JP6867754B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In recent years, the number of CPUs that execute firmware has increased to multi-core, and it has become possible to simultaneously execute a plurality of parallel or independent processes using a plurality of cores for job processing and device management. Generally, the former parallel processing is called SMP (Symmetric Multiprocessing), and the latter independent processing is called AMP (Asymmetric Multiprocessing). In SMP, individual cores share memory equally and share processing, whereas in AMP, memory is allocated to each core and independent processing is executed (separate OSs and programs are executed). It becomes a feature.

Conventionally, in an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral), which is a multifunction device having multiple functions such as copy, fax, and print, in order to increase the processing speed, screen display, COPY / SCAN / PRINT control, and mechanism In general, a plurality of independent programs for control, fax communication control, etc. are executed by individual CPUs. On the other hand, with the shift to multi-core CPUs, SoCs that integrate a single multi-core CPU with multiple cores or peripheral ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) for functions that were conventionally realized using multiple CPUs. (System on a Chip) has become feasible, and CPUs have been consolidated and abolished for the purpose of cost reduction.

Generally, when a firmware executed by a plurality of conventional CPUs and OSs is executed by a single multi-core CPU or SoC, each of the plurality of cores and a plurality of conventional CPUs (OS) are used one-to-one. A highly portable AMP configuration that can be replaced is predominant. Also, in terms of power consumption during standby, the AMP configuration, which makes it easy to cut the power supply independently for each core, is superior. On the other hand, regarding the execution efficiency of the CPU as a whole, the number of cores that can be used for one or more processes is large (that is, a plurality of cores can be used in combination for one or more processes). The SMP configuration is particularly advantageous in parallel processing.

As an example of applying the AMP configuration, a technique for suppressing a delay in processing requiring real-time performance (real-time processing) to ensure real-time performance is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Further, as another example to which the AMP configuration is applied, a technique that enables rapid execution of real-time processing is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-226283 JP-A-2007-193744

However, when the AMP configuration is selected with an emphasis on portability, standby power consumption, and real-time performance when consolidating CPUs, there is a problem that the execution efficiency is inferior to that of the SMP configuration. Further, in order to obtain a processing speed equivalent to that of the SMP configuration in the AMP configuration, it is necessary to select a higher-performance CPU, which increases the cost, and there is a problem that the purpose of consolidating the CPUs is inconsistent.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving both improvement of execution efficiency during operation and reduction of power consumption during standby.

The invention according to claim 1 has been made in order to achieve the above object.
In an image forming apparatus having a multi-core CPU having a plurality of cores and having a control unit capable of simultaneously controlling a plurality of predetermined operations realized by executing independent programs.
The control unit has a switching unit that switches between an AMP configuration in which the predetermined operation is individually assigned to each of the plurality of cores and an SMP configuration in which the plurality of cores are used in combination to execute one or a plurality of the predetermined operations. Prepare
The switching unit switches to the AMP configuration while waiting for the predetermined operation, and switches to the SMP configuration during the predetermined operation.
When switching to the AMP configuration during the standby for the predetermined operation, the processing during the operation standby is assigned to one of the cores, and the power of the remaining cores is turned off.

The invention according to claim 2 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The switching unit is the predetermined when a plurality of the predetermined operations are performed in the SMP configuration and there is a predetermined processing period for performing the predetermined processing requiring real-time performance in the performed predetermined operations. The processing period is characterized by switching to the AMP configuration.

The invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The switching unit is characterized in that when one of a plurality of predetermined operations performed in the SMP configuration is FAX communication, the switching unit switches to the AMP configuration during the period during incoming call processing and the period during capacity exchange processing with the other party. And.

The invention according to claim 4 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
When the predetermined operation is fax communication, the switching unit switches to the AMP configuration when the fax is waiting for an incoming call, and switches to the SMP configuration during the fax communication.

