JP7419788B2 - Image forming device and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

In order to reduce power consumption, the image forming apparatus changes the operating mode of some power consuming parts from normal mode to low power consumption mode when the idle time without user operations reaches a predetermined set time. It may have a function to switch to power saving mode. In the image forming apparatus, for example, when the human sensor detects a user in the power saving mode, the image forming apparatus returns to the normal mode. Here, there is a known technology that changes the maximum detection distance of the human sensor depending on the type of power saving mode, thereby ensuring that the main controller is activated before the user starts operating the image forming apparatus ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-109196

Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus, the setting time can be arbitrarily set. For example, if the set time is set to a long time, the following problem may occur when a person (passerby) who has no intention of using the image forming apparatus is detected. That is, when the passerby is detected, the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode even if the user wants to maintain the power saving mode, and it takes a long time to return to the power saving mode after switching to the normal mode. The problem arises that the

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that can reduce power consumption and improve user convenience.

An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a detection section, a reception processing section, a clock section, a switching processing section, and a setting processing section. The detection unit detects a detection target. The reception processing unit receives user operations. The timer measures a no-operation time during which no operation is performed by the user. The switching processing unit switches the operation mode of the power consumption unit from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode when the non-operation time reaches a preset time, and detects the detection target, the operation mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode. The setting processing section sets the detection sensitivity of the detection section in the power saving mode to be lower as the setting time is longer.

An image forming method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a detection step, a reception step, a timing step, a switching step, and a setting step. In the detection step, the detection unit detects the detection target. In the receiving step, a user's operation is accepted. In the time measurement step, a non-operation time during which no operation is performed by the user is measured. In the switching step, when the non-operation time reaches a preset time, the operation mode of the power consumption section is switched from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and in the detection step, When the detection target is detected, the operation mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode. In the setting step, the longer the setting time, the lower the detection sensitivity of the detection unit in the power saving mode is set.

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided that can reduce power consumption and improve user convenience.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of sensitivity setting information used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing how a person is detected in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing how a person is detected in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a sensitivity level setting screen in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a sensitivity level setting screen in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of operation mode switching processing executed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of sensitivity setting information used in an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of an operation mode switching process executed in an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are examples of embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading section 1, an ADF 2, an image forming section 3, a paper feeding section 4, a control section 5, an operation display section 6, an ejection section 7, a storage section 8, It includes a human sensor 9, a timer 10, a power supply section 11, and the like. The image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunctional device that has multiple functions such as a scanning function for reading image data from a document, a printing function for forming an image based on the image data, a facsimile function, and a copying function. Note that image forming apparatus 100 may be a copy machine. Image forming apparatus 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

The image reading section 1 is an image reading section that includes a contact glass, a reading unit, a mirror, an optical lens, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the like.

The ADF 2 includes a document setting section, a plurality of transport rollers, a document holder, and a paper discharge section, and transports the document to be read by the image reading section 1.

The image forming section 3 is capable of forming an image on paper using an electrophotographic method based on the image data read by the image reading section 1. The image forming unit 3 can also form an image on paper based on image data input from an external information processing device (for example, a user terminal). Specifically, the image forming section 3 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a light scanning device (LSU), a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, a fixing roller, and a pressure roller. Note that the image forming section 3 may form an image using another image forming method such as an inkjet method. Further, the image forming section 3 conveys the paper (printing paper) on which the image is formed to the discharge section 7 .

The paper feed section 4 includes a paper storage section and a plurality of transport rollers, and supplies paper to the image forming section 3. The paper feed section 4 is controlled by the control section 5 to convey the paper stored in the paper storage section 41 to the image forming section 3 . The paper feed unit 4 also includes a manual feed tray 42 into which the user manually sets paper. The paper feed section 4 is controlled by the control section 5 to convey the paper set in the manual feed tray 42 to the image forming section 3 . In this embodiment, the paper storage section 41 is provided on the lower side when facing the front of the image forming apparatus 100, and the manual feed tray 42 is provided on the right side when facing the front of the image forming apparatus 100.

