JP2005186425A - Method of saving power of image processor and image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of saving a power of an image processor capable of using an external memory device as a shared resource and suppressing the consumption power of the image processor and the image processor. <P>SOLUTION: When the processor is not used for a predetermined time period, the processor moves to be in a power saving mode and a controller 2 turns off a primary side switch 10 and a secondary side switch 11 according to power source control signals S1, S2 to stop supplying of the power to a control panel 3, a scanner 4, and a printing engine 5 to move to be in the power saving mode. After that, when a request of accessing a hard disk drive (HDD) 6 is received through a network 20 from a PC 21, the controller 2 turns on the primary side switch 10 to supply the power only to the hard disk drive 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power saving control method for an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral having a copy / scan / print function, and in particular, an external storage device can be used as a shared resource, and power consumption of the image processing apparatus is reduced. The present invention relates to a power saving control method for an image processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus.

  Recent image processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals equipped with copy / scan / print functions not only print scanned image data or print from a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), but also image data. Server-like utilization has come to be made. For example, the scanned image data is stored in a confidential box for each user, and a desired image can be taken out remotely via a LAN (Local Area Network) when necessary. For storing the image data, a hard disk or the like is used as an external storage device that can store a relatively large amount of data.

  In such a conventional power saving control method for an image processing apparatus, when the apparatus has not been used for a certain period of time, the apparatus shifts to a power saving mode and turns off the power supply to the print engine, or the ASIC (Application in the controller). For example, the clock frequency of the specific IC) is lowered or stopped, or the power supply to unnecessary parts in the controller is turned off. Here, the unnecessary part in the controller is an I / F circuit with the print engine, a hard disk, or the like.

  By the way, since the print engine rotates a motor or the like, a relatively high power supply voltage of about 5 to 24 V is required, and since the mounted component is mainly a CPU or ASIC, the controller is compared with 3.3 V or less. Low power supply voltage is required. Hard disks typically require 5V for a 2.5 inch type and 5V and 12V for a 3.5 inch type. By supplying the power source of the hard disk from the power source for the print engine, it is not necessary to newly provide a power source dedicated to the hard disk, and the cost increase can be suppressed. However, in the power saving mode, when the power supply (5 to 24 V) to the print engine is turned off in order to reduce the power consumption of the image processing apparatus, the power of the hard disk (5 V, 12 V, etc.) in the controller is also turned off. .

On the other hand, as a conventional technology for reducing power consumption, for example, when a hard disk is not accessed in a data processing device, the rotation of the spindle motor of the hard disk is stopped to reduce power consumption. It is known to write / read data when the accelerator is actually started after starting the motor, and stop the rotation of the spindle motor when the access is completed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-62329

  However, according to the conventional image processing apparatus, when the confidential box in the image processing apparatus is accessed via the LAN in the power saving mode state, the power supply to the hard disk is turned on. In addition, since the power supply to the print engine is turned on, not only wasteful power is consumed, but also noise due to unnecessary operation of the print engine cannot be ignored.

  The data processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is assumed to be a data processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and a plurality of different power supply voltages such as a print engine and a controller are different as in an image processing apparatus including a print engine. It was not possible to perform power saving control corresponding to each subunit.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus power saving control method and an image processing apparatus that can use an external storage device as a shared resource and reduce the power consumption of the image processing apparatus. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a controller that processes input image data, an external storage device that is connected to the controller and stores image data, and a print engine that prints the image data. In the power saving control method of the image processing apparatus that stops the power supply to the external storage device and other units including the print engine except for the controller when the mode is changed to the power mode, the mode is changed to the power saving mode. Then, when an access request is generated from the outside to the external storage device, a power saving control method for an image processing device is provided, wherein power is supplied only to the external storage device.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention shifts to a power saving mode, a controller that processes input image data, an external storage device that is connected to the controller and stores image data, a print engine that prints the image, and the like. When the image processing apparatus includes a control unit that stops power supply to the external storage device and other units including the print engine, excluding the controller, the control unit shifts to the power saving mode. Then, when an access request is generated from the outside to the external storage device, the image processing apparatus is characterized in that power is supplied only to the external storage device.

  According to the power saving control method for an image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when an access request is generated from the outside to the external storage device after shifting to the power saving mode, there is no need in the image processing apparatus such as a printer. The power consumption of the image processing apparatus can be reduced by restarting the power supply to the external storage device without supplying the power to the units. Moreover, since the external storage device is configured to be accessible from the outside, the external storage device can be used as a shared resource.

