This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-144613, filed on Jun. 2, 2008, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that operates in an energy-saving mode and, in particular, to an image processing apparatus and an energy-saving control method thereof in which image data can be received and stored at the time of operating in an energy-saving mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a Multi Functional Peripheral (MFP) including a plurality of functions, such as a facsimile function, a scanner function, a printer function, and a copying function, or the like, an energy-saving mode is required to achieve power saving. In order to receive a facsimile at any time, it is common in an MFP including a facsimile function to supply power in an energy-saving mode to portions that are necessary for facsimile reception.
An MFP has been proposed that aims at power saving by releasing the energy-saving mode in stages and reducing the number of printings performed on paper. When this MFP receives a facsimile at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, power supply is restored only for components that are used to receive data via facsimile, and the received data is stored in a memory. When the energy-saving mode is completely released, an image based on the received data stored in the memory is printed on paper.
In another conventional MFP, an energy-saving mode is completely released when a release of the energy-saving mode is triggered by causes other than a detection of facsimile reception or when an amount of data stored in a memory exceeds a set value at the time of a release of the energy-saving mode. When releasing the energy-saving mode in response to the detection of facsimile reception, the MFP resumes power supply to a main Central Processing Unit (CPU) and, similarly to the above MFP, stores received data in the memory. Thus, after shifting to the energy-saving mode, the conventional MFP releases the energy-saving mode in stages, and uses the energy-saving mode more effectively.
Recently, accompanying the increase of speed of a Local Area Network (LAN) including a wireless LAN and facilitation of buildup of the LAN, an MFP that includes a network printer function and a network facsimile function in addition to the above facsimile function has been widely used. For such an MFP that can be connected with the LAN, operations of the conventional MFP for releasing the energy-saving mode are insufficient.
An MFP that can be connected with the LAN is required to recognize a request from a terminal device connected with the same LAN even when the MFP operates in the energy-saving mode. Further, depending on the content of the request from the terminal device, the MFP that can be connected with the LAN may require only a portion of components to be operated. Therefore, it is necessary to release the energy-saving mode in stages in accordance with the content of the request from the terminal device.
In order to overcome the problems described above, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus and an energy-saving control method thereof in which a signal reception in a network communication or in a facsimile communication can be recognized at the time of operating in an energy-saving mode, and the energy-saving mode can be released in accordance with a content received in the network communication.
One embodiment of the invention provides a facsimile communication unit that transmits/receives data by being connected with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a network communication unit that transmits/receives data by being connected with an area network, a memory that stores the data, and a determination unit that determines whether or not to release an energy-saving mode in which power is supplied only to a portion of components. At least the facsimile communication unit, the network communication unit, the memory, and the determination unit are supplied with power at a time of operating in the energy-saving mode. When the facsimile communication unit receives data at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, the received data is stored in the memory, and when the network communication unit receives a request from a terminal device provided on the area network at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, the determination unit determines whether or not to release the energy-saving mode in accordance with a content of the received request.
According to this embodiment of the invention, the image processing apparatus stores data received by the facsimile communication unit in the memory at the time of energy-saving mode, and thus does not need to release the energy-saving mode each time a facsimile is received. When a request is received from the terminal device via the area network while the image processing apparatus operates in the energy-saving mode, components to which power is supplied can be determined in accordance with the request.
