JPH03132672A - Information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save a power rate and to secure the safety of information equipment by performing time count by receiving a detection signal generated by detecting the fact that the darkness of environment goes less than prescribed darkness, receiving a generated clock signal after the lapse of prescribed time, and disconnecting a main power source. CONSTITUTION:A light detecting means 2 generates the detection signal when the darkness of environment goes less than the prescribed darkness. Then, a clock means 20 receives the detection signal and performs the time count, and generates the clock signal after the lapse of the prescribed time. Then, control means 7, 8 receive the clock signal, and disconnect the main power source of the information equipment. Thereby, since the main power source can be automatically disconnected after the prescribed time when the environment becomes dark even when the disconnection of the power source of the information equipment 1 is forgotten, it is possible to save the power rate, and to improve the safety.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to information equipment that is automatically powered off when the surrounding area becomes dark.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when using an information device such as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an operator turns on the power every time an image forming operation is to be performed, and turns off the power after completing the operation. In general, image forming devices take some time from turning on the power until they are ready to output images, so in offices where image forming devices are frequently used, it is recommended to leave the power on or operate the image forming device. I then set it to preheat mode.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, if you use an information device such as an image forming device for a long time without turning off the power, if you forget to turn off the power when you return home, the problem may be delayed until the next morning, such as during a holiday. The power remained on until the morning of the next workday, resulting in wasted electricity costs and was also a safety issue as information devices generated heat.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even when you forget to turn off your information equipment and return home,
The main power is automatically cut off after a predetermined time when the surroundings become dark, thereby eliminating wasteful electricity costs and providing a safe information device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the information device of the present invention includes a light detection means that detects that the surrounding area has become less than a predetermined darkness and generates a detection signal, and a The apparatus includes a timer that receives a signal, measures time, and generates a timer signal after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and a controller that receives the timer signal and shuts off the main power source.

"Operation" According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the light detection means generates a detection signal when the surrounding area becomes less than a predetermined darkness. Then, the timer receives the detection signal, measures time, and generates a timer signal when a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Then, the control means receives the clock signal and shuts off the main power of the information device.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an outline of the configuration of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

A light amount detection sensor 2 that detects the amount of surrounding light is connected to the (-) side of the comparator 3. Comparator 3 (+
) side is connected to a variable reference voltage. The output terminal of the comparator 3 and the oscillation circuit 4 are connected to the input terminal of a two-man power AND circuit 5. The light detection sensor 2, the comparator 3, the oscillation circuit 4, and the AND circuit 5 constitute a light detection means. The output terminal of the AND circuit 5 is connected to a counter circuit 6, and the counter circuit 6 is a time measuring means. Counter circuit 6 is connected to inverter 7. The inverter 7 is connected to the base of a transistor 8 whose emitter is grounded, and the collector of the transistor 8 is connected to a relay 9.

Relay 9 controls the main power supply and shuts off the main power supply.

Inverter 7, transistor 8. The relay 9 constitutes a control means.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus as an example of the information equipment of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

A light amount detection sensor 2 using CdS or the like is attached to a part of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, detects the amount of surrounding light, converts it into a voltage, and outputs it to the comparator 3. On the other hand, a variable reference voltage is also input to the converter 3, and is compared with the output voltage from the light amount detection sensor 2. When the surroundings are sufficiently dark, the output voltage from the light amount detection sensor 2 is adjusted to be higher than the reference voltage, so the output of the comparator 3 is at a low level.

On the other hand, when surrounding lights are turned off and it becomes dark, the output voltage from the light amount detection sensor 2 is adjusted to be lower than the reference voltage, so the output of the comparator 3 becomes High level. At this time, since the square wave from the oscillation circuit 4 is input to one input terminal of the AND circuit 5, when the output of the comparator 3 becomes High level, the output of the AND circuit 5 receives the square wave from the oscillation circuit 4. A square wave waveform is output. When the counter circuit 6 counts a predetermined number of square waves, the counter circuit 6 outputs a pulse. For example, if the frequency of the square wave is 10 [Hzl], if the power is cut off one hour after the surroundings become dark, the counter circuit 6 will output a pulse failure after counting the square wave 36,000 times. . The output from this counter circuit 6 is input to an inverter 7. Relay 9 is ON when current is flowing through transistor 8.
It is connected so that it is in the state of The output of inverter 7 is normally at High level, and current flows between the collector and emitter of transistor 8, so relay 9 is at
It is in the N state. When a pulse is output from the counter circuit 6, the output of the inverter 7 is at a LOW level only while the pulse is being generated, and no current flows between the collector and emitter of the transistor 8. Then, the relay 9 becomes OFF, and at the same time, the main power is cut off. Therefore, the power to all the circuits in the image forming apparatus is also cut off, and Vcc in FIG. 2 is also cut off, so no current flows through the transistor 8, and the main power is not turned on from now on.

Furthermore, in order to restore the image forming apparatus whose power has been cut off, the power is turned on by pressing the switch 11, which is turned on only when the main power switch 10 is pressed while it is turned on, and the image forming operation is started. It becomes possible.

Although the image forming apparatus such as a copying machine has been described above as an example of information equipment, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be used for other information equipment such as office computers, word processors, personal computers, and the like.

Further, since some information devices include computers that execute programs at night when no one is around, a means for canceling the function according to the present invention may be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, in this embodiment, an oscillator, a counter circuit, an AND circuit, and an inverter are used to turn the relay on and off.
Although the system is turned off, it is also possible to replace it with a microcomputer. Further, the number of light quantity detection sensors is not limited to one, but it is also possible to install a plurality of sensors to avoid the influence of shadows of the operator, walls, etc.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, even if you forget to turn off the power to your information equipment and return home, if the surroundings become dark, the main power will be automatically shut off after a predetermined time. As a result, it is possible to reduce wasteful electricity costs and provide safe information equipment, which is a significant industrial effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit configuration in an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an image forming apparatus, 2 is a light amount detection sensor, 3 is a comparator, 4 is an oscillation circuit, 5 is an AND circuit, 6 is a counter circuit, 7 is an inverter, 8 is a relay, 9 is a transistor, and 10 is a main power supply The switch 11 is a push button switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light detection means that detects that the surrounding darkness has become below a predetermined level and generates a detection signal, and receives the detection signal and measures time, and after a predetermined period of time elapses, generates a time measurement signal. What is claimed is: 1. An information device comprising: a clock signal that generates a clock signal; and a control device that receives the clock signal and shuts off a main power source.