Power Supply Controller with Dynamic Feedback for External Device Adaptation

Solution Overview

Problem

Printing apparatuses face challenges in preventing power shortages for external devices when changing the power supply amount, as they may initially accept power changes but later experience increased consumption, leading to potential shortages.

Innovation Solution

The information processing apparatus, equipped with a controller and interface, receives and transmits information on the acceptability of power changes, determines if power limiting is necessary, and adjusts the power supply based on this information, including a waiting period before limiting to allow the external device to prepare.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the printing apparatus changes the power amount to be supplied to the external device after power supply has started, then the printing apparatus can adapt to its own power consumption needs, but the external device may suffer from power shortage if its power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower amount adaptabilityVSAvoidpower supply stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The printing apparatus transmits a notification indicating a waiting period before actually limiting the power amount. This preliminary action allows the external device to prepare for the power change by completing current operations or switching to low-power modes, thereby preventing power shortage while enabling power adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the GiveBack attribute flag as feedback to determine whether the external device can accept power amount changes. By checking this flag before and during power supply, the printing apparatus can make informed decisions about power limitation that balance its own needs with the external device's requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If the printing apparatus limits the power amount to be supplied during power supply execution, then the printing apparatus can secure power for its own operations, but the external device may experience power shortage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower usage for printing operationsVSAvoidexternal device power supply

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The printing apparatus transmits a notification indicating a waiting period before actually limiting the power amount. This preliminary action allows the external device to prepare for the power change by completing current operations or switching to low-power modes, thereby preventing power shortage while enabling power adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the GiveBack attribute flag as feedback to determine whether the external device can accept power amount changes. By checking this flag before and during power supply, the printing apparatus can make informed decisions about power limitation that balance its own needs with the external device's requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the printing apparatus receives power change acceptability information only at USB connection establishment, then the initial power supply can be configured, but subsequent power state changes of the external device cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply configurationVSAvoidpower state responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The printing apparatus periodically receives the GiveBack attribute flag from the external device during power supply execution. This periodic checking ensures that changes in the external device's power state are detected and responded to, allowing dynamic adaptation while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11223735B2Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and non-transitory storage medium storing program executable by the information processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus, including an interface and a controller configured to: receive, from an external device, first change acceptable or non-acceptable information indicating whether changing of an amount of electric power to be supplied to the external device is allowable; supply, after the receiving the first change acceptable or non-acceptable information, the electric power to the external device; receive, during executing the supplying the electric power, second change acceptable or non-acceptable information indicating whether the changing of the power amount is allowable; determine, during executing the supplying the electric power, whether limiting of the power amount is necessary; and limit, based on the second change acceptable or non-acceptable information, the power amount when the controller determines to limit the power amount in the determining whether limiting of the power amount is necessary and the receiving the second change acceptable or non-acceptable information is executed.