JPH1132134A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the facsimile equipment in which restoration processing from the power saving mode is attained at a high speed by storing data of a DRAM before the transition to the power saving mode. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of a notice from a CPU 22 as to the detection of an idle state of the facsimile system continued for a prescribed period, a power saving control section 30 interrupts a main power supply 14 to change the mode of the facsimile equipment to a power saving mode. Then a DRAM backup control section 16 changes the supply of power to a DRAM 18 from the main power supply 14 to a sub power supply 12. A DRAM backup control section 16 backs up the DRAM 18 by a secondary battery 10 when an external power supply source to the system is interrupted. Thus, data in the DRAM 18 are maintained even when the mode is changed to the power saving mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for backing up a DRAM with a sub power supply in a power saving mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, when an idle state in which neither transmission nor reception is performed for a certain period of time elapses for a certain period of time, a device that automatically switches to an energy saving mode in order to suppress power consumption has become widespread. ing. Further, when the facsimile machine is not normally used, such as at night or on holidays, there is also used a device in which a switch for an energy saving mode is turned on by a user's selection to reduce power consumption.

[0003]

By the way, the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus receives power from the normal power supply instead of the backup power supply even when the power saving mode is set. When the normal power supply is used, when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, an initialization operation such as a memory initialization process is required, which takes time and effort.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to hold data in a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) before shifting to the power saving mode in the power saving mode,
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus that can perform a return process from a power saving mode at high speed. A second object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which realizes a time designation transmission function while utilizing a power saving mode. Further, a third object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which realizes a night output stop function while utilizing a power saving mode.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a normal operation mode comprising a main power supply for normal operation, a sub power supply for power saving mode, a DRAM, and a monitoring device for monitoring system operation. And a facsimile apparatus capable of switching between a power saving mode and a power saving mode, wherein the main power is turned off when the monitoring apparatus detects a system idle for a predetermined time and shifts from the normal operation mode to the power saving mode. When the sub power supply for the power saving mode supplies power to the DRAM,
The first object is attained by performing the backup.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a programmable timer powered by the sub-power supply for the power-saving mode is provided, and the time-designated transmission data is stored in the DRAM. The second object is achieved by turning on a main power supply when the programmable timer detects the elapse of a time set according to a designated time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when data is received when the apparatus is switched to the power saving mode, the apparatus is switched to the normal operation mode and then the data is output. The above-mentioned third object is achieved by performing the above.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. This facsimile apparatus includes a sub power supply 12 in addition to the main power supply 14. DR
The AM backup control unit 16 is held by the main power supply 14 and the sub power supply 12. ROM (read only memory) 20, CPU (central processing unit) 2
2. The communication control unit 24 and the video (I / F) interface 26 are powered by the main power supply 14.
The power saving control unit 30, the various sensors 28, and the program timer 32 are powered by the sub power supply 12.

When notified by the CPU 22 of the detection of the continuous system idle state for a certain period, the power saving control unit 30 turns off the main power supply 14 and shifts the facsimile apparatus to the power saving mode. Thereby, DRAM
The backup control unit 16 switches power supply to the DRAM 18 from the main power supply 14 to the sub power supply 12. D
The RAM backup control unit 16 backs up the DRAM 18 using the secondary battery 10 when the power supply from the outside to the system is dropped.
For this reason, even when shifting to the power saving mode, the DRAM
18 data are retained.

Further, when there is time-specified transmission data at the time of shifting to the power saving mode, the CPU 22 sets the program timer 32 according to the specified time. In the power saving mode, the power saving control unit 30
Notification of the elapse of the set time from 2 and various sensors 28
The main power supply 14 is turned on according to the detected signal. When the main power supply 14 is turned on, the CP
U22 detects a power saving cancellation factor from the power saving control unit 30 and performs processing according to the factor. At this time, the DRAM 18
Is held in the state before the transition to the power saving mode, the memory initialization processing and the like can be omitted from the operation log data before the transition to the mode.

Further, when the power saving mode is set, for example, when facsimile transmission is received at night, the data is not output immediately, and the data is output after switching to the normal operation mode. In order to output data, it is necessary to start a plotter that consumes a large amount of power. By reducing the startup time, the power consumption of the facsimile apparatus can be considerably reduced.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the data of the DRAM is retained even when the mode shifts to the power saving mode, the system operation log data before the mode shift to the power saving mode is normally referred to. A part of initialization such as memory initialization performed at power-on can be omitted. Therefore, the process of returning from the power saving mode can be performed at high speed. In addition, even if a problem occurs before shifting to the power saving mode, the problem can be analyzed using the system operation log.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when there is time-designated transmission data, the mode can be shifted to the power saving mode, and unnecessary power consumption can be avoided in the entire facsimile apparatus.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the system by reducing the activation of the plotter which consumes much power as compared with the case of outputting every reception.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 secondary battery 12 sub power supply 14 main power supply 16 DRAM backup control unit 18 RAM (DRAM) 20 ROM 22 CPU 28 various sensors 30 power saving control unit 32 program timer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising a main power supply for normal operation, a sub power supply for power saving mode, a DRAM, and a monitoring device for monitoring system operation, and capable of switching between a normal operation mode and a power saving mode. When the monitoring device detects a system idle for a certain period of time and shifts from the normal operation mode to the power saving mode, when the main power is turned off, the power saving mode sub power source is By powering the DRAM,
A facsimile apparatus for backing up a DRAM. 2. A programmable timer powered by the sub-power supply for the power saving mode, wherein the programmable timer is set in accordance with a designated time when time designated transmission data is stored in the DRAM. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main power is turned on when the elapsed time is detected. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the apparatus is switched to the power saving mode, when data is received, the apparatus outputs the data after switching to the normal operation mode. .