JP5781979B2 - Image forming apparatus having real-time clock error detection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a real-time clock error detecting device for enabling setting of time and the like for the image forming apparatus .

Some image forming apparatuses , which are electronic devices such as printers, have a real-time clock (RTC) and can keep the current time even when the main power is turned off (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The RTC is driven by a dedicated battery (power source), and holds information on the current time (clock information) such as year, month, day, day of the week, hour, minute, second and the like in a readable manner. Thereby, in the electronic device, for example, the current time can be acquired from the RTC during the startup process, and the time can be set.

  In such an RTC, for example, when a failure such as battery exhaustion occurs, the clock information is reset to return to the initial value. The RTC is provided with means for detecting and notifying such an error state, but some error state detection information can be read only once.

  In this case, the RTC error state may not be notified based on the detection. For example, in the printer, even if an RTC error state is detected during the start-up process, the user cannot be notified if the display panel is not started.

  For this reason, conventionally, error state detection information is saved in a nonvolatile memory, and the contents of the nonvolatile memory are periodically checked. As a result, it is possible to detect an RTC error that has occurred in the past and reliably notify the user as an error screen or the like on the panel.

  However, such a conventional technique has a problem that additional hardware such as a nonvolatile memory is required.

JP 2009-232019 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that a separate hardware is required to reliably notify an error of the real time clock.

According to the present invention, a real-time clock that holds clock information that can set a date, a date, and a day of the week together with the time is provided to enable reliable notification of a real-time clock error without requiring separate hardware. An image forming apparatus comprising an error detection device for detecting an error in the real-time clock and a display unit, wherein the error detection device detects an error by detecting an abnormality in a power supply that supplies power to the real-time clock. A pre-error detection unit that detects in advance and displays an error on the display unit; and an initial value “01/00/01” having an uncertain year “00” when the clock information is detected. “Day (Sunday) 00:00:00”, and only the indefinite year “00” is set as a predetermined year. The initialization unit for setting the date and time by initialization and the day of the week different from the actual date for this date, the day of the week for the date after the initialization and the actual date The main feature is that a real-time clock error is detected afterward according to a deviation from the day of the week, and a post-error detection unit is provided to display the error again on the display unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine an error of a real-time clock afterwards only by determining whether or not the day of the week is accurate when reading clock information from the real-time clock. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect and notify the error of the real-time clock while eliminating the need for additional hardware such as a nonvolatile memory.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus (first embodiment). FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main part of FIG. 1 (Example 1). 7 is a flowchart illustrating real-time clock error notification processing (first embodiment). 7 is a flowchart illustrating real-time clock error notification processing (first embodiment).

  The purpose of enabling real-time clock errors to be reported reliably without the need for separate hardware is used to detect real-time clock errors by the difference between the day of the week for the initialized date and the day of the week for the actual date. It was realized by detecting automatically.

The embodiments can be applied to image forming apparatuses that are various electronic devices including a real-time clock such as an information processing apparatus and a printer.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 that is an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a digital multi-function peripheral, and has various functions such as copying, printing output, and facsimile communication. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner 3 for various functions, a network communication unit 5, a facsimile communication unit 7, an operation unit 9, a display unit 11, a printer engine 13, and the like, which are controlled by a controller 15 as a control unit. Is done.

  The scanner 3 reads a document image and generates image data corresponding to the read image.

  The network communication unit 5 transmits / receives image data to / from a client terminal such as an information processing apparatus via a network such as a LAN.

  The facsimile communication unit 7 transmits / receives image data to / from the facsimile apparatus and other image forming apparatuses via an electric communication line.

  The printer engine 13 forms an image on a sheet based on image data read by the scanner 3 or image data received via the network communication unit 5 or the facsimile communication unit 7.

  The operation unit 9 includes a touch panel unit and an operation key unit, and inputs setting / selection operations for various functions of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The display unit 11 includes a touch panel unit common to the operation unit 9 and displays the contents of setting / selecting operations such as various functions.

  The controller 15 is a control unit having an information processing function. In addition to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 17, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 19, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 21, a real time clock (RTC) 23 and its power source are used. A battery 25 is provided.

  The CPU 17 is an arithmetic processing unit that executes predetermined processing by executing a program. The ROM 19 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs and the like. The RAM 21 is a memory as a work area for temporarily storing the program and various data when executing the program.

