Control board and electronic device

Abstract

To provide a control board and an electronic device capable of reducing a workload of a worker who performs work to take over data.SOLUTION: A control board 20 that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus includes: a second power supply unit 21 that outputs power in response to power supply from a first power supply unit 7 of an image forming apparatus 100; a connector 22 to which a cable is connected that is used for power supply to another control board 20, power supply from the other control board 20, and data communication with the other control board 20; an EEPROM 14 that receives power from the second power supply unit 21 or the other control board 20 connected via the cable; and an address switching unit 23 that switches an address of the EEPROM 14 between a first address and a second address in response to a power supply source of the EEPROM 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control board and an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] In electronic devices such as multifunction peripherals, control boards are sometimes replaced due to malfunctions or other reasons. A data copying device capable of transferring data from an old control board to a new control board is known as related technology (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, the data copying device according to the related technology includes a first connector and a second connector to which the control board is connected, and sets the address of the nonvolatile memory of the control board connected to the first connector as a takeover source address, and sets the address of the nonvolatile memory of the control board connected to the second connector as a takeover destination address. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-258876 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the data copying device according to the related art, the data transfer is performed while both the old and new control boards are separated from the electronic device, and therefore the worker performing the data transfer needs to manage the two control boards so that it is possible to distinguish between the old and new control boards.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a control board and electronic device that can reduce the workload of an operator who performs data transfer work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A control board according to one aspect of the present invention is detachably attached to an electronic device and includes a power supply, a connector, a nonvolatile memory, and an address switching unit. The power supply outputs power in response to power supply from the electronic device. The connector is connected to a cable used for power supply to other control boards, power supply from other control boards, and data communication with other control boards. The nonvolatile memory receives power from the power supply or the other control board connected via the cable. The address switching unit switches the address of the nonvolatile memory between a first address and a second address in response to a power supply source for the nonvolatile memory.

[0007] An electronic device according to another aspect of the present invention includes the control board described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the workload of the worker who takes over the data. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control board mounted in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control board mounted in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and another control board connected to the control board. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a data transfer process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example of a specific embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0011] [Configuration of image forming apparatus 100] First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction peripheral having multiple functions, such as a scanning function for reading an image from a document, a printing function for forming an image on a sheet based on image data, a fax function, and a copy function. The image forming apparatus 100 is an example of an electronic device of the present invention. The electronic device of the present invention may be an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a fax machine, or a copy machine. Furthermore, the electronic device of the present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, an operation display unit 5, a memory unit 6, a first power supply unit 7, and a control unit 8.

[0014] The ADF 1 transports a document whose image is to be read by the image reading unit 2. The ADF 1 includes a document setting unit, a plurality of transport rollers, a document presser, and a paper discharge unit.

[0015] The image reading unit 2 realizes the scanning function and includes a document table, a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).

[0016] The image forming unit 3 realizes the printing function. Specifically, the image forming unit 3 forms an image on a sheet using an electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, an optical scanning device, a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, and a fixing device. Note that the image forming unit 3 may also form an image on a sheet using other image forming methods, such as an inkjet method.

[0017] The paper feed unit 4 supplies sheets to the image forming unit 3. The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed cassette and a plurality of transport rollers.

[0018] The operation display unit 5 is a user interface of the image forming apparatus 100. The operation display unit 5 has a display unit and an operation unit. The display unit displays various information in response to control instructions from the control unit 8. Specifically, the display unit is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The operation unit inputs various information to the control unit 8 in response to user operations. Specifically, the operation unit is an operation device such as an operation key or a touch panel.

[0019] The storage unit 6 is a non-volatile storage device, such as a flash memory.

[0020] The first power supply unit 7 outputs power in response to power supplied from an external commercial power supply. Specifically, the first power supply unit 7 is an AC-DC converter that converts AC voltage output from the commercial power supply into DC voltage of a first voltage value and outputs the DC voltage. The power output from the first power supply unit 7 is supplied to each component of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0021] The control unit 8 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 8 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, and an EEPROM 14 (registered trademark). The CPU 11 is a processor that executes various types of arithmetic processing. The ROM 12 is a non-volatile storage device that stores in advance information such as control programs for causing the CPU 11 to execute various types of processing. The RAM 13 is a volatile or non-volatile storage device that is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various types of processing executed by the CPU 11. The EEPROM 14 is a non-volatile storage device. The CPU 11 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 100 by executing the various control programs that are stored in advance in the ROM 12.

[0022] The EEPROM 14 stores unique data of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the unique data includes individual identification information of the image forming apparatus 100, the cumulative number of printed sheets, a MAC address, setting information set by the user, and user registration data.

[0023] Each component included in the control unit 8 is mounted on a control board 20 shown in Fig. 3. The control board 20 is provided in the image forming apparatus 100 so as to be detachable.

[0024] Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus 100, the control board 20 may be replaced due to a malfunction or other reasons. A data copying device capable of transferring data from the old control board 20 to a new control board 20 is known as related art. Specifically, the data copying device according to the related art includes a first connector and a second connector to which the control board 20 is connected, and sets the address of the EEPROM 14 of the control board 20 connected to the first connector as a transfer source address, and sets the address of the EEPROM 14 of the control board 20 connected to the second connector as a transfer destination address.

[0025] However, in the data copying device according to the related art, data transfer is performed with both the old control board 20 and the new control board 20 separated (disconnected) from the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the worker performing the data transfer work needs to manage the two control boards 20, for example, by attaching an identification mark to them, so that it is possible to distinguish between the new and old control boards 20.

[0026] In contrast to this, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can reduce the workload of the worker who takes over the data, as will be described below.

[0027] [Configuration of control board 20] The configuration of the control board 20 will be described below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control board 20 when it is attached to the image forming apparatus 100. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control board 20 when it is attached to the image forming apparatus 100, and another control board 20 connected to the control board 20 via a cable 200 (see Figure 4). In Figure 4, the image forming apparatus 100 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0028] Hereinafter, the control board 20 (see FIG. 3) installed in the image forming apparatus 100 may be referred to as the control board 20A. Also, the control board 20 (see FIG. 4) not installed in the image forming apparatus 100 and connected to the control board 20A via the cable 200 may be referred to as the control board 20B.

[0029] The control board 20 is mounted with a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, and an EEPROM 14. Note that the ROM 12 and RAM 13 are omitted from FIGS.

[0030] The control board 20 also includes a second power supply unit 21, a connector 22, and an address switching unit 23, all of which are shown in FIG.

[0031] The second power supply unit 21 outputs power in response to power supply from the first power supply unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the second power supply unit 21 is a DC-DC converter that converts a DC voltage of the first voltage value output from the first power supply unit 7 into a DC voltage of a second voltage value lower than the first voltage value and outputs the converted DC voltage. The second power supply unit 21 is an example of a power supply of the present invention.

[0032] The second power supply unit 21 is electrically connected to the first power supply unit 7 by mounting the control board 20 on the image forming apparatus 100. That is, the second power supply unit 21 of the control board 20A (see FIG. 4) is capable of outputting power. The second power supply unit 21 of the control board 20B (see FIG. 4) is not capable of outputting power.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, five lines (signal lines) are wired on the control board 20. Specifically, an internal power supply line VCC, an external power supply line VX, a ground line GND, a clock line SCL, and a data line SDA are wired on the control board 20. The internal power supply line VCC is connected to the second power supply unit 21. The external power supply line VX is connected to the internal power supply line VCC of another control board 20 via a cable 200. The ground line GND is connected to the ground of the control board 20. The clock line SCL is used to transmit a clock signal in data transmission. The data line SDA is used for data transmission by serial communication.

[0034] 3, the CPU 11 is connected to the internal power supply line VCC. The CPU 11 operates by receiving power from the second power supply unit 21. The EEPROM 14 is also connected to the internal power supply line VCC via a diode D1. The anode terminal of the diode D1 is connected to the internal power supply line VCC, and the cathode terminal is connected to the EEPROM 14. The cathode terminal of the diode D1 is connected to the ground line GND via a capacitor C1.

