Patent Grant
9207621
This application claims priority based on 35 USC 119 from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-228569 filed on Nov. 1, 2013, entitled “PRINTER, DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a printer including a data processing device, a data processing apparatus, and a method of controlling a data processing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, a printer equipped with a data processing device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) has been widespread. Typically, such a printer includes a protective unit configured to execute a protective operation intended to prevent physical damage to the data processing device and save data (for example, data temporarily stored in a cache memory) not yet written to a storage unit (for example, a disk of the HDD) of the data processing device at the interruption of an alternating current (AC) input voltage. For example, Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-35227) discloses that, at the interruption of the AC input voltage, data is saved in the storage unit (for example, the disk of the HDD) of the data processing device and an operation moves to a shut-down operation for the printer. Such a protective operation is executed by using electric power (or electric energy) stored in an electrolytic capacitor included in a low-voltage power supply circuit, when a detector circuit detects a decrease in the AC input voltage.
However, the amount of electric power storable in the electrolytic capacitor is limited. Using a large-capacitance capacitor as the electrolytic capacitor included in the low-voltage power supply circuit produces problems as given below. Firstly, manufacturing costs of the apparatus rise. Secondly, it is necessary to increase the volumetric capacity of a power supply unit equipped with the low-voltage power supply circuit. Thirdly, an inrush current generated at the input of the AC input voltage (or at the turn-on of a power switch of the apparatus) is large.
On the other hand, using a small-capacitance capacitor as the electrolytic capacitor included in the low-voltage power supply circuit produces problems as given below. When an operation having high power consumption (for example, a printing operation) is ongoing at the interruption of the AC input voltage, electric power stored in the electrolytic capacitor is consumed in a short time, and a voltage maintained by the electric power stored in the electrolytic capacitor becomes lower than an operation limit voltage of the data processing device in a short time. As a result, a situation arises where the protective operation for the data processing device cannot be completed.
An object of an embodiment of the invention is to ensure a sufficient time for a protective operation for a data processing device after an interruption of the power supply without involving an increase in the amount of electric power storable in a power supply circuit.
A first aspect of the invention is a printer that comprises: a drive system device configured to perform a printing operation; a drive system controller configured to control the drive system device; a data processing device configured to perform data processing; a data processing system controller configured to control the data processing device; a power supply circuit configured to generate a drive system voltage to be supplied to the drive system controller and a data processing system voltage to be supplied to the data processing system controller, from an input voltage supplied by an external power supply; and an input voltage detector configured to transmit a detection signal indicating an interruption of the input voltage to the data processing system controller, when the input voltage is interrupted in a first operation mode in which the voltages are supplied to the drive system controller and the data processing system controller. Upon receipt of the detection signal indicating the interruption of the input voltage, the data processing system controller switches at least one of a predetermined portion in the data processing system controller and the drive system controller to a second operation mode in which power consumption is lower than that in the first operation mode, and executes a protective operation for the data processing device.
A second aspect of the invention is a data processing apparatus that comprises: a drive system device; a drive system controller configured to control the drive system device; a data processing device configured to perform data processing; a data processing system controller configured to control the data processing device; a power supply circuit configured to generate a drive system voltage to be supplied to the drive system controller and a data processing system voltage to be supplied to the data processing system controller, from an input voltage supplied by an external power supply; and an input voltage detector configured to transmit a detection signal indicating an interruption of the input voltage to the data processing system controller, when the input voltage is interrupted in a first operation mode in which the voltages are supplied to the drive system controller and the data processing system controller. Upon receipt of the detection signal indicating the interruption of the input voltage, the data processing system controller switches at least one of a predetermined portion in the data processing system controller and the drive system controller to a second operation mode in which power consumption is lower than that in the first operation mode, and executes a protective operation for the data processing device.
A third aspect of the invention is a method of controlling a data processing apparatus including: a drive system device; a data processing device configured to perform data processing; and a power supply circuit configured to generate a drive system voltage to be supplied to the drive system device and a data processing system voltage to be supplied to the data processing device, from an input voltage from an external power supply. The method comprises: when an interruption of the input voltage is detected, switching an operation mode to a power saving mode in which the drive system device is stopped or restrained from driving, and then executing a protective operation for the data processing device.
According to the above-described aspect(s), the invention can ensure a sufficient time for a protective operation for a data processing device after an interruption of the power supply, without involving an increase in the amount of electric power storable in the power supply circuit.
Descriptions are provided hereinbelow for embodiments based on the drawings. In the respective drawings referenced herein, the same constituents are designated by the same reference numerals and duplicate explanation concerning the same constituents is omitted. All of the drawings are provided to illustrate the respective examples only.
