JP6548792B2 - Image forming apparatus and control method of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method of the image forming apparatus.

There is known an image forming apparatus provided with a human sensor for detecting a human (see Patent Document 1). The image forming apparatus is returned from the power saving mode to the standby mode by determining whether a person approaches the image forming apparatus by a human sensor provided in the image forming apparatus. By returning the image forming apparatus to the standby mode before the user arrives at the front of the image forming apparatus, the user can operate the image forming apparatus without waiting for the image forming apparatus.

JP 2012-58645 A

Patent Document 1 discloses an example in which an infrared sensor that detects heat (infrared radiation) emitted from a person is used as a human sensor. However, in Patent Document 1, this infrared sensor is affected by the temperature around the image forming apparatus (for example, the incidence of sunlight due to the opening of the curtain, the lighting of a fluorescent lamp, the powering on of electronic devices such as personal computers, etc.) I have not mentioned anything at all.
However, since the infrared sensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 detects the temperature around the image forming apparatus, the infrared ray is generated when the curtain is opened, the fluorescent lamp is turned on, and the heat due to the activation of the personal computer is generated. The sensor determines that the person of the image forming apparatus is approaching. As a result, the image forming apparatus shifts to the standby mode upon false detection.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to accurately detect the approach of a person to an image forming apparatus without false detection due to the temperature around the image forming apparatus. It is.

An image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration.
An image forming apparatus having at least a first power mode and a second power mode consuming more power than the first power mode, and having a plurality of elements outputting temperature data indicating a temperature in front of the image forming apparatus. A sensor; storage means for storing, as background temperature data, a set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor when the image forming apparatus shifts to the first power mode; and an output from each element of the sensor Control means for shifting the image forming apparatus from the first power mode to the second power mode on the basis of the set of temperature data and the background temperature data previously stored in the storage means. It is characterized by

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus that detects the approach of the person to the image forming apparatus as a temperature change, the approach of the person can be appropriately detected so as not to be erroneously detected with respect to the surrounding temperature change.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the detection range of a human sensor. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a power supply block diagram of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure showing the detection state of a human sensor. It is a flowchart for updating background temperature data.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Description of system configuration>
First Embodiment

  FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A is a front view of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1B is a plan view of the image forming apparatus. Here, the image forming apparatus includes a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions (print function, scanner function, copy function, fax function, etc.), a facsimile apparatus, and a scanner apparatus. Further, in the present embodiment, although not particularly illustrated, the image forming apparatus is installed in an environment in which a heat source such as a personal computer, lighting, heating and the like is arranged around the image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 101, a scanner 102, an internal finisher 103, a sheet feeding cassette 104 and the like. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment has functions such as copying, printing, faxing, and scanning.
The image forming apparatus 100 is in a standby mode (first power state) and a power saving mode (second power state) in which power consumption is smaller than that in the standby mode. The standby mode is a state in which each function such as copying, printing, faxing, and scanning can be performed. The power saving mode is a state in which transition to the standby mode is possible when a return factor is detected, and the return factor (depression of the power saving key 214, reception of a wakeup request packet from an external device, reception of a wakeup request packet Electric power is supplied to the place where the detection etc. is detected, and no electric power is supplied to the functional units (the printer 216 and the scanner 102) that execute the above-described functions. As shown in FIG. 1, a human sensor 107 is provided on the front of the image forming apparatus 100. The human sensor 107 operates in the power saving mode.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a detection range of the human sensor shown in FIG.
The human sensor 107 in this embodiment is an infrared array sensor (infrared receiving sensor) in which elements for receiving infrared light are arranged in a grid. The infrared array sensor may be an active sensor (infrared transmitting / receiving sensor) that emits infrared light and receives the reflection of the infrared light, or a passive sensor that receives infrared light emitted from a person or the like. It may be The human sensor 107 in the present embodiment is an active type. The human sensor 107 is disposed obliquely upward so as not to detect a heat source on a floor or a desk. Therefore, when a person approaches the image forming apparatus 100 from a distance of the image forming apparatus 100, heat is detected from the lower element of the infrared sensor 107. The infrared sensor may be of a type in which elements are linearly arranged.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus in the standby mode. FIG. 3B is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus in the power saving mode. The power supply is stopped at the gray portions in FIG. 3 (B).

