JPH0458121A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a user to use the electronic equipment in proper utilization environment while preventing a fault by detecting the temperature of a heat generation part and deciding the equipment state, and information a specific user who is specified previously when the equipment state is abnormal. CONSTITUTION:While an operation display part 15 displays the operation state of a device, an operator performs various operations. Further, a display unit 151 where character display is displayed and a speaker 152 which outputs an alarm sound are arranged. A power source part 16 outputs the operating electric power for the device by receiving commercial electric power, and a device monitoring part 161 which detects the temperature and integrates the electric feeding time of the device is arranged inside. Then the temperature of the heat generation part 16 which generates heat during the operation is detected to decide whether the equipment state is normal or abnormal from the detected temperature, and when the decision result is abnormal, the specific opposite use who is set previously is informed. Consequently, a fault is prevented and the user can use the device in the proper environment.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an electronic device equipped with a communication function.

[Background Art] In recent years, various electronic devices such as word processors, personal computers, facsimile machines, and copying machines have been frequently used in homes and offices.

In such electronic devices, the power supply section generally generates heat,
It may be dissipating heat with a fan, or it may be instructed to be placed at a distance from other objects.

However, this instruction is not followed and, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the electronic device 1 is often installed in a corner of a desk 3 separated by a partition 2.

In addition, there are cases where the electronic device 1 is used with the dust cover covered in such an installed state.

In this case, there was a risk that the heat dissipation of the equipment would be insufficient, causing the equipment to malfunction and even ignite, causing a fire.

Furthermore, in addition to the environment in which the equipment is used as described above, aging of the components may cause their characteristics to deteriorate and generate heat, which can lead to malfunctions and fires.

Conventionally, in order to prevent this kind of danger, when the temperature of a device rises abnormally, a temperature fuse or the like is used to cut off the power and prevent it from operating.

In addition, in the case of devices with communication functions such as facsimile machines, they are equipped with a function to self-diagnose failures and a function to notify the user of the diagnosis results, and the service personnel who maintain the device can call the user device from the service center and Faults were diagnosed by receiving diagnostic results from.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] As described above, conventional maintenance methods are aimed at diagnosing the presence or absence of a failure in a piece of equipment and preventing danger in the event of a failure.
There was a problem in that failures could not be prevented. Further, as described above, when a device breaks down due to an inappropriate usage environment of the device, the user does not notice the inappropriateness of the usage environment until the failure occurs, so there is a problem that the usage environment cannot be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide an electronic device that can prevent failures and that can be used by a user in an appropriate usage environment.

[Means for Solving the Problem] To this end, in the first invention, the temperature of the heat generating part that generates heat during operation is detected, and based on the detected temperature, it is determined whether the device status is normal or abnormal, and the determination result is determined. If there is an abnormality, a specific destination set in advance is notified.

In addition, in the second invention, the lifespan of the entire device or each part is stored, the energization time during which the device is powered on is accumulated, and when the energization time reaches the end of the lifespan, a preset specific We are trying to notify the other party.

[Operation] In the first invention, when the temperature exceeds the normal operating temperature,
You can report it to the service center immediately. This allows the service person to take appropriate measures, such as instructing the user on the usage environment of the device, before the device breaks down. This prevents failures and allows the user to use the device in an appropriate usage environment.

Furthermore, in the second aspect of the invention, when the service life of the device or parts has elapsed, the service center can be notified in the same way as described above, so it is possible to prevent failures due to the service life of the device or parts.

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

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an image reading section 11 is for reading a document image, and an image recording section 12 is for recording an image. The communication unit 13 transmits image information via a telephone line, and the communication unit 13 transmits image information via a telephone line.
is for storing image information.

The operation display section 15 displays the operating status of the device and is used by the operator to perform various operations.

This operation display section 15 includes a display 1 for displaying character information.
51 and a speaker 152 that outputs an alarm sound are provided.