According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both improvement of execution efficiency during operation and reduction of power consumption during standby.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the control structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the predetermined processing and the predetermined processing period when one of a plurality of predetermined operations started is FAX communication. It is a time chart which shows the specific processing of the control part when FAX communication is started at the time of operation standby. It is a time chart which shows the specific processing of a control part when FAX communication is started during a copy operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an MFP having functions such as copying, faxing, and printing installed in a company, an office, or the like, and can execute a plurality of types of jobs.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, an image reading unit 14, an image forming unit 15, a communication unit 16, and a storage unit 17. It is configured with.

The control unit 11 is configured to include a multi-core CPU 111 having two cores (core X and core Y) and a RAM 112, and comprehensively controls the processing operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. The multi-core CPU 111 reads various programs stored in the storage unit 17 and develops them in the RAM 112, and executes various processes in cooperation with the programs. The number of cores of the multi-core CPU 111 is not limited to two, and may be three or more.
In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 is independent of the SMP configuration in which the individual cores of the multi-core CPU 111 share the memory (RAM 112) on an equal footing and share the processing, and the memory (RAM 112) is allocated to each individual core. It is configured so that it can be freely switched between an AMP configuration for executing processing and an AMP configuration for executing processing. That is, the control unit 11 functions as a switching unit of the present invention.

The operation unit 12 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, receives key operations by the user, and outputs the operation signal to the control unit 11. Further, the operation unit 12 has a pressure-sensitive (resistive film pressure type) touch panel in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern so as to cover the upper surface of the display screen of the display unit 13, and the force point pressed by a finger, a touch pen, or the like. The XY coordinates are detected by the voltage value, and the detected position signal is output to the control unit 11 as an operation signal. The touch panel is not limited to the pressure-sensitive type, and may be another electrostatic type, an optical type, or the like.

The display unit 13 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and according to an instruction of a display signal input from the control unit 11, displays various operation buttons and device statuses on the display screen, displays the operating status of each function, and the like. I do.

The image reading unit 14 is composed of a light source, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, an A / D converter, and the like. The image is read, the read image is A / D converted, and the obtained image data is output to the control unit 11.

The image forming unit 15 electronically prints on the paper supplied from the paper feed tray based on the print job transmitted from the external device, the image data output from the image reading unit 14, the FAX data received by the communication unit 16, and the like. Photographic image formation is performed. The image forming unit 15 is a photoconductor drum, a charging unit that charges the photoconductor drum, an exposure unit that exposes and scans the surface of the photoconductor drum based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image, and an exposure unit on the photoconductor drum. It is composed of a developing unit for adhering toner to an electrostatic latent image, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum to paper, a fixing unit for fixing the toner image formed on the paper, and the like. The image forming method by the image forming unit 15 is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and any well-known method such as an inkjet method or a thermal transfer method can be adopted.

The communication unit 16 is configured by a network interface or the like, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected via a communication network. For example, the communication unit 16 receives a print job transmitted from an external device. Further, the communication unit 16 connects to a public line and transmits / receives FAX data.

The storage unit 17 is composed of a non-volatile semiconductor memory, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), or the like, and executes a system program that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 10, various processing programs that can be executed by the system program, and various processing programs. The data used for the program, the processing result data processed by the control unit 11, and the like are stored.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is started when the image forming apparatus 10 is in the idle (IDLE) state after the power of the image forming apparatus 10 is turned on.

First, the control unit 11 switches to the AMP configuration and turns off the power of the core (hereinafter, non-operating core) that does not need to be assigned processing during the operation standby (step S101). That is, the control unit 11 allocates the processing during operation standby to one core and turns off the power of the remaining non-operating cores. As a result, it is possible to reduce the power consumption during operation standby.

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined operation has been started (step S102). A predetermined operation is an operation (function) realized by executing an independent program. Predetermined operations include, for example, copying, faxing, printing, and the like.
When the control unit 11 determines that the predetermined operation has started (step S102: YES), the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step S103.
On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the predetermined operation has not been started (step S102: NO), the control unit 11 repeats the process of step S102 until the predetermined operation is started.

Next, the control unit 11 switches to the SMP configuration, and performs processing by sharing the started predetermined operation among all the cores included in the multi-core CPU 111 (step S103). Thereby, the execution efficiency of the predetermined operation can be improved.

