Power Supply Control for Consumable Unit Memory Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses inefficiently manage power supply to consumable units with built-in memory, leading to unnecessary power consumption and potential damage when consumable units are detached while still powered.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a power supply unit, memory control unit, and determination unit that provides power only when necessary, cuts off power after memory access is complete, and outputs error messages when a consumable unit is in a detachable state to prevent detachment while powered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is always provided to the consumable unit, then the memory can be accessed at any time, but power consumption increases and safety decreases when the consumable unit is detached
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply unit provides power to the consumable unit only during specific periods when memory access is required, rather than continuously. The control unit determines when power should be supplied based on whether memory access operations are needed, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the state of the consumable unit and the main body, and based on this feedback, dynamically controls the power supply. When the consumable unit is properly installed and memory access is needed, power is provided; when it is detached or not needed, power is cut off, thus optimizing both safety and energy efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If power is provided continuously to the consumable unit, then memory access operations are always possible, but the consumable unit can be accidentally detached while powered causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system preemptively cuts off power to the consumable unit when it detects that the consumable unit is detached or when memory access is not required. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect of accidental detachment while the unit is powered, eliminating the risk of damage before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit checks whether the consumable unit is properly installed and whether memory access is needed before providing power. This preliminary verification ensures that power is only supplied when it is safe to do so, preventing accidental detachment damage while maintaining ease of operation when needed.
3Use of energy by moving object
If power is cut off frequently to save energy, then power consumption decreases, but the responsiveness to memory access requests slows down
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines in advance whether memory access operations will be needed and provides power accordingly. By anticipating when power is needed and preparing in advance, the system maintains fast responsiveness when memory access is required while avoiding unnecessary continuous power supply, thus balancing energy efficiency with speed.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a consumable unit with a built-in memory, a power supply unit to provide power to drive the memory, and a control unit to control the power supply unit to provide power to the memory and to access the memory, when an event that needs to access the memory happens, and to control the power supply unit to cut off the power to the memory, when a process with respect to the memory is finished.