Image Forming Power Display Without Built-In Power Meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses, particularly low-end models, lack power measurement instruments, making it difficult to accurately calculate and display power consumption, thus hindering the implementation of environmentally friendly usage practices.
Innovation Solution
A control method for image forming apparatuses that calculates and displays power consumption based on measurement results when instruments are present, and provides percentage-based power status information when they are absent, ensuring environmentally friendly usage regardless of instrument availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If power measurement instruments are equipped in image forming apparatus, then power consumption measurement precision is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual power measurement system by copying the functional effect of physical measurement instruments through software calculation. Instead of requiring actual hardware meters, the system calculates power consumption by multiplying operation time by predetermined power consumption values per operation type, thereby achieving measurement capability without physical measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical measurement system (power measurement instruments) with an information processing system. The controlling unit substitutes physical measurement with computational methods, using operation logs and predetermined power values to calculate power consumption, thus eliminating the need for complex hardware measurement equipment.
2Measurement precision
If power measurement instruments are installed in all image forming apparatus, then power consumption information accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal power consumption information provision method that works across all image forming apparatus regardless of whether they have physical measurement instruments. The controlling unit uses a unified approach of calculating power consumption from operation data combined with predetermined values, making the solution universally applicable to both high-end and low-end models without requiring different hardware configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, permanent physical measurement instruments with a low-cost computational method using readily available operation logs and stored power consumption data. This substitution uses inexpensive data processing instead of costly hardware, making power consumption monitoring accessible to all device tiers.
3Device complexity
If percentage-based power status display is used instead of actual power consumption, then device complexity is reduced, but information accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two different information provision approaches into a unified system. The controlling unit combines operation-based calculation results with predetermined power consumption values to generate comprehensive power consumption information. This integration allows the system to maintain simplicity while improving accuracy by synthesizing multiple data sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces feedback by using actual operation data from the image forming apparatus to dynamically calculate power consumption. The system continuously monitors operation types and durations, then feeds this information back into the power consumption calculation, providing updated and accurate power information without requiring complex measurement hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
Irrespective of whether or not an image forming apparatus is equipped with a power measurement instrument, an environmentally friendly way of using the image forming apparatus can be presented. In a case where an image forming apparatus includes a measuring unit configured to measure an amount of power consumption of the printing unit, the image forming apparatus displays an amount of power consumption for a certain period on a display unit based on a measurement result for the certain period by the measuring unit. On the other hand, in a case where the image forming apparatus does not include the measuring unit, the image forming apparatus displays a percentage of each of a plurality of power statuses in the image forming apparatus for the certain period on the display unit.