JP6335849B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a human body detection function.

  In recent years, a human body detection sensor (detection means) detects a person (moving body) in the vicinity of an image forming apparatus (image processing apparatus) and automatically returns from a power saving state (low power state) to a normal power state (standby state). An image forming apparatus has been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for returning an image forming apparatus from a power saving state to a normal power state using two human body detection sensors having different detection ranges. Specifically, when a person close to the image forming apparatus is detected by the first human body detection sensor having a wide detection range, the second human body detection sensor having a detection range narrower than that of the first human body detection sensor is activated. To do. When a person is detected by the activated second human body detection sensor, the image forming apparatus returns from the power saving state to the normal power state.

  In Patent Document 2, an image that prevents a passing person from being erroneously detected by returning from the power saving state to the normal power state only when a certain period of time has elapsed since the detection by the human body detection sensor has been detected. A forming apparatus has been proposed.

JP 2012-177796 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-166943

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, even if it is known that the operation rate of the apparatus is low such as a non-working time zone or a resting time zone of an office, a person who does not intend to use the device is mistakenly There is a problem of detecting. Therefore, it is not preferable in terms of power consumption and convenience of the apparatus.

  Further, as in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, a means for improving the identification determination accuracy for a passing person has been proposed, but there remains a problem of erroneously detecting a person who does not use the apparatus while standing. This is not preferable from the viewpoint of power consumption and convenience of the apparatus. Similarly, operating the human body detection sensor when it is known that the operation rate of the apparatus is low is not preferable from the viewpoint of power consumption of the sensor itself.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. The purpose is to allow the user to change the detection conditions of the detection means (human body detection sensor) by an operation equivalent to turning on / off the power of the image forming apparatus, reducing the power consumption of the image forming apparatus or the detection means, and convenience. The purpose is to improve the performance.

A typical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows:
An image forming means for forming an image on a recording material;
A low power mode for reducing power consumption in the image forming unit, and a standby mode for enabling an image forming operation by the image forming unit by increasing the power consumption in the image forming unit than in the low power mode And execution means capable of selectively executing,
Detecting means for detecting whether or not a moving object including a user exists in a predetermined area;
Transition means for shifting from the low power mode to the standby mode when the moving body is detected by the detection means;
Have a, and disabling means for disabling the function of the detecting means while allowing a state of transition the to the low power mode,
Operation buttons provided on the user interface of the image forming apparatus for shifting from the standby mode to the low power mode and for shifting from the low power mode to the standby mode are also used as the invalidating unit. It is characterized in that selection is made as to whether or not to invalidate the detection means by pressing and holding the operation button for a longer time than normal pressing .

  According to the present invention, the power supply to the detection unit can be easily stopped by the user, so that the power consumption of the detection unit during unnecessary start-up of the image forming apparatus and standby is reduced, which is convenient. Can be improved.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating state transition by an operation in the first embodiment. (A) is a schematic front view of an example of an image forming apparatus, and (b) is a schematic plan view of the same. It is an enlarged view of an operation part. It is the block diagram (the 1) which showed an example of the hardware constitutions. It is a flowchart explaining general control of a human sensor. It is the block diagram (the 2) which showed an example of the hardware constitutions. It is the figure which showed transition of the electric power supply amount in the power saving mode, and the electric power supply amount in the normal mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device screen according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. In addition, although an Example is an example of the best embodiment in this invention, this invention is not limited only to the various structure demonstrated in an Example. That is, the various configurations described in the embodiments can be replaced with other known configurations within the scope of the idea of the present invention.

Example 1
(1) Overall MFP Configuration FIG. 2A is a schematic front view of an example of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a copying machine function, a printer function, and a facsimile function as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. Similarly, it is a schematic plan view. The multifunction peripheral (hereinafter referred to as a main body) 100 includes a printer unit 115, a scanner unit (image reading unit) 116, and an operation unit 111. These components of the main body 100 are generally image forming means for forming an image on a recording material (recording paper).

  The printer unit 115 is an electrophotographic color multi-function machine having a copying function using an intermediate transfer member and a printer function, although the specific mechanism configuration is omitted in the drawing. Then, a full color toner image or a monocolor toner image can be formed on the recording material and discharged onto the tray 115a. A scanner unit 116 and an operation unit 111 are disposed on the upper surface side of the printer unit 115.