The discharge section 7 discharges the printing paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming section 3 . The ejection unit 7 includes one or more ejection trays 71. When a plurality of ejection trays 71 are provided, each of the plurality of ejection trays 71 is provided at a different height from the installation surface (floor surface) of the image forming apparatus 100. The discharge section 7 discharges the printing paper onto a predetermined discharge tray 71 under the control of the control section 5 . The ejection section 7 ejects the printing paper onto the determined ejection tray 71 according to the command from the control section 5 . In this embodiment, the discharge tray 71 is provided on the left side when facing the front of the image forming apparatus 100.

The operation display unit 6 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various information according to commands from the control unit 5, and operation keys or a touch panel that inputs various information to the control unit 5 according to user operations. It has an operation section. The paper feed section 4, the discharge section 7, and the operation display section 6 are components that can be operated by the user.

The human sensor 9 is capable of detecting the presence or absence of a person (detection target) on the front side of the casing of the image forming apparatus 100 . For example, the human sensor 9 is a pyroelectric infrared sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person in a predetermined detection range based on the presence or absence of detection of infrared rays emitted from the human body. The human sensor 9 may be an optical sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person based on whether or not light is blocked. The human sensor 9 is an example of a detection unit of the present invention.

The timer 10 measures time. Specifically, the timer 10 starts and ends measuring time, and resets the measured time, according to commands from the control unit 5. For example, the timer 10 measures a period of no operation performed by the user. The timer 10 is an example of a timekeeping section of the present invention.

The power supply unit 11 supplies power to at least some of the units (power consuming units) constituting the image forming apparatus 100 . The image forming apparatus 100 operates in a normal operating mode (hereinafter referred to as "normal mode") in which power is supplied to each part constituting the image forming apparatus 100, and in an operating mode in which power is not supplied to some parts (hereinafter referred to as "power saving mode"). (referred to as "mode"). The power supply unit 11 sets the operation mode to the normal mode or the power saving mode according to a command (mode switching instruction) from the control unit 5. For example, when the power supply unit 11 is set to the normal mode, if the idle time in which the image forming apparatus 100 is not operated by the user reaches a predetermined set time, the control unit 5 switches off the normal mode. By outputting a mode switching instruction to switch to the power mode to the power supply unit 11, the operation mode is switched to the power saving mode. For example, when the power supply unit 11 is set to the power saving mode and the human sensor 9 detects a user in the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 5 issues a mode switching instruction to switch the power saving mode to the normal mode. By outputting this to the power supply section 11, the operation mode is switched to (returns to) the normal mode.

The storage unit 8 is a nonvolatile storage device. For example, the storage unit 8 is a storage device such as a flash memory, a nonvolatile memory such as EEPROM (registered trademark), an SSD (solid state drive), and an HDD (hard disk drive). The storage unit 8 stores various control programs such as a mode switching program for causing the control unit 5 to execute an operation mode switching process (see FIG. 7) to be described later, and various data.

The storage unit 8 also includes data such as sensitivity setting information D1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the sensitivity setting information D1. In the sensitivity setting information D1, information such as operation mode type, usage timer, setting time, and sensitivity level of the human sensor 9 is registered in association with each other. For example, "power saving mode" is registered as the operation mode type. A “power saving timer” is registered as the usage timer. The power saving timer is a timer used when switching from normal mode to power saving mode, and is an example of the timer 10.

A plurality of time slots divided at predetermined intervals are registered in the set time. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the set times include "1 minute to 30 minutes," "31 minutes to 60 minutes," "61 minutes to 90 minutes," and "91 minutes to 30 minutes." Four time periods of 120 minutes are registered. Here, the user (for example, the administrator) can preset the setting time on the sensitivity level setting screen P1 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later. The set time is used for determining whether to switch the normal mode to the power saving mode. For example, the control unit 5 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode when the non-operation time in which no user operation is performed reaches the set time. The user can set the set time to any time within a settable range (for example, 0 to 120 minutes).

