Power control IC and recording device having power control IC

Abstract

Conventionally, because the power supply circuit was controlled by the mode control circuit, it was necessary to continuously supply power to the mode control circuit from the sub-power supply in order to detect when the power key was pressed while the device itself was off. [Solution] The power control IC includes a power supply unit including a DC-DC converter that generates power to be supplied to the main control unit based on an input power supply from an external power source, a storage unit that stores an output setting indicating whether or not to output power from the power supply unit to the main control unit, a detection unit that detects the input of a transition signal that changes the power supply state, and a control unit that, when the input of the transition signal is detected by the detection unit, controls the start or stop of power generation from the power supply unit based on the output setting stored in the storage unit, the main control unit is provided outside the power control IC and operates based on the power output from the power supply unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power control IC and a recording device having the power control IC.

Background Art

[0002] In electronic devices such as printers, it usually has an off state where it waits while waiting for a key operation of the power key, and an on state where normal arbitrary operations are possible. In this on state, power is supplied to each part of the electronic device so that appropriate operations can be performed. On the other hand, in the off state, it is required to operate in the minimum power state while suppressing power consumption as much as possible.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a control circuit including a power supply circuit that receives power supply from a switching power supply and outputs DC power, and a mode control circuit that operates by receiving power supply from a sub-power supply. This control circuit performs mode switching control of the switching power supply by the mode control circuit, and when it does not fall below the set voltage even during mode switching, it realizes power saving control by sending a disable signal to the power supply circuit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above prior art, since the mode control circuit controls the power supply circuit, in order for the device main body to detect the pressing of the power key in the off state, it is necessary to continuously supply power from the sub-power supply to the mode control circuit at all times. Therefore, even when the switching power supply is off, power is consumed by the sub-power supply, and further suppression of power consumption has been demanded.

[0006] The objective of the present invention is to provide a technology for power-saving control that reduces power consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, a power control IC according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, Power control IC, A power supply unit including a DC-DC converter that generates power to be supplied to the main control unit based on the input power supplied from an external power supply, A storage unit that stores output settings indicating whether or not to output power from the power supply unit to the main control unit, A detection unit that detects the input of a transition signal that causes a transition in the power supply state, The power control IC includes, within the same power control IC, a control unit that, when the input of the transition signal is detected by the detection unit, controls the start or stop of power generation from the power supply unit based on the output settings stored in the storage unit. The main control unit is provided outside the power control IC and operates based on the power supply output from the power supply unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, there is an effect of being able to perform power-saving control that reduces power consumption.

[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components are given the same reference numeral. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] The attached drawings are included in the specification and constitute part thereof, illustrating embodiments of the present invention and are used together with the description to explain the principles of the present invention. [Figure 1] External perspective view of a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]A block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a power control IC according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] A block diagram illustrating the configuration of the main control and power control ICs in the recording device according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] A flowchart illustrating an example of the state transitions of a recording device when an external power supply is provided in the recording device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] A flowchart illustrating the process when the recording device according to this embodiment transitions from an operational state to a standby state. [Figure 6] A sequence diagram illustrating the sequence when the recording device according to this embodiment is powered on and when it transitions to the off state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention to the claims. While multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any way. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same or similar configurations are given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In the following description, an example of an electronic device according to the present invention is described using an inkjet recording device, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0012] First, the terms used in this embodiment are defined as follows. ·"record" In this specification, "record" does not refer only to cases where meaningful information is formed, such as characters or figures. It does not refer to cases where the information is meaningful or meaningless, or where it is manifested in a way that can be perceived visually by a human being. It also broadly refers to cases where images, patterns, etc. are formed on a recording medium, or where a medium is processed. • "Recording medium" The recording medium shall represent not only paper used in general recording devices, but also, in a broad sense, materials capable of receiving ink, such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc. · "Ink" Ink shall be interpreted broadly in the same way as the above definition of "recording", and represents a medium including a recording material that can be used for forming an image, pattern, design, etc., or processing the recording medium, or processing the ink, by being applied onto the recording medium. It is a liquid in terms of physical properties. The above ink processing refers to, for example, the coagulation or insolubilization of a colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium. · "Nozzle" Unless otherwise specified, the nozzle shall represent the discharge port. Inside the nozzle, there are a communicating liquid passage and an element that generates energy used for ink discharge. · "Scanning" In order to perform recording on the recording medium, the recording head scans on the recording medium to perform recording. Here, the movement of the head during acceleration and deceleration for recording or related to recording is described as scanning.

[0013] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a recording apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The recording apparatus 500 includes a housing (outer casing) 501, a recording head (not shown) that performs a recording operation on a recording medium, and an ink tank 502 as an ink storage container that stores ink supplied to the recording head. The ink tank 502 is arranged on the front surface of the housing 501, and the recording head and the ink tank 502 are connected for each color by an ink flow path corresponding to each ink. A black ink tank 502a is provided on the left side when viewed from the front of the recording apparatus 500, and a cyan ink tank 502b, a magenta ink tank 502c, and a yellow ink tank 502d are provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the recording apparatus 500. The recording apparatus 500 also includes a paper feed tray 503 and a paper cassette 504 as a paper feed unit for taking in the recording medium into the apparatus. The recording medium after the recording is completed is discharged from the discharge unit 505 to the outside of the recording apparatus 500. The recording apparatus 500 also includes a paper feed motor (not shown) for feeding the recording medium from the paper feed tray 503 or the paper cassette 504, and a motor (not shown) for driving the recording head in the scanning direction. Further, the recording apparatus 500 includes a motor (not shown) for driving the conveying roller of the recording medium, a scanner motor (not shown) for scanning the scanner sensor during scanning, and the like.