  The scanner unit 116 includes an image sensor, a document table (not shown), and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 116A as photoelectric conversion elements for reading a document image (image formed on a recording material). The Then, the document set on the document table or the ADF 116A is optically scanned using an image sensor, and the document image is read by color separation photoelectric. The document image information read by the scanner unit 116 is subjected to image processing, and each color exposure unit (not shown) of the printer unit 115 is controlled in accordance with the image processed data.

  That is, the image data acquired by the scanner unit 116 is transmitted to the scanner controller 109 as shown in FIG. The scanner controller 109 can transmit the image data acquired by the scanner unit 116 to each unit connected via the bus 106.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the operation unit 111. An operation unit 111 is a user interface (UI: User Interface, input unit, display unit) that performs image formation mode setting and instruction input from a user (user), notification of apparatus status to the user, and the like. The operation unit 111 includes an operation panel 120A and a display unit (display: UI screen) 120.

  Various operation keys and the like are arranged on the operation panel 120A. Reference numeral 122 denotes a numeric keypad for inputting the number of values, 123 denotes a copy start button, 124 denotes a stop key, and 121 denotes a power saving button (power saving setting button: power saving button, sleep button).

  The display unit 120 is a touch panel type liquid crystal screen, which displays various information and various operation buttons. Various settings for operations performed by the main body 100 are also input by the displayed operation buttons. On the display unit 120, a screen for inputting “a long press time of the human sensor ON / OFF operation” used in the main body 100 is displayed. The operation unit 111 includes a human sensor (human body detection sensor: detection means for detecting whether or not a moving body including a user is present in a predetermined region). The human sensor 112 will be described later.

(2) Hardware Configuration Inside MFP FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration inside the main body. The CPU 101 and the memory 102 of the control unit 105 are connected to the bus 106. Similarly, an HDD (hard disc drive) 103, a power supply control unit 104, a network controller 107, a printer controller 108, a scanner controller 109, and an I / O controller 110 are connected to the bus 106. Various units connected to the bus 106 can communicate with each other via the bus 106.

  The CPU 101 transmits a control command and the like to the HDD 103, the network controller 107, the printer controller 108, the scanner controller 109, and the I / O controller 110 via the bus 106. Further, the CPU 101 receives data such as a signal indicating a state or image data from the HDD 103, the network controller 107, the printer controller 108, the scanner controller 109, and the I / O controller 110 via the bus 106.

  The CPU 101 expands and executes a program stored in the memory 102 in a primary memory called a registry inside the CPU 101. The HDD 103 having a larger recording capacity than the memory 102 is mainly used for storing image data held in the main body 100.

  The network controller 107 is a processing circuit for communicating with an external device, and modulates a signal transmitted from the CPU 101 and converts it into a signal conforming to various standards. In this embodiment, the network controller 107 converts the signal into a multi-value signal conforming to the IEEE 803.2 standard, and transmits it to the network N via the I / F 114.

  Further, the network controller 107 demodulates the multilevel signal received from the network N via the I / F 114 and transmits the demodulated signal to the CPU 101. Thus, the main body 100 may communicate with the MFP controller 300 as an external controller or a PC (personal computer) 200 as an information processing apparatus via the network N.

  Image data that the CPU 101 transmits to the printer unit 115 via the printer controller 108 is image data. Therefore, when a PDL (page description language) is input from the PC 200 to the main body 100, the CPU 101 shares and executes a RIP (raster image processor). Image data converted from PDL by RIP is transmitted to the printer unit 115 via the printer controller 108.

  The printer unit 115 outputs a printed material based on the received image data. The printer controller 108 can fix the toner image corresponding to the image data on the recording material to the printer unit 115 based on the image data input from the outside. The scanner controller 109 controls the document image capturing operation of the image sensor under the document table provided in the scanner unit 116 and the operation of the ADF 116A.