In FIG. 3A, the controller 226 is connected to the LAN 224 via the LAN controller 212 and the LAN I / F 217. Also, the FAX 225 is connected to the telephone line 223. The CPU 204 executes a software program that controls the entire device of the controller 226. The RAM 206 is used to temporarily store data when the CPU 204 controls the apparatus. The ROM 205 stores an activation program of the apparatus, various setting values, and the like. The storage 207 is configured by a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and is used to store various data.
The operation unit 101 includes hard keys including an operation liquid crystal panel and a power saving key 214, and receives an instruction input from a user. The operation unit I / F 209 is an interface that connects the controller 226 and the operation unit 101. An ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 230 is a device that conveys a document to a reading unit of the scanner unit 102 so that the scanner unit 102 continuously reads an image. The ADF 230 includes a document detection unit 229 for detecting that a document has been placed by the user. The document detection unit 229 is connected to the power control unit 203 via the ADF I / F 228. In the power saving mode, when the document detection unit 229 detects a document, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from the power saving mode to the standby mode.
The CPU 204 controls the ADF 230 via the ADF I / F 228. The scanner 102 reads an image of a document placed on a document table or the ADF 230 and generates image data. The CPU 204 controls the scanner 102 via the scanner I / F 210. The printer 216 prints an image based on the generated image data or the read image data on a sheet (sheet). The CPU 204 controls the printer 216 via the printer I / F 211.

The FAX 225 includes a modem 218, a CPU 219, a RAM 221, a ROM 220, and a reception detection unit 222. The FAX 225 performs data communication control with an external device via the telephone line 223. The modem 218 performs modulation for transmission and reception of the fax 225. The CPU 219 controls transmission and reception of the FAX 225 via the FAX I / F 208.
The RAM 221 stores temporary data when the CPU 219 controls the FAX 225. The ROM 220 stores an activation program of the FAX 225, various setting values, and the like. The controller 226 may have the functions of the CPU 219, the RAM 221, and the ROM 220 of the FAX 225. The power control unit 203 controls the power of the image forming apparatus 100. The power control unit 203 controls supply and stop of the power generated by the power supply unit 202 connected to the power supply 201 to each unit.

The human sensor 107 outputs an infrared ray and receives the infrared ray reflected by the object. The temperature of the object can be measured by means of the received infrared radiation. The memory 233 of the human sensor 107 holds background temperature data, as shown in FIG. 5 (a). The background temperature data is information indicating the temperature of the environment around the image forming apparatus 100. For example, when a fluorescent lamp or a PC is installed around the image forming apparatus 100, the background temperature data includes temperature information of the fluorescent lamp or the PC. This background temperature data is preferably acquired when there are no people around the image forming apparatus. Background temperature data is updated regularly. The method of this update will be described later. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the human sensor 107 acquires the temperature around the image forming apparatus 100 at predetermined time intervals in order to detect a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100. Hereinafter, temperature data acquired at time T will be referred to as temperature data (T). The sensor CPU 232 determines whether a person is present around the image forming apparatus 100 based on the background temperature data and the temperature data (T). Details of the above-described determination by the sensor CPU 232 will be described later.
The background temperature data described above must be adjusted periodically. The reason is that the ambient temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 is constantly changing by opening the curtain, turning on the PC, setting the air conditioner, and the like. Therefore, unless the background temperature data is updated regularly, it is impossible to accurately grasp the person approaching the image forming apparatus 100.

The human sensor CPU 232 is connected to the power supply control unit 203, and when it is determined that there is a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100, a signal to shift the image forming apparatus 100 to the standby mode (transition instruction signal 504 (see FIG. 4) ) Is sent to the power control unit 203.

In the standby mode, power is supplied to all the blocks as shown in FIG. In the standby mode, power may be supplied only to necessary functions. For example, when a print job to be printed by the printer 216 is received via the LAN 224, the power is supplied to the printer 216, and the power is not supplied to the scanner 102 or the like that is not used to process the print job. good.
In the power saving mode, as shown in FIG. 3B, power is supplied to some blocks. First, power is supplied from the power supply 201 to the power supply unit 202. The power that has been AC / DC converted by the power supply unit 202 is the RAM 206, the human sensor 107, the FAX I / F 208, the reception detection unit 222, the power saving key 214, the operation unit IF 209, the LAN controller 212, the LAN I / F 217, the document detection unit 229, It is supplied to the ADF I / F 228.

Hereinafter, the conditions for transition to the standby mode or the power saving mode will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a power supply block diagram of the image forming apparatus.
In the power saving mode, when the reception detection unit 222 of the FAX 225 detects the reception of a FAX, the transfer instruction signal 502 is transmitted to the power control unit 203 via the FAX I / F 208. As a result, the power control unit 203 shifts the image forming apparatus 100 to the standby mode. Further, in the power saving mode, when the LAN controller 212 receives a job requiring transition to the standby mode, such as a print job, from the LAN I / F 217, the LAN controller 212 transmits the transition instruction signal 501 to the power control unit 203. As a result, the power control unit 203 shifts the image forming apparatus 100 to the standby mode.
In the power saving mode, when the user presses the power saving key 214, the power saving key 214 transmits the transition instruction signal 503 to the power control unit 203 via the operation unit I / F 209. As a result, the power control unit 203 shifts the image forming apparatus 100 to the standby mode. Although only the power saving key 214 is described in the operation unit 101, a configuration may be adopted in which the user's touch by the touch panel is recognized and the transition instruction signal 503 is transmitted to the power control unit 203.
Further, in the present embodiment, in the power saving mode, when it is determined by the sensor CPU 232 that there is a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100, the sensor CPU 232 transmits the transition instruction signal 504 to the power control unit 203. As a result, the power control unit 203 shifts the image forming apparatus 100 to the standby mode.

