Power Role Determination via Connection History

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in appropriately setting power roles when connected to external devices via USB Power Delivery, leading to potential power shortages and inefficient power management.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a controller and interface that stores history information about power delivery with external devices, using this information to determine and set the appropriate power role based on identification and past connection data, ensuring efficient power management by switching between power source and power sink roles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the image forming apparatus acquires battery information from external apparatus and switches power delivery direction, then power management efficiency is improved, but the risk of power shortages increases due to inappropriate power role setting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management efficiencyVSAvoidpower supply reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing history information about external apparatus connections and their power delivery characteristics before actual power delivery occurs. When an external apparatus connects, the controller retrieves stored history information to determine the appropriate power role in advance, preventing power shortages before they happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by storing history information about past power delivery interactions with external apparatus. This feedback loop allows the controller to learn from previous connections and make informed decisions about power role assignment, improving both reliability and efficiency over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the apparatus determines power role based on real-time connection only, then device complexity is reduced, but power management adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidpower role adaptation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing history information about external apparatus connections and their power delivery characteristics before actual power delivery occurs. When an external apparatus connects, the controller retrieves stored history information to determine the appropriate power role in advance, preventing power shortages before they happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by storing history information about past power delivery interactions with external apparatus. This feedback loop allows the controller to learn from previous connections and make informed decisions about power role assignment, improving both reliability and efficiency over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10848634B2Information processing apparatus, method of controlling information processing apparatus, and storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes an interface and a controller. The interface performs power delivery and communication with an external apparatus. The controller performs: storing, in a memory, history information relating to power delivery performed with the external apparatus through the interface, the history information including identification information of the external apparatus and a power role of at least one of the information processing apparatus and the external apparatus, the identification information and the power role being stored in association with each other, the power role being one of a power source of supplying power and a power sink of receiving power; and in response to detecting connection of the external apparatus through the interface, determining the power role of the information processing apparatus based on the identification information of the external apparatus connected through the interface and on the history information stored in the memory.