Power Supply Controller Interface Availability Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming and reading apparatuses in power saving mode may inconvenience users when interfaces with low availability are unable to receive transition commands, leading to difficulties in switching back to normal mode.

Innovation Solution

The apparatuses employ a power supply controller to determine the availability of operating interfaces and redirect power to idle interfaces with higher availability, ensuring at least one interface remains operational for receiving transition commands, thereby improving usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If power is supplied to only one operating interface in power saving mode, then power consumption is reduced, but user convenience deteriorates when that interface has low availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between different operating interfaces based on their availability status. When the current operating interface becomes unavailable, the system automatically transitions to a different operating interface, ensuring continuous usability while maintaining power savings. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the power saving mode both energy-efficient and user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of interfaces by switching which interface is designated as the operating interface. Instead of keeping all interfaces in a fixed state, the system alters the active interface parameter based on availability, allowing it to maintain low power consumption while ensuring at least one interface remains accessible to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If power is supplied to multiple interfaces in power saving mode, then user convenience is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different power supply states to different interfaces locally. Instead of uniformly powering all interfaces or none, it selectively supplies power to only one operating interface while keeping others in a low-power state. This localized approach maintains sufficient interface availability for user operations while minimizing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the system automatically selects interfaces for power supply, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to user needs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface management complexityVSAvoidinterface selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring interface availability and autonomously switching between operating interfaces without requiring user intervention. This self-managing capability reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability, as the system independently adjusts to changing interface conditions and continues to meet user needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring the availability status of interfaces and using this information to automatically switch between operating interfaces. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining low complexity, as the automatic switching responds to real-time interface status without requiring complex user-configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8964203B2Image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus including interfaces that receive commands to transition from power saving modes

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a power supply controller controls the image forming apparatus to operate in a power saving mode, in which supply of power to the image forming unit is cut off, and a normal mode; and a plurality of interfaces that receives a transition command for transitioning from the power saving mode to the normal mode. The power supply controller is configured to perform: an interface-power supply process of supplying power to at least one interface; a determining process of determining whether availability is high or low for an operating interface receiving power supply in the interface-power supply process; and a changing process of changing a power supply target from the operating interface to an idle interface when the availability of the operating interface is determined to be low.