The sensitivity level is information corresponding to the detection sensitivity (detection accuracy) of the human sensor 9. The detection sensitivity is, for example, a value corresponding to the distance and angle indicating the detection range of the human sensor 9. Here, the higher the value of the sensitivity level, the higher the detection sensitivity (the wider the detection range). For example, the sensitivity level can be adjusted in 10 steps from "1" to "10", and when the sensitivity level is set to "10", the detection sensitivity of the human sensor 9 is the highest; When the sensitivity level is set to "1", the detection sensitivity of the human sensor 9 becomes the lowest.

Furthermore, in the sensitivity setting information D1, the sensitivity level is registered in association with the setting time. When the set time is classified into multiple stages (see FIG. 3), the sensitivity level is registered corresponding to each stage of the set time. Here, in the sensitivity setting information D1, the sensitivity level is set lower as the setting time becomes longer. For example, the sensitivity level "10" is registered for the set time "1 minute to 30 minutes", the sensitivity level "9" is registered for the set time "31 minutes to 60 minutes", and the sensitivity level "9" is registered for the set time "31 minutes to 60 minutes"; The sensitivity level "8" is registered for the time "61 minutes to 90 minutes", and the sensitivity level "7" is registered for the set time "91 minutes to 120 minutes".

The correspondence between the set time and the sensitivity level is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3. For example, the set time and the sensitivity level may be set every minute, or the set time and the sensitivity level may be set every hour. Further, the time width of each stage of the set time ("30 minutes" in FIG. 3) may be different from each other.

The control unit 5 includes control devices such as a CPU, ROM, and RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various types of arithmetic processing. The ROM is a non-volatile storage section in which information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU.

By the way, in conventional image forming apparatuses, for example, if the setting time is set to a long time, the following problem may occur when a person (passerby) who has no intention of using the image forming apparatus is detected. That is, when the passerby is detected, the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode even if the user wants to maintain the power saving mode, and it takes a long time to return to the power saving mode after switching to the normal mode. The problem arises that the In contrast, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can reduce power consumption and improve user convenience.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the control section 5 includes a reception processing section 51, a detection processing section 52, a time measurement processing section 53, a switching processing section 54, and a setting processing section 55. The control unit 5 causes the CPU to execute processing according to the program stored in the ROM, thereby controlling the reception processing unit 51, the detection processing unit 52, the time measurement processing unit 53, the switching processing unit 54, and the setting processing unit 55. functions as Note that one or more of the reception processing section 51, the detection processing section 52, the time measurement processing section 53, the switching processing section 54, and the setting processing section 55 may be an electronic circuit such as an ASIC.

The reception processing unit 51 receives various operations from the user. The reception processing section 51 is an example of the reception processing section of the present invention. Specifically, the reception processing section 51 receives a user's operation on the operation display section 6. For example, when a user presses (touches) an operation key or a touch panel, the operation is accepted. Further, for example, when the user issues an instruction to read a document on the operation display section 6, the reception processing section 51 receives the reading instruction. Further, when the user issues an instruction to print image data on the operation display unit 6, the reception processing unit 51 receives the print instruction. Further, the reception processing section 51 receives various setting operations from the user on the setting screen of the operation display section 6. For example, the reception processing unit 51 accepts setting operations such as the setting time on the sensitivity level setting screen P1 (see FIG. 5).

The detection processing unit 52 executes detection processing to detect a person present in front of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the detection processing unit 52 uses the human sensor 9 to detect the person. Specifically, the human sensor 9 outputs a detection signal when a person enters the detection range DA corresponding to the sensitivity level (see FIG. 3) set in the human sensor 9. The detection processing unit 52 detects a person by acquiring the detection signal from the human sensor 9.

Here, the detection processing unit 52 executes the detection process when the operation mode is set to the power saving mode. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 100 is the power saving mode, the detection processing unit 52 executes the detection process and the user A When the user A approaches and enters the detection range DA of the human sensor 9, the user A is detected.