[0015] The recording apparatus 500 also includes an operation unit 506 for the user to perform operations such as instruction input. By operating the power key 107 mounted on the operation unit 506, the recording apparatus 500 can be transitioned to an on state or an off state.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the schematic configuration of the power control IC 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This power control IC 100 functions as a power control device and is formed on a substrate on which a circuit (not shown) for controlling power supply in the recording apparatus 500 is mounted.

[0017] This power control IC 100 enables a power-saving off state. In this embodiment, the standby state in which the device is turned on by user operation is defined as the off state (soft off state), and this off state is a power-saving state in which power is supplied to the device from the power control IC 100. The state in which power is not supplied to the device from the power control IC 100 (the power supply unit 102 is not outputting power) is expressed as the power-saving off state (power-saving off).

[0018] The power control IC 100 generates power to the main control unit 108 of the recording device 500, and to various units and components included in the device, such as various sensors and LEDs (not shown in Figure 2). The power control IC 100 has a control unit 101 that controls the power control IC 100, and a power supply unit 102 that generates output power. Furthermore, the power control IC 100 has an IC power supply generation unit 103 that generates internal power used for the control unit 101, communication signals within the power control IC 100, and pull-ups for various sensor signals such as external power switches. The power control IC 100 also includes a register control unit 104 that controls registers that hold settings and input signals for the power control IC 100.

[0019] The control unit 101 controls the entire power supply control IC 100, including output control of the power supply unit 102 and control based on register settings of the register control unit 104. Furthermore, the control unit 101 controls the operation of the power supply control IC 100 based on user inputs such as the reset signal 106 and power key 107, which are input from external control ICs. When power is supplied to the power supply control IC 100 from the power supply unit (PSU) 105, the power supply control IC 100 is released from the reset state by the rise of its internal power supply. The power supply control IC 100 also enters a reset state when the reset signal 106 is asserted (becomes low level).

[0020] The power supply unit 102 has regulators such as a DC / DC converter and an LDO (Low Drop Out), and is controlled by the control unit 101. As will be explained in Figure 3 below, the timing of the power output of the power supply unit 102 can be set according to the register settings of the register control unit 104 so that power output starts after power is supplied from the power supply unit 105 and the reset signal 106 is released. Alternatively, according to the register settings of the register control unit 104, power output of the power supply unit 102 can be set to start when an operation that transitions to the ON state, such as the power key 107, is input.

[0021] The output timing setting of the power supply unit 102 (DC-DC converter) is held by the register control unit 104, and the register control unit 104 can retain this setting in the register even when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105. The register (memory) that records the setting of the register control unit 104 is not limited to non-volatile and may be volatile. However, in the case of volatile memory, the control may be such that the output setting of the power supply unit 102 is set after power is supplied from the power supply unit 105. If the recording device 500 operates when power is supplied from the power supply unit 105, the power supply unit 102 outputs power when power supply from the power supply unit 105 starts. Then, after initializing the recording device 500 in the main control unit 108, the register control unit 104 records that power is being supplied from the power supply unit 105. It is also possible to change the setting of the register control unit 104 to a setting where power is not output from the power supply unit 102, and transition the recording device 500 to a power-saving off state, which is a low-power standby state.

[0022] In the power-saving off state, when power is not supplied from the power control IC 100, the power supply unit 102 remains in standby mode without outputting power, even when the recording device 500 is in standby mode. This reduces the power consumption of the recording device 500 during standby. In Figure 2, the power supply unit 102 includes three DC-DC converters and one LDO (regulator), but there are no particular limitations on the number and combination of each component; it may include multiple or one DC-DC converters and multiple regulators. It may also consist of only multiple or one DC-DC converters, or only multiple or one regulators.

[0023] The power supply unit 102 can input the output of a DC-DC converter to another DC-DC converter or LDO (regulator) to create an output power supply. The input power supply for the DC-DC converter of the power supply unit 102 uses the DC power supply supplied from the power supply unit 105, for example, 32V or 24V is input to the power supply unit 102. The output voltage of the DC-DC converter is, for example, 5V (5V system power supply) at channel 1 (DC / DCch1) of the DC-DC converter in the recording device 500. This output 5V is then input to DC / DCch2 and DC / DCch3 to generate 3.3V (3V system power supply) and 1.1V or 0.9V (1V system power supply), respectively. Furthermore, the power output of 3.3V DC / DCch2 is input to the LDO to obtain a power output of 1.5V (memory power supply). The uses of each power supply system are as follows: the 5V system power supply is used for lighting LEDs and powering external boost circuits, etc. The 3V power supply is used for communication between the power control IC 100 and the main control unit 108, as well as for powering various sensors, analog signals, and ROM. The 1V power supply is used for internal control of the main control unit 108. Furthermore, the 1.5V power supply is used for ROM / RAM communication and analog signals. In addition to the configuration in which DC / DC channel 3 outputs the 1V power supply, it is also possible to generate 1.5V with DC / DC channel 3 and input it to the LDO to generate a 1V power supply such as 0.9V.

