Image Forming Apparatus Power Control for Automatic Reactivation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous image forming apparatuses, such as those with fax functions, face challenges in automatically reactivating after power recovery due to limitations in non-volatile memory writing, especially when a push switch is used for power control, as they cannot detect a press event during AC power loss.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a non-volatile storage unit, power circuit, and a power control unit that determines an address before power-off or voltage decrease, allowing for efficient writing and reactivation without waiting for a switch press event by using a predetermined method to manage address usage in the non-volatile memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push switch is used for power control in an image forming apparatus, then the apparatus can be operated with a simple power on/off mechanism, but the apparatus cannot automatically reactivate after AC power loss because no press event is detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of power failure conditions and pre-prepares reactivation logic before power is restored. The control unit monitors power supply status continuously and automatically initiates reactivation processing when power failure is detected, eliminating the need for manual switch operation after power restoration.
2Reliability
If information is written to non-volatile memory using a general-purpose method, then the flag can be retained after power failure, but the maximum number of writing times is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the writing parameters by implementing intelligent writing control that monitors memory usage and selectively writes only when necessary. The control unit determines whether writing is needed based on current memory state and power failure detection, optimizing the balance between data retention and writing lifetime extension.
3Duration of action of moving object
If writing is executed by shifting address by one bit every time to extend non-volatile memory writing lifetime, then the writing lifetime is extended, but the writing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The non-volatile memory is segmented into multiple addressable regions, and the system selectively writes to different segments based on current usage. This segmentation allows the control unit to manage writing operations more efficiently, reducing the complexity of address shifting while still extending overall writing lifetime through distributed writing across segments.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a non-volatile storage unit, a power circuit, a power switch for the power circuit, a determination unit, and a power control unit. The determination unit is configured to determine an address through a predetermined method before power is turned off or voltage decreases after activation. The power control unit is configured to execute power-off processing in a case where an operation instruction of the power switch is provided after power-on processing and execute writing of information to be saved with respect to an address of the non-volatile storage unit previously determined by the determination unit in a case where a decrease in voltage of the power circuit is detected after the power-on processing.