As illustrated in
Printer 1 includes, endless transfer belt 16 arranged under image formation units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, drive rollers 16a, 16b which move transfer belt 16 in a tensioned position, transfer rollers 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d arranged facing image formation units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, respectively, with transfer belt 16 in between, cassette tray 18 attached under transfer belt 16, hopping roller 19, paper feed sensor 20, write sensor 21, fixing device 66 including heating roller 66a and pressing roller 66b, and ejection sensor 22. Detection signals from paper feed sensor 20, write sensor 21 and ejection sensor 22 are transmitted to drive system controller 40. Drive system controller 40 determines the position of printing medium 80 and controls motors to operate the rollers and belt or the like for use in the conveyance of printing medium 80, based on the detection signals from paper feed sensor 20, write sensor 21 and ejection sensor 22. Heating roller 66a is provided internally with a halogen lamp as a heat source which produces heat by being supplied with electric power by low-voltage power supply circuit 100. A surface temperature of heating roller 66a is measured by a temperature detection unit such as a thermistor. Drive system controller 40 controls the power supply to the halogen lamp to control the surface temperature of heating roller 66a, based on information on the surface temperature of heating roller 66a obtained by the temperature detection unit.
During a printing operation, hopping roller 19 delivers printing media 80, one by one, stacked one on top of another and contained in cassette tray 18. Paper feed sensor 20 detects printing medium 80 delivered from cassette tray 18. Write sensor 21 is arranged at a position immediately before transfer roller 17a, and detects a write position at which toner images formed by image formation units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are to be transferred onto printing medium 80. Transfer belt 16 moves by the rotation of drive rollers 16a, 16b, and holds and conveys printing medium 80 on an outer peripheral surface. Transfer rollers 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d transfer the toner images formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors of image formation units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, onto printing medium 80 being moved by transfer belt 16. Fixing device 66 applies heat and pressure to the toner images transferred onto printing medium 80 thereby to fix the toner images on printing medium 80. Ejection sensor 22 is arranged downstream of fixing device 66, and detects that printing medium 80 which has passed through fixing device 66 is ejected to stacker 23.
An upper portion of the housing of printer 1 is provided with openable/closable cover 1a. Cover 1a is mounted with exposure devices 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and closing of cover 1a allows exposure devices 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d to face the photoreceptors of image formation units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, respectively. An upper portion of cover 1a is provided with stacker 23 on which printing medium 80 ejected to the outside of the housing of printer 1 is to be placed.
Low-voltage power supply circuit 100 includes rectifier diode bridge 101, electrolytic capacitor 102 as a capacitor or a power storage element, field effect transistor (or switching FET) 103, transformer 104, diode 105, electrolytic capacitor 106 as a capacitor or a power storage element, switching controller 107, drive system power generator 108, fixing device power controller 109, data processing system power generator 110, and voltage detector circuit 111.
Voltage V4 generated by drive system power generator 108 is supplied to drive system controller 40 and drive system device 60. Drive system power generator 108 generates from voltage V4 a 24-V voltage to be supplied to motor 62 or to high-voltage power supply circuit 63, a 5-V voltage to be supplied to LED head 61, a 24-V voltage to be supplied to option device 64 such as a scanner or an additional paper feed tray, and a 3.3-V voltage for use in a circuit such as a control ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) provided in drive system controller 40, and the like.
Voltage V3 generated by data processing system power generator 110 is supplied to data processing system controller 50 and data processing device 70. Data processing system power generator 110 generates from voltage V3 a 3.3-V voltage for use in CPU (central processing unit) 51 or data processor 52, and a 5-V voltage to operate data processing device 70 including hard disk drive (HDD) 71, and the like. Data processing system controller 50 can direct drive system controller 40 to change to the second operation mode (for example, a standby state or a power saving state) which effects greater power savings than the first operation mode, so as to be capable of directing drive system controller 40 to start and stop the printing operation. Also, voltage detector circuit 111 provided in low-voltage power supply circuit 100 is connected to data processing system controller 50, and data processing system controller 50 monitors a voltage of an input port of electrolytic capacitor 102.
Fixing device power controller 109 which supplies electric power to fixing device 66 receives AC input voltage V1 from fixing device power supply line 109a. Fixing device power supply line 109a is a line branched from control power supply line 32 of printer 1. Fixing device power controller 109 includes, for example, a triac as a structural element. Fixing device power controller 109 is connected to drive system controller 40 and fixing device 66, and supplies AC power to fixing device 66 in accordance with command signal S5 from drive system controller 40.