  When the box mode for saving an image in the HDD 103 in the main body 100 is selected, the scanner controller 109 saves the image data acquired by the scanner unit 116 in the HDD 103. When the copy mode in which the image data acquired by the scanner unit 116 is output by the printer unit 115 is selected, the scanner controller 109 transmits the image data acquired by the scanner unit 116 to the printer controller 108. As a result, the printer controller 108 causes the printer unit 115 to output the received image data.

  The I / O controller 110 communicates with the PC 200 or the MFP controller 300 via the USB I / F 117. The I / O controller 110 is connected to the operation unit 111. Similarly, the I / O controller 110 is connected to the human sensor 112 through the operation unit 111.

  The CPU 101 can acquire information input by the user through the operation unit 111 or detection information detected by the human sensor 112 via the I / O controller 110. Further, the I / O controller 110 causes the operation unit 111 to display information that can be selected by the user and information indicating the state of the main body 100.

(3) Low Power Mode and Power Unit Here, the main body 100 has a low power mode (power saving mode, sleep mode: hereinafter also simply referred to as sleep) for reducing power consumption in the image forming means. In addition, it has a standby mode (also referred to as a normal mode) that enables the image forming operation in the image forming unit by increasing the power consumption in the image forming unit than in the low power mode.

  In the standby mode, when the main power switch MSW (FIG. 4) of the main body (image forming apparatus) 100 is turned on, the main body 100 is started up (after the warm-up operation is completed), and a print command (print job) is input. Waiting for waiting. That is, it is a state of the main body 100 that can be printed immediately upon input of a print command (main body power ON: hereinafter referred to as main body ON).

  The main body 100 of this embodiment cuts off the power of the scanner unit 116 and the printer unit 115 in order to reduce power consumption in the low power mode. In addition, power is supplied to only a part of the control unit 105 and the operation unit 111 and the power of other parts is cut off.

  In the low power mode, the place where power is supplied in the control unit 105 is a circuit that detects a trigger for returning from the low power mode to the standby mode. The trigger is detection of a print job (print job) received via the network N, detection of a button operation in the operation unit 111, or the like.

  The power control unit 104 controls the transition of the main body 100 between the standby mode and the low power mode. In response to a command from the CPU 101, a power supply control signal transmitted to the power supply unit 210 is transmitted or changed so as to shift from the standby mode to the low power mode. In addition, the activation signal transmitted from the operation unit 111 or the I / F 114 is monitored under the low power mode. When there is a change, a power control signal is transmitted or changed so as to return from the low power mode to the standby mode. The power supply unit 210 supplies / stops power to the units constituting the main body 100 according to the power supply control signal line 304.

  The power supply control signal line 304 is a signal line through which a power supply control signal, which is a signal for the power supply control unit 104 to perform control related to ON / OFF of the output of the power supply unit 210, is transmitted. The plug 301 is inserted into the outlet C of the commercial AC power source S, and supplies AC power to the power source unit 210. The power supply unit 210 supplies power to each unit in the apparatus. The power supply unit 210 converts the voltage of AC power obtained from the commercial AC power source S into a voltage suitable for each unit, and converts AC to DC as necessary depending on the unit to which power is supplied.

  Inside the power supply unit 210, a fuse 211 and a relay 212 are provided. The fuse 211 protects each unit of the power supply unit 210 or the main body 100 to which the power supply unit 210 supplies power by melting or shutting off an internal soluble body when an overcurrent or a short circuit current flows in the power supply unit 210. To do. The relay 212 plays a role of switching for supplying or stopping power supply from the power supply unit 210 to each unit in the main body 100. Both the fuse 211 and the relay 212 are devices having a lifetime that depends on the number of times the power is turned on.

  The main power switch MSW turns on / off the power supply unit 210 itself. That is, the power supply to the entire image forming unit is turned on / off.

  When the main body 100 is in the low power mode, it is desirable for the user who operates the buttons of the operation unit 111 to be able to use the operation unit 111 as soon as possible. However, depending on the software and hardware controlling the operation unit 111, it may take several seconds to several tens of seconds until the operation unit 111 becomes usable. For example, the relay 212, the fuse 211, the HDD 103, and the like have a lifetime that depends on the number of times the power is turned on. For example, the relay 212 has a contact life, and the HDD 104 has a life due to the accumulation of mechanical stress on the recording medium and head.