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not another predetermined operation has been started (step S104). That is, the control unit 11 determines whether or not it is necessary to simultaneously perform a plurality of predetermined operations after the process of step S104.
When the control unit 11 determines that another predetermined operation has been started (step S104: YES), the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step S105.
On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that another predetermined operation has not been started (step S104: NO), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S110.

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not there is a processing period (predetermined processing period) for performing a process (predetermined process) that requires real-time performance in the plurality of predetermined operations that have been started (step). S105). FIG. 3 shows an example of a predetermined process and a predetermined process period when one of the plurality of predetermined operations started is FAX communication. As shown in FIG. 3, FAX communication is composed of five phases (processes) A to E. Phase A is incoming call processing. Phase B is a capacity exchange process with the partner machine. Phase C is an image data transmission / reception process. Phase D is a data confirmation process. Phase E is a line disconnection process. Of the five phases A to E, phase A (incoming call processing) and phase B (capacity exchange processing with the other party) are processes that require real-time performance (predetermined processing), so the periods of phase A and phase B are The predetermined processing period is H1.
When the control unit 11 determines that the predetermined processing period exists (step S105: YES), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S107.
On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the predetermined processing period does not exist (step S105: NO), the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step S106.

In step S106, the control unit 11 shares the started plurality of predetermined operations among all the cores included in the multi-core CPU 111 to perform processing (step S106), and proceeds to step S110. As a result, the execution efficiency can be improved even when a plurality of predetermined operations are executed.

In step S107, the control unit 11 switches to the AMP configuration at the timing when the predetermined process is started, assigns the predetermined process to one core with priority, and assigns the remaining core a predetermined operation not including the predetermined process (step). S107). As a result, the predetermined processing can be reliably executed, so that real-time performance can be ensured even when a plurality of predetermined operations are performed at the same time.

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the predetermined process is completed (step S108).
When the control unit 11 determines that the predetermined process has been completed (step S108: YES), the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step S109.
On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the predetermined process has not been completed (step S108: NO), the control unit 11 repeats the process of step S108 until the predetermined process is completed.

Next, the control unit 11 switches to the SMP configuration, shares the started plurality of predetermined operations among all the cores included in the multi-core CPU 111 and performs processing (step S109), and proceeds to the next step S110.

In step S110, the control unit 11 determines whether or not all the started predetermined operations have been completed (step S110).
When the control unit 11 determines that all the predetermined operations have been completed (step S110: YES), the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step S111.
On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that all the predetermined operations have not been completed (step S110: NO), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S104 and repeats the processes after step S104.

Next, the control unit 11 switches to the AMP configuration and turns off the power of the non-operating core (step S111).

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not an operation of turning off the power of the image forming apparatus 10 has been performed (step S112).
When the control unit 11 determines that the operation of turning off the power of the image forming apparatus 10 has been performed (step S112: YES), the control unit 11 ends the process and turns off the power of the image forming apparatus 10.
On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the operation of turning off the power of the image forming apparatus 10 has not been performed (step S112: NO), the process proceeds to step S102 and the processes after step S102 are repeated.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a time chart showing specific processing of the control unit 11 (multi-core CPU 111) when FAX communication is started during operation standby.

During the operation standby, the control unit 11 switches to the AMP configuration as the control of the operation standby period T11, assigns the processing during the operation standby to the core X of the two cores provided in the multi-core CPU 111, and is in an idle state (waiting for an incoming call). The power of the remaining core Y is turned off (OFF).

When the FAX communication is started, the control unit 11 switches to the SMP configuration as the control of the period T12 during the FAX communication, and controls the started FAX communication (FAX communication control) in all the cores of the multi-core CPU 111. (Core X and Core Y) share the processing.

Then, when the fax communication is completed, the control unit 11 switches to the AMP configuration as the control of the period T13 during the operation standby, assigns the processing during the operation standby to the core X, puts it in an idle state, and puts the remaining core Y in an idle state. Turn off the power.