[0024] Alternatively, in a configuration with two DC / DC converters and two regulators (LDOs), DC / DCch1 and DC / DCch2 can generate 5V (5V power supply) and 3.3V (3V power supply). The 3.3V or 5V generated by the two regulators can then be input to the two regulators, which in turn generate 1.1V (1V power supply) and 1.5V.

[0025] The DC / DC converter can switch the maximum output power (current), and power consumption can be reduced by lowering the DC / DC chopping frequency or by performing intermittent operation. Furthermore, if the recording device 500 is in a mode that consumes a lot of current, the maximum supply current can be increased by raising the DC / DC chopping frequency.

[0026] The IC power generation unit 103 can generate any voltage, including commonly used 5V, 3V, and 1V power supplies. The IC power generation unit 103 can generate multiple voltages, or it can be configured to generate only a single voltage, such as a 3V power supply. Furthermore, the internal IC power supply can be output externally from the power control IC 100, and even when the power supply unit 102 is not outputting power, it can be used as a power source for external sensors or as a pull-up power source for the reset signal 106 and power key 107 input signals described later.

[0027] The register control unit 104 holds the settings of the power control IC 100, such as the output / non-output settings of the various DC-DC converters and LDOs of the power supply unit 102. The register control unit 104 also has a memory function for holding various setting values ​​such as input signal values ​​and registers, and as mentioned above, the memory function can be configured to be either volatile or non-volatile. For example, it is possible to make registers and setting values ​​that should be retained even when power is not supplied to the power control IC 100 non-volatile, and setting values ​​and input signal values ​​used after power is turned on volatile. The register control unit 104 can also hold values ​​such as input values ​​of various sensors described later, analog signal inputs, and digital values ​​after analog-to-digital conversion. Therefore, it is not necessary to supply power to ICs other than the power control IC 100 or to the main control unit 108 in order to supply power to various sensors or to retain various values. In this way, it is possible to detect signals input to the recording device 500 while achieving a low-power standby state.

[0028] The values ​​held in the register control unit 104 can be read by the main control unit 108 after the recording device 500 is started and used to control the recording device 500. Normally, the register settings are stored in the memory area by assigning an address to each setting. However, if it is desired to reduce the register area, the amount of memory can be reduced by assigning the setting values ​​one bit at a time instead of assigning each setting value to an address, thereby reducing the memory area. The data area of ​​the register control unit 104 may be configured to assign addresses for each function, or to assign functions to one bit at a time; it is not limited to any particular configuration.

[0029] Power is supplied to the power control IC 100 when the power supply unit 105 is connected to the commercial power supply. The power supply unit 105 converts AC power supplied from a common outlet to DC power. For example, it converts AC 100V or AC 240V to a voltage that is easy for the recording device 500 on which the power control IC 100 is installed, such as DC 32V or DC 24V, and supplies it. Furthermore, the power supply unit 105 is not the only source of DC power; the power control IC 100 may also be operated by a power supply unit such as a battery (not shown).

[0030] The power control IC 100 becomes operational when power is supplied from the power supply unit 105 or the like, causing the reset signal 106 to go high, thus releasing the reset state. In Figure 2, the reset signal 106 is pulled up by the power output of the IC power generation unit 103 of the power control IC 100, but it is also possible to pull up the reset signal 106 using peripheral circuits outside of the power control IC 100.

[0031] The power key 107 supplies an input signal to transition the recording device 500, on which the power control IC 100 is mounted, from the off state to the on state, or from the on state to the off state. The power key 107 may be composed of a self-resetting switch whose contacts change only when pressed, or a contact switching switch. In addition, the power key 107 switches its contacts by a physical mechanism, but it may also be composed of a method other than electrical contact, such as a capacitive or optical contact. In Figure 2, the signal from the power key 107 is pulled up by the power supply from the IC power generation unit 103 of the power control IC 100, but it is also possible to pull it up with peripheral circuitry outside the power control IC 100.

[0032] In this embodiment, a detection means is provided to detect when a transition signal such as a power key 107 is input to the power control IC 100. This allows the device to switch between on and off states even without supplying power to the main control unit 108, which determines the power state transition of the recording device 500.

[0033] The main control unit 108 represents a device control unit that controls the recording device 500, whose power supply is controlled by the power supply control IC 100, and is connected to the power supply control IC 100 via control lines. In Figure 2, the connection lines between the main control unit 108 and the control units 101 and 104 are bus connections. However, the configuration of the control lines may also be serial signals such as differential signals, parallel signals, or general-purpose interfaces such as SPI and I2C. As will be described later with reference to Figure 3, the main control unit 108 includes a control unit that includes control ICs such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or CPU, and peripheral circuits such as memory. This control unit may consist only of ICs such as integrated circuits with multiple functions implemented, or it may be a unit that includes both ICs and peripheral circuits; its configuration is not limited. The main control unit 108 can communicate with the control unit 101 and the register control unit 104 of the power supply control IC 100. The main control unit 108 can send and receive set values ​​by communicating with the control unit 101 to configure various settings, communicating with the register control unit 104 via the control unit 101, and communicating directly with the register control unit 104.

