Image Forming Apparatus User Presence Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital MFPs waste energy by waking up upon detecting any person, regardless of their intention to use the device, leading to unnecessary power consumption.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a communication interface and processor that receives proximity information from a portable terminal, determining whether to shift from a sleep state based on user-specific information, only waking up when a registered user enters the detection area and staying operational as long as the user remains within the designated area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the digital MFP wakes up upon detecting any person by the human sensor, then the device responds to user presence, but energy is wasted when persons who do not intend to use the device are detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse to user presenceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the portable terminal's proximity detection to control the MFP's wake-up state. The terminal continuously monitors its distance to the MFP and provides feedback signals indicating whether the user is within the operational range, allowing the MFP to adjust its operational state based on this feedback information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The portable terminal acts as an intermediary between the user and the MFP. Instead of the MFP directly detecting human presence through sensors, the terminal mediates by detecting proximity and transmitting this information to the MFP, enabling more precise control over wake-up conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the MFP remains in sleep state to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but the device cannot respond quickly when a user arrives

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The portable terminal performs preliminary detection of user proximity and prepares wake-up signals in advance. When the user approaches within the detection range, the terminal has already positioned itself to immediately transmit the wake-up signal, ensuring quick MFP response without requiring the MFP to remain in a high-power standby state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the MFP's operational state based on real-time proximity conditions. The MFP transitions between sleep and operational states according to the user's actual presence, optimizing the balance between energy consumption and response time based on current conditions rather than maintaining a fixed state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10671145B2Image forming apparatus that determines whether to shift between multiple states

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a communication interface configured to communicate with a portable terminal capable of receiving a signal from a transmitter in a detection area. A processor of the apparatus is configured to determine whether to shift to an operable state from a sleep state based on user information contained in proximity information when the proximity information, containing the user information indicating that a user enters the detection area, is received by the communication interface from the portable terminal receiving a signal from the transmitter.