As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to switch to the AMP configuration during non-FAX communication to suppress power consumption during operation standby, and to switch to the SMP configuration during FAX communication to improve execution efficiency. be able to.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, in the control of the periods T11 and T13 during the operation standby, the processing during the operation standby is assigned to the core X, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the standby process may be assigned to the core Y, and the power supply of the core X may be turned off.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a time chart showing specific processing of the control unit 11 (multi-core CPU 111) when FAX communication is started during the copy operation. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a case where there is a processing period (predetermined processing period) for performing a process (predetermined processing) that requires real-time performance in FAX communication will be described.

When the copy operation is started, the control unit 11 switches to the SMP configuration as the control of the period T21 during the copy operation, and controls all the cores (core X and cores) provided in the multi-core CPU 111 for the control related to the started copy operation. The processing is shared by Y).

When the FAX communication is started during the copy operation, the control unit 11 controls the period T22 during the combined operation of the copy operation and the FAX communication. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the period T22 during the combined operation is composed of three periods T23 to T25. The first period T23 is a period until the predetermined processing of the FAX communication is started. The second period T24 is a period (predetermined processing period) in which a predetermined processing of FAX communication is performed. The third period T25 is a period in which the predetermined processing of the FAX communication is completed and the predetermined processing is not performed.

Specifically, in the first period T23 until the predetermined processing is started, the control unit 11 controls the copy operation and the FAX communication in all the cores (core X and core Y) included in the multi-core CPU 111. Share the processing.
In the second period T24 in which the predetermined processing is performed, the control unit 11 switches to the AMP configuration at the timing when the predetermined processing is started, assigns the predetermined processing of the FAX communication to one core Y preferentially, and allocates the predetermined processing to the remaining cores. A predetermined operation (copy operation) that does not include a predetermined process is assigned to X.
In the third period T25 when the predetermined processing is completed, the control unit 11 switches to the SMP configuration, and similarly to the first period T23, all the cores (core X) provided in the multi-core CPU 111 control the copy operation and the FAX communication. And core Y) share the processing.

When the FAX communication is completed in the combined operation, the control unit 11 switches to the SMP configuration as the control of the period T26 during the copy operation, and controls all the cores (core X and core Y) provided in the multi-core CPU 111 for the control related to the copy operation. ) To share the processing.

Then, when the copy operation is completed, the control unit 11 switches to the AMP configuration as the control of the period T27 during the operation standby, assigns the processing during the operation standby to the core X, puts it in an idle state, and puts the remaining core Y in an idle state. Turn off the power.

As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when fax communication is performed in parallel with the copy operation, the processing load of each operation is predicted in advance, and the processing (predetermined processing) requiring real-time performance is performed. During the processing period (predetermined processing period), the real-time performance can be ensured by switching to the AMP configuration.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, in the control of the second period T24 in which the predetermined processing of the FAX communication is performed during the combined operation, the predetermined processing of the FAX communication is preferentially assigned to one core Y. , Not limited to this. That is, a predetermined process of FAX communication may be preferentially assigned to the core X, and a predetermined operation (copy operation) that does not include the predetermined process may be assigned to the core Y. Further, in the control of the period T27 during the operation standby, the process during the operation standby is assigned to the core X, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the process during the standby period is assigned to the core Y to be assigned to the core. You may want to turn off the power of X.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has a multi-core CPU 111 having a plurality of cores, and can simultaneously control a plurality of predetermined operations realized by executing independent programs. The control unit 11 is provided. Further, the control unit 11 is a switching unit (control unit) that switches between an AMP configuration in which a predetermined operation is individually assigned to each of the plurality of cores and an SMP configuration in which the plurality of cores are used in combination to execute one or a plurality of predetermined operations. 11) is provided. Further, the switching unit switches to the AMP configuration while waiting for the predetermined operation, and switches to the SMP configuration during the predetermined operation.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the started predetermined operation can be shared and processed by all the cores included in the multi-core CPU 111, so that the execution efficiency of the predetermined operation can be improved. it can. Further, since the processing during the operation standby can be assigned to one core and the power of the remaining non-operating cores can be turned off, the power consumption during the operation standby can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both improvement of execution efficiency during operation and reduction of power consumption during standby.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the switching unit performs a predetermined process that requires real-time performance in the predetermined operation to be performed when a plurality of predetermined operations are performed in the SMP configuration. If there is a predetermined processing period of, the predetermined processing period is switched to the AMP configuration.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably execute a predetermined process that requires real-time performance by preferentially assigning it to one core, so that a plurality of predetermined operations can be performed at the same time. Even in this case, real-time performance can be ensured while ensuring execution efficiency during operation.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when one of a plurality of predetermined operations performed in the SMP configuration is FAX communication, the switching unit exchanges the capacity with the other party during the period during incoming call processing. During the processing period, the AMP configuration is switched.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, particularly in FAX communication in which relay switching processing and modem control frequently occur and processing requiring real-time performance and processing not requiring real-time performance coexist. However, since it is possible to reliably execute a predetermined process that requires real-time performance, it is possible to suppress delays in communication speed and occurrence of communication errors.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the predetermined operation is fax communication, the switching unit switches to the AMP configuration when the fax is waiting for an incoming call, and switches to the SMP configuration during the fax communication.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the started FAX communication can be shared and processed by all the cores included in the multi-core CPU 111, so that the execution efficiency of a predetermined operation can be improved. it can. Further, since it is possible to assign the processing in the incoming call waiting state of FAX to one core and control to turn off the power of the remaining non-operating cores, it is possible to reduce the power consumption in the incoming call waiting state of FAX. it can. Therefore, even in FAX communication in which control related to communication is relatively complicated, it is possible to achieve both improvement of execution efficiency during operation and reduction of power consumption during standby.