Note that the detection unit of the present invention may be a camera. For example, the camera is provided in the image forming apparatus 100 so as to be able to take an image of the front side of the apparatus. In this case, the detection processing unit 52 may use the camera to detect a person present in front of the device itself.

The time measurement processing unit 53 instructs the timer 10 to measure time. Specifically, the time measurement processing unit 53 instructs the timer 10 to measure a no-operation time in which no operation is performed by the user. For example, the time measurement processing unit 53 causes the timer 10 to start measuring time when the image forming apparatus 100 is no longer operated by the user. Further, the time measurement processing unit 53 causes the timer 10 to reset the measured time when the user performs an operation after the timer 10 starts measuring time. In this way, the time measurement processing section 53 instructs the timer 10 to measure time every time the reception processing section 51 receives an operation from the user. The timer 10 resets the measurement time and repeats the measurement of time every time the instruction is obtained from the time measurement processing section 53.

The switching processing unit 54 switches the operation mode of the power supply unit 11 to the normal mode or the power saving mode. Specifically, the switching processing unit 54 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode when the non-operation time reaches the set time. When the operation mode is switched to the power saving mode, the control unit 5 turns off the operation display unit 6, for example (see FIG. 4A).

The set time is set according to an operation by a user (for example, an administrator). For example, the administrator of the image forming apparatus 100 sets the timer setting time to "35 minutes", sets the human sensor ON/OFF setting to "ON", and sets the sensitivity Set the level to "Auto" (automatic setting). In this case, if the non-operation time reaches "35 minutes" when the operating mode is the normal mode, the switching processing unit 54 switches the operating mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode. Note that the sensitivity level setting screen P1 may be displayed on the operation display unit 6 or may be displayed on a device (for example, a personal computer) connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network.

Moreover, when the operation mode is the power saving mode, when the human sensor 9 detects a person, the switching processing unit 54 switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode. When the operation mode is switched to the normal mode, the control unit 5 lights up the operation display unit 6, for example (see FIG. 4B).

The setting processing unit 55 sets the sensitivity level of the human sensor 9 in the power saving mode according to the setting time. Specifically, the setting processing unit 55 specifies the sensitivity level corresponding to the setting time based on the sensitivity setting information D1 (see FIG. 3), and adjusts (sets) the human sensor 9 to the sensitivity level. . Here, in the sensitivity setting information D1, the longer the setting time, the lower the sensitivity level is set, so the setting processing unit 55 , set the sensitivity level to be low. For example, on the sensitivity level setting screen P1, if the administrator sets the setting time to "35 minutes" (an example of the first setting time of the present invention), the setting processing unit 55 sets the sensitivity level to "9" (an example of the first setting time of the present invention). (an example of the first detection sensitivity of the present invention), and the administrator sets the setting time to "80 minutes" (an example of the second setting time of the present invention), the setting processing unit 55 sets the sensitivity level to "8". (an example of the second detection sensitivity of the present invention).

Note that the setting processing unit 55 may be able to accept a sensitivity level changing operation from the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the administrator sets the sensitivity level of the human sensor to "strong" (manual setting) on the sensitivity level setting screen P1, the setting processing unit 55 does not depend on the setting time. First, the sensitivity level is set to a predetermined detection sensitivity corresponding to "strong". In this case, the setting processing unit 55 does not perform a process of changing the set time in accordance with the manually set sensitivity level. Furthermore, when the manual setting is performed, the setting processing unit 55 may display a message on the sensitivity level setting screen P1 indicating that the sensitivity level has been changed to a manual setting mode (see FIG. 6). ).

[Operation mode switching process]
Hereinafter, an example of the procedure of the operation mode switching process executed by the control unit 5 in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7. Note that each processing step executed by the control unit 5 is referred to as step S11, S12, . . . . Note that one or more steps included in the operation mode switching process described here may be omitted as appropriate. Further, each step in the operation mode switching process may be executed in a different order as long as similar effects are produced. Furthermore, although a case will be described here taking as an example a case where each step in the operation mode switching process is executed by the control unit 5 of the image forming apparatus 100, in other embodiments, the operation mode switching process is executed by a plurality of other processors. Each step in the switching process may be executed in a distributed manner. Note that the present invention can be regarded as an invention of an operation mode switching method (an example of the image forming method of the present invention) that executes one or more steps included in the operation mode switching process.