  In the case of the fuse 211, the life of the fusible body deteriorates due to the inrush current generated every time the power is turned on. Therefore, there is a limit to the number of times to shift between the low power mode and the standby mode. Therefore, it is desirable that the number of transitions be as small as possible. The relay 212 is used inside the power supply unit 210.

(1-4) Human Sensor The CPU 105 shifts the main body 100 to the low power mode after the standby mode of the main body 100 has elapsed for a predetermined time. The transition from the standby mode to the low power mode is also performed by the user operating the power saving button 121.

  It is desirable for the user who uses the main body 100 to return the main body 100 in the low power mode to the standby mode as soon as possible. Therefore, by providing the main body 100 with the human sensor 112, it is detected that the user has approached the main body 100, and the low power mode is returned to the standby mode. Thereby, the effect of apparently shortening the return time from the low power mode can be obtained.

  The human sensor 112 will be described. The human sensor 112 of the present embodiment is a passive pyroelectric infrared sensor, and detects a change in the amount of infrared rays naturally radiated from an object (moving body) having a temperature such as a human body, thereby detecting a person near the apparatus. It is possible to detect the presence or absence of movement. Alternatively, the distance to the person, the moving direction, and the moving speed can be detected from the temporal change. The pyroelectric infrared sensor is also characterized by low power consumption and a relatively wide detection area. In this embodiment, a pyroelectric array sensor in which a plurality of pyroelectric sensors are arranged in an array is used.

  In the schematic plan view of the main body 100 in FIG. 2B, E indicates a detection region in which the human sensor 112 provided in the operation unit 111 in the present embodiment can detect infrared rays. HB indicates a person existing in the detection area E (predetermined area).

  Further, the detection method of the human sensor 112 is not limited to this. In addition, for example, an image recognition type that detects a person from changes in images continuously taken by a CCD camera, a light detection type that detects a person from changes in the amount of light received, and a distance and direction to an object are detected by ultrasonic waves. It may be an ultrasonic type for detecting a person.

  In this embodiment, the human body sensor 112 is provided in the operation unit 111. However, if it is configured to be able to transmit the detection of the approaching and leaving of the human body to the CPU 101, the operation unit 111 is provided in other parts of the main body 100. You may have. The main body 100 may include a plurality of human sensors 112.

(1-5) Operation of Normal Human Sensor and Low Power Mode (Sleep Mode) A general operation flow of human sensor 112 and sleep mode will be described with reference to FIG. In S01, when the main body 100 is started by turning on the main power switch MSW, it is determined in S02 whether the current state of the main body 100 is a standby mode or a low power mode (sleep). If it is in the sleep state, it is determined in S03 whether or not the function of the human sensor 112 is enabled.

  If the human sensor 112 is enabled in S04 and a person is detected, the sleep state is canceled in S06 and the standby mode is entered, and the warm-up operation (image formation preparation state) of the main body 100 is performed in S07. enter.

  If the human sensor 112 is invalid in S03 or if no person is detected, the sleep state continues until the power saving button 121 is pressed or a print command is input in S05.

  If it is not in the sleep state in S02, a warm-up operation is performed in S07. When completed, a standby state (printable state) is entered in S08, and image formation can be executed in this state (standby mode: waiting for input of print command). When the human sensor 112 is valid in S09 and a person is detected in S10, the standby state in S08 is continued.

  If the human sensor 112 is invalid in S09, or if no person is detected, it is determined in S11 whether a certain time has passed without a print command. Then, when a certain time has elapsed, the state is changed to the sleep state in S13 (shift from the standby mode to the low power mode). Alternatively, pressing the power saving button 121 in S12 also changes to the sleep state.

  FIG. 7 shows the transition of the power supply amount (power consumption) in the low power mode of the main body 100 and the power supply amount in the standby mode. Even in the standby mode, the amount of power supply varies depending on warm-up (WUP), standby, printing, and the like.

(1-6) Human sensor invalid mode The feature of this embodiment is that "sensor valid mode" in which the human sensor 112 can be turned on to detect a person and the human sensor 112 is turned off. The “sensor invalid mode” (human sensor invalid mode) in which the detection of the person is disabled. The mode switching between the two is possible with an easy operation.