  FIG. 1 shows an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image processing apparatus 1 is a multi-function machine having various functions such as a copy function, a scan function, a printer function, a data storage function in a confidential box, a controller 2 that controls each part of the apparatus, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal). Display), a control panel 3 that serves as an interface with the user, a scanner 4 that reads an image from a document, a print engine 5 that prints an image on paper, and a controller 2, and is used to temporarily store print data and copy data. The controller 2 includes a hard disk (HDD) 6 as an external storage device in which an area of a confidential box for storing (spooling) and image data scanned for each user is secured, and the controller 2 includes a network 20 such as a LAN. A plurality of personal computers (PCs) 21 are connected to each other.

  In this specification, the “copy function” is a function for printing an image read by the scanner 4 on a sheet by the print engine 5, and the “scan function” is an image data read by the scanner 4. The “printer function”, which is a function for transferring to a PC, is a function for printing image data transmitted from an external PC onto a sheet by the print engine 5. In the “scan function”, generally, image data read by the scanner 4 is temporarily stored in a confidential box in the hard disk and then transferred to an external device such as a designated PC. In this specification, in particular, the “data storage function in the confidential box” refers to a function of storing images in the HDD 6 for each user.

  The image processing apparatus 1 also includes a first power source 9A that supplies power from the control panel 3 and the main power source 7 to the control panel 3, the scanner 4, the print engine 5, and the HDD 6 via the power supply lines 8a to 8e. A second power supply 9B for supplying power to the controller 2 from the main power supply 7 through a power supply line 8f, a primary switch 10 provided on the primary side of the first power supply 9A, And a secondary side switch 11 which is provided on the secondary side power supply lines 8b to 8d of the power source 9A and turns on / off the power supply to the control panel 3, the scanner 4 and the print engine 5. The primary side switch 10 can be realized by an AC relay or the like.

The controller 2 includes a CPU, ASIC, DRAM, an interface circuit with each unit, and the like. The image processing apparatus 1 has a “standby mode” in which the operation can be started at any time, a “sleep mode” in which the power to unnecessary parts is turned off, and a power supply only to the HDD 6 connected to the controller 2 with the power supply to the unnecessary parts turned off. It has a function to perform power saving control by executing the supplied “semi-sleep mode”. This is realized by the controller ₂ activating or deactivating the power control signals S ₁ and S ₂ in accordance with each mode. The power control signals S1 and S2 can be realized by a general-purpose port or the like.

  Next, the operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the power supply control signals S1, S2 and the power supply state to each part. In the figure, the active levels of the power supply control signals S1 and S2 are shown as high level, and the power supply state to each part is shown as high level.

(1) Start of “Standby Mode” First, when the user turns on the SW of the main power supply 7, power is supplied to the controller 2 from the second power supply 9 </ b> B, and the controller 2 receives power control signals S ₁ and S _2. Are both active. As a result, the primary side switch 10 and the secondary side switch 11 are turned on, and the “standby mode” in which power is supplied to all of the image processing apparatus 1 such as the controller 2, the control panel 3, the scanner 4, and the print engine 5. Become.

(2) Transition to “Sleep Mode” After entering “Standby Mode”, if there is no job to process within a predetermined time (user can arbitrarily set), the controller 2 changes from “Standby Mode” to “Sleep Mode” ”.

In the “sleep mode”, the power supply to the control panel 3, the scanner 4, the print engine 5, and the HDD 6 is turned off. That is, the controller 2 inactivates the power control signals S ₁ and S ₂ . Since the primary side switch 10 is turned off, the secondary output of the first power supply 9A is also turned off. As a result, the power supply to the scanner 4 and the printing engine 4 is turned off, the power supply to the LCD (back light power supply) on the control panel 3 is also turned off, and only the LED indicating that it is in the “sleep mode”. Lights up (not shown in FIG. 1, but a power / control signal for LED lighting is supplied from the controller). The power supply of the HDD 6 connected to the controller 2 is also turned off at the same time.

  At this time, the secondary output of the second power supply 9B remains on, but the power of the interface circuit with the print engine is turned off in the controller 2, the DRAM is put into self-refresh, and the clock of the ASIC is stopped. The power consumption of the controller 2 can be reduced by causing the CPU to enter the power saving mode.