Here, for example, the administrator performs an operation to set the setting time in advance on the sensitivity level setting screen P1 (see FIG. 5). The control unit 5 specifies the sensitivity level corresponding to the set time set by the administrator based on the sensitivity setting information D1 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, when the set time that has already been set is changed by the administrator, the control unit 5 specifies the sensitivity level corresponding to the changed set time.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the operation mode is set to the normal mode.

In step S11, the control unit 5 determines whether any operation has been received from the user. If it is determined that the operation has not been received from the user (S11: No), the process moves to step S12. While the operation is being accepted from the user, the process of step S11 is repeated (S11: Yes). Step S11 is an example of a reception step of the present invention.

In step S12, the control unit 5 causes the timer 10 to start measuring time. That is, the control unit 5 causes the timer 10 to start measuring the non-operation time during which the image forming apparatus 100 is not operated by the user. Step S12 is an example of a timing step of the present invention.

In step S13, the control unit 5 determines whether the time measured by the timer 10 has reached the set time. If it is determined that the measured time has reached the set time (S13: Yes), the process moves to step S16. If it is determined that the measured time has not reached the set time (S13: No), the process moves to step S14.

In step S14, the control unit 5 determines whether any operation has been received from the user. If it is determined that the operation has not been received from the user (S14: No), the process moves to step S13. If it is determined that the operation has been accepted from the user (S14: Yes), the process moves to step S15.

In step S15, the control unit 5 resets the measurement time. After that, the process returns to step S11.

That is, when the control unit 5 receives a user operation after the timer 10 starts measuring the non-operation time and before the set time is reached, the control unit 5 resets the measurement time and starts measuring the non-operation time. Redo the process. Further, if the control unit 5 does not receive a user operation after the timer 10 starts measuring the non-operation time until the set time is reached, the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S16.

In step S16, the control unit 5 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the power saving mode. Step S16 is an example of a switching step of the present invention.

In step S17, the control unit 5 sets the sensitivity level corresponding to the set time specified based on the sensitivity setting information D1 (see FIG. 3) to the human sensor 9. For example, when the set time is set to "35 minutes", the control unit 5 sets the sensitivity level to "9", and when the set time is set to "80 minutes", the control unit 5: The sensitivity level is set to "8". Step S17 is an example of a setting step of the present invention.

In step S18, the control unit 5 uses the human sensor 9 to determine whether a person is detected in the detection range DA corresponding to the sensitivity level set for the human sensor 9. If it is determined that a person has been detected (S18: Yes), the process moves to step S19. The process of step S18 is repeated until it is determined that a person has been detected (S18: No). Step S18 is an example of a detection step of the present invention.

In step S19, the control unit 5 switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the normal mode. After that, the process returns to step S11, and the above-described process is repeated. The operation mode switching process is executed as described above.

Here, the administrator may perform an operation to change the set time in the normal mode, or may perform an operation to change the set time in the power saving mode. When the administrator changes the set time in the normal mode, the control unit 5 specifies the sensitivity level corresponding to the changed set time based on the sensitivity setting information D1 (see FIG. 3). Then, the control unit 5 sets the specified sensitivity level to the human sensor 9 in step S17.