According to another embodiment of the invention, when the facsimile communication unit receives data at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, the determination unit determines whether or not to release the energy-saving mode in accordance with an amount of data stored in the memory.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a printer unit that stores images based on data stored in the memory. Power supply to the printer unit is cut at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, and when the network communication unit receives the request from the terminal device provided on the area network at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, and when the received request requires a printing operation performed by the printer unit, the determination unit gives an energy-saving-mode release instruction.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a scanner unit that scans an image of an original document. According to this embodiment, power supply to the scanner unit is cut at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, and when the network communication unit receives a request from the terminal device provided on the area network at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, and when the received request requires a scanning operation performed by the scanner unit, the determination unit gives an energy-saving-mode release instruction.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a first power supply circuit that always supplies power to a first section that operates even in the energy-saving mode and a second power supply circuit that supplies power to a second section, excluding the first section, when the energy-saving mode is released. The first section includes at least the facsimile communication unit, the network communication unit, the memory, and the determination unit. That is, when the image processing apparatus operates in the energy-saving mode, only the first power supply circuit operates, and when the energy-saving mode is released, each of the first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit operates.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of an inside of the image processing apparatus. At the time of shifting from a normal mode in which power is also supplied to a printer unit to the energy-saving mode, after the power supply is cut with respect to at least the printer unit, when the determination unit confirms that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit falls below a predetermined value, the power supply is cut with respect to at least the temperature detecting unit, and thus the normal mode may completely shift to the energy-saving mode. That is, when shifting to the energy-saving mode, until the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit falls below the predetermined value, the normal mode does not completely shift to the energy-saving mode in which the power is supplied only to electric components that always need the power supplied.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a first power supply circuit that always supplies power to a first section that operates even in an energy-saving mode, a second power supply circuit that supplies power to a second section that operates only in a normal mode, and a third power supply circuit that supplies power to a third section, excluding the first section and the second section, which third section does not operate when the normal mode has completed shifted to the energy-saving mode. The first section includes at least the facsimile communication unit, the network communication unit, the memory, and the determination unit, and the third section includes at least a temperature detecting unit.
According to the above embodiment, when the image processing apparatus has completely shifted from the normal mode to the energy-saving mode, only the first power supply circuit operates, and when the energy-saving mode is released, each of the first through third power supply circuits operates.
According to the present invention, when a facsimile communication unit receives data at the time of operating in an energy-saving mode, the received data can be stored in a memory, and thus it is not necessary to release the energy-saving mode each time a facsimile is received. When a network communication unit receives data at the time of operating in the energy-saving mode, it can be determined whether or not to release the energy-saving mode in accordance with a content of a request of a terminal device, and thus it is not necessary to release the energy-saving mode each time the network communication unit receives data. Accordingly, compared with a conventional configuration that releases the energy-saving mode each time a communication with an outside is confirmed, the present invention performs necessary operations with minimum components, thereby further reducing power consumption.
Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.
With reference to the drawings, an image processing apparatus and an energy-saving control method thereof of the present invention will be described in an example of an MFP including a facsimile function.
The MFP of
As components used to achieve the facsimile function, the MFP of
The MFP of
The MFP of
In order to implement a scanner function that is used to scan an image of an original document, the MFP of
In order to implement a printer function that is used to print the image on a paper, the MFP of
The MFP of
In the MFP of
The electronic components of the MFP are divided into a first section 100, a second section 101, and a third section 102. The first section 100 includes the MPU 1, the ROM 2, the RAM 3, the memory controller 4, the SDRAM 5, the CODEC 6, the MODEM 7, the NCU 8, the LAN interface 9, and the power-saving key 10. The second section 101 includes the image processing circuit 11, the printer mechanism control circuit 12, the printer engine 13, the scanner control unit 14, the image processing unit 15, the light source 16, and the image pick-up element 17. The third section 102 includes the sub-system controller 21, the operation unit 22, the display unit 23, and the temperature detecting unit 24.
The MFP of
In other words, terminals of the commercial power 300 are connected to terminals arranged on an input side of the first power supply circuit 200, and thus the DC power from the first power supply circuit 200 is continuously output to the first section 100. One terminal of the switch SW1 is connected to the commercial power 300, and another terminal of the switch SW1 is connected to a terminal arranged on an input side of the third power supply circuit 202. Thus, when the switch SW1 is turned on, the DC power from the third power supply circuit 202 is output to the third section 102. Similarly, the switch SW2, which is connected to the switch SW1 in series, is connected to one terminal arranged on an input side of the second power supply circuit 201. Thus, when the switches SW1, SW2 are turned on, the DC power from the second power supply circuit 201 is output to the second section 101.