  When the operation rate (usage frequency) of the main body 100 is low, such as during non-working hours or resting hours in the office, the user temporarily turns off the human sensor 112 (disables the human sensor function). can do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the main body 100 from frequently starting up and falling.

  In front of the main body 100, for example, the human sensor 112 is switched on and off by long-pressing a power saving button (operation button) 121 (FIG. 5) provided in the operation unit 111. In other words, in this embodiment, the power saving button 121 is also used as a hard switch for the human sensor 112 to be turned on and off by a user with one action.

  In the conventional apparatus, it is assumed that the setting of the human sensor 112 needs to be changed by entering the change of the user setting or the maintenance mode from the apparatus UI, and the frequent setting change is not performed. However, in recent years, it is desirable for the user to judge and manually change the settings in order to save power in the office as much as possible and further improve productivity. Therefore, it is possible to change the power saving settings with a simple operation.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment described above is summarized as follows. Image forming means 115, 116, and 111 for forming an image on a recording material are provided. Select a low power mode that reduces the power consumption of the image forming unit and a standby mode that enables the image forming unit to perform an image forming operation by increasing the power consumption of the image forming unit than the low power mode. The execution means 105 is executable. It has a human sensor (detection means) 112 that detects whether or not a moving body including a user exists in a predetermined region E.

  Further, when the moving sensor is detected by the human sensor 112, the transition unit 105 that shifts from the low power mode to the standby mode, and the function of the detection unit 112 is disabled while allowing the transition to the low power mode. Invalidating means 121 is included.

  In the present embodiment, the power-saving button (operation button) 121 provided on the operation unit 111 for shifting from the standby mode to the low power mode and shifting from the low power mode to the standby mode is the invalidating means. It is used for both. Then, whether or not to invalidate the human sensor 112 is selected by pressing and holding the power saving button 121 longer than the normal pressing.

(7) Human sensor state display In order to know whether the function of the human sensor 112 is currently enabled or disabled, in the conventional apparatus, a mode for checking user settings and apparatus operating status from the apparatus UI. It is necessary to enter. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to confirm the power setting of the apparatus at a glance.

  Similar to the setting state of the low power mode, by displaying the operating state of the human sensor 112 without operating the panel, it is easy for the user to recognize and the convenience is enhanced. The power status display means 133 in the block diagram of FIG. 1 can notify a user of the power status by light emission of the power saving button 121 by controlling a light emitting means (not shown) that emits light to the power saving button 121 or its periphery. Further, it can be determined by displaying the state on the display unit 120 that the power source of the main body 100 is ON.

  In this embodiment, the state can be determined by the color of the power saving button 121 and the blinking state. Specifically, it is as shown in Table 1.

  The operation of Table 1 will be described. The item “main body power” indicates the current power state of the main body 100. “ON” means that the main body 100 is in a standby mode power supply state and is in a standby state where printing is possible, and when a print command is input, a printing operation can be performed immediately (main body ON).

  The sleep state is a state in which the main body 100 is in a power supply state in a low power mode and the temperature of the fixing member is set to a normal temperature or low by suppressing the amount of heat for power saving. Image formation from this state is longer than image formation from the standby state (main body sleep).

  OFF is a power state in which the main power switch MSW of the main body 100 is turned off. In this case, the power consumption is the lowest. However, of course, the time from when the main power switch MSW is turned on to when the main body 100 is turned on until the standby state where the image forming operation can be performed is changed to the standby state where the image forming operation can be performed by shifting from the sleep state to the standby mode. It will take more than until. The state of the main unit power ON can be determined by, for example, the lighting state of the UI screen of the display unit 120 in FIG.

  The “human sensor” item will be described in the ON and OFF states. When ON, the human sensor 112 always detects the periphery of the main body 100 in order to detect a person, and thus consumes power. When it is OFF, it is equivalent to a state in which the human sensor 112 is not mounted, and extra power for detecting a person is not consumed.

