Image Forming Apparatus Bus Communication Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses, the time-consuming process of acknowledgment transmission and reception between cassettes and the apparatus main body slows down image formation, especially when communicating with multiple cassettes via a bus.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus includes a control apparatus that transmits an acknowledgement unnecessary command to certain cassettes during image formation, indicating that acknowledgments are unnecessary based on the state of the apparatus related to those cassettes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If acknowledgment transmission and reception is performed between cassette and apparatus main body, then reliability of communication is improved, but image formation time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidimage formation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the acknowledgment mechanism adjustable based on communication state. The control apparatus dynamically determines whether to transmit acknowledgment necessary commands or acknowledgment unnecessary commands to cassettes, depending on the current communication conditions and cassette states, thereby optimizing the balance between reliability and time efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of communication mode by introducing different command types (acknowledgment necessary vs. acknowledgment unnecessary). This allows the system to modify the communication protocol parameters based on real-time conditions, reducing unnecessary acknowledgment transmissions when reliability is not critical

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If sequential communication with multiple cassettes is performed via bus, then data collision is avoided, but communication speed is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collision avoidanceVSAvoidcommunication speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication process by addressing individual cassettes selectively. The control apparatus identifies specific cassettes and transmits commands to them without requiring all cassettes to process every transmission, effectively segmenting the communication workload and enabling faster targeted communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by having cassettes selectively respond based on the command type. When acknowledgment unnecessary commands are sent, cassettes process commands without mandatory acknowledgment, reducing the communication overhead for partial operations while maintaining data collision avoidance through controlled bus access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12296605B2Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus including a main body control apparatus, a main body cassette, and an additional cassette different from the main body cassette and coupled to a bus-shaped communication line to which the main body control apparatus is coupled, and the main body control apparatus transmits in image formation an acknowledgement unnecessary command indicating that an acknowledgement is unnecessary to the additional cassette in accordance with the state of the image forming apparatus relating to the additional cassette.