Control power supply line 32 is connected to an input port of rectifier diode bridge 101, and electric power rectified by rectifier diode bridge 101 is stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 connected to an output port of rectifier diode bridge 101. Typically, the capacitance of an electrolytic capacitor set for a low-voltage power supply circuit of a printer, not including data processing device 70, is set to a capacitance value capable of storing electric power sufficient to maintain the printing operation even at the occurrence of an instantaneous interruption (or instantaneous interruption within about 20 msec) of an AC input voltage specified by “voltage dips, short interruptions and voltage variations immunity tests” (hereinafter, sometimes called “voltage dips and other immunity tests”) as determined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), supposing that the AC input voltage is instantaneously interrupted. In other words, printer 1 sets the capacitance value of electrolytic capacitor 102 such that electrolytic capacitor 102 can store enough electric power to continue the printing operation even at the occurrence of a voltage dip such as an instantaneous drop in AC input voltage V1 or the occurrence of an instantaneous power failure as an instantaneous power-off.
In the first embodiment, a capacitor capable of supplying electric power for a time required to complete the protective operation for data processing device 70 such as HDD 71, for power consumption in the low power consumption mode, in addition to capacitance capable of storing electric power for maintaining the printing operation at the occurrence of an instantaneous interruption of the input voltage as mentioned above, is adopted as electrolytic capacitor 102. In the case of an apparatus in which the time (or protective operation time) required for the protective operation for data processing device 70 such as HDD 71 is 50 msec, the capacitance of electrolytic capacitor 102 is set so to be capable of supplying electric power for 20 msec to be consumed for the printing operation and electric power for 50 msec to be consumed in the low power consumption mode. The amount of electric power storable in the low-voltage power supply circuit is calculated allowing for not only the capacitance of electrolytic capacitor 102 but also the capacitance of electrolytic capacitor 106. Typically, however, if a power supply voltage for use in a control circuit (for example, data processing system controller 50) is 5 V, an allowable power supply voltage is on the order of 5 V plus or minus 0.25 V. Thus, when the power supply voltage is 5 V, only a slight voltage drop of 0.25 V is allowed. Therefore, electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 can be used until the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 becomes almost zero in order to maintain the voltage of electrolytic capacitor 106; however, electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 106 can be slightly used.
Since the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 106 can be slightly used, a first embodiment description is therefore given that centers on the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102. The electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 is reduced in voltage by transformer 104 and switching FET 103 controlled by switching controller 107, and is reduced in voltage to a controller power supply voltage, such as a direct current (DC) voltage of 5 V, by rectifier diode bridge 101 and electrolytic capacitor 106. In
At time t2, the occurrence of a power failure or user operation (for example, the removal of a power supply cable of printer 1 from a wall power supply socket) or the like interrupts the supply of power by AC input voltage V1 from AC power supply 30 to printer 1. A state which occurs at time t2 is the same state as an interrupted state by power supply switch 31. At time t2, the supply of power to fixing device power controller 109 and rectifier diode bridge 101 is interrupted. At time t2, as soon as the supply of power from AC power supply 30 is stopped, the supply of power to fixing device 66 is stopped. However, switching controller 107 attempts to maintain control system power by using electric power (or electric energy) stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 connected to the following stage of rectifier diode bridge 101 which generates a controller voltage. Incidentally, low-voltage power supply circuit 100 has a structure such that electrolytic capacitor 102 does not supply electric power to fixing device 66 through rectifier diode bridge 101 when the supply of AC power by AC input voltage V1 is interrupted. Thus, in order to maintain the voltage of electrolytic capacitor 106 by the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102, switching controller 107 effects switching driving of switching FET 103 to allow electrolytic capacitor 106 to store the electric power converted by transformer 104.