On the other hand, when the administrator changes the setting time in the power saving mode, the control unit 5 changes the sensitivity setting information without switching the operation mode to the normal mode (maintaining the power saving mode). Based on D1 (see FIG. 3), a sensitivity level corresponding to the changed setting time is specified. Then, the control unit 5 sets the specified sensitivity level to the human sensor 9 in step S17. For example, the administrator may change the setting time in a device (for example, a personal computer) connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 maintains the power saving mode, returns only the CPU, and sets the sensitivity level.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the longer the setting time set by the user, the lower the detection sensitivity of the human sensor 9 in the power saving mode is set. As a result, for example, if the non-operation time required before switching from the normal mode to the power saving mode is long, that is, if the setting time is long, the detection range of the human sensor 9 becomes narrow (the detection sensitivity is weak). Become). Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to detect people (passersby) who have no intention of using the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the problem that the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode by detecting the passerby, and it takes a long time to return to the power saving mode again.

On the other hand, for example, if the non-operation time required before switching from the normal mode to the power saving mode is short, that is, if the setting time is short, the detection range of the human sensor 9 becomes wider (the detection sensitivity becomes higher). ). Therefore, even if a person (passerby) who does not intend to use the image forming apparatus 100 is detected, the power saving mode can be returned to the power saving mode in a short time.

Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce power consumption and improve user convenience.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be the embodiments shown below.

In the image forming apparatus 100 according to another embodiment, the power saving mode may include a plurality of power saving modes. For example, the power saving mode includes a low power mode and a sleep mode that consumes less power than the low power mode. The low power mode is an example of the first power saving mode of the present invention, and the sleep mode is an example of the second power saving mode of the present invention. The number of power saving modes is not limited and may be three or more.

In the image forming apparatus 100 according to another embodiment, in the sensitivity setting information D1, information such as a usage timer, setting time, sensitivity level of the human sensor 9, etc. is registered in association with each other for each power saving mode. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, "low power mode" and "sleep mode" are registered as the operation mode types. Moreover, a "low power timer" and a "sleep timer" are registered as the usage timer. The low power timer is a timer used when switching from normal mode to low power mode, and the sleep timer is a timer used when switching from normal mode to sleep mode, and each is an example of the timer 10. The low power timer and the sleep timer may be built into the image forming apparatus 100 separately and independently. The low power timer is an example of the first timer of the present invention, and the sleep timer is an example of the second timer of the present invention.

As the set time, a plurality of time periods divided at predetermined intervals are registered corresponding to each of the low power timer and the sleep timer. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the set times include "1 minute to 30 minutes," "31 minutes to 60 minutes," "61 minutes to 90 minutes," and "91 minutes to 30 minutes." Four time periods of 120 minutes are registered.

Here, the user (for example, the administrator) can preset the setting time corresponding to each of the low power timer and the sleep timer on the sensitivity level setting screen P1. The set time is used for determining whether to switch from normal mode to low power mode or from determining whether to switch from normal mode to sleep mode. For example, the switching processing unit 54 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode when the non-operation time in which no user operation is performed reaches the set time (first set time) of the low power mode. For example, the switching processing unit 54 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the sleep mode when the non-operation time reaches the set time (second set time) of the sleep mode. The first set time and the second set time can each be set to arbitrary times, but the second set time is set to a longer time than the first set time.

In the sensitivity setting information D1, the sensitivity level (first sensitivity level) of the low power mode is set to a lower value as the first setting time is longer, and the sensitivity level (second sensitivity level) of the sleep mode is set to a lower value as the first setting time is longer. The longer the second setting time is, the lower the value is set. Further, the second sensitivity level is set to a lower value than the first sensitivity level.

For example, in the low power mode, the first sensitivity level "10" is registered for the first set time "1 minute to 30 minutes", and the first sensitivity level "10" is registered for the first set time "31 minutes to 60 minutes". The first sensitivity level "9" is registered, the first sensitivity level "8" is registered for the first set time "61 minutes to 90 minutes", and the first sensitivity level "8" is registered for the first set time "91 minutes to 120 minutes". ”, the first sensitivity level “7” is registered.

On the other hand, in the sleep mode, the second sensitivity level "7" is registered for the second set time "1 minute to 30 minutes", and the second sensitivity level "7" is registered for the second set time "31 minutes to 60 minutes". The second sensitivity level "6" is registered for the second set time "61 minutes to 90 minutes", the second sensitivity level "4" is registered for the second set time "61 minutes to 90 minutes", and the second sensitivity level "4" is registered for the second set time "91 minutes to 90 minutes". The second sensitivity level "3" is registered for "120 minutes".