(3) Transition to “Semi-Sleep Mode” When the HDD 6 connected to the controller 2 is accessed via the network 20 in the “sleep mode” state, the controller 2 makes the power control signal S ₁ inactive. while, the power control signal S ₂ activated. The power control signal S ₂ by the active, primary switch 10 of the first power supply 9A is turned on, the power supply to HDD6 supplied through the power supply line 8e of the first power supply 9A. Meanwhile, since the power control signals S ₁ is inactive, the first switch 11a of the secondary side switch 11 disposed on the secondary output side of the power supply 9A, 11b, since all 11c is left in the OFF state The power supply to the control panel 3, the scanner 4, and the print engine 5 remains off.

After completion migrated again desired access to (4) "sleep mode", the controller 2, by a power control signal S ₂ to the inactive, turns off the power supply to the HDD 6, the "sleep mode" again Transition.
Of course, in the state of "semi sleep mode", when receiving a print job or the like, by the power control signals S ₁ to active, the secondary side is arranged on the secondary output side of the first power supply 9A switch It is also possible to turn on all the switches 11a, 11b, and 11c in 11 and shift to the “standby mode”.

  According to this embodiment, in the image processing apparatus 1 having a data storage function such as a confidential box, when the apparatus 1 is not used for a certain period of time, it shifts to “sleep mode” and supplies power to the print engine 5 and the like. However, when access to the confidential box in the HDD 6 occurs via the network 20, only power supply to the hard disk 6 is resumed without supplying power to unnecessary parts in the apparatus 1 such as the print engine 5. By doing so, power consumption can be reduced. At this time, since no power is supplied to the print engine 5 or the like, the generation of noise due to unnecessary operations can be prevented. Further, since the HDD 6 is configured to be accessible via the network 20, the HDD 6 can be used as a shared resource.

  FIG. 3 shows an image processing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 1 has a switch 12 connected to a power supply line 8e from the first power supply 9A to the HDD 6 instead of the primary switch 10 of the first power supply 9A. Is provided. Also with this configuration, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, a 2.5-inch hard disk that uses only 5V has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In a 3.5 inch hard disk, in addition to 5V, 12V can be realized by supplying power through a similar wiring path. Further, although the hard disk has been described as the external storage device, an MO (Magneto Optical disk), a CD-R (CD-Recordable), or the like may be used.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a timing chart showing power saving control of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Controller 3 Control panel 4 Scanner 5 Print engine 6 Hard disk (HDD)
7 Main power supply 8a-7f Power supply line 9A 1st power supply 9B 2nd power supply 10 Primary side switch 11 Secondary side switch 12 Switch 20 Network 21 Personal computer (PC)
S1, S2 Power control signal

Claims (6)

A controller that processes input image data; an external storage device that is connected to the controller and stores image data; and a print engine that prints the image. In the power saving control method of the image processing apparatus for stopping power supply to the external storage device and other units including the print engine,
A power saving control method for an image processing apparatus, wherein, when an external access request is generated from the outside after shifting to the power saving mode, power is supplied only to the external storage apparatus. A controller for processing input image data; an external storage device connected to the controller for storing image data; a print engine for printing the image; and the external storage except for the controller when shifted to a power saving mode. In an image processing apparatus having an apparatus and a control unit that stops power supply to other units including the print engine,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit supplies power only to the external storage device when an external access request is generated to the external storage device after transitioning to the power saving mode.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the external storage device is a hard disk.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the external storage device includes a plurality of confidential boxes accessible from the outside. An external storage device for storing an image, a print engine for printing the image, and power supply to other units including the print engine except the controller when the mode is shifted to a power saving mode. In an image processing apparatus having a control unit to stop,
A power supply for supplying power to the external storage device and the other unit;
A first switch provided in a power supply line on the input side of the power supply unit;
A second switch provided in a power supply line to the other unit on the output side of the power supply unit,
After the transition to the power saving mode, when the access request is generated from the outside to the external storage device, the control unit turns on the first switch while turning off the second switch. An image processing apparatus that supplies power only to a storage device. An external storage device for storing an image, a print engine for printing the image, and power supply to other units including the print engine except the controller when the mode is shifted to a power saving mode. In an image processing apparatus having a control unit to stop,
A power supply for supplying power to the external storage device and the other unit;
A first switch provided in a power supply line to the external storage device on the output side of the power supply unit;
A second switch provided in a power supply line to the other unit on the output side of the power supply unit,
After the transition to the power saving mode, when the access request is generated from the outside to the external storage device, the control unit turns on the first switch while turning off the second switch. An image processing apparatus that supplies power only to a storage device.

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