After that, when the interruption of AC input voltage V1 from AC power supply 30 is continued, the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 decreases and voltage V2 of electrolytic capacitor 102 drops. At time t3, if voltage detector circuit 111 which monitors this voltage drop detects that voltage V2 drops to predetermined threshold TH1 set by voltage detector circuit 111, voltage detector circuit 111 transmits detection signal S1 (see
Upon receipt of detection signal S1 indicating the interruption of AC input voltage V1, CPU 51 of data processing system controller 50 immediately starts the protective operation for HDD 71 at time t4 (see
After that, at time t5 (see
After that, at time t6 (see
First apparatus operation condition C1 indicates an operation condition where the printing operation is executed. Condition C1 is a condition where motor 62 rotates, LED head 61 is on, and data processor 52 operates normally, and condition C1 indicates a condition where power consumption is high. Second apparatus operation condition C2 is a standby state in which motor 62 is stopped, LED head 61 is off, data processor 52 performs data processing so as to be capable of accepting a printing job, and the apparatus is ready to accept the printing job, and condition C2 indicates a condition where power consumption is medium. Third apparatus operation condition C3 indicates an operation condition intended to suppress power consumption. Condition C3 is a condition where motor 62 is stopped, LED head 61 is off, and data processor 52 is also stopped, and condition C3 indicates a condition where power consumption is slight. Under operation conditions having different power consumptions, such as first apparatus operation condition C1, second apparatus operation condition C2 and third apparatus operation condition C3, electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 is used up in the shortest time under first apparatus operation condition C1, is used up in the second shortest time under second apparatus operation condition C2, and is used up in the longest time under third apparatus operation condition C3. Thus, the allowed time for the protective operation for HDD 71 in the case where AC input voltage V1 is interrupted under first apparatus operation condition C1 is significantly different from the allowed time in the case where AC input voltage V1 is interrupted under third apparatus operation condition C3. Thus, the rate of a drop in the power supply voltage varies according to the amount of power consumption varying according to the apparatus operation condition. Thus, in a conventional printer, a period of time between time t4 and time t6 in
In the first embodiment, as soon as a drop in AC input voltage V1 is detected at time t3 (see
When time advances to time t6 (see
As described above, drive system controller 40 and data processing system controller 50 enter the power saving state as soon as AC input voltage V1 is interrupted, and thereby, electric power consumed by drive system controller 40 and data processing system controller 50 changes to the same low consumption operation mode regardless of the operation condition before the interruption of AC input voltage V1. As a result, the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitors 102 and 106 can be used only for the protective operation for HDD 71 to be performed by data processing system controller 50, and the time for the protective operation between time t4 and time t6 can be set with stability.
As described above, in printer 1 according to the first embodiment, as soon as the interruption of AC input voltage V1 is detected (at time t3 in
As illustrated in
At time t2, the occurrence of a power failure or user operation or the like interrupts the supply of power from AC power supply 30 to printer 2. A state which occurs at time t2 is the same state as an interrupted state by power supply switch 31. At time t2, the supply of power to fixing device power controller 109 and rectifier diode bridge 101 is interrupted. At time t2, as soon as the supply of power from AC power supply 30 is stopped, the supply of power to fixing device 66 is stopped. However, switching controller 107 attempts to maintain control system power by using electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 connected to the following stage of rectifier diode bridge 101 which generates a controller voltage. Incidentally, low-voltage power supply circuit 200 has a structure such that electrolytic capacitor 102 automatically stops supplying electric power to fixing device 66 through rectifier diode bridge 101 when the supply of power by AC input voltage V1 is interrupted. Thus, in order to maintain the voltage of electrolytic capacitor 106 by the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102, switching controller 107 effects switching driving of switching FET 103 to allow electrolytic capacitor 106 to store the electric power converted by transformer 104.
After that, when the interruption of AC input voltage V1 from AC power supply 30 is continued, the electric power stored in electrolytic capacitor 102 decreases and voltage V2 of electrolytic capacitor 102 drops in the same manner as the first embodiment (see
At time t3, in preparation for the influence of noise upon AC zero cross signal S4 or the occurrence of the instantaneous interruption of AC input voltage V1 for about 20 msec specified by “voltage dips and other immunity tests” supposing that AC input voltage V1 is instantaneously interrupted, it is detected that a state in which the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 is not detected continues for 30 msec or more (i.e. a period equivalent to or longer than a 1.5 wavelength at a frequency of 50 Hz) after detection of the rising edge of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4. When the state in which the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 is not detected continues for 30 msec or more, CPU 51 of data processing system controller 50 starts the protective operation for HDD 71 at time t4 (see
