Power State Control Unit for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in power state management during suspend and resume operations, leading to increased power consumption and restoration times, particularly when transitioning between deep sleep and standby states.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a control unit that manages power states among three states: a usable state where the device driver is loaded, an unusable state with lower power consumption, and an even more power-efficient state where the device driver is unloaded, allowing for efficient transition based on received signals and user activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the device driver is unloaded to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but restoration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary actions by transitioning to an intermediate power state before completely unloading the device driver. This intermediate state maintains minimal driver functionality, allowing for faster restoration while still achieving significant power savings compared to keeping the driver fully loaded.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new parameter dimension for device driver states, creating three distinct power states instead of binary loaded/unloaded states. By changing the driver loading parameter to include a partial loading state, the system achieves optimized balance between power consumption and restoration speed.
2Loss of time
If the device driver is kept loaded to enable quick restoration, then restoration time is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the device driver loading state based on real-time conditions and usage patterns. The control unit monitors system state and automatically transitions between the three power states, making the driver loading status flexible and adaptive rather than static, thereby optimizing both power consumption and restoration time contextually.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements periodic evaluation of system usage patterns and adjusts power states accordingly. By periodically assessing whether the system needs full functionality or can operate with reduced power, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining driver readiness and conserving energy over time.
3Use of energy by moving object
If intermediate power state transitions are implemented to balance power saving and restoration speed, then both power consumption and restoration time are optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device driver is segmented into multiple loading states (fully loaded, partially loaded, unloaded) rather than treating it as a single binary state. This segmentation allows the control unit to selectively load only essential driver components in the intermediate state, reducing overall complexity while enabling fine-grained power management.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a control unit configured to switch a power state among a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state, the first power state being a state where a device driver is loaded and a device is usable, the second power state being a state where the device driver is unloaded and the device is unusable, the third power state being a state where the device driver is unloaded and the device is unusable, power consumption in the third power state being less than power consumption in the second power state. Based on reception of a predetermined signal in a case where the information processing apparatus is in the third power state, the control unit causes the power state to transition from the third power state to the second power state.