Next, the details of the power supply unit 202 will be described with reference to FIG. The power input from the power supply (plug) 201 is supplied to the first power supply unit 300 via the SW 310. Also, the power input from the power supply (plug) 201 is supplied to the second power supply unit 302 via the SW 312. The SW 310 is a seesaw SW or a button SW which can be turned on manually by the user.
Here, when the SW 300 is turned on, the power control unit 203 transmits an on command signal 513 to the SW 312. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the standby mode. The first power supply unit 300 to which power is supplied when the SW 310 is turned on supplies power to the block operating in the power saving mode. The second power supply unit 302 supplies power to the block operating in the standby mode.
The first power supply unit 300 generates, for example, a DC voltage of 5.0 V. In addition, the second power supply unit 302 generates, for example, a DC voltage of 24.0 V.

Next, the case where the power supply control unit 203 receives a transition instruction to transition to the standby mode (transition instruction signals 501, 502, 503, 504, 537) will be described.
The power supply control unit 203 transmits the ON instruction signal 513 to the SW 312 when receiving at least one transition instruction signal required to shift to the standby mode. As a result, power is supplied from the power supply 201 to the second power supply unit 302. Then, the second power supply unit 302 supplies the generated DC power to the operation unit 101, the pre-other unit 216, the scanner unit 102, and the like. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from the power saving mode to the standby mode. In the standby mode, in the power saving mode, power is supplied to portions that are not supplied with power.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a detection state of a human sensor.
FIG. 5A shows background temperature data. The background temperature data indicates the temperature state of the environment around the image forming apparatus 100. The background temperature data indicates the temperature state around the image forming apparatus 100. The gray and black portions of the background temperature data shown in FIG. 5A indicate, for example, heat sources such as fluorescent lamps and PCs. The background temperature data is preferably acquired at a timing when no person is present around the image forming apparatus 100. For example, temperature data acquired at a timing when the operation unit 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 is not operated for a predetermined time can be used as background temperature data. Note that, for the elements shown in gray, for example, the elements shown in white detect a temperature of less than 30 ° C. and the temperatures of 30 ° C. to 34 ° C., and the elements shown in black indicate For example, a temperature of 35 ° C. or more is detected.
FIG. 5B shows temperature data acquired at predetermined time intervals (for example, at intervals of 0.2 seconds). The temperature data is acquired at predetermined time intervals while the image forming apparatus 100 is in the power saving mode. The sensor CPU 232 acquires temperature data from the human sensor 107 at predetermined time intervals such as T1, T2, T3, T4.
Referring to FIG. 5B, the number of elements that detect a heat source having a predetermined temperature or more increases with the passage of time. When a person approaches the image forming apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 5B, the number of elements that detect a predetermined temperature or more increases.

FIG. 5C is processing data calculated from background temperature data and temperature data. Processing data is created from the difference between background temperature data and temperature data. Here, the processing data is generated from the difference between the background temperature data and the temperature data, but if the processing data is generated based on the background temperature data and the temperature data, the calculation method is not limited to the difference. Moreover, in order to remove noise from each temperature data and each processing data, you may perform a filtering process.
The processing data indicates a heat source other than the heat source indicated by the background temperature data. The sensor CPU 232 determines whether a person approaches the image forming apparatus 100 based on the processing data (T).

In the present embodiment, when the element of the human sensor 107 that has exceeded the return line shown in FIG. 5C detects a heat source, the sensor CPU 232 determines that a person approaches the image forming apparatus 100. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from the power saving mode to the standby mode.
In the processing data (T4), since the element of the human sensor 107 which has exceeded the return line detects the heat source, the image forming apparatus 100 returns to the standby mode at time T4. Here, when the element beyond the return line detects the heat source, it is determined that a person approaches the image forming apparatus 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be determined that a person approaches the image forming apparatus 100 when the increase amount of the element for detecting the temperature exceeding the predetermined temperature exceeds the predetermined value during the predetermined time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for updating background temperature data. Each step is realized by the sensor CPU 232 executing a program. When the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the power saving mode, the sensor CPU 232 operates as follows.
First, the sensor CPU 232 acquires background temperature data (S601).
Then, the sensor CPU 232 acquires temperature data (T1) (S602).
The sensor CPU 232 compares the background temperature data with the temperature data (T1) (S603). Specifically, the sensor CPU 232 calculates the difference between the background temperature data and the temperature data (T1). Thus, processed data (T1) is obtained. The sensor CPU 232 determines whether the user of the image forming apparatus 100 exists or not from the processing data (T1) (S604). If it is determined that the user does not exist (S604: No), temperature data (T2) is acquired again (S602) after a predetermined time (for example, 0.2 seconds) has elapsed (S605). Thus, the sensor CPU 232 keeps acquiring temperature data at predetermined intervals during the power saving mode.