The power supply section 16 inputs commercial power and outputs the operating power for this device, and is provided with an RR monitoring section 161 that detects the temperature and integrates the energization time of the device. . The microcomputer 18 processes image information for facsimile communication and controls each of the above-mentioned units.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the device monitoring section 161. In the figure, the temperature sensor 161a is
A thermistor S and a resistor R are connected in series, and a voltage +■ is applied to one end on the thermistor S side, and one end on the resistor R side is grounded.

The connection point between the thermistor S and the resistor H is connected to the input of the A/D (analog/digital) conversion port g161b.

The output is input to the CPU 161c. This C
The PU161c includes a RAM161e, a RAM161e, and an EEP ROM (Electrical Era
sable programmable ROM) 16
1f is connected.

The ROM 161d stores a control program for the CPU 161c, as well as operating temperature information indicating the temperature of the power supply section 16 in each operating state of the device, and life information indicating the service life of the entire device and each component.

The RAM 161e temporarily stores various data. The EEPROM 161f stores data such as the detected temperature and the energization time of the device.

In addition, the CPU 161c has an EEPROM 161f
It has a function of transferring data stored in the microcomputer 18 to the microcomputer 18 as necessary.

FIG. 3(a) shows a plan view of this facsimile machine, and FIG. 3(b) shows a front perspective view. In the figure, a document tray 22 is disposed on the top surface of a device box 21, and a paper discharge tray 23 is attached to the side surface. In addition, the operation display section 1
5 is formed on the upper surface and the side, and a power supply section 16 is disposed inside the other side. Temperature sensor 1 is installed directly above the power supply section 16.
61a is fixed.

With the above configuration, when the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is turned on, it starts integrating the power supply time, as shown in FIG. 4. That is, an area is formed in the EEPROM 161f to store the integrated value of the energizing time, and the facsimile machine performs the operation of summing the energizing time by adding the elapsed time every time a certain period of time elapses. (process 1001).

Next, the temperature immediately after startup is detected as the environmental temperature by the temperature sensor 161a (process 1002). Next, the date and time, the detected temperature, and the device status indicating that it has just been started are set as a set of information as shown in FIG.
OMl, 61f (processing 1003).

By the way, electronic devices generally have an environmental temperature range within which their operation is guaranteed. Furthermore, for example, in the case of a facsimile machine, there are various operation modes such as standby mode, transmission mode, reception mode, and copy mode for copying originals.
Power consumption differs for each operating mode. On the other hand, power supply section 1
6, the amount of heat generated changes depending on the power consumption. For this reason,
The temperature of the power supply section 16 changes depending on the operating mode and the environmental temperature.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the above-mentioned environmental temperature range and the temperature range of the power supply section 16 in each operation mode of the facsimile machine. In other words, this facsimile machine is
This indicates that the device must be used within the environmental temperature range of TL0 to TH0. Further, it is shown that when used under correct installation conditions within the environmental temperature range, the power supply section 16 operates in the temperature range of TL□ to TH in the standby mode.

Similarly, in transmission mode, temperature TL2 to TH2, in reception mode, temperature TL3 to TH1, and in copy mode, temperature TL
It is shown that each operates in the range of 4 to TH4.

Therefore, if the temperature exceeds these ranges, it is considered that the environmental temperature is not appropriate or the device is malfunctioning.

In the ROM 161d of the power supply unit 16, as shown in FIG. 7, the above-mentioned temperature information is stored in advance as operating temperature information.

Therefore, after the process 1003, the facsimile machine
Based on the information stored in the ROM 161d, it is determined whether the detected temperature is normal (process 1004). Here, if the detected temperature is within the temperature range TLo-TH, it is determined to be normal (Y in step 1004).Next, the lifespan of the entire device or each component is determined.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the ROM 161d stores in advance a time indicating the service life of the entire device and each component. The service life of the entire device is, for example, 5
The time of year is set. Furthermore, examples of components whose service life is stored include electrolytic capacitors that easily deteriorate at high temperatures and relays whose contacts wear out.

