Printer Power State Control During User Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses inconveniently turn off during user operations due to remote power supply requests, disrupting ongoing settings and requiring users to restart processes.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a reception unit for power down commands and an operation unit for user interactions, featuring a control unit that delays power state shifts based on user activity, ensuring power is only turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed or if the user confirms the operation is complete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the power supply off request is output from the computer to the printer, then the power supply of the printer is turned off to save energy, but the power supