Image Forming Apparatus Card Type Detection Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses consume unnecessary power and shorten the lifetime of components with an upper limit for activations by unnecessarily recovering from energy-saving mode, especially during failed user authentication processes.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a reading unit for authentication information, a first control unit to determine the card type, and a power supply control unit to manage power to the second control unit, allowing power supply only when the card type matches a predetermined type, thereby preventing unnecessary recovery from energy-saving mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus performs user authentication after detecting an ID card during energy-saving mode, then the apparatus recovers to normal mode to perform authentication, but this causes unnecessary power consumption and shortens the lifetime of components with activation limits
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs preliminary card type determination before full authentication by checking the card type flag in the authentication information. This preliminary check allows the system to identify invalid card types early, preventing unnecessary recovery to normal mode and subsequent full authentication processes that would consume power and activate components with limited lifetimes.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication process is divided into separate stages: card detection, card type determination (performed in energy-saving mode), and full user authentication (performed in normal mode). By extracting the card type check as a separate preliminary step that can be performed with minimal power, the system avoids unnecessary full authentication cycles and their associated power consumption and component wear.
2Reliability
If the apparatus recovers to normal mode for every ID card detection during energy-saving mode, then authentication can be performed, but components such as hard disk, relay, and fuse consume their lifetime unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary card type verification step that checks the card type flag before initiating full authentication. This preliminary action allows the apparatus to reject invalid card types without activating components with limited lifetimes (hard disk, relay, fuse) by preventing unnecessary recovery to normal mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The card type determination function is extracted as a separate operation that can be performed in energy-saving mode with minimal component activation. This separation ensures that components with activation limits are only used when necessary for genuine authentication, extending their operational lifetime.
3Reliability
If the controller maintains power supply during energy-saving mode to perform authentication, then authentication can be executed, but further power saving cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is segmented into two parts: card type determination (performed with minimal power in energy-saving mode) and full user authentication (performed with full power in normal mode). This segmentation allows the system to maintain power-saving mode for the majority of the authentication process, achieving both authentication capability and power conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The card type determination is performed as a preliminary step before full authentication, using minimal power resources. This preliminary action filters out invalid cards early, allowing the system to remain in energy-saving mode and avoid the higher power consumption associated with full authentication processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit, a first control unit, a second control unit, and a power supply control unit. The reading unit reads authentication information including a card type and a user code. The first control unit determines, in a state where power is not being supplied to the second control unit, whether a card type included in the authentication information read by the reading unit corresponds to a predetermined card type. The second control unit requests an authentication apparatus to perform user authentication based on the authentication information read by the reading unit. The power supply control unit controls power supply to the second control unit. In response to the first control unit determining that the card type included in the authentication information read by the reading unit corresponds to the predetermined card type, the power supply control unit supplies power to the second control unit.