Printer Light Source Notification Control for Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses lack the ability to selectively notify users about printed materials output during specific periods, such as nighttime, which may not require immediate notification, leading to unnecessary light usage and potential energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a processor that controls a light source to remain off during specified periods (e.g., nighttime) and only turn on when the period ends, unless the printed material is picked up by the user, allowing for customizable notification settings through user-defined turn-off and turn-on timings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light source is continuously lit to notify users of printed material output, then user notification reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases during periods when users are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The light source notification system dynamically adjusts its operation based on the current time and pre-set notification periods. The control unit determines whether to activate the light source by comparing the current time against stored period information, enabling the system to adapt its notification behavior to user availability patterns without continuous manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary setup by storing notification period information in advance through user input. This pre-configured temporal data allows the control unit to automatically determine appropriate notification timing without real-time user input, enabling the light source to be activated only during periods when users are likely to be available
2Speed
If the light source is lit immediately when printed material is output during non-period times, then notification speed is improved, but user convenience deteriorates during specified periods (e.g., nighttime)
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system dynamically adjusts its response timing based on the current time relative to stored period information. During specified periods such as nighttime, the system suppresses immediate notification by keeping the light source off, while outside these periods it provides immediate notification by lighting the source, thus adapting to user convenience requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pre-stored period information to determine in advance whether immediate notification is appropriate. This preliminary temporal assessment allows the control unit to automatically decide whether to activate the light source without requiring real-time user judgment about their availability
3Loss of energy
If the light source remains off during specified periods to save energy, then energy efficiency is improved, but notification capability is lost when printed material is output during those periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically balances energy efficiency and notification capability by adjusting light source activation based on the current time and stored period information. During specified periods, the system prioritizes energy efficiency by keeping the light source off, while outside these periods it prioritizes notification capability by activating the light source when printed material is output
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an output unit, a light source, and a processor. The image forming unit creates a printed material by forming an image on paper. The output unit outputs the printed material to an output tray. The light source is provided such that lit light is viewable from outside the image forming apparatus. The processor is configured to receive specification of a period during which the light source is not to be lit, receive an instruction to create the printed material, and perform control such that in a case where the printed material is output in accordance with the instruction at a time outside the period, the light source is lit, whereas in a case where the printed material is output during the period, the light source is not lit during the period and then starts to be lit when the period ends.