[0034] Figure 2 illustrates the configuration necessary for power-saving control of the power supply, but as explained in Figure 3, for example, it is also possible to implement functions other than power supply control in the power supply control IC 100. Furthermore, the implemented functions may be implemented inside the power supply control IC 100 or configured as peripheral circuits, and the implementation form is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, it is referred to as the power supply control IC 100, but it may also be configured as a circuit block.

[0035] Furthermore, although the embodiment uses a recording device 500 as an example, the device equipped with the power control IC 100 is not limited to such a recording device, but can also be applied to other electronic devices such as cameras.

[0036] Next, referring to Figure 3, we will explain the case where functions other than those shown in Figure 2 are implemented in the power control IC 100.

[0037] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the main control 108 and power control IC 100 in the recording device 500 according to this embodiment. In Figure 3, parts common to Figure 2 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted.

[0038] In Figure 3, an ADC (analog-to-digital converter) 201 and a motor control unit 202 are implemented within the power control IC 100. External signals include analog signals 204, such as those from a thermistor, and input signals from various sensors 205 that detect user operations. The thermistor is used to detect the ambient temperature of the recording device 500 and to control the device based on the external temperature. Sensors 205 are, for example, sensors in the recording device 500 that detect operations such as the operation of the paper feed cassette or paper tray, or the replacement of recording materials such as ink. The input signals for analog signals 204 and sensors 205 may be powered by the power supply from the IC power generation unit 103, or by the output power of the power supply unit 102 or by an externally supplied power supply. Furthermore, the number of analog signals 204 and sensor signals 205 input to the power control IC 100 may be singular or multiple, and the number of signals is not limited.

[0039] The ADC201 has the function of converting the input signal 204 of the analog signal into a digital signal, and the function of sampling the analog signal 204 at a fixed period and converting it into a digital signal. It also has the function of averaging the sampled signal and performing various calculations. For example, when a thermistor signal is input to the ADC201 as the analog signal 204, the thermistor signal is sampled at predetermined fixed periods and converted into a digital signal. Then, a set calculation is performed on that digital signal and the calculated value is stored in the power control IC100. In this way, the temperature inside or outside the recording device is detected and stored at regular intervals, and the main control unit 108 can use this stored information to check the status of the recording device 500 or for control purposes when it starts up.

[0040] Furthermore, the ADC201 can sample the analog signal 204 using the internal power supply provided by the IC power generation unit 103, even when the power supply unit 102 is not outputting power and the recording device 500 is in power-saving off mode. Also, when the main control unit 108 is running, the analog signal 204 input by the power control IC 100 can be output directly to the main control unit 108, or the analog signal 204 can be input to the main control unit 108 in parallel for analog signal processing. When the analog signal 204 is input in parallel to the power control IC 100 and the main control unit 108, a circuit (not shown) that selects which to input to in order to separate the power supply of the analog signal 204 may be used. It is also possible to output the digital value sampled by the ADC201 to the main control unit 108 for control even when the main control unit 108 is running.

[0041] Similarly, even when the power supply unit 102 is not outputting power, and the recording device 500 is in the power-saving off state, the input signal from the sensor 205 can be detected by the power supplied by the IC power supply generation unit 103. In this way, even when the recording device 500 is in the power-saving off state, the ADC 201 and sensor 205 operate, and data can be stored in the register control unit 104. After the recording device 500 transitions to the ON state, the main control unit 108 reads the values ​​stored in the register control unit 104. In this way, when the recording device 500 is turned ON, the main control unit 108 can understand the operations performed during the low-power consumption power-saving off state.

[0042] For example, if the recording device 500 can detect when the user has placed paper in the paper cassette while it is in power-saving off mode, as well as the number of sheets of paper and the size of the paper, then when it transitions to the ON state, the paper information will already be detected. This eliminates the need for the user to set the paper information again. Similarly, imaging devices such as cameras can detect and retain information such as when a recording medium (such as an SD card) has been inserted or removed, or when the playback button for viewing captured images has been pressed, while in power-saving off mode. This enables various controls, such as automatically displaying the playback screen when the device transitions to the ON state or after the power key is pressed.

[0043] Next, we will explain the configuration including the control motor control unit 202 and the control of the motor 203.

[0044] The power control IC 100 uses the voltage supplied to it to control the DC / DC output and the motor 203. In this embodiment, the voltage input to the power control IC 100 is used commonly for both the DC / DC input power and the motor 203 control power. This allows the power generation IC and motor control IC, which are usually composed of separate ICs and peripheral circuits, to be integrated into the power control IC 100. This offers advantages such as reducing the area of ​​the IC mounting board and lowering costs by eliminating individual ICs. Furthermore, by making the voltage for power generation in the power control IC 100 and the voltage for controlling the motor 203 common, the number of voltages input to the power control IC 100 can be reduced. On the other hand, the voltages input to the power control IC 100 may be different for the power supply unit 102 and for motor 203 control, and the number of voltages input to the power control IC 100 is not limited.

