 connected to 100 falls below a threshold value may be considered. Of course, a combination of these conditions may be used as the transition condition.

  If the standby time condition is used as the transition condition, it is conceivable that the threshold value related to the standby time condition is made smaller in the first transition condition than in the non-poor transition condition. Also, if the illuminance condition or the PC number condition is used as the transition condition, it is conceivable to increase the threshold value related to the illuminance condition or the like in the first transition condition compared to the non-poor transition condition.

  In S220, instead of changing the transition condition to the first transition condition, the transition condition may be invalidated, and the printer 100 may be unconditionally shifted to the power saving mode, or the printer 100 may be in a power-off state. good.

In S225, the CPU 111 turns on the transition condition relaxation flag and ends this process.
On the other hand, in S230 that is shifted when a negative determination is obtained in S210, the CPU 111 refers to the transition condition relaxation flag, and when the transition condition relaxation flag is ON (S230: Yes), the process is performed in S235. If the transition condition relaxation flag is OFF (S230: No), the process is terminated.

  In S235, the CPU 111 changes the transition condition to the power saving mode to the second transition condition that is more easily established than the non-inferior transition condition but is less likely to be established than the first transition condition, and proceeds to S240. Note that the CPU 111 may change the transition condition to a non-poor transition condition instead of the second transition condition.

  If the standby time condition is used as the transition condition, the threshold value related to the standby time condition is set to be smaller than the non-poor transition condition and larger than the first transition condition in the second transition condition. It is possible. Also, if the illuminance condition or the PC number condition is used as the transition condition, the threshold value related to the illuminance condition or the like is larger than the non-inferior transition condition in the second transition condition, than the first transition condition. It is possible to make it smaller.

In S240, the CPU 111 turns off the transition condition relaxation flag and ends this process.
Note that S220 and S235 are examples of changing means in the claims.
Next, power supply determination processing for monitoring the state of the AC power supply 30 by the control unit 110 of the printer 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is a process executed by the power supply monitoring unit 112a, which is a program of the control unit 110, and is executed in S205 in the power saving transition condition control process.

  In S <b> 305, the CPU 111 detects the frequency of the AC voltage of the AC power supply 30 based on the cycle of the zero cross pulse generated by the zero cross detection circuit 171, and further measures the amount of change in the frequency of the AC voltage. Then, the process proceeds to S310. In addition, this alternating voltage is an example of the alternating current power signal in a claim.

  In S310, the CPU 111 determines whether or not the amount of change in the frequency of the AC voltage of the AC power supply 30 has exceeded the threshold value. If an affirmative determination is obtained (S310: Yes), the process proceeds to S315. If a negative determination is obtained (S310: No), the process proceeds to S320.

In S315, the CPU 111 regards the state as a poor state, turns on the bad state flag, and ends the present process.
On the other hand, in S320, the CPU 111 regards the non-poor state and turns off the bad state flag, and ends this processing.

  In addition, the amount of change in the frequency of the AC voltage of the AC power supply 30 is not limited. For example, in S310, whether the frequency exceeds the upper limit value, whether the frequency falls below the lower limit value, and the ON duty ratio of the zero cross pulse. It is determined whether or not the value exceeds a predetermined range, and if an affirmative determination is obtained, it may be regarded as an inferior state. In S305, the maximum value or minimum value of the AC voltage of the AC power supply 30 is detected. In S310, whether the maximum value exceeds the upper limit value, whether the minimum value is lower than the lower limit value, or the like. If the determination is positive and an affirmative determination is obtained, it may be regarded as a poor state.

  Next, when the print command is received from the PC 10 or when the print command based on the print data stored in the memory card 20 is received from the UI control unit 150 of the printer 100, the control unit 110 performs a print job. The control process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is periodically executed by the control unit 110.

  In S405, the CPU 111 determines whether or not there is a print command from the PC 10 or the UI control unit 150. If an affirmative determination is obtained (S405: Yes), the process proceeds to S410 and a negative determination is made. Is obtained (S405: No), this process is terminated.

