Electronic devices, power saving programs, and power saving methods

Abstract

This reduces power consumption when electronic devices such as image forming equipment are not in use, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions. [Solution] The electronic device comprises an operation detection unit that detects a power-off operation, a sleep power consumption calculation unit that calculates the sleep power consumption for the period of non-use from the detection of the power-off operation until the scheduled start-up time, and a comparison determination unit that compares the startup power consumption required for startup with the sleep power consumption and determines whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, a power saving program for the electronic device, and a power saving method for the electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] Due to the recent increase in environmental or energy saving orientation, a technique for presenting a usage form of a device (image forming apparatus) that can enhance the possibility of reducing power consumption is known (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Image forming apparatuses such as MFPs used in offices are often used in such a way that the power is turned off after a certain time for power saving and the power is turned on in the morning. When the power is turned on, a large amount of power is consumed due to an increase in the fixing temperature or the like to make it printable. On the other hand, printing is rarely actually performed immediately after the power is turned on, and it directly enters the sleep mode and resumes when there is a print request. Even if the user is conscious of power saving, the power consumption may conversely increase.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to reduce the power consumption of an electronic device such as an image forming apparatus during non-use, and thus reduce the carbon dioxide emission amount.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an operation detection unit that detects a power-off operation, and A sleep power consumption calculation unit calculates the sleep power consumption for the planned non-use period from the time the power-off operation is detected until the scheduled startup time, A comparison and determination unit that compares the startup power consumption required for startup with the sleep power consumption and determines whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption. It is equipped with.

[0007] A power saving program relating to one form of this disclosure is: Control circuits for electronic devices, An operation detection unit that detects a power off operation, A sleep power consumption calculation unit calculates the sleep power consumption for the planned non-use period from the time the power-off operation is detected until the scheduled startup time, A comparison and determination unit that compares the startup power consumption required for startup with the sleep power consumption and determines whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption. To operate as such.

[0008] One form of the power saving method relating to this disclosure is: The control circuit of the electronic device executes a power-saving program, It detects the power off operation, The sleep power consumption during the period of non-use from the detection of the aforementioned power-off operation until the scheduled startup time is calculated. The startup power consumption required for startup is compared with the sleep power consumption, and it is determined whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, it is possible to reduce power consumption when electronic devices such as image forming apparatus are not in use, and consequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

[0010] The effects described herein are not necessarily limited to those described herein and may include any of the effects described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Shows the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Shows the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] Shows the operation flow of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] Shows the sleep mode transition screen.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an electronic device will be described as an image forming apparatus such as an MFP, but other electronic devices may also be used.

[0013] 1. Hardware Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus

[0014] FIG. 1 shows the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 10 includes a control circuit 100 that constitutes a computer. The control circuit 100 is composed of a CPU 11a (Central Processing Unit) which is a processor, a RAM 11b (Random Access Memory), a ROM 11c (Read Only Memory) which is a memory, and a dedicated hardware circuit, etc., and is in charge of the overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 10. The CPU 11a loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 11c into the RAM 11b and executes it. The ROM 11c fixedly stores programs and data executed by the CPU 11a. The ROM 11c is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.

[0016] The control circuit 100 is connected to an image reading unit 12 (image scanner), an image processing unit 14 (including a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)), an image memory 15, an image forming unit 16 (printer), a touch panel (front panel) 17 which is an operation unit including a display unit 17a, a large-capacity non-volatile storage device 18 such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), a facsimile communication unit 19, a network communication interface 13 (communication unit), etc. The control circuit 100 controls the operations of the above-mentioned connected units and performs signal or data transmission and reception between the units. The operation unit of the touch panel 17 is a form of input device, and as an input device, an audio input device including a microphone may be provided.

[0017] 2. Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus.

[0019] In the control circuit 100 of the image forming apparatus 10, the CPU 11a operates as an operation detection unit 101, a sleep power consumption calculation unit 102, a comparison determination unit 103, a carbon dioxide emission difference amount calculation unit 104, a screen display unit 105, and a transition unit 106 by loading and executing the power saving program stored in the ROM 11c into the RAM 11b.

[0020] 3. Operation Flow of Image Forming Apparatus

[0021] FIG. 3 shows the operation flow of the image forming apparatus.

[0022] The operation detection unit 101 detects a power-off operation by the user as a trigger (step S1). The power-off operation may be an operation of a button on the touch panel or a hardware button, rather than pressing an on-off switch.

[0023] The sleep power consumption calculation unit 102 calculates the sleep power consumption for the length of time (scheduled non-use time) from when the operation detection unit 101 detects the power off operation until the scheduled start time (step S2). The detection of the initial power off operation may be an exact time (day, hour, minute) or an approximate time (for example, 0 minutes past the hour). The scheduled start time may be the start time of work, for example, 9 a.m.

[0024] The scheduled startup time is typically 9:00 AM the following day, but if the power-off operation is detected on Friday (the day before a holiday), it will be 9:00 AM on Monday (three days later). Thus, weekdays and the day before holidays can be taken into consideration, and the length of time from the detection of the power-off operation to the scheduled startup time will differ depending on whether the power-off operation was detected on the day before a holiday or not. For example, if the power-off operation is detected at 6:00 PM on Thursday, the scheduled time of non-use until the scheduled startup time (9:00 AM on Friday) is 15 hours. On the other hand, for example, if the power-off operation is detected at 6:00 PM on Friday, the scheduled time of non-use until the scheduled startup time (9:00 AM on Monday) is 63 hours.