[0045] The control line between ASIC206 and motor control unit 202 may be configured to be connected in parallel with the register control unit 104, or it may be configured to switch between motor control and register control. For example, if the control line from the main control unit 108 is connected in parallel, motor control is performed using that control line while motor 203 is being controlled. When motor 203 is not being controlled (motor 203 is not operating), the control line can be used to control the power supply control IC 100, such as setting the output of the power supply unit 102, thus allowing it to be used as a common control line. Switching between motor 203 control and power supply control IC 100 control can be done by a control switching signal via a control switching line, or, if a control switching signal is not used, by specifying which to control at the beginning of the control signal transmission command. It is also possible to control the motor control unit 202 and the register control unit 104 from ASIC206 via the control unit 101. Furthermore, by connecting ASIC206 to motor control unit 202 and ASIC206 to power supply control IC 100 separately, it is possible to control each simultaneously.

[0046] When controlling the motor 203, as described above, if DC32V or DC24V power is supplied to the power control IC 100 from the power supply unit 105, the various motors 203 can be driven using DC32V or DC24V. The power control IC 100 is equipped with a boost converter (not shown) to drive the motor 203, for example. When the power supply unit 105 is a power source that outputs a power of around 5V or 10V, such as a lithium-ion battery or an AC adapter, the power control IC 100 uses the voltage boosted by the boost converter (not shown) to control the motor control unit 202 and the motor 203. Alternatively, this boost converter may be configured as an external circuit (boost converter circuit) of the power control IC 100 and supplied to the power control IC 100. Furthermore, the output voltage of the boost converter or boost converter circuit can be used for purposes other than controlling the motor 203; for example, its output voltage may be used as the input power for the power supply unit 102 or the IC power generation unit 103 of the power control IC 100. The boosted voltage may also be used to control the motor 203, while the voltage before boosting may be used as the input power supply for the DC-DC converter of the power supply unit 102.

[0047] Many products use multiple motors 203. For example, in the recording device 500, the main motors used are a paper feed motor for feeding paper from the paper tray or paper cassette, a motor for driving the recording head in the scanning direction, a motor for driving the paper transport rollers, and a scanner motor for scanning the scanner sensor during scanning. In imaging devices such as cameras, motors are used for lens barrel control, focus adjustment, and shutter control. Motors 203 can be DC motors or stepping motors, and the type of motor is not limited. Also, although four motors 203 are shown in Figure 3, in reality there can be one or more, and the number is not limited.

[0048] The motor control unit 202 is connected to the ASIC 206 by control lines, and can be controlled directly from the ASIC 206. The ASIC 206 and the motor control unit 202 can be configured either as a bus connection, separating control lines for each motor, or as a serial signal connection, controlling all motors. For example, in the case of a bus connection, a pair of PHASE and ENABLE signals is connected to the bus according to the number of motors, and the number of signal lines required for the power control IC 100's control lines is shared with the motor control signals. In the case of a serial connection, control is performed by switching between controlling the power control IC 100, specifying the motor 203 to be controlled, or controlling motor 203, based on commands sent via serial signals.

[0049] Next, an example of the internal configuration of the main control unit 108 will be described. Actual devices have a wide variety of functions implemented, and include multiple control ICs, various sensors, and operating mechanisms, resulting in a complex structure that cannot be represented in Figure 3. However, here we will describe the components relevant to this embodiment. In Figure 3, the ASIC206 is shown as the central IC of the main control 108, but it can also be a general-purpose CPU or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or other control IC, and is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 3.

[0050] Next, I will explain the configuration of the ASIC206.

[0051] When the ASIC 206 is powered by the power supply unit 102, the CPU 209 starts controlling the recording device 500 according to the control program stored in the ROM 207 via the memory controller 210. The key detection unit 208 can detect whether the power key 107 has been operated via the power control IC 100. When the power key 107 is operated, the recording device 500 can transition to the ON state. At that time, the ASIC 206 can determine whether the transition is from the OFF state or the power-saving OFF state to the ON state by reading the output setting of the power supply unit 102 set in the register control unit 104. Similarly, the sensor detection unit 212 can detect the state of the sensor 205 of the recording device 500 via the power control IC 100. In this way, the ASIC 206 detects the change in the sensor 205 and executes the necessary processing as appropriate. Furthermore, the ASIC 206 can communicate with the power control IC 100 via the communication I / F 211. In addition to communicating with the power control IC 100, the communication interface 211 also controls communication between the USB and wired / wireless LAN within the recording device 500. The protocol used for this communication may be an I2C or UART interface protocol, or it may be a high-speed communication configuration such as differential signaling or PCIe. The communication protocol of the communication interface 211 is determined according to the specifications of the recording device 500.

[0052] Furthermore, when power is supplied to the ASIC206, the power control IC100 transmits the state of the power key 107 to the key detection unit 208 of the ASIC206, enabling the ASIC206 to detect operation of the power key 107. Similarly, the state of the sensor 205 is transmitted to the sensor detection unit 212 of the ASIC206, enabling the ASIC206 to detect the sensor 205. When power is supplied to the ASIC206, the state includes an ON state (operating state) and an OFF state that can be operated by the user, while when power is not supplied to the ASIC206, it is in a power-saving OFF state.

