Printer Power Usage Assessment and Flicker Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers cause power quality issues due to cyclical power consumption and significant power draw, leading to potential flicker, which existing technologies struggle to assess and mitigate effectively, especially given the complexity of IEC standards and processing limitations within printers.
Innovation Solution
A method within the printer to assess and model power usage of components like printheads and motors, determine power thresholds, and adjust operations to reduce adverse effects on the electrical network by entering a 'flicker control mode' through speed reduction or pausing, ensuring power quality meets IEC standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printer operates at full power to maintain productivity, then printing speed and output are improved, but power quality degradation and flicker increase
Solution Approach 1:
The printer dynamically adjusts its operating speed and power consumption based on real-time power quality monitoring. When flicker or power degradation is detected, the system automatically reduces printing speed or pauses operation to allow power levels to stabilize, thereby maintaining productivity within acceptable power quality constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors power consumption levels and power quality parameters, using this feedback to control the printing operation. When power degradation or flicker is detected through monitoring, the system responds by adjusting printing speed or pausing, creating a closed-loop control system that balances productivity with power quality
2Reliability
If the printer monitors power quality continuously to prevent flicker, then power quality compliance is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The printer performs self-monitoring of its own power consumption and impact on power quality using integrated sensors and processing capabilities. The system autonomously assesses whether its operation is causing flicker or degradation and automatically adjusts its printing speed or pauses without external intervention, simplifying the overall system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively monitors power quality parameters and predicts potential flicker events before they occur. By continuously tracking power consumption patterns and anticipating when flicker thresholds might be exceeded, the printer can preemptively adjust its operation to prevent power quality degradation rather than reacting after the problem occurs
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for assessing power usage of at least one printer component in a printer are described. For example, based on a print instruction (the print instruction being to cause the printer to carry out a printing task), power usage requirements of the at least one printer component in carrying out the print instruction may be determined. The power usage may be determined for each of a plurality of time intervals. In some examples, the effect of the printer component(s) in carrying out the print instruction on at least one power quality measure associated with a power supply network which may be connected to the printer may be considered.