  In S410, the CPU 111 determines whether or not it is in the power saving mode, and when an affirmative determination is obtained (S410: Yes), the process proceeds to S415 and when a negative determination is obtained (S410: No), the process proceeds to S435.

  In S415, the CPU 111 refers to the inferior state flag. If the inferior state flag is ON (S415: Yes), the process proceeds to S420, and if the inferior state flag is OFF (S415: No), the process proceeds to S430.

  In S420, the CPU 111 notifies the PC 10 or UI control unit 150, which is the transmission source of the print command, that the state is in an inferior state, and the process proceeds to S425. The PC 10 or the UI control unit 150 that has received the notification of the inferior state shifts to a selection waiting state in which the user can select whether to perform the printing by forcibly canceling the power saving mode in the inferior state.

  In S425, the CPU 111 suspends the print job by storing the print data received from the PC 10 or the print data stored in the memory card 20 in the RAM 113, and ends this process.

  In S430, which is shifted to a case where a negative determination is obtained in S415, the CPU 111 temporarily cancels the power saving mode, and performs a print preparation operation necessary for execution of printing such as heating of the fixing device. Then, after the print job can be executed, the process proceeds to S435.

In S435, the CPU 111 executes a print job based on the print data received from the PC 10 or the print data stored in the memory card 20, and ends the process.
S415, S425, and S435 are examples of the prohibiting unit, the holding unit, and the printing unit in the claims, respectively.

  Next, a selection operation in which the UI control unit 150 of the PC 10 or the printer 100 forcibly cancels the power saving mode and selects whether or not to perform printing in a poor state and the power saving mode is received from the user. The reception process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As described above, when the PC 10 or the UI control unit 150, which is the transmission source of the print command, receives the notification of the inferior state issued in S420 of the print control process, the PC 10 or the UI control unit 150 shifts to the selection waiting state. Further, this processing is periodically executed by the PC 10 or the like after the PC 10 or the UI control unit 150 that is the transmission source of the print command enters the selection waiting state.

  In S <b> 505, the PC 10 or the UI control unit 150 determines whether or not an inferior state cancellation notification issued from the control unit 110 of the printer 100 is received in S <b> 630 of the power saving mode cancellation process described later. When an affirmative determination is obtained (S505: Yes), the process proceeds to S510, and when a negative determination is obtained (S505: No), the process proceeds to S515.

In S510, the PC 10 or the like cancels the selection waiting state and ends this processing.
In S515, the PC 10 determines whether a selection operation has been received from the user. When an affirmative determination is obtained (S515: Yes), the process proceeds to S520, and when a negative determination is obtained (S515: No), this process ends.

  In step S520, the PC 10 or the like determines whether the received selection operation is an instruction to cancel the power saving mode and perform printing. When an affirmative determination is obtained (S520: Yes), the process proceeds to S525, and when a negative determination is obtained (S520: No), the process proceeds to S530. The above instruction is an example of a prohibition cancellation instruction in the claims.

In S525, the PC 10 or the like notifies the control unit 110 of the printer 100 of a print execution command for canceling the power saving mode and executing the print job, and ends this processing.
On the other hand, in S530, the PC 10 or the like notifies the control unit 110 of the printer 100 of a hold command for holding the print job, and ends this processing.

  Next, the power saving mode canceling process in which the control unit 110 of the printer 100 executes a print job in response to a print execution command from the user when the control unit 110 is in a poor state and in the power saving mode will be described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. To do. This process is periodically executed by the control unit 110 after the control unit 110 notifies the PC 10 or the UI control unit 150 that the print control process is in a poor state in S420.

  In S605, the CPU 111 refers to the inferior state flag. If the inferior state flag is ON (S605: Yes), the process proceeds to S610, and if the inferior state flag is OFF (S605: No), the process proceeds to S630.

  In S610, the CPU 111 determines whether or not a print execution command issued by the PC 10 or the like in S525 in the selection operation reception process or a hold command issued in S530 has been received. When an affirmative determination is obtained (S610: Yes), the process proceeds to S615, and when a negative determination is obtained (S610: No), this process ends.

  In S615, the CPU 111 determines whether or not the received command is a print execution command. If an affirmative determination is obtained (S615: Yes), the process proceeds to S620 and a negative determination is obtained. If this happens (S615: No), this process ends.