Here, for example, the administrator individually sets the setting time for each power saving mode. For example, on the sensitivity level setting screen P1, the administrator sets the first setting time for the low power mode to "40 minutes" and sets the second setting time for the sleep mode to "70 minutes".

The setting processing unit 55 sets the sensitivity level of the human sensor 9 in the power saving mode according to the setting time. Specifically, the setting processing unit 55 sets the detection sensitivity in the low power mode to be lower as the first setting time is longer, and sets the detection sensitivity in the sleep mode to be lower as the second setting time is longer. Set low. For example, the setting processing unit 55 sets the first sensitivity level of the human sensor 9 corresponding to the low power mode to "9" based on the sensitivity setting information D1 (see FIG. 8), and corresponds to the sleep mode. The second sensitivity level of the human sensor 9 is set to "4". In this way, the setting processing unit 55 sets the detection sensitivity in the sleep mode to be lower than the detection sensitivity in the low power mode.

[Operation mode switching process]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the operation mode switching process executed by the control unit 5 in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the other embodiment.

Steps S11 to S19 shown in FIG. 9 are the same as steps S11 to S19 shown in FIG. However, in step S12, the control unit 5 causes each of the low power timer and the sleep timer to start measuring time. When the measurement time of the low power timer reaches the first set time (S13: Yes), in step S16, the control unit 5 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the low power mode. In step S17, the control unit 5 sets the first sensitivity level corresponding to the first setting time specified based on the sensitivity setting information D1 (see FIG. 8) to the human sensor 9. For example, when the first set time is set to "40 minutes", the control unit 5 sets the first sensitivity level to "9".

In step S18, the control unit 5 uses the human sensor 9 to determine whether a person is detected in the detection range DA corresponding to the first sensitivity level set in the human sensor 9. If it is determined that a person has been detected (S18: Yes), the process moves to step S19. When a person is not detected (S18: No) and when the measurement time of the sleep timer reaches the second set time (S21: Yes), in step S22, the control unit 5 changes the operation mode to the low power mode to the sleep mode. In step S23, the control unit 5 sets the second sensitivity level corresponding to the second setting time specified based on the sensitivity setting information D1 (see FIG. 8) to the human sensor 9. For example, when the second set time is set to "70 minutes", the control unit 5 sets the second sensitivity level to "4".

Note that if it is determined that a person is detected before the time measured by the sleep timer reaches the second set time (S18: Yes), the process moves to step S19.

In step S24, the control unit 5 uses the human sensor 9 to determine whether a person is detected in the detection range DA corresponding to the second sensitivity level set in the human sensor 9. If it is determined that a person has been detected (S24: Yes), the process moves to step S19. The process of step S24 is repeated until it is determined that a person has been detected (S24: No).

In step S19, the control unit 5 switches the operation mode from the sleep mode to the normal mode. After that, the process returns to step S11, and the above-described process is repeated. The operation mode switching process is executed as described above.

According to the image forming apparatus 100 according to the other embodiment described above, when the non-operation time becomes long, the power saving mode is switched from the low power mode to the sleep mode with lower power consumption, and the detection sensitivity of the human sensor 9 is changed. becomes lower. As a result, the longer the non-operation time becomes, the more difficult it becomes to detect a person (passerby) who has no intention of using the image forming apparatus 100.

