Information Processing Apparatus Backup Power Failure Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information processing apparatuses fail to receive and respond to failure information when the main power supply is not available, leading to potential misuse of faulty functions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a low power wide area (LPWA) communication module with a battery backup that allows the apparatus to acquire and process failure information even without the main power supply, enabling selective activation of functions and limiting their use to prevent issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the main power supply is not supplied to the apparatus, then power consumption is reduced, but the apparatus cannot receive or respond to failure information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfailure information reception

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply system is segmented into main power supply and backup power supply (battery). The acquisition unit is selectively powered by the backup power supply when main power is unavailable, enabling failure information reception while maintaining low overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery is pre-charged during normal operation when main power is available. When main power fails, the pre-charged battery immediately activates the acquisition unit to receive failure information, ensuring continuous reliability without power consumption gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If all functions are activated when power is supplied to the acquisition unit, then complete system operation is achieved, but failure-related functions may be misused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operationVSAvoidfunction misuse

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different functions are assigned different power supply sources based on their criticality. The acquisition unit (for failure information reception) is powered by the backup power supply, while other non-critical functions remain inactive or are powered only by main power, preventing misuse while maintaining essential operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of activating all functions when backup power is available, only the necessary acquisition unit is activated. This partial action ensures failure information can be received and processed without enabling potentially harmful functions that are not absolutely necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11750758B2Information processing apparatus having control for limiting use of function related to failure

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a power supply unit, and a controller. The acquisition unit acquires failure information for the information processing apparatus via a wireless communication line from a management apparatus holding failure information. The power supply unit supplies power to the acquisition unit when the main power supply is not on. The controller exerts control in such a manner that, when the acquisition unit acquires the failure information from the management apparatus in the state in which the main power supply is not on, only a subset of functions of the apparatus are activated by supplying power from the power supply unit, and a process for limiting use of a function related to the failure is performed.