  The RTC 23 is a module that is driven by power supply from the dedicated battery 25 and can keep the current time even when the main power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned off. The RTC 23 holds information on the current time (clock information) such as year, month, day, day of the week, hour, minute, second and the like in a readable manner. Therefore, the RTC 23 enables the image forming apparatus 1 to set the current time of year / month / day and day of the week together with the time based on the clock information. For setting the current time, the CPU 17 reads the clock information of the RTC 23 and reflects it in the timer.

  The RTC 23 cannot detect the exact current time if there is an error such as a failure of the battery 25 or the initialization of the RTC 23, so that the error is detected.

  The error detection in this embodiment is performed by the CPU 17 of the controller 15 executing an error detection program in the ROM 19. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 17 functions as an error detection device by executing an error detection program, and as its functional configuration, a power supply abnormality detection unit 27 that is a prior error detection unit, and date and time information initialization that is an initialization unit. The data conversion unit 29, the date / time information setting unit 31, and the day-of-week calculating unit 33, which is a post-error detection unit.

  The power supply abnormality detection unit 27 implements a prior error detection procedure for detecting an error of the RTC 23 in advance. Specifically, an abnormality of the battery 25 is detected as an error of the RTC 23 during the startup process of the image forming apparatus 1. The abnormality of the battery 25 can be detected, for example, when the voltage becomes a predetermined threshold value or less.

  When the abnormality of the battery 25 is detected, the power supply abnormality detection unit 27 of the present embodiment causes the display unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 to display an error and passes the detection result to the date / time information initialization unit 29.

  The date / time information initialization unit 29 initializes clock information when an error of the RTC 23 is detected, and sets the date and time by initialization and a day of the week different from the actual date for this date. It realizes the conversion procedure.

  The initialization is performed by setting an initial value of the clock information such as “01/01/00 (Sunday) 00:00:00”.

  After initialization, the RTC 23 keeps ticking the current time. However, a day of the week that is different from the actual date is set for the reference date (date by initialization). .

  The different days of the week can be set by setting a predetermined year to at least an uncertain year of the initial value. For example, when the initial value is “01.01.00 (Sunday) 00:00:00” as described above, the initial value “00” is set to the predetermined year “2000”. And the standard date and day of the week are “01/01/2000 (Sunday)”. Since the actual “January 01, 2000” is “Saturday”, the actual date is different from the actual date.

  In this embodiment, since the initial year “00” is applied to the predetermined year “2000”, the date / time information initialization unit 29 indirectly sets the different day of the week through the initial value setting. It has become.

  The date / time information setting unit 31 is capable of setting the clock information of the RTC 23 from the outside. This setting can be performed by an operation on the operation unit 9 of the image forming apparatus 1 or an operation on a user terminal via the network communication unit 5.

  The day-of-week calculating unit 33 performs a post-error detection procedure for detecting an error of the RTC 23 separately from the power supply abnormality detecting unit 27 due to a difference between the day of the week after the initialization and the day of the week for the actual date. Realize.

  For example, the day-of-week calculating unit 33 calculates the day of the week from the date set in the image forming apparatus 1 and determines whether the calculated day of the week matches the day of the clock information. The calculation of the day of the week can be performed by Zeller's formula or the like.

The day-of-week calculating unit 33 detects an error in the RTC 23 when the days of the week do not match, and causes the display unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 to display an error.
[RTC error notification processing]
3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the RTC error notification processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the preliminary error notification processing, and FIG. 4 shows the post-error notification processing.

(Preliminary error notification processing)
In the prior error notification process, when the main power supply of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on, the flowchart of FIG. 3 starts. This prior error notification process is performed during the startup process of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the prior error notification process, first, a “voltage drop detection?” Process is performed in step S1. In this process, the power supply abnormality detection unit 27 determines whether or not the voltage of the battery 25 of the RTC 23 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value.

  If the voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold (YES), it is determined that there is an error in RTC 23, and the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, when the voltage exceeds the threshold value (NO), it is determined that there is no error in the RTC 23 and the process ends.

  In step S2, a “time information initialization” process is performed. In this processing, the date / time information initialization unit 29 initializes the clock information of the RTC 23, and sets the date and time by initialization and the day of the week different from the actual date for this date.

  In this embodiment, as described above, the date and day of the initialization are “01/01/2000 (Sunday)”, and the actual date / day of the week “01/01/2000 (Saturday)”. "

  Thus, step S2 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, “error display” is performed. That is, the power supply abnormality detection unit 27 causes the display unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 to display an error based on the error detection in step S1. As an error display, a display prompting resetting of the current time of the RTC 23 or replacement of the battery 25 may be performed. When step S3 is thus completed, the prior error notification process is completed.