Although the switches SW1, SW2 are connected in series between the commercial power 300 and the second power supply circuit 201 in
1. Operations in the Normal Mode in the Standby State
Operations performed when the MFP of
When the MFP ends an instructed operation and enters into the standby state in the normal mode, the MPU 1 determines whether or not the power-saving key 10 has been operated (S1). When the power-saving key 10 has not been operated (“NO” in S1), the MPU 1 confirms whether or not a prescribed period of time has elapsed after the MFP entered into the standby state (S2). When it is not confirmed that the prescribed period of time has elapsed (“NO” in S2), the process returns to S1, where the MPU 1 determines whether or not the power-saving key 10 has been operated.
When the MPU 1 determines that the power-saving key 10 has been operated (“YES in S1), or when the MPU 1 confirms that the prescribed period of time has elapsed after the MFP entered into the standby state (“YES” in S2), MPU 1 turns off the switch SW2 (S3). Thus, the second power supply circuit 201 and the commercial power 300 are electrically disconnected, and the power supply from the second power supply circuit 201 to the second section 101 is cut. In other words, the power supply is cut with respect to the image processing circuit 11, the printer mechanism control circuit 12, the printer engine 13, which are related to the printer function, and to the scanner control unit 14, the image processing unit 15, the light source 16, and the image pick-up element 17, which are related to the scanner function.
After the power supply from the second power supply circuit 201 is cut, the MPU 1 determines whether or not the temperature of the printer engine 13 detected by the temperature detecting unit 24 falls below a predetermined value (S4). When the temperature detecting unit 24, which is composed of a thermistor or other similar devices, detects the temperature of a fusing heater, which constitutes a portion of the printer engine 13, the MPU 1 determines based on the temperature of the fusing heater whether or not a printing operation can be performed immediately after the normal mode is restored.
When the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 24 falls below the predetermined value (“YES” in S4), the MPU 1 determines that the restoration of the printer engine 13 needs a certain period of time, and turns off the switch SW1 (S5). Accordingly, the third power supply circuit 202 and the commercial power 300 are electrically disconnected, and the power supply by the third power supply circuit 202 is cut with respect to the sub-system controller 21, the operation unit 22, the display unit 23, and the temperature detecting unit 24, which together constitute the third section 102. Thus, since the power supply by the second and third power supply circuits 201, 202 is cut, the state of the MFP completely shifts to the energy-saving mode in which only the first power supply circuit 200 always supplies power.
On the other hand, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 24 exceeds the predetermined value (“NO” in S4), the MPU 1 determines whether or not the power-saving key 10 or the operation unit 22 has been operated (S6). At this time, when the power-saving key 10 or the operation unit 22 has been operated by the user, and when the MPU 1 confirms a request for restoring the normal mode (“YES” in S6), the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW2 (S7). Thus, the second power supply circuit 201 and the commercial power 300 are connected, and the power supply from the second power supply circuit 201 to the second section 101 is resumed. In other words, in order to perform the operations through the scanner function or the printer function, the MFP restores the normal mode when an instruction is received through the operation unit 22, or the like. Then, the process returns to S1, where the MPU 1 determines whether or not the power-saving key 10 has been operated.
When the operation unit is operated while the MFP is in the standby state in the normal mode, based on the instruction given through the operation unit 22, each of the facsimile function, the printer function, or the scanner function is executed. When accessed by a terminal device through the LAN interface 9, based on the access content, an image browsing function, the facsimile function, the printer function, or the scanner function is executed. When a facsimile is received by the MODEM 7 and the NCU 8, an image of the received image data is printed on a paper.
