JPH08310081A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve operability and working efficiency of a printer and realize energy saving by reducing failures generated by wear and the like and eliminating the stand-by time for printing. CONSTITUTION: This printer is provided with a printing means 5 for printing the printing data from a host computer 6, and the printing means 5 comprises a host power source sensing means 3 for sensing whether a power source of the host computer 6 is on pr off, a body detection sensor 2 for sensing whether a human body is close by or not and a power source control means 1 for ON/ OFF controlling a power source of the printing means 5 based on the output of the host power source sensing means 3 and the body detection sensor 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device,
In particular, it relates to a printer device that performs bidirectional communication with a host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer device is an indispensable peripheral device for an information processing system using a computer.

A conventional printer device is equipped with a mechanical power switch, and a user turns on / off the power by manually turning on / off the power switch.

However, in recent years, LAN (Local)
As the introduction of the Area Network system has become popular, the distance between the host computer and the printer device has increased, and it has become very inconvenient for the user to manually turn the printer device on and off.

Therefore, a printer device which can remotely control the on / off of the power source by a start polarity signal from a host computer has been introduced.

At the same time, selection of printing paper, selection of character font, setting of magnification, etc. can be remotely set.

[0007]

However, in the above conventional example, the mechanical power switch is manually turned on.
In the / OFF operation, the power switch part wears,
There is an inconvenience that the life of the power supply device is shortened.

Further, the ON / OFF operation by the start polarity signal from the host computer requires an operation on the host computer, and the initialization is started after the start polarity signal is received, so that the printer becomes ready for printing. In a printer device that requires a long time, for example, in an electrophotographic printer device that uses heat fixing, it takes time until a printable state is obtained, resulting in poor efficiency and a user's discomfort. there were.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to improve the inconveniences of the prior art, reduce failures due to wear and the like, improve the operability and operating rate of the system with almost no printing waiting time, and save energy. It is to provide a printer device capable of realizing the above.

[0010]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a host power supply detecting means for detecting whether or not the power of the host computer is turned on, a printing means for printing print data from the host computer, It is configured to include a human body detection sensor for detecting whether or not there is a person, a host power supply detection means, and a power supply control means for controlling ON / OFF of the power supply of the printing means by the output of the human body detection sensor. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0011]

When the host computer is powered on and a person is nearby, the power supply control means determines that a print request may occur and automatically turns the power supply of the print means to the "ON state". To

On the other hand, when the power of the host computer is not turned on or there is no person nearby, it is judged that the print request does not occur, and the power of the printing means is automatically turned off.
State ".

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the host power supply detecting means 3 for detecting whether or not the power of the host computer 6 is turned on, the printing means 5 for printing the print data from the host computer 6, and a person nearby. The human body detection sensor 2 for detecting whether or not there is a human body, the timer 4 for measuring the detection time of the human body detection sensor 2, the host power supply detection means 3, the human body detection sensor 2, and the output of the timer 4 of the printing means 5. Power supply control means 1 for controlling ON / OFF of the power supply.

Here, the host power supply detecting means 3 detects whether or not the power of the host computer 6 is turned on through the interface cable.

An infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from the human body is generally used as the human body detecting sensor 2. When the infrared ray intensity exceeds a preset threshold value, the signal level becomes " high level"
It is supposed to become.

That is, the power supply control means 1 can know whether there is a person nearby by monitoring the output level of the human body detection sensor 2.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the power source of the printing unit 5 is assumed to be in the "OFF state".

(1). The power supply control means 1 checks with the output signal of the host power supply detection means 3 whether or not the power of the connected host computer 6 is turned on at regular intervals (step 10 in FIG. 2).

(2). When confirming that the power supply of the host computer 6 is in the "ON state", the power supply control means 1 subsequently checks the output of the human body detection sensor 2 (step 20 in FIG. 2).

If the power supply of the host computer 6 is "OFF", the power supply control means 1 does nothing and the power supply of the printing means 5 remains "OFF".

(3). When the power control means 1 confirms that the human body detection sensor 2 has detected the human body, the timer 4
Start the measurement of.

When the power control means 1 confirms that the human body is sensed for a certain time or longer (step 30 in FIG. 2), the power switch of the printing means 5 is turned on (step 40 in FIG. 2). ).

(4). Subsequently, the power supply control means 1
The output signal of the human body detection sensor 2 and the output signal of the host power supply detection means 3 are checked at regular intervals.

Then, when it is confirmed that no human body is detected or the power of the host computer is in the "OFF state", the power control means 1 turns the switch of the printing means 5 to "OF".
F state "(step 50 in FIG. 2).

Here, the switch of the printing means 5 is turned ON / O.
Since the FF utilizes the switching characteristics of the transistor, there is no part that causes mechanical wear.

Further, even when a plurality of host computers are connected, if any one of them is powered on, it is determined that the power of the host computer is in the "ON state", and the same as the above description. Can be handled.

[0028]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to this, the power supply control means automatically operates according to the power supply state of the connected host computer and whether or not there is a person nearby. Set the power switch of the printing means to "O"
N / OFF "control, which eliminates the need for a mechanical power switch, reduces breakdowns due to wear, improves system operability and operating rate with almost no print waiting time, and saves energy. It is possible to provide an excellent printer device that has never been realized and that can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 power supply control means 2 human body detection sensor 3 host power supply detection means 4 timer 5 printing means 6 host computer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printer device having a printing means for printing print data from a host computer, wherein the printing means is provided with a host power supply detection means for detecting whether or not the power supply of the host computer is turned on. A human body detection sensor for detecting whether or not there is a person, a host power supply detection means, and a power supply control means for controlling ON / OFF of the power supply of the printing means according to the output of the human body detection sensor. Printer device. 2. The power control means, when the power of the host computer is on and there is a person nearby,
2. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising a function of turning on a power source of the printing unit. 3. The power supply control means has a function of turning off the power supply of the printing means when the power supply of the host computer is not turned on. Printer device. 4. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply control means has a function of turning off the power supply of the printing means when there is no person nearby. 5. The power supply control means has a function of determining that there is a person nearby when the human body detection sensor continuously detects for a preset time or more. The printer device according to claim 1.