  In step S3, the display unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 may not be activated in time and error display may not be performed. In this case, since the process of step S3 is wasted, activation of the display unit 11 may be confirmed in advance. For example, if the display unit 11 is activated, step S3 is performed, and if the display unit 11 is not activated, the process is terminated.

(Post-error notification process)
In the post-error notification process, the flowchart of FIG. 4 starts when the time is set based on the clock information of the RTC 23. Note that the time setting is performed at least after the prior error notification process, preferably after the activation process of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the post-error notification process, first, “obtain current value of RTC” is performed in step S21. In this process, the day-of-week calculating unit 33 acquires the current value of the clock information from the RTC 23, and the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, "day of the week calculation" is performed. In this process, the day of the week is calculated from the date of the clock information acquired by the day of the week calculating unit 33. In this embodiment, since the date of the clock information is “01/01/2000”, the day of the week is calculated as “Saturday”. When step S22 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, a process of “match with RTC day of the week?” Is performed. In this process, it is determined whether or not the day of the week calculated by the day of the week calculating unit 33 matches the day of the clock information of the RTC 23.

  If the calculated day of the week coincides with the day of the clock information (YES), it is assumed that there is no error in the RTC 23, and the post-error notification process ends. On the other hand, if the day of the week does not match (NO), the process proceeds to step S24. In this embodiment, since the calculated day of the week is “Saturday” and the day of the clock information is “Sunday”, the two do not coincide with each other and the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S24, “error display again” is performed. In this process, the day-of-week calculating unit 33 causes the display unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 to display an error again based on the error detection in step S23.

  By this error display, even when the display unit 11 cannot be started in time during the prior error display process, the user can be surely notified of the error of the RTC 23.

When step S24 is completed in this way, the post-error display process ends.
[Effect of Example 1]
In the present embodiment, an error detection device for the RTC 23 that holds clock information that allows the image forming apparatus 1 to set the date, time, and day of the week together with the time, and a power supply abnormality detection unit that detects an error of the RTC 23 in advance. 27, a date and time information initialization unit 29 that initializes clock information when an error in the RTC 23 is detected, and sets a date by initialization and a day of the week different from the actual date for this date. And a day-of-week calculating unit 33 that detects an error of the RTC 23 later by a difference between the day of the week after the initialization and the day of the week for the actual date.

  Accordingly, in this embodiment, it is possible to determine later whether or not an error of the RTC 23 has occurred in the past due to a battery exhaustion or the like only by determining whether or not the day of the week is correct when reading the clock information from the RTC 23.

  For this reason, it is possible to reliably perform error detection and notification of the RTC 23 while eliminating the need for additional hardware such as a nonvolatile memory. For example, an error of the RTC 23 during the startup process of the image forming apparatus 1 can be detected after the startup process and notified to the user.

  Also, in this embodiment, the date information initialization unit 29 initializes the clock information by setting it to an initial value having at least an uncertain year, and the uncertain year is set as a predetermined year and the different day of the week is set. Settings are made.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the difference between the actual day of the week and the day of the RTC 23 is caused by shifting the standard year after initialization, so that the processing can be simplified and speeded up.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the power supply abnormality detection unit 27 detects an abnormality of the battery 25 that supplies power to the RTC 23, it is possible to easily and reliably detect the prior error of the RTC 23.

1 Image forming device (electronic equipment)
17 CPU (error detection device)
23 Real time clock 25 Battery (Power)
27 Power failure detector (pre-error detector)
29 Date and time information initialization section (initialization section)
33 Day-of-week calculation section (post-error detection section)

Claims (2)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a real- time clock that holds clock information that enables setting of the date, time, and day of the week together with time, an error detection device that detects an error in the real-time clock , and a display unit There,
The error detection device includes:
A prior error detection unit for detecting an error in advance by detecting an abnormality of a power source that supplies power to the real-time clock, and causing the display unit to display an error;
When the error is detected, the clock information is initialized to the initial value “Sunday 01/01/00 (00:00:00)” having an uncertain year “00”. An initialization unit that sets a date by initialization and a day of the week different from the actual date for this date by setting only a definite year “00” as a predetermined year;
A post-error detection unit that detects an error of the real-time clock afterward by a deviation between a day of the week after the initialization and a day of the week for the actual date, and causes the display unit to display an error again; ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The uncertain year “00” is set as a predetermined year “2000” and the different day of the week is set.
An image forming apparatus.

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