When the operation of the power-saving key 10 or of the operation unit 22 by the user is not confirmed (“NO” in S6), the MPU 1 confirms whether or not a facsimile has been received by the MODEM 7 and the NCU 8 (S8). When the MPU 1 confirms the facsimile reception performed by the MODEM 7 and the NCU 8 (“YES” in S8), similarly to the operation of S7, the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW2 (S9). Thus, the power supply from the second power supply circuit 201 is resumed, and the MFP restores the normal mode. Accordingly, the power is supplied to the image processing circuit 11, the printer mechanism control circuit 12, and the printer engine 13.
In S8, when the NCU 8 confirms a calling from a destination facsimile machine and establishes a connection with the destination facsimile machine via the PSTN, the MPU 1 confirms the facsimile reception. Thus, the switch SW2 is turned on in S9, and the MFP restores the normal mode to print the image of the received image data on a paper (S10). The facsimile reception of the MFP is described below.
As described above, when the MFP restores the normal mode, a signal received through the NCU 8 is demodulated by the MODEM 7, and compressed image data is acquired and then temporarily stored in the SDRAM 5 by the memory controller 4. The image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is expanded by the CODEC 6, and thus image data of an original document transmitted from the destination facsimile machine is reproduced.
When the reproduced image data is sent to the image processing circuit 11, a format of the data is converted into a data format used for printing, and the data is further sent to a laser scanner unit, which constitutes the printer engine 13. Alternatively, the data may be sent to a print head such as an ink jet head. At the same time, a paper feed roller, the laser scanner unit, the print head, and the fusing heater, which together constitute the printer engine 13, are driven by the printer mechanism control circuit 12, and the image of the received original document is printed on a paper supplied in the printer engine 13.
When the facsimile reception is not confirmed (“NO” in S8), the MPU 1 confirms whether or not the terminal device has accessed the MFP via the LAN interface 9 (S11). At this time, when a signal reception via the LAN interface 9 is not confirmed (“NO” in S11), the process returns to S4, where the MPU 1 confirms the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 24. A signal transmitted from the terminal device provided on the LAN is received by the LAN interface 9, and the MPU 1 confirms the access from the terminal device (“YES” in S11). Based on the signal received by the LAN interface 9, the MPU 1 confirms a content requested by the terminal device through the access (S12).
When the content requested by the accessing terminal device indicates a facsimile transmission that uses the network facsimile function (“FAX transmission” of S12), the MPU 1 returns to the determining process of S4 after transmitting via facsimile the image data received by the LAN interface 9 (S13). When performing the facsimile transmission using the network facsimile function, such a transmission can be performed even when the power is not supplied to the scanner control unit 14, the image processing unit 15, the light source 16, and the image pick-up element 17.
When the image data transmitted from the accessing terminal device is received by the LAN interface 9 in S13, the memory controller 4 temporarily stores the image data in the SDRAM 5. Then, the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is compressed by the CODEC 6, modulated by the MODEM 7, and transmitted to another facsimile machine with which the connection is established by the NCU 8.
When the request made by the terminal device accessing the MFP indicates a printing operation using the network printer function or an operation of scanning an image using the network scanner function (“scanner, printer” in S12), similarly to the operations in S7 and S9, the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW2 (S14). Thus, the power supply from the second power supply circuit 201 is resumed, and the MFP restores the normal mode.
The MFP can use the network printer function through the image processing circuit 11, the printer mechanism control circuit 12, and the printer engine 13, and the network scanner function through the scanner control unit 14, the image processing unit 15, the light source 16, and the image pick-up element 17. In accordance with the request from the terminal device accessing the MFP, the printing operation on the paper or the image scanning operation may be executed through the network printer function or the network scanner function, respectively (S15).
At the time of executing the printing operation through the network printer function, when the LAN interface 9 receives the data for the printing operation from the terminal device, the memory controller 4 temporarily stores the received data in the SDRAM 5. The data temporarily stored in the SDRAM 5 is then sent to the image processing circuit 11, converted into image data that is acceptable to the printer engine 13, and sent to the printer engine 13. Each function of the printer engine 13 is driven by the printer mechanism control circuit 12, and an image having the content requested by the terminal device is printed on the paper.
