Image Forming Apparatus Power State Transition Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses often mistakenly shift to a power-saving state when a user presses the power-saving button while the device is returning from a power-saving state to a standby state due to sensor detection, leading to user confusion and unnecessary power state changes.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a detection unit, a reception unit, and a shifting unit that prevents the device from shifting to a power-saving state if the power-saving button is pressed during the transition from a power-saving state to a standby state, by disabling the interruption signal from the button until the device has fully returned to the standby state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the image forming apparatus shifts from power-saving state to standby state upon detecting an object, then the device responds quickly to user presence, but the boot processing time causes delay in actually returning to standby state
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for the state transition in advance by detecting objects before the actual power state change is needed. When an object is detected, the system initiates the boot processing immediately, so that by the time the user actually needs to interact with the device, the standby state is already restored, eliminating the perceived delay.
2Ease of operation
If the power-saving button is pressed during the transition from power-saving state to standby state, then the button input is registered, but the device mistakenly shifts back to power-saving state instead of remaining in standby state
Solution Approach 1:
The system disables the power-saving button during the boot processing period, before the standby state is fully established. This preliminary disabling prevents any button presses during the transition period from being misinterpreted, ensuring that only button presses after the standby state is fully restored are processed, thus maintaining reliable power state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary control mechanism that manages button input based on the current power state transition phase. During boot processing, the intermediary blocks power-saving button inputs, while allowing them after standby state is achieved. This intermediary layer resolves the conflict between button responsiveness and state transition accuracy.
3Reliability
If the device disables the power-saving button during boot processing, then unnecessary state changes are prevented, but the button becomes unresponsive during the transition period
Solution Approach 1:
The button disabling is applied preliminarily and temporarily, only during the specific boot processing period when state transition is in progress. Once the standby state is fully restored, the button is re-enabled. This time-limited disabling approach maintains reliability during the critical transition phase while minimizing impact on operational convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect an object, a reception unit configured to receive an operation of a user, and a shifting unit configured to shift, if the detection unit detects an object, a power state of the image forming apparatus from a first power state to a second power state different from the first power state, and shift, if the reception unit receives an operation of a user, the power state of the image forming apparatus from the second power state to the first power state.