[0025] The sleep power consumption calculation unit 102 calculates the sleep power consumption from the time it detects the power off operation until the scheduled startup time as "sleep power consumption × scheduled non-use time". For example, if the sleep power consumption is 0.4W and the scheduled non-use time is 10h, then the sleep power consumption is 0.4W × 10h = 4Wh.

[0026] The comparison and determination unit 103 compares the power required for startup (startup power consumption) with the sleep power consumption and determines whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption (step S3). The startup power consumption may be a fixed value specific to the image forming apparatus 10, a value set by the user, or a measured value. For example, if the startup power consumption is 5.2 Wh, comparing the startup power consumption of 5.2 Wh with the sleep power consumption of 4 Wh, the startup power consumption of 5.2 Wh is greater. In other words, the power consumption is lower when the device is in sleep mode overnight without being powered off.

[0027] If the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption (step S3, YES), the carbon dioxide emission difference calculation unit 104 calculates the difference (carbon dioxide emission difference) between the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the startup power consumption and the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the sleep power consumption (step S4). Since the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption, the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the startup power consumption are greater than the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the sleep power consumption. In other words, keeping the device in sleep mode overnight without turning off the power can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the carbon dioxide emission difference.

[0028] Figure 4 shows the screen for transitioning to sleep mode.

[0029] If the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption, the screen display unit 105 displays the sleep mode transition screen 200 (step S5). The sleep mode transition screen 200 includes an energy saving message 201, a sleep mode transition button 202, and a power off button 203. The energy saving message 201 shows the difference in carbon dioxide emissions. For example, the energy saving message 201 may say, "You can reduce CO2 emissions by 6.10g by not turning off the power. Selecting No will put the device into sleep mode." The sleep mode transition button 202 is a button for transitioning to sleep mode. The sleep mode transition button 202 may include the notation "Sleep Mode" or the notation "NO" in response to a question 204 such as "The device will shut down. Do you want to continue the shutdown?". The power off button 203 may include the notation "Power Off" or the notation "YES" in response to a question 204.

[0030] When the sleep mode transition button 202 is operated (step S6, NO), the transition unit 106 transitions to sleep mode (step S7). On the other hand, when the power off button 203 is operated (step S6, YES), the transition unit 106 powers off (step S8).

[0031] On the other hand, if the startup power consumption is less than or equal to the sleep power consumption (step S3, NO), the transition unit 106 is powered off (step S8).

[0032] As an alternative, if the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption, the transition unit 106 may transition to sleep mode without displaying the sleep mode transition screen 200.

[0033] According to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of electronic devices such as the image forming apparatus 20 when they are not in use, and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions, by determining whether sleep mode or power off and power on consumes more power depending on the length of the period of non-use, and then executing either sleep mode or power off accordingly.

[0034] Although various embodiments and modifications of this technology have been described above, this technology is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of this technology. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10 Image forming apparatus 100 control circuits 101 Operation detection unit 102 Sleep Power Consumption Calculation Unit 103 Comparative Judgment Department 104 Carbon dioxide emission difference calculation section 105 Screen display section 106 Transition Section

Claims

1. An operation detection unit that detects a power off operation, A sleep power consumption calculation unit calculates the sleep power consumption for the planned non-use period from the time the power-off operation is detected until the scheduled startup time, A comparison and determination unit that compares the startup power consumption required for startup with the sleep power consumption and determines whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption. An electronic device equipped with the following features.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, If the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption, a screen display unit that displays a sleep mode transition screen including a sleep mode transition button for transitioning to sleep mode is provided. A transition unit that transitions to the sleep mode when the sleep mode transition button is operated. Electronic devices further equipped with these features.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, If the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption, the system further comprises a carbon dioxide emission difference calculation unit that calculates the difference between the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the startup power consumption and the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the sleep power consumption. The aforementioned screen display unit displays the carbon dioxide emission difference on the sleep mode transition screen. electronic equipment.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, The aforementioned startup power consumption is a fixed value specific to the electronic device, a value set by the user, or an actual measured value. electronic equipment.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, The length of time from the detection of the power-off operation to the scheduled startup time differs depending on whether the power-off operation is detected on the day before a holiday or not. electronic equipment.

6. Control circuits for electronic devices, An operation detection unit that detects a power off operation, A sleep power consumption calculation unit calculates the sleep power consumption for the planned non-use period from the time the power-off operation is detected until the scheduled startup time, A comparison and determination unit that compares the startup power consumption required for startup with the sleep power consumption and determines whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption. A power-saving program that operates as such.

7. The control circuit of the electronic device executes a power-saving program, Detects power off operation, The sleep power consumption during the period of non-use from the detection of the aforementioned power-off operation until the scheduled startup time is calculated. The startup power consumption is compared with the sleep power consumption, and it is determined whether the startup power consumption is greater than the sleep power consumption. How to save electricity.

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