  In Table 1, the combination of the main body ON (standby mode) and the human sensor ON is the first setting mode, and the combination of the main body ON and the human sensor OFF is the second setting mode. The combination of sleep (low power mode) and human sensor ON is the third setting mode, and the combination of sleep and human sensor OFF is the fourth setting mode. These four setting modes can be selected by the user by normal pressing and long pressing of the power saving button 121.

  The item “display color” indicates the emission color of the power saving button 121. Conventionally, the main body 100 emits light in order to notify that the sleep mode (low power mode) is set. However, by having a plurality of emission colors, the state of the human sensor 121 can be displayed.

  The item “normally pressed” indicates an operation of pressing and releasing the power saving button 121. “Long press” indicates a case where it is determined that the state of pressing the power saving button 121 is a long press. The determination that the button is long-pressed is, for example, the time from when the button is pressed until it is released is counted by the timer 118 (FIG. 6) or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the selection of the sensor valid mode or the sensor invalid mode is performed as a selection unit that allows the operation user to execute with one action, so that the state can be changed with a simple operation without increasing the buttons of the operation unit 111. An example of long pressing of the power saving button 121 is shown. However, the above selection means may be other means as long as it can be distinguished from an ordinary button pressing operation. For example, a dedicated button (hard switch that can be turned on and off by the user) may be provided, or it may be realized by pressing the button twice or simultaneously pressing a plurality of operation buttons 122 (FIG. 3). The cover that covers the human sensor 121 may have a switch function.

(8) Human sensor state change The operation of the human sensor state changing means 131 (FIG. 6) will be described using the state transition diagram of the main body 100 and human sensor setting shown in FIG. To do.

  A: When the main body is ON / the human sensor is ON (first setting mode), the power saving button 121 is lit in yellow and displayed. In this state, when the A1: power saving button 121 is pressed, the main body 100 shifts to the C sleep state. Although the human sensor 112 is in an ON state in C, even if the human sensor 112 detects a person, the main body 100 does not stand up for a predetermined time after the power saving button 121 is pressed.

  That is, immediately after the power saving button 121 is pressed, the person is in front of the main body 100 and is detected by the human sensor 112. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the person from being detected for a predetermined period of time before leaving. is there.

  In addition, A2: When the state in which no person is detected in the non-operation state continues for a predetermined fixed time or longer, the main body 100 shifts to the C sleep state. A3: When the power saving button 121 is pressed for a long time, as shown in B, the main body ON, that is, the main body 100 remains in the standby mode, and the human sensor 112 is turned off (human sensor OFF).

  B: When the main body is ON / human sensor OFF (second setting mode), the power saving button 121 is turned off and displayed. In this state, when the B1: power saving button 121 is pressed, the main body 100 shifts to the sleep state. In addition, when the B2: no operation state continues for a predetermined fixed time or more, the main body 100 also shifts to the sleep state. B3: When the power saving button 121 is pressed for a long time, as shown in A, the main body is turned on, that is, the main body remains in the standby mode, and the human sensor 112 is turned on (human sensor ON).

  C: When the main unit sleep / human sensor ON (third setting mode) is in the state, the power saving button 121 is lit in orange to display this. In this state, when the C1: human sensor 112 detects a person, it returns to the state where the main body of A is ON. Even when the power saving button 121 is pressed, the main body is turned on.

  D: In the state of the main unit sleep / human sensor OFF (fourth setting mode), the power saving button 121 is lit in red and displayed. At this time, since the human sensor is OFF, detection is not performed even if a person approaches the main body 100. D1: When the power saving button 121 is pressed, the main body 100 stands up in the ON state while the human sensor 112 is OFF. D2: When the power saving button 121 is pressed for a long time, the main body of A is returned to the ON state, and the human sensor 112 is also turned ON.

  As described above, the first setting mode to the fourth setting mode are selected by normal pressing and long pressing of the power saving button 121. The type of the mode currently selected from the first setting mode to the fourth setting mode is displayed by changing the light emission color or light emission pattern of the power saving button 121.

  The type of the mode currently selected by the selection unit among the sensor valid mode and the sensor invalid mode can be displayed on the display unit 120 of the operation unit (user interface) 111 of the image forming apparatus. The type of the mode currently selected from the first setting mode to the fourth setting mode can be displayed on the display unit 120 of the operation unit 111 of the image forming apparatus.