At the time of executing the image scanning operation through the network scanner function, in the case of using a Flat Bed Scanner (FBS) as the scanner unit, the scanner control unit 14 turns on the light source 16, and a carriage is moved at a constant speed in a sub-scanning direction. In the case of using an Auto Document Feeder (ADF) as the scanner unit, the scanner control unit 14 feeds an original document and controls the lighting of the light source 16 in accordance with the paper feeding timing.
When the image pick-up element 17 receives the reflected light from the original document arising from the lighting of the light source 16, the received light is converted into an electric signal with respect to each prescribed timing to take a sample therefrom, and image data is acquired by scanning the image of the original document line by line. The image data acquired based on the original document image is temporarily stored in the SDRAM 5 by the memory controller 4, and then compressed by the CODEC 6. The compressed image data is transmitted via the LAN interface 9 to the terminal device whose access is confirmed by the MPU 1 in S11.
When the content requested by the accessing terminal device indicates a browsing of the image of the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 (“image browsing” of S12), the MFP transmits the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 to the terminal device (S16). When the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is read out by the memory controller 4, after being expanded by the CODEC 6, the image data is transmitted through the LAN interface 9 to the terminal device whose access is confirmed by the MPU 1 in S11. The image data stored in the SDRAM 5 may be transmitted to the terminal device without being expanded by the CODEC 6.
The terminal device, which has received the image data from the LAN interface 9, displays the image of the received image data on a display. Thus, the user can confirm the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 by browsing the image displayed by the terminal device after the facsimile reception. The user of the terminal device can instruct the MFP to print desired image data by selecting the image data desired to be printed on the paper and by operating the terminal device.
While the terminal device browses the image data via the LAN interface 9, the MPU 1 confirms whether or not a signal specifying the printing of the currently-browsed images has been received from the terminal device by the LAN interface 9 (S17). The user browsing the images by using the terminal device operates the terminal device to select the image desired to be printed from the currently-browsed images. The MPU 1 confirms via the LAN interface 9 whether or not such a printing has been specified through the terminal device.
At this time, when the signal specifying the printing has not been received by the LAN interface 9 (“NO” in S17) because the user ends the browsing by using the terminal device, for example, the communication between the LAN interface 9 and the terminal device is ended, and the process returns to S4. When the signal specifying such a printing has been received from the terminal device by the LAN interface 9 (“YES” in S17), the process proceeds to S14, where the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW2 to restore the normal mode of the MFP. In S15, the MPU 1 analyzes the signal received from the terminal device by the LAN interface 9 and confirms the image data to be printed.
In S15, when the memory controller 4 reads out the image data desired by the user by using the terminal device from the SDRAM 5, the image data is expanded by the CODEC 6 and then sent to the image processing circuit 11. Similarly to the printing operation using the network printer function, the MPU 1 operates the image processing circuit 11, the printer mechanism control circuit 12, and the printer engine 13, and the image of the image data desired by the user is printed on the paper.
When browsing, by using the terminal device, the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 after the facsimile reception, and when a browsing instruction is received from the terminal device by the LAN interface 9, the entire image data stored in the SDRAM 5 may be transmitted to the terminal device in S16. Alternatively, the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 may be selected by the terminal device, and only the selected image data may be transmitted to the terminal device in S16. When selecting the image data for printing while the image data is browsed by using the terminal device, the image data to be printed may be selected one by one, or the entire image data to be printed may be selected at one time.