Here, the reason why the protective operation is started when the state in which the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 is not detected continues for 30 msec or more is as follows. If CPU 51 of data processing system controller 50 is set to start the protective operation for HDD 71 when the state in which the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 is not detected continues for “20 msec or more,” a problem arises as given below. When AC input voltage V1 is interrupted immediately after the rising edge of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4, if the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 is not detected for 20 msec or more, a determination can be made that AC input voltage V1 is interrupted. However, when AC input voltage V1 is interrupted immediately before the rising edge of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4, the state in which the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 is not detected already elapses for about 10 msec. Thus, at the time of a lapse of about 10 msec after the time of the interruption of AC input voltage V1, a determination is made that AC input voltage V1 is interrupted. In other words, when AC input voltage V1 is interrupted immediately before the rising edge of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4, after a lapse of about 10 msec, rather than after a lapse of 20 msec, after the time of the interruption of AC input voltage V1, a determination is made that AC input voltage V1 is interrupted. Thus, at the occurrence of the instantaneous interruption (or short interruption) of AC input voltage V1 for a period of 10 msec, the printing operation cannot be maintained and may be stopped. In the above respect, it is desirable that the operations be performed as given below; specifically, when the next rising edge of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 is not detected at the time of a lapse of 10 msec after the detection of the rising edge of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4, CPU 51 starts the preparation operation for changing to the low power consumption mode (see
As described above, the preparation operation is started after a lapse of 10 msec after the rising of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4, and thereby, the 20-msec preparation operation time can be ensured with reliability. However, when a power supply environment is not good, it is necessary to take the influence of noise or the like into account. As illustrated for example in
After that, at time t4 (see
After that, at time t5 (see
Power supply voltage V3 received by data processing system controller 50 drops at time t21, and, at time t6, power supply voltage V3 received by data processing system controller 50 becomes less than operation limit voltage TH2 (see
As described above, in printer 2 according to the second embodiment, as soon as a drop in AC input voltage V1 is detected (at time t3 in
Also, in printer 2 according to the second embodiment, the detection of the pulse waveform of AC zero cross signal S4 enables more rapid detection of a voltage drop, thus enabling CPU 51 to early start the preparation operation for the data saving in HDD 71. Thus, the amount of data savable in HDD 71 increases, and thus, at the interruption of the AC input voltage, the protective operation performed in HDD 71 can be completed with reliability.
Also, in printer 2 according to the second embodiment, even at the occurrence of temporary interruption of AC input voltage V1 due to instantaneous power failure, a drop in AC input voltage V1 can be predicted from electric power consumed during the printing operation, and thus, the circuit which presets threshold TH1 in the first embodiment is unnecessary.
In the above-described first and second embodiments, the protective operation is described by way of example as stopping the operation of HDD 71; however, the invention is not so limited but is applicable to a protective operation for a data processing apparatus as a device (or a peripheral device) for use in data processing.
Also, in the above-described first and second embodiments, an example is given in which CPU 51 transmits operation stop command signal S2 to drive system controller 40 thereby to save consumption of electric power stored in low-voltage power supply circuit 100 (or 200). However, a configuration may be adopted such that CPU 51 transmits a command signal to stop drive system power generator 108 from generating electric power to low-voltage power supply circuit 100 (or 200) thereby to save consumption of electric power stored in low-voltage power supply circuit 100 (or 200). In this case, the operation can change to a stopping operation for printer 1 after reliable completion of the protective operation for data processing device 70 such as HDD 71, as is the case with the effects described in the above-described first and second embodiments.
Also, in the above-described first and second embodiments, a description is given with regard to an example in which low-voltage power supply circuit 100 (or 200) includes drive system power generator 108 and data processing system power generator 110. However, a configuration may be adopted such that drive system power generator 108 and data processing system power generator 110 are replaced by one power generator or are replaced by three or more power generators.
Also, in the above-described first and second embodiments, a scanner device is given by way of example as option device 64; however, any other device may be used as option device 64, provided that the device is switchable to the low power consumption mode or is capable of stopping the power supply of the apparatus in response to a command signal from data processing system controller 50.
Also, a method of controlling a data processing apparatus to which the invention is applied may be a method including a drive system device, a data processing device configured to perform data processing, and a power supply circuit configured to generate a drive system voltage to be supplied to the drive system device and a data processing system voltage to be supplied to the data processing device, from an input voltage from an external power supply, in which, when an interruption of the input voltage is detected, switching is performed to change to a power saving mode in which the drive system device is stopped or restrained from driving, and thereafter, a protective operation for the data processing device is executed.
Also, in the above-described first embodiment, voltage detector circuit 111 detects voltage V2 in low-voltage power supply circuit 100; however, an AC zero cross detector circuit may be used to detect voltage V2.
The invention is applicable to an electrophotographic printer, a copying machine, a facsimile device, and an apparatus having a printing function such as MFP. Also, the invention is applicable to a data processing apparatus including a data processing device which needs a protective operation at the time of the interruption of an input voltage.
The invention includes other embodiments in addition to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Hence, all configurations including the meaning and range within equivalent arrangements of the claims are intended to be embraced in the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-228569 | Nov 2013 | JP | national |
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| 20130223867 | Nakamura et al. | Aug 2013 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150125174 A1 | May 2015 | US |