The facsimile machine checks the lifespan of the device and each part based on the accumulated power-on time and the above-mentioned service life information (1005), and if there is no corresponding object (N of process 1005), the operator performs communication processing. The startup operation is checked (processing 1006).

Here, if the startup operation is not performed (processing 100
6-N), and further checks whether the operator has activated the report sending process (process 1007). This report sending process is executed when reporting the device status to the service center that maintains this facsimile device. be.

If the start operation for the report sending process has not been performed (N in process 1007), it is further checked whether a report request has been made from the service center (
Processing 1008). This report request.

This facsimile machine receives a call from the service center and a request to send a report.

If the REVO-1 request has not been received (N in process 1008), the temperature in the current state, that is, in the standby mode, is detected again by the temperature sensor 61a (process 1009).

In this embodiment, the temperature detection operation as described above is repeatedly executed in each operation mode. Then, the first temperature detected in each operation mode and the temperature detected when the temperature changes by a certain amount thereafter are stored.

Therefore, the detection state is determined (process 101.0), since this is the first detection in standby mode (process 101.0).
0 Y), date and time, detected temperature, etc., as described above.
Store it in M1.61f (process 1011). Then, R
Based on the operating temperature information in the OM 161d, it is determined whether the detected temperature is within the normal range (processing +012). If the detected temperature is normal (Y in process 1012), the process 1
Return to 005 and repeat the same operation.

Here, it is assumed that the operator performs an operation to start transmission, reception, or copy processing.

In this case (Y in process 1006), after starting each predetermined process (process to13), the temperature in each started operation mode is detected in the same manner as described above (process 1014).

Next, the detection state is determined in the same manner as described above.
), in this case, since this is the first detection in that operating mode (Y in process 1015), the date and time, detected temperature, etc. are stored (process 1016). After that, temperature detection is repeated until the process is completed (from N in process 1017 to process 1014
fart).

Then, when the operation is completed (Y in process 1017),
It is determined whether the temperature detected during the process is within the normal range (process 1.018), and if the detected temperature is normal (Y in process 1018), the process returns to the standby mode (process 1005).
fart).

On the other hand, the temperature detected at each of the above points is stored in the ROM161d.
If the temperature has deviated from the predetermined range specified by the operating temperature information (N in process 1004, N in process 1012, or N in process 1018), it is checked whether an alarm has already been issued for the abnormal condition (process 1019).

Here, if the alarm has not been issued yet (N in process 1019),
The type of detected temperature determined to be abnormal is displayed on the display 151 of the operation display unit 15 (process 1020), and the display 15
1, an alarm sound is output (process 1021).

Next, a call is made to the service center whose telephone number has been set in advance (processing 1022), and information on the type of detected temperature determined to be abnormal and information on past detected temperatures stored in the EEPROM 161f is sent. (processing 1023).

Note that this information is transmitted by, for example, an NSS signal.

The operator confirms the display by the alarm sound and performs a predetermined confirmation operation.

After the confirmation operation is completed (Y in process 1024), the facsimile machine returns to the standby mode (process 100).
5). Then, temperature detection is repeated in each operation mode (process 1009 and process 1014). At this time,
If there is no constant temperature change from the previously detected temperature (
Processes 10IO's N and 1015's N) do not record the sensed temperature. Furthermore, even if a temperature abnormality is determined (processing 1
018 or N in process 1012), if an alarm operation has already been performed (Y in process 1019), the abnormality display, alarm, and reporting operation is not executed (proceed to process 1005).

By the way, for example, when the operator asks a service center to check the usage environment of the device, the operator may use the operation display section 1.
The report transmission process is started by the predetermined operation in step 5.

When the report transmission process is started (Y in process 1007), the facsimile machine calls the service center (process 1025) and transmits the past detected temperature information stored in the EEPROM 161f (process 1. 026)
.

Further, in order to check this facsimile device, the service center makes a call from the facsimile device on the service center side to this device as needed, issues a report transmission request, and performs a polling operation.