[0035] 3, the EEPROM 14 is connected to the external power supply line VX via a diode D2. The diode D2 has an anode terminal connected to the external power supply line VX and a cathode terminal connected to the EEPROM 14.

[0036] 3, the CPU 11 is connected to the clock line SCL, and the EEPROM 14 is connected to the clock line SCL via a resistor R1.

[0037] 3, the CPU 11 is connected to the data line SDA, and the EEPROM 14 is connected to the data line SDA via a resistor R2.

[0038] A cable 200 (see FIG. 4) is connected to the connector 22. Specifically, a connector provided at one end of the cable 200 is connected to the connector 22. A connector provided at the other end of the cable 200 is connected to the connector 22 of another control board 20.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 22 is connected to five lines (an internal power supply line VCC, an external power supply line VX, a ground line GND, a clock line SCL, and a data line SDA).

[0040] The cable 200 connected to the connector 22 is used for supplying power to and from the other control boards 20, and for data communication with the other control boards 20. Specifically, the cable 200 includes a first signal line connecting the internal power supply line VCC of the control board 20 to the external power supply line VX of the other control board 20. The cable 200 also includes a second signal line connecting the external power supply line VX of the control board 20 to the internal power supply line VCC of the other control board 20. The cable 200 also includes a third signal line connecting the ground line GND of the control board 20 to the ground line GND of the other control board 20. The cable 200 also includes a fourth signal line connecting the clock line SCL of the control board 20 to the clock line SCL of the other control board 20. The cable 200 also includes a fifth signal line connecting the data line SDA of the control board 20 to the data line SDA of the other control board 20.

[0041] Control board 20B is connected to control board 20A (see FIG. 4) via cable 200, and thereby external power supply line VX of control board 20B is connected to internal power supply line VCC of control board 20A. This allows EEPROM 14 of control board 20B to operate by receiving power supplied from second power supply unit 21 of control board 20A. Note that CPU 11 of control board 20B is not connected to external power supply line VX, and therefore will not operate even if control board 20B is connected to control board 20A via cable 200.

[0042] The EEPROM 14 receives power from the second power supply unit 21 or another control board 20 connected via a cable 200. Specifically, the EEPROM 14 of the control board 20A receives power from the second power supply unit 21. The EEPROM 14 of the control board 20B receives power from the control board 20A connected via a cable 200. The EEPROM 14 is an example of the nonvolatile memory of the present invention. The nonvolatile memory of the present invention may be a flash memory or the like.

[0043] The address switching unit 23 switches the address of the EEPROM 14 between a first address and a second address depending on the power supply source of the EEPROM 14. Here, the first address is an address indicating the source of data transfer, and the second address is an address indicating the destination of data transfer.

[0044] Specifically, the address switching unit 23 switches the address of the EEPROM 14 using power supplied from another control board 20 connected via the cable 200. Furthermore, when the power source of the EEPROM 14 is another control board 20, the address switching unit 23 sets the address of the EEPROM 14 to the first address.

[0045] The address switching unit 23 includes a first current path 23A, a resistor R3, and a second current path 23B shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the first current path 23A connects the external power supply line VX and the ground line GND via the resistor R3. The second current path 23B connects the first current path 23A on the external power supply line VX side of the resistor R3 to an address pin AD (see FIG. 3) of the EEPROM 14. When a voltage is applied to the address pin AD, the address of the EEPROM 14 is set to the first address. When the voltage application to the address pin AD is stopped, the address of the EEPROM 14 is set to the second address.

[0046] As a result, when control board 20 is connected to another control board 20 attached to image forming apparatus 100 via cable 200, the voltage of second power supply unit 21 of the other control board 20 is applied to address pin AD. Also, when control board 20 is attached to image forming apparatus 100, no voltage is applied to address pin AD (unless control boards 20 attached to image forming apparatus 100 are connected to each other via cable 200). That is, in control board 20A, the address of EEPROM 14 is set to the second address. Also, in control board 20B, the address of EEPROM 14 is set to the first address.

