Motor Control Device Startup Time Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses experience elongation of time to become operable due to unnecessary motor type determination processing when the power supply state shifts from a state where power is not supplied to the driving circuit but is supplied to the CPU, leading to inefficient startup times.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a motor control device that includes a phase determiner to determine the rotational phase of the motor and a second setting unit to set a target current value, allowing the motor control device to discriminate the motor type based on detected driving current and only execute necessary processing when power is supplied, thereby preventing unnecessary determination processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the determination processing is executed every time the power supply state shifts from the first state to the second state, then the motor type can be accurately identified, but the time required for the image forming apparatus to become operable increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs motor type determination processing in advance when the image forming apparatus is powered ON (transitioning from power-OFF to power-ON state), so that the motor type information is already available when the driving circuit is later activated. This preliminary action eliminates the need to repeat the determination processing during subsequent power state transitions, thereby reducing startup time while maintaining accurate motor type identification.
2Loss of time
If the determination processing is executed only when power is supplied to both CPU and driving circuit, then the startup time is reduced, but the motor type determination may be delayed until absolutely necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs motor type determination processing in advance when the image forming apparatus is powered ON, ensuring that the motor type information is identified early and stored for later use. This preliminary action maintains reliability by ensuring accurate motor type identification is completed before the driving circuit needs to control the motor, while also reducing startup time by avoiding repeated determination processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a power source, a motor, a motor control device, a first switching element, a controller, a detector, a discriminator, and a first setting unit configured to set a control value. The motor control device includes a phase determiner configured to determine a rotational phase by using the control value, and a second setting unit. The motor control device includes a first mode and a second mode. The discriminator discriminates a type of the motor in the first mode. The motor control device executes the first mode if the controller controls the first switching element in response to supplying of the power. The motor control device does not execute the first mode even if the power is supplied to a driving circuit, when the controller controls the first switching element in response to inputting of a trigger signal.