In step S620, the CPU 111 temporarily cancels the power saving mode and performs a print preparation operation. After the print job can be executed, the process proceeds to step S625.
In step S625, the CPU 111 executes a pending print job corresponding to the print execution command based on the print data stored in the RAM 113, and ends this process.

  On the other hand, in S630 to which the process proceeds when a negative determination is obtained in S605, the CPU 111 notifies the PC 10 or the UI control unit 150 that is the transmission source of the print command of cancellation of the inferior state, and the process proceeds to S635. To do.

  In S635, the CPU 111 cancels the power saving mode, and after the print job can be executed, executes the pending print job based on the print data stored in the RAM 113, and ends this processing.

Note that S615, S625, and S635 are examples of prohibiting means and printing means in the claims, respectively.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the printer 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 100 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the power supply unit 170 and the content of the power supply determination process performed by the power supply monitoring unit 112a.

  The power supply unit 170 of the printer 100 according to the second embodiment includes a power supply control circuit 172 that supplies power supplied from a charging unit 40 including a battery (not shown) to each part. The charging unit 40 may be provided inside the printer 100 or may be provided outside. The charging unit 40 may be configured to supply power to other devices in parallel with the printer 100.

  In addition, the charging unit 40 includes a charging control circuit 41 that controls charging of the battery and detects the remaining amount of the battery. Then, the power monitoring unit 112a receives a signal for notifying the remaining battery level from the charge control circuit 41 in S305 of the power determination process, and determines in S310 whether the battery is in a poor state based on the remaining battery level. Specifically, for example, when the remaining battery level is lower than the threshold value in S310, the power supply monitoring unit 112a shifts the process to S315 and turns on the inferior state flag, and the remaining battery level is equal to or higher than the threshold value. In this case, the process may proceed to S320 to turn off the inferior state flag.

[Third embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the printer 100 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 100 of the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the power supply unit 170 and the content of the power supply determination process performed by the power supply monitoring unit 112a.

  The power supply unit 170 of the printer 100 of the third embodiment uses the same AC power supply 30 as that of the first embodiment as a power supply, and uses the same charging unit 40 as that of the second embodiment as a standby power supply. Then, when the power supply from the AC power supply 30 is stopped, the power supply control circuit 172 switches the power supply to the charging unit 40 and uses either the AC power supply 30 or the charging unit 40 as a power supply to the control unit 110. Notify The AC power supply 30 corresponds to the external power supply in the claims.

  On the other hand, the power monitoring unit 112a receives the notification in S305 of the power determination process, and determines in S310 whether or not it is in a poor state based on the notification. Specifically, for example, when the charging unit 40 is powered in S310, the power monitoring unit 112a shifts the process to S315 and turns on the inferior state flag, and the AC power source 30 becomes the power source. If so, the process may proceed to S320 to turn off the inferior state flag.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the printer 100 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 100 of the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the power supply unit 170 and the content of the power supply determination process performed by the power supply monitoring unit 112a.

  The power supply control circuit 172 of the power supply unit 170 of the printer 100 of the fourth embodiment uses a UPS 50 that receives power supply from the AC power supply 30 as in the first embodiment as a power supply. The UPS 50 supplies power from the AC power supply 30 to the printer 100, and supplies power to the printer 100 from an internal battery (standby power supply) when an abnormality occurs in the AC power supply 30. The AC power supply 30 corresponds to the external power supply in the claims.

  In addition, the control unit 51 of the UPS 50 is configured to notify the control unit 110 of the printer 100 whether power is supplied from the AC power supply 30 or power is supplied from the standby power supply. The UPS 50 may be configured to supply power to other devices in parallel with the printer.

  Then, the power monitoring unit 112a receives the notification from the UPS 50 in S305 of the power determination process, and determines whether or not it is in a poor state based on the notification in S310. Specifically, for example, when the notification indicates that power is supplied from the standby power supply in S310, the power supply monitoring unit 112a shifts the process to S315 and turns on the poor state flag. May be. In S310, when the notification indicates that power is supplied from the AC power supply 30, the process may be shifted to S320 to turn off the inferior state flag.