When this facsimile machine receives the report transmission request (Y in process 1008), it transmits the detected temperature information in the same manner as above (process 1026).

As described above, in this embodiment, when the detected temperature deviates from the predetermined temperature range, the detected temperature is immediately transmitted to the service center by oscillation. As a result, the service person
Since the usage state can be determined from the detected temperature and the user can be instructed on how to use the device correctly, the user can use the device in an appropriate usage environment. Furthermore, if there is an abnormality in the device, the service person can take appropriate measures, such as immediately replacing the abnormal part, before the device breaks down.

Further, when the service life of the device or parts has elapsed, the service center is notified in the same way as above, so it is possible to prevent failures due to the lifespan of the device or parts.

Furthermore, even during normal times, operators can arbitrarily send detected temperatures and accumulated energization times to the service center.
This information can be collected from the service center through polling. As a result, it is possible to improve the usage of the device or replace parts early before an abnormal condition occurs, and it is possible to take appropriate measures before a failure occurs.

Note that in the above embodiments, it is stored when the detected temperature changes by a certain temperature or more, but for example.

The storage cycle may be changed depending on the device state, such as every 2 to 3 days if there is no abnormality, and every 10 minutes when there is an abnormality.

Furthermore, instead of the alarm sound, the details of the abnormality may be output as a voice message. Furthermore, although only the temperature of the power source section is detected, other heat generating sections may also be detected in the same manner.

By the way, when the power supply unit 16 breaks down, it may be replaced with another one, and the original power supply unit 16 that was removed and repaired may be reused in another device. In this case, if the service life of the power supply section 16 itself is similarly stored in the ROM 161d, the period of use can be continuously managed even if it is reused in another device.

Thereby, when the power supply section reaches the end of its useful life, it can be reliably replaced, and breakdowns can be prevented.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the first invention, the device status is determined by detecting the temperature of the heat generating part, and in the case of an abnormality, a specific destination set in advance is notified. As a result, the service person can provide appropriate instructions and measures to the user, thereby preventing failures and allowing the user to use the device in an appropriate usage environment.

Further, according to the second invention, the energizing time of the device is accumulated, and when the energizing time reaches the end of the life of the entire device or each part, a notification is sent to a specific party. This makes it possible to prevent failures from occurring.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a power supply section, and FIG.
The figure shows a plane and front perspective view of the facsimile machine, Figures 4(a) and (b) are operation flowcharts of the facsimile machine, Figure 5 is an information configuration diagram of stored information, and Figure 6 shows environmental temperature and various operating modes. An explanatory diagram showing the temperature of the power supply unit, Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of pre-stored operating temperature information, Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of pre-stored life information, and Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the installed state of electronic equipment. It is a perspective view showing an example. 11... Image reading section, 12... Image recording section, 13.
...Communication section, 15...Operation display section, 16...Power supply section,
18...Microcomputer, 161d-ROM,
161e-RAM, 15L-... Display, 152...
・Speaker, 161...Temperature detection means, 161a-Temperature sensor, 161cm CPU, 161f・E E
P R○M0

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an electronic device equipped with a communication function, a heat generating part that generates heat when the device is operated, a temperature detection means that detects the temperature of the heat generating part, and a determination as to whether the device status is normal or abnormal based on the detected temperature. An electronic device comprising: device state determining means; and reporting means for notifying a preset specific destination when the result of the determination is abnormal. (2) In an electronic device equipped with a communication function, an energization time accumulation means for accumulating the energization time during which the device is powered on, and a lifespan storage means for storing the lifespan of the entire device or each component in advance; An electronic device characterized by comprising: a notification means for notifying a preset specific destination when the accumulated energization time reaches the stored lifespan. (3) In an electronic device equipped with a communication function, a heat-generating part that generates heat when the device is in operation, a temperature detection means that detects the temperature of the heat-generating part, and an energization time integration that integrates the energization time that the device is powered on. and a reporting means for reporting the accumulated energization time and the detected temperature to a specific destination based on a request from the communication destination or device operation.