Example 2
In the second embodiment, for the purpose of reducing the power consumption of the human sensor 112, the “human sensor OFF mode” in which the human sensor 112 is turned off by an operation equivalent to the procedure for setting the main body 100 in the low power mode state by the user "have. Note that the description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the human sensor 112 is switched off / on via a control unit 105 from a printer control unit (not shown) on the PC 200 (FIG. 4). That is, the sensor valid mode or sensor invalid mode selection means of the human sensor 112 is an interface of the external host device 200 connected to the image forming apparatus. In contrast to changing the setting from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the setting change from the power saving mode to the normal mode is performed by the user interface of the external host device 200 connected to the image forming apparatus.

  8A and 8B are examples of a printer controller screen (device screen) 200A from the PC 200. FIG. For example, in (a), the “normal” display button 201 of the printer operation is clicked, the “valid” display button 202 of the human sensor 112 is clicked, and the “normal” button 203 of the screen display is clicked. Then, as shown in (b), the printer operation is switched to “power saving” (sleep mode), the human sensor 112 is disabled, and the screen display (backlight of the display unit 120) is switched to the power saving setting.

  As described above, it is possible to easily switch between valid and invalid by pressing a button corresponding to the power saving setting or the setting button of the human sensor 112. Conventionally, in the power saving setting, only the time setting until the power saving setting is entered. In addition, the human sensor 112 only switches between valid and invalid in individual detailed settings.

  In the second embodiment, related settings can be set on the same screen at the same time. For example, it is possible to set the human sensor 112 to be turned on to enter the power saving setting. For example, when the office is closed, the main body 100 can be set to the low power mode without standing in front of the main body 100. Furthermore, it is possible to set the main body 100 to be in a standby state immediately after coming to work the next day. For this reason, it is possible to further improve the power saving operation and productivity, and it is possible to perform highly convenient settings.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Image forming apparatus (MFP), 112: Human sensor, 105: Control part (control means), 104 .. Power supply control part (execution means), 121: Power saving setting button (selection means), PC: Personal computer ( External host device), 200A: User interface (printer controller screen, device screen)

Claims (7)

An image forming means for forming an image on a recording material;
A low power mode for reducing power consumption in the image forming unit, and a standby mode for enabling an image forming operation by the image forming unit by increasing the power consumption in the image forming unit than in the low power mode And execution means capable of selectively executing,
Detecting means for detecting whether or not a moving object including a user exists in a predetermined area;
Transition means for shifting from the low power mode to the standby mode when the moving body is detected by the detection means;
Have a, and disabling means for disabling the function of the detecting means while allowing a state of transition the to the low power mode,
Operation buttons provided on the user interface of the image forming apparatus for shifting from the standby mode to the low power mode and for shifting from the low power mode to the standby mode are also used as the invalidating unit. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that selection is made as to whether or not to invalidate the detection means by pressing and holding the operation button longer than normal pressing . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein whether or not the detection unit is disabled is displayed on a user interface of the image forming apparatus. Claim 1, characterized in that the display by changing the emission color or light emitting pattern of the operation button or a light-emitting means for emitting the periphery thereof, said light emitting means whether the detection means has been disabled Or the image forming apparatus according to 2; A first setting mode for enabling the function of the detection means while allowing the state shifted to the standby mode by the normal press and the long press of the operation button and the state shifted to the standby mode are allowed. The second setting mode for disabling the function of the detection means, the third setting mode for enabling the function of the detection means while allowing the state shifted to the low power mode, and the transition to the low power mode The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a selection is made with a fourth setting mode in which the function of the detection unit is disabled while allowing the state. Light emitting means for emitting light on the operation button or its periphery, and displaying the type of the mode selected from the first setting mode to the fourth setting mode by changing the light emission color or light emission pattern of the light emitting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the invalidating unit is a user interface of an external host device connected to the image forming apparatus. Transition from the standby mode of the the low power mode, and, according to, characterized in that the transition from the low power mode to the standby mode is made by operating the user interface of the external host device connected to the image forming apparatus Item 7. The image forming apparatus according to Item 6 .