  As a result of repeated acquisition of temperature data, as in the case of processing data (T4) in FIG. 5C, when the sensor CPU 232 determines that there is a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the standby mode (S606). Specifically, when the sensor CPU 232 determines that there is a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100, the sensor CPU 232 transmits a transition instruction signal 504 to the power control unit 203. The power control unit 203 that has received the transition instruction signal 504 switches the image forming apparatus 100 to the standby mode by turning on the SW 312.

However, the sensor CPU 232 may erroneously detect. When the image forming apparatus 100 is in the power saving mode, when the curtain is opened, the power of the personal computer is turned on, or the fluorescent lamp is turned on, a heat source which the background temperature data does not indicate is generated. Become. In this case, the sensor CPU 232 may erroneously detect the generated heat source if it approaches the image forming apparatus 100.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the shift to the standby mode by the sensor CPU 232 is a shift due to an erroneous detection (S607: Yes), the background temperature data is updated.

The determination as to whether the detection is an erroneous detection is an erroneous detection when the operation unit 101 is not operated even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the transition to the standby mode although the image forming apparatus 100 has transitioned to the standby mode. I judge that.
As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the temperature data (T4) is updated to the background temperature data when the device returns to the standby mode at timing T4, but the return is not due to the approach of a person (S608) ).

  Each process of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media with a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the respective embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, which are excluded from the scope of the present invention is not.

100 image forming devices

Claims (22)

An image forming apparatus, comprising: at least a first power mode; and a second power mode that consumes more power than the first power mode.
A sensor having a plurality of elements for outputting temperature data indicating a temperature in front of the image forming apparatus;
Storage means for storing a set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor as background temperature data when the image forming apparatus shifts to the first power mode;
The image forming apparatus is shifted from the first power mode to the second power mode based on the set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor and the background temperature data stored in advance in the storage unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: control means.   The control means stores the set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor at predetermined intervals, and based on the comparison result between each of the plurality of sets of stored temperature data and the background temperature data, the image The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forming apparatus is shifted from the first power mode to the second power mode.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit updates the background temperature data stored in the storage unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit periodically updates the background temperature data.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor is a passive infrared sensor having a plurality of elements that receive infrared light.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor is an active infrared sensor having a plurality of elements which output infrared light and receive infrared light.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor is an array sensor in which the plurality of elements are arrayed in a line or grid.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensor outputs a set of temperature data at predetermined intervals when the image forming apparatus is in the first power mode.   The control means specifies the position of a heat source based on the set of the temperature data and the background temperature data, and the image forming apparatus is operated from the first power mode to the second power based on the specified position of the heat source. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the mode is switched to.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor indicates a temperature distribution in front of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus having at least a first power mode and a second power mode consuming more power than the first power mode, and having a plurality of elements outputting temperature data indicating a temperature in front of the image forming apparatus. A control method of an image forming apparatus including a sensor, comprising:
A storage step of storing a set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor as background temperature data when the image forming apparatus shifts to the first power mode;
The image forming apparatus is shifted from the first power mode to the second power mode based on the set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor and the background temperature data stored in advance in the storage unit. And controlling the image forming apparatus. The system further comprises a periodic storage step of storing a set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor at predetermined intervals,
The control step comprises: comparing the image forming apparatus from the first power mode to the second power mode based on a comparison result between each of the plurality of sets of temperature data stored in the periodic storage step and the background temperature data The control method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the process is shifted to step (c).   14. The control method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an update step of updating the background temperature data stored in the storage unit.   The control method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the updating step is a step of periodically updating the background temperature data.   The control method of an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the sensor is a passive infrared sensor having a plurality of elements receiving infrared light.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the sensor is an active infrared sensor having a plurality of elements that output infrared light and receive infrared light. Control method.   The control method of an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the sensor is an array sensor in which the plurality of elements are arrayed in a linear or lattice form.   The control method of an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 18, further comprising an image forming step of forming an image on a sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the sensor outputs a set of temperature data at predetermined intervals when the image forming apparatus is in the first power mode. Control method.   The control step specifies the position of the heat source based on the set of the temperature data and the background temperature data, and the image forming apparatus is operated from the first power mode to the second power based on the specified position of the heat source. 21. The control method of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 20, which is a step of shifting to a mode.   22. The control of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein a set of temperature data output from each element of the sensor indicates a temperature distribution in front of the image forming apparatus. Method.