Although the specific description has been given above based on the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be changed without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, in the processes of steps S104 to S109 of FIG. 2, when a plurality of predetermined operations are performed at the same time, control is performed to switch to the AMP configuration during the predetermined process period, but the present invention is limited to this. It is not something that will be done. That is, the processing of steps S104 to S109 may not be performed. In that case, after the processing of step S103, when all the started predetermined operations are completed, the AMP configuration is switched to the consumption during the operation standby. Power can be reduced.

Further, in the above embodiment, the predetermined processing period is described by exemplifying the period during the incoming call processing of the FAX communication and the period during the capacity exchange processing with the other party, but the present invention is not limited to this. The predetermined processing period may be any period as long as it is a period for performing processing that requires real-time performance.

Further, in the above embodiment, the period of waiting for operation is described by exemplifying the state of waiting for an incoming call of FAX communication, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be in the standby state (instruction waiting state) of the copy operation or the print operation.

In addition, regarding the detailed configuration of each device constituting the image forming apparatus and the detailed operation of each device,
It can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

10 Image forming device 11 Control unit (switching unit)
111 multi-core CPU
112 RAM
12 Operation unit 13 Display unit 14 Image reading unit 15 Image forming unit 16 Communication unit 17 Storage unit

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having a multi-core CPU having a plurality of cores and having a control unit capable of simultaneously controlling a plurality of predetermined operations realized by executing independent programs.
The control unit has a switching unit that switches between an AMP configuration in which the predetermined operation is individually assigned to each of the plurality of cores and an SMP configuration in which the plurality of cores are used in combination to execute one or a plurality of the predetermined operations. Prepare
The switching unit switches to the AMP configuration while waiting for the predetermined operation, and switches to the SMP configuration during the predetermined operation.
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that when switching to the AMP configuration during standby for a predetermined operation, processing during standby for operation is assigned to one core and the power of the remaining cores is turned off. The switching unit is the predetermined when a plurality of the predetermined operations are performed in the SMP configuration and there is a predetermined processing period for performing the predetermined processing requiring real-time performance in the performed predetermined operations. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing period is switched to the AMP configuration. The switching unit is characterized in that when one of a plurality of predetermined operations performed in the SMP configuration is FAX communication, the switching unit switches to the AMP configuration during the period during incoming call processing and the period during capacity exchange processing with the other party. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The switching unit according to claim 1 to 3, wherein when the predetermined operation is fax communication, the switching unit switches to the AMP configuration when the fax is waiting for an incoming call, and switches to the SMP configuration during the fax communication. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the following items.

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