  The printers 100 of the first to fourth embodiments have different configurations of the power source and the power source unit 170, and the determination conditions for determining the inferior conditions differ accordingly. However, in the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment in which the AC power supply 30 and the standby power supply (battery) are used, the state of the AC power supply 30 is determined in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the determination result is further added. You may determine whether it is in a bad state. Further, similarly to the second embodiment, the remaining amount of the battery serving as the standby power supply may be detected, and the detection result may be further added to determine whether the battery is in a poor state. Of course, it may be determined whether or not the state is in an inferior state by taking into account both the state of the AC power supply 30 and the remaining amount of the battery serving as the standby power supply.

[effect]
According to the printer 100 of the first to fourth embodiments, when the fluctuation value of the frequency of the AC voltage of the AC power source 30 becomes large, when the remaining amount of the battery as the power source decreases, or when the power source is a standby power source ( When the battery is switched to the battery), the state becomes inferior and it becomes easy to shift to the power saving mode or shift to the power saving mode.

  For this reason, for example, when the power supplied to the printer 100 decreases, when the power becomes unstable, or when there is a concern about a decrease in the power, the power consumption of the printer 100 is automatically Therefore, it is easy to supply a large amount of power to other devices that obtain power from the same power source.

  Therefore, it is possible to suppress the operation of other devices that obtain power from the same power source from being disturbed without bothering the user.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... PC, 20 ... Memory card, 30 ... AC power supply, 40 ... Charging part, 41 ... Charge control circuit, 50 ... UPS, 51 ... Control part, 100 ... Printer, 110 ... Control part, 111 ... CPU, 112 ... ROM 112a ... Power supply monitoring unit, 112b ... Condition control unit, 112c ... Power saving control unit, 113 ... RAM, 120 ... Communication unit, 130 ... Data input unit, 140 ... Storage unit, 150 ... UI control unit, 160 ... Image forming unit , 170... Power supply unit, 171... Zero cross detection circuit, 172.

Claims (8)

When the transition condition is satisfied during the non-power-saving mode, the transition means for shifting the own device to the power-saving mode capable of reducing power consumption than the non-power-saving mode;
Supply means for supplying the power supplied from the power source to the parts constituting the device;
Based on the state of the power source, a determination unit that determines that the device is in a poor state or a non-poor state,
Wherein when a poor state, the transition condition, and changing means for causing changes in established easily first transition conditions than non-poor transition condition wherein is the transition condition in the case where the non-poor state,
Equipped with a,
The changing means, when transitioning from the inferior state to the non-inferior state, the transition condition is more easily established than the non-inferior transition condition and is less likely to be established than the first transition condition. Changing to conditions,
A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
Printing means for executing a printing process in response to an instruction from the outside;
In the power saving mode and the poor state, a prohibiting unit that prohibits execution of the printing process by the printing unit;
A printing apparatus, further comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The prohibiting unit permits execution of the printing process by the printing unit when a prohibition cancellation instruction is given by the user in the power saving mode and the poor state;
A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
When the power saving mode and the inferior state, it further comprises a holding means for holding the printing process prohibited from being executed by the prohibiting means,
The printing unit executes the printing process held by the holding unit when the non-inferior state is transferred from the inferior state;
A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein:
The supply means supplies power to the part using an AC power source installed outside as the power source,
The determining means determines the device as the inferior state or the non-inferior state based on the frequency of the AC power signal from the AC power source;
A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
The determination means determines the device as the inferior state or the non-inferior state based on the zero cross interval in the AC power signal.
A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The supply means supplies power to the part using a battery provided inside or outside the device as the power source,
The determination means determines the device as the poor state or the non-poor state according to the remaining amount of the battery,
A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
The supply means supplies electric power to the part using an external power supply installed outside as the power supply, and when power supply from the external power supply is stopped, a standby power supply provided inside or outside the device itself To supply power to the part as the power source,
The determining means determines the device as the inferior state or the non-inferior state depending on whether or not power is supplied from the external power source;
A printing apparatus characterized by the above.

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