2. Operations in the Energy-Saving Mode in the Standby State
Next, with reference to the flowchart of
Having shifted to the energy-saving mode, an operation on the power-saving key 10 is detected by the MPU 1 (S101). When the user operates the power-saving key 10 (“YES” in S101), the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW1 in order to confirm a request for restoration of the normal mode (S102). The third power supply circuit 202 and the commercial power 300 are electrically connected, and the power supply from the third power supply circuit 202 to the third section 102 is resumed. Thus, the sub-system controller 21 is driven, the restoration of the normal mode is displayed on the display unit 23, and the operation unit 22 can receive operations.
Then, the MPU 1 checks an amount of data stored in the SDRAM 5, and confirms whether or not the amount reaches a prescribed upper limit amount of data (S103). When the amount of data stored in the SDRAM 5 falls below the prescribed amount of data (“NO” in S103), the MPU 1 returns to S6 of the flowchart of
Thus, similarly to the operation performed in S9 (refer to
In other words, when each of the received image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is read out by the memory controller 4, each of the image data is expanded by the CODEC 6 and then sent to the image processing circuit 11. Then, the image data is sent from the image processing circuit 11 to the printer engine 13 driven by the printer mechanism control circuit 12, and the image of each of the received image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is printed on the paper. When the printing of the images of the entire image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is completed, the MFP enters into the standby state in the normal mode, and the process returns to S1 of the flowchart of
When the operation on the power-saving key 10 by the user is not confirmed (“NO” in S101), similarly to S8 of
At this time, when the amount of data stored in the SDRAM 5 falls below the prescribed amount of data (“NO” in S107), the MPU 1 determines that image data can be stored in the SDRAM 5, and the image data received via facsimile is stored in the SDRAM 5 (S108). That is, when a signal from another facsimile machine is received by the NCU 8, the received signal is demodulated by the MODEM 7, and compressed image data is acquired. The image data acquired by being demodulated by the MODEM 7 is sent to the memory controller 4 and stored in the SDRAM 5 as the received image data. Then, the process returns to S101, where the MPU 1 confirms whether or not the power-saving key 10 has been operated again.
When the amount of data stored in the SDRAM 5 reaches the prescribed amount of data (“YES” in S107), similarly to S102, the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW1 to resume the power supply from the third power supply circuit 202 (S109). Then, the process returns to S104, where the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW2 to resume the power supply from the second power supply circuit 201, and thus the MFP restores the normal mode.
In S105, after the image of the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is printed on the paper, the process returns to S1 of
When the facsimile reception is not confirmed (“NO” in S106), similarly to S11 of
When the content requested by the terminal device indicates a facsimile transmission using the network facsimile function (“FAX transmission” of S111), similarly to S13 of
When the content requested by the terminal device indicates an operation that uses the network printer function or the network scanner function (“scanner, printer” of S111), similarly to the operations of S102 and S109, the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW1 (S113). Thus, the power supply from the third power supply circuit 202 is resumed. Then, the process returns to S14 of
When the content requested by the terminal device indicates a browsing of the image of the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 (“image browsing” of S111), similarly to S16 of
While the image data stored in the SDRAM 5 is browsed by using the terminal device, similarly to S17 of
When the signal specifying the printing is received from the terminal device by the LAN interface 9 (“YES” in S115), the process proceeds to S113, where the MPU 1 turns on the switch SW1, and the process returns to S14 of
When the MFP of
While the MFP is in the standby state in the normal mode, when the facsimile is received as described above, the image based on the received image data is printed, however, the image data may be temporarily stored in the SDRAM 5. In such a case, when the amount of data stored in the SDRAM 5 reaches the prescribed amount, or when the printing is specified through the operation of the operation unit 22 or through the access from the terminal device, the image based on the image data may be printed on the paper. Furthermore, when the printing is specified through the operation of the operation unit 22 or through the access from the terminal device, the image data to be printed may be selected from the image data stored in the SDRAM 5.
The present invention is not limited to the MFP illustrated in
While the present invention has been described with respect to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, the appended claims cover all modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008-144613 | Jun 2008 | JP | national |