[0047] The address switching unit 23 may switch the address of the EEPROM 14 using power supplied from the second power supply unit 21. Specifically, the first current path 23A may connect the internal power supply line VCC and the ground line GND via a resistor R3. This allows the voltage of the second power supply unit 21 to be applied to the address pin AD when the control board 20 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100. Furthermore, when the control board 20 is not attached to the image forming apparatus 100, no voltage is applied to the address pin AD.

[0048] Here, when the CPU 11 can access the EEPROM 14 set at the first address, it executes a data storage process to store data stored in the EEPROM 14 set at the first address in the EEPROM 14 set at the second address. The CPU 11 is an example of a processor of the present invention.

[0049] In other words, the CPU 11 of the control board 20A executes the data storage process when the control board 20A is connected to another control board 20 (control board 20B) via the cable 200. In the data storage process, the data stored in the EEPROM 14 of the control board 20B is stored in the EEPROM 14 of the control board 20A.

[0050] [Control board 20 replacement procedure] The procedure for replacing the control board 20 in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described below.

[0051] When the control board 20 of the image forming apparatus 100 is replaced, the old control board 20 is first removed from the image forming apparatus 100.

[0052] Next, a new control board 20 is installed in the image forming apparatus 100 .

[0053] Next, the connector 22 of the new control board 20 (control board 20A) attached to the image forming apparatus 100 and the connector 22 of the old control board 20 removed from the image forming apparatus 100 are connected by a cable 200.

[0054] Next, the power supply of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, which causes the data transfer process to be described later to be executed.

[0055] Then, the cable 200 is removed from the connector 22 of the control board 20A, and the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned back on, thereby completing the replacement of the control board 20.

[0056] [Data transfer process] 5, an example of the procedure of the data handover process executed by the CPU 11 in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. Here, steps S11, S12, etc. represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps) executed by the CPU 11.

[0057] The data transfer process may be executed when a predetermined operation is accepted by the operation display unit 5.

[0058] <Step S11> First, in step S11, the CPU 11 determines whether or not it is possible to access the EEPROM 14 set at the first address (EEPROM 14 of the control board 20B).

[0059] Specifically, the CPU 11 transmits an access request to the EEPROM 14 set at the first address. Then, when the CPU 11 receives a response to the transmitted access request, the CPU 11 determines that the EEPROM 14 set at the first address is accessible.

[0060] If the CPU 11 determines that the EEPROM 14 set at the first address is accessible (Yes in S11), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S12. If the EEPROM 14 set at the first address is not accessible (No in S11), the CPU 11 ends the data transfer process. In this case, the CPU 11 executes the startup process of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0061] <Step S12> In step S12, the CPU 11 executes the data storage process to store the data stored in the EEPROM 14 (EEPROM 14 of the control board 20B) set at the first address into the EEPROM 14 (EEPROM 14 of the control board 20A) set at the second address.

[0062] Specifically, CPU 11 reads the data stored in EEPROM 14 from EEPROM 14 set at the first address. CPU 11 also stores the read data in EEPROM 14 set at the second address. As a result, the data stored in EEPROM 14 of the old control board 20 (control board 20B) is taken over to EEPROM 14 of the new control board 20 (control board 20A).

[0063] <Step S13> In step S13, the CPU 11 notifies the completion of the data storage process.

[0064] Specifically, CPU 11 causes a message indicating that the data storage process has been completed to be displayed on operation and display unit 5. CPU 11 also causes operation and display unit 5 to display a message instructing the operator to disconnect cable 200 from connector 22 of control board 20A and turn on the power of image forming apparatus 100 again.

[0065] In this way, in the control board 20, the power supply source for the EEPROM 14 is switched depending on the state of the control board 20. Specifically, the EEPROM 14 of the control board 20 (control board 20A) that is attached to the image forming apparatus 100 receives power from the second power supply unit 21. Also, the EEPROM 14 of the control board 20 (control board 20B) that is not attached to the image forming apparatus 100 and connected to the control board 20A via the cable 200 receives power from the control board 20A. Then, in the control board 20, the address of the EEPROM 14 is switched between the first address and the second address depending on the power supply source for the EEPROM 14.

[0066] This allows the worker performing the data transfer work to distinguish between the new and old control boards 20 based on the state of each of the two control boards 20. Therefore, the worker does not need to manage the two control boards 20 by, for example, attaching an identification mark to them so that it is possible to distinguish between the new and old control boards 20. Therefore, the workload on the worker can be reduced compared to a configuration in which data transfer is performed when both the old and new control boards 20 are separated from the image forming apparatus 100 (in an unattached state).

[0067] Furthermore, the control board 20 switches the address of the EEPROM 14 using power supplied from another control board 20 connected via a cable 200. This makes it possible to avoid power consumption for setting the address of the EEPROM 14 outside the period of the data transfer work.

[0068] Furthermore, in the control board 20, when the power source of the EEPROM 14 is another control board 20, the address of the EEPROM 14 is set to the first address (the address indicating the data transfer source). Then, the CPU 11 executes the data storage process, which stores the data stored in the EEPROM 14 set to the first address in the EEPROM 14 set to the second address. This makes it possible to execute the data storage process using the CPU 11 of the new control board 20. Therefore, even if the CPU 11 of the old control board 20 does not operate normally, it is possible to execute the data storage process.

[0069] In addition, in the case where the power source of EEPROM 14 in control board 20 is another control board 20, the address of EEPROM 14 may be set to the second address (the address indicating the data transfer destination). Furthermore, CPU 11 may execute the data storage process when EEPROM 14 set to the second address is accessible. In other words, before the old control board 20 is removed from image forming apparatus 100, the old control board 20 and the new control board 20 may be connected via cable 200, and the data storage process may be executed by CPU 11 of the old control board 20.

[0070] [Notes on the Invention] The following is a summary of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0071] <Appendix 1> A control board that is detachably attached to an electronic device, comprising: a power supply that outputs power in response to power supply from the electronic device; a connector to which a cable is connected that is used for power supply to other control boards, power supply from other control boards, and data communication with other control boards; a non-volatile memory that receives power from the power supply or other control boards connected via the cable; and an address switching unit that switches the address of the non-volatile memory between a first address and a second address in response to the power source of the non-volatile memory.

[0072] <Appendix 2> The control board according to claim 1, wherein the address switching unit switches the address of the nonvolatile memory using power supplied from another control board connected via the cable.

[0073] <Appendix 3> The control board described in Appendix 1 or 2, wherein the address switching unit sets the address of the nonvolatile memory to the first address when the power source of the nonvolatile memory is another control board, and the control board operates by receiving power from the power source, and comprises a processor that executes a data storage process to store data stored in the nonvolatile memory set at the first address in the nonvolatile memory set at the second address when access to the nonvolatile memory set at the first address is possible.

[0074] <Appendix 4> An electronic device comprising the control board according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3.

[0075] <Appendix 5> 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, comprising either or both of an image reading unit that reads an image of a document and an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1 ADF 2 Image reading unit 3 Image forming unit 4 Paper feed section 5 Operation display section 6 Memory section 7 1st power supply section 8 Control Unit 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 EEPROM 20 Control board 21 2nd power supply section 22 Connector 23 Address switching unit 100 Image forming device 200 Cable

Claims

1. A control board that is detachably attached to an electronic device, a power supply that outputs power in response to power supply from the electronic device; a connector to which a cable used for supplying power to the other control board, supplying power from the other control board, and communicating data with the other control board is connected; a nonvolatile memory that receives power from the power supply or another control board connected via the cable; an address switching unit that switches an address of the nonvolatile memory between a first address and a second address depending on a power supply source of the nonvolatile memory; A control board comprising:

2. the address switching unit switches the address of the nonvolatile memory using power supplied from another control board connected via the cable; The control board according to claim 1 .

3. the address switching unit sets an address of the nonvolatile memory to the first address when a power supply source of the nonvolatile memory is another control board; The control board a processor that receives power from the power source to operate, and that executes a data storage process to store data stored in the nonvolatile memory set at the first address into the nonvolatile memory set at the second address when the nonvolatile memory set at the first address is accessible; The control board according to claim 1 .

4. A control board according to any one of claims 1 to 3, electronic equipment.

5. The image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document and / or an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4.

Images