5: Control section 6: Operation display section 8: Storage section 9: Human sensor 10: Timer 11: Power supply section 51: Reception processing section 52: Detection processing section 53: Time measurement processing section 54: Switching processing section 55: Setting processing section 100: Image forming device

Claims (9)

a detection unit that detects a detection target;
a reception processing unit that accepts user operations;
a timer unit that measures non-operation time during which no operation is performed by the user;
When the non-operation time reaches a preset time, the operation mode of the power consumption unit is switched from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and the detection unit detects the detection target. a switching processing unit that switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode when
a setting processing unit that sets the detection sensitivity of the detection unit in the power saving mode to be lower as the setting time is longer;
Equipped with
The power saving mode includes a first power saving mode and a second power saving mode that consumes less power than the first power saving mode,
The switching processing unit switches the normal mode to the first power saving mode when the non-operation time reaches a first set time, and the switching processing unit switches the non-operation time to a second set time that is longer than the first set time. switching the first power saving mode to the second power saving mode when the power saving mode is reached;
The setting processing unit sets the detection sensitivity in the first power saving mode to be lower as the first setting time is longer, and sets the detection sensitivity in the second power saving mode to be lower as the second setting time is longer. Image forming device that is set low . The setting processing unit sets the detection sensitivity in the second power saving mode to be lower than the detection sensitivity in the first power saving mode.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . The time measurement unit includes a first time measurement unit that measures the non-operation time corresponding to the first power saving mode, and a second time measurement unit that measures the non-operation time corresponding to the second power saving mode. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The detection sensitivity is a value corresponding to a distance indicating a detection range of the detection unit,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . a detection unit that detects a detection target;
a reception processing unit that accepts user operations;
a timer unit that measures non-operation time during which no operation is performed by the user;
When the non-operation time reaches a preset time according to the user's operation, the operation mode of the power consumption unit is switched from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and the detection is performed. a switching processing unit that switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the unit detects the detection target;
a setting processing unit that sets the detection sensitivity of the detection unit in the power saving mode to be lower as the setting time is longer;
An image forming apparatus comprising : a detection unit that detects a detection target;
a reception processing unit that accepts user operations;
a timer unit that measures non-operation time during which no operation is performed by the user;
When the non-operation time reaches a preset time, the operation mode of the power consumption unit is switched from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and the detection unit detects the detection target. a switching processing unit that switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode when
a setting processing unit that sets the detection sensitivity of the detection unit in the power saving mode to be lower as the setting time is longer;
Equipped with
The image forming apparatus, wherein the setting processing unit is capable of receiving an operation for changing the detection sensitivity from the user. a detection step of causing the detection unit to detect a detection target;
a reception step for accepting user operations;
a timing step of measuring a non-operation time during which the user does not perform any operations;
When the non-operation time reaches a preset time, the operation mode of the power consumption unit is switched from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and the detection target is detected by the detection step. a switching step of switching the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode when
a setting step of setting the detection sensitivity of the detection unit in the power saving mode to be lower as the setting time is longer;
including;
The power saving mode includes a first power saving mode and a second power saving mode that consumes less power than the first power saving mode,
In the switching step, when the non-operation time reaches a first set time, the normal mode is switched to the first power saving mode, and the non-operation time is set to a second set time longer than the first set time. switching the first power saving mode to the second power saving mode when the power saving mode is reached;
In the setting step, the longer the first setting time, the lower the detection sensitivity in the first power saving mode, and the longer the second setting time, the lower the detection sensitivity in the second power saving mode. Image forming method to set . a detection step of causing the detection unit to detect a detection target;
a reception step for accepting user operations;
a timing step of measuring a non-operation time during which the user does not perform any operations;
When the non-operation time reaches a preset time according to the user's operation, the operation mode of the power consumption unit is switched from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and the detection is performed. a switching step of switching the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the detection target is detected in the step;
a setting step of setting the detection sensitivity of the detection unit in the power saving mode to be lower as the setting time is longer;
An image forming method including. a detection step of causing the detection unit to detect a detection target;
a reception step for accepting user operations;
a timing step of measuring a non-operation time during which the user does not perform any operations;
When the non-operation time reaches a preset time, the operation mode of the power consumption unit is switched from a normal mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and the detection target is detected by the detection step. a switching step of switching the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode when
a setting step of setting the detection sensitivity of the detection unit in the power saving mode to be lower as the setting time is longer;
including;
An image forming method, wherein in the setting step, an operation for changing the detection sensitivity can be accepted from the user.

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