[0053] The power control IC 100 can switch the supply and shutdown of power to various internal circuits. For example, in the off state, the power supply unit 102 supplies power to the main control unit 108, etc., but if the motor 203 is not being controlled, the standby power consumption of the recording device 500 can be reduced by stopping the power supply to the motor control unit 202 and the motor 203. Note that stopping the power supply to the motor control system is just one example; the power control IC 100 can reduce the power consumption of the recording device 500 by stopping unnecessary power supply as appropriate.

[0054] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the state transitions of the recording device 500 when an external power supply is provided in the recording device 500 according to this embodiment.

[0055] As described above, the recording device 500 can be in one of three states, as described below. The first state is the ON state, in which power is supplied from the power supply unit 105 to the main control unit 108 (ASIC 206) from the power supply unit 102, and the device is ready to operate. The second state is the OFF state, in which power is supplied from the power supply unit 102 to the main control unit 108 (ASIC 206), but the device is stopped and waiting to transition to the ON state. For example, the second state is a state in which pre-operation processing, such as initialization processing, is required to make the device ready to operate. The third state is the power-saving OFF state, in which the power supply from the power supply unit 102 to the main control unit 108 (ASIC 206) has been stopped, and the device is waiting to transition to the ON state.

[0056] In this embodiment, in addition to the ON state which allows the user to operate through a display unit such as the operation unit 506, a power-saving state which performs power-saving control to unused function blocks when there is no operation temporarily is also considered an ON state. Furthermore, a standby state which does not display anything on the display unit but can transition to an ON state when it receives an operation job from a communication I / F 211 such as USB or wireless LAN is also considered an ON state. This standby state is an operable mode when power is supplied to the main control unit 108 (ASIC206). In addition, a power-saving OFF state is defined as a state in which, in the minimum power state where the power supply to the main control unit 108 (ASIC206) is stopped, the system transitions to an operable ON state when it receives a specific process.

[0057] First, in S401, the power supply unit 105 is supplied with power from an external source. For example, if the power supply unit 105 is a battery, this means the battery is connected. If the power supply unit 105 is an AC adapter, this means the power supply unit 105 is connected to the commercial power supply. Next, in S402, the power supply voltage generated by the power supply unit 105 is supplied to the power control IC 100. As a result, the IC power supply generation unit 103 generates and outputs internal power, and the power control IC 100 is released from the reset state.

[0058] Next, proceeding to S403, the control unit 101 of the power control IC 100 determines, based on the setting value of the register control unit 104, whether the power supply unit 102 is set to output power. If the power supply unit 102 is set to output power (DC-DC output setting is ON), the process transitions to S404, and the power supply unit 102 (DC-DC / LDO) is operated to output power. On the other hand, if the power supply unit 102 is set not to output power (DC-DC output setting is OFF), the process transitions to S410, and the power supply unit 102 transitions to a power-saving OFF state where it does not supply power.

[0059] This DCDC output setting is determined based on a setting value held in the register control unit 104, which also includes the timing of the power output of the DCDC and LDO from the power supply unit 102 and the output order of each DCDC / LDO. Therefore, the control unit 101 controls the power output according to this setting value. This output setting of the power supply unit 102 allows the recording device 500 to switch between an off state where power is supplied to the main control unit 108 and a power-saving off state where power is not supplied to the main control unit 108.

[0060] In S404, the power supply unit 102 generates power, and then supplies the generated voltages to various parts of the device, such as the main control unit 108.

[0061] Next, in S405, the main control unit 108 (ASIC206) starts processing according to the control program stored in ROM207, as power supply has been initiated. For example, it loads data into RAM207 and initializes each module implemented inside the ASIC206, such as the communication I / F211 and memory controller210, to make them usable and prepare for startup. Next, it proceeds to S406, and after completing the startup preparations, it transitions to a standby state before transitioning to the ON state. In this standby state, power consumption can be reduced by switching the output of the power supply unit 102 from the normal mode to a low-power mode with a reduced chopping frequency.

[0062] Then, in S407, the system waits for a transition signal to the ON state, such as a press of the power key 107. When a transition signal is received, such as a press of the power key 107 or a startup signal for the recording device 500, the system proceeds to the startup process in S408. On the other hand, if no transition signal is received, the system maintains a standby state in S407, waiting for a transition signal to be received.

[0063] In S408, the main control unit 108 performs the transition process (startup process) to the ON state of the device. For example, it lights up the display units such as the LCD and LEDs of the user interface, and initializes the mechanical operating mechanisms such as the motor 203. If the power supply unit 102 is set to low power consumption mode, it changes it to normal output mode. Then, proceeding to S409, the recording device 500 is transitioned to an ON state that can be operated by the user. After transitioning to S409, if it is determined that it is not necessary to maintain the operational state, power-saving standby states are also included, such as turning off the display units and changing the output of the power supply unit 102 from normal output mode to a low power consumption mode with reduced chopping frequency.

[0064] On the other hand, if the power supply unit 102 is not set to output power in S403, the process proceeds to S410, where the power supply unit 102 transitions to a power-saving off state in which it does not supply power to the main control unit 108 (ASIC206). In this power-saving off state, power is not supplied from the power control IC 100 to various devices and units, thus achieving a low power consumption state. The process then proceeds to S411, where, similar to S407, the system waits for the input of a transition signal to the ON state, such as the power key 107. When a transition signal is input, the process proceeds to S412, where, similar to S404, the power supply unit 102 generates power and supplies various generated voltages to the main control unit 108 and other components within the device. As a result, power is supplied to the main control unit 108, and the process proceeds to S413, where, similar to S405, each module is initialized to a usable state, and the process proceeds to S408. The startup process is then performed in S408, and the process transitions to the ON state in S409.

[0065] This process allows the device to transition to an off state, which is a standby state that transitions to the on state, and a power-saving off state, which is a standby state that transitions to the on state, based on the setting value held in the register control unit 104 when the power is turned on. Furthermore, in the power-saving off state, the power control IC operates on a power-saving internal power supply generated by the IC power control unit, which further reduces the overall power consumption of the device in standby mode.

[0066] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the process when the recording device 500 according to this embodiment transitions from an operational state to a standby state.

[0067] S501 indicates the ON state of S409 in Figure 4. Next, in S502, if a signal that transitions to the OFF state, such as pressing the power key 107, is detected while the device is in the ON state (operational state), the process proceeds to S503. In S503, the control unit 101 of the power control IC 100 checks the setting value of the register control unit 104 and determines whether the output setting of the power supply unit 102 is set to output power. If the power supply unit 102 is set to output power (DC-DC output ON), the process proceeds to S504; if the power supply unit 102 is set not to output power, the process proceeds to S506.

[0068] In S504, the main control unit 108 performs the process of transitioning the device to the off state. Here, for example, it performs the process of turning off the display units such as the LCD and LEDs of the user interface, and initializing the mechanical operating mechanisms such as the motor 203. The control unit 101 also performs the process of changing the power supply unit 102 from normal output mode to low power consumption mode. Once the transition process to the off state is completed, the process proceeds to S505, where the recording device 500 is transitioned to the off state (standby state), and this process ends.

[0069] Meanwhile, in S506, the main control unit 108 initiates the transition to the power-saving off state of the device. At this time, similar to S504, it performs the process of turning off the display units such as the LCD and LEDs of the user interface and initializing the mechanical operating mechanisms such as the motor 203, and records in the register control unit 104 that the power control IC 100 should transition to the power-saving off state. This transition record makes it possible to determine whether the transition occurred immediately after power was turned on from the power supply unit 105, or when the power was already on and the device transitioned to the power-saving off state. This allows the processing when the recording device 500 is started to be changed, as mentioned above. When the processing in S506 is completed, the process proceeds to S507, where the control unit 101 stops the output of the power supply unit 102. In S507, the control unit 101 of the power control IC 100 stops the power output from the power supply unit 102 and stops the power supply to the main control unit 108 (ASIC 206). Then, the process proceeds to S508, transitioning to the power-saving off state, and then to the power-saving off state where it is waiting for input of a signal to transition to the ON state, such as the power key 107, and this process ends.

[0070] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating the sequence when the recording device 500 according to this embodiment is powered on and when it transitions to the off state.

[0071] First, when power is supplied to the power supply unit 105 from an external source in S601, the reset of the power control IC 100 (control unit 101) is released in S602. In Figure 6, reference number 630 indicates the case where the DCDC output setting is ON, based on the setting value held in the register control unit 104, and reference number 640 indicates the case where the DCDC output setting is OFF.

[0072] If the DC-DC output setting is ON, in S603 the control unit 101 instructs the power supply unit 102 to output power according to the setting value held in the register control unit 104. As a result, in S604 the power supply unit 102 starts outputting power. When power is supplied to the main control unit 108 in S605, in S606 the main control unit 108 performs the initial setup described in S404 above, and then in S606, as described in S406, it transitions to a standby state before transitioning to the ON state. Then, in S607, when the power key 107 is pressed, the startup process is performed in S608, similar to S408, and it transitions to the ON state.

[0073] On the other hand, if the DC-DC output setting is off, the power supply unit 102 is in a power-saving off state where it does not output power, that is, the main control unit 108 is in standby mode. Then, when the power key 107 is pressed in S609, S610 instructs the power supply unit 102 to output power. As a result, in S611, the power supply unit 102 generates power and supplies various generated voltages to the main control unit 108 and other parts of the device. As a result, power is supplied to the main control unit 108 in S612. Thus, in S613, the main control unit 108 performs the initial setup described in S404 above, and once the initial setup is complete, it performs the startup process in S614 and switches to the ON state.

[0074] Next, we will explain the case where the system transitions from the ON state to the standby state. Reference number 650 indicates the case where the DCDC output setting is ON, based on the setting value held in the register control unit 104, and reference number 660 indicates the case where the DCDC output setting is OFF.

[0075] When the power key 107 is pressed while the device is ON, the press of the power key 107 is detected by the control unit 101 and the main control unit 108 in S615. If the DC-DC output setting is ON, in S616 the control unit 101 of the power control IC 100 instructs the power supply unit 102 to change from normal output mode to low power consumption mode. As a result, in S617 the power supply unit 102 changes from normal output mode to low power consumption mode. Also, when the main control unit 108 detects that the power key 107 has been pressed, in S618 it performs a transition process to the OFF state, for example, by turning off the display units such as the LCD and LEDs of the user interface, and initializing the mechanical operating mechanisms such as the motor 203. In this way, the recording device 500 is transitioned to the OFF state (standby state).

[0076] On the other hand, if the DCDC output setting is off, pressing the power key 107 is detected in S619 by the control unit 101 and the main control unit 108. As a result, the main control unit 108 performs operations such as turning off the LCD and LEDs of the user interface display and initializing the mechanical operating mechanism such as the motor 203. Then, in S620, the main control unit 108 records in the register control unit 104 that the power control IC 100 has transitioned to the power-saving off state. As a result, in S621, the control unit 101 records this transition information in the register control unit 104. Then, in S622, the control unit 101 stops the output of the power supply unit 102. Thus, in S623, the power supply unit 102 stops its power output. As a result, in S624, the power supply to the main control unit 108 (ASIC 206) is also stopped. Then, in S625, as explained in S508, the main control unit 108 transitions to a power-saving off state and waits for an input of an electrical transition signal, such as the power key 107 being turned on.

[0077] In the embodiments described above, an inkjet recording device was used as an example, but the present invention is not limited to inkjet recording devices. The present invention is not limited to recording devices, but can be applied to any product that needs to reduce standby power, such as cameras and mobile phones that use batteries. For example, when applied to an air purifier, a sensor can be installed on the cover that holds the filter, and if the cover is opened or closed while the power saving function is off, this can be stored in memory. Then, when the state transitions from the power saving off state to the on state, a message can be sent to the user to confirm whether the filter has been replaced.

[0078] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0079] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are attached to make the scope of the invention public. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 100...Power control IC, 101...Control unit, 102...Power control unit, 103...IC power generation unit, 104...Register control unit, 105...Power unit, 106...Reset signal, 107...Power key, 108...Main control unit

Claims

1. Power control IC, A power supply unit including a DCDC converter that generates power to be supplied to the main control unit based on the input power supplied from an external power supply, A storage unit that stores output settings indicating whether or not to output power from the power supply unit to the main control unit, A detection unit that detects the input of a transition signal that causes a transition in the power supply state, The power control IC includes, within the same power control IC, a control unit that, when the input of the transition signal is detected by the detection unit, controls the start or stop of power generation from the power supply unit based on the output setting stored in the storage unit. The main control unit is provided outside the power control IC and is characterized in that it operates based on the power supply output from the power supply unit.

2. The power control IC according to claim 1, further comprising an internal power generation unit that generates an internal power supply used by the control unit, the storage unit, and the detection unit based on the input power supply.

3. The power control IC according to claim 2, characterized in that the detection unit detects the transition signal based on the internal power generated by the internal power generation unit when the generation of power from the power supply unit to the main control unit is stopped.

4. The power control IC according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition signal is a signal input to the detection unit in response to the operation of the power key.

5. The power supply unit is characterized by including a DC-DC converter and a regulator that generates another power supply based on the power supply generated by the DC-DC converter, as described in claim 1.

6. The power control IC according to claim 1, characterized in that the main control unit can write the output settings stored in the storage unit when power is supplied from the power supply unit.

7. The control unit, when the supply of the input power from the external power supply is started, When the output setting is set to start generating the power supply, the power supply unit supplies power to the main control unit without waiting for the input of the transition signal. The power control IC according to claim 1, characterized in that when the output setting is set to stop the generation of the power supply, the power supply unit does not supply power to the main control unit and transitions to a state of waiting for the input of the transition signal.

8. The power control IC according to claim 7, characterized in that when the input of the transition signal is detected by the detection unit while the control unit is in the input waiting state, it starts generating the power supply and supplies power from the power supply unit to the main control unit.

9. The power control IC according to claim 1, characterized in that when the control unit is in an ON state in which power is supplied to the main control unit, the input of the transition signal is detected by the detection unit, and the output setting is set to stop the generation of the power by the DC-DC converter, the control unit stops the generation of the power by the DC-DC converter and stops the power supply to the main control unit.

10. A power control IC according to any one of claims 1 to 9, A circuit board on which the aforementioned power control IC is mounted, A recording unit that records images onto a recording medium, A recording device characterized by having the following features.

11. The recording device according to claim 10, characterized in that a motor control unit for driving a motor controlled by the main control unit is provided on the substrate.

12. The recording device according to claim 10, characterized in that a sensor detection unit for detecting sensor signals from a sensor provided in the recording device is provided on the substrate.

13. A power supply unit including a DCDC converter that generates power to be supplied to the main control unit based on the input power supplied from an external power supply, A detection unit that detects the input of a key signal corresponding to the operation of the power key, A power control IC having: after the supply of the input power from the external power supply is started, the control unit waits for the input of the key signal with the conversion operation of the DC-DC converter stopped, and when the input of the key signal is detected by the detection unit, the control unit starts the conversion operation of the DC-DC converter and starts generating the power to be supplied to the main control unit; A recording unit that records images onto a recording medium, A recording device characterized by having the following features.

14. The recording device according to claim 13, characterized in that the power control IC further includes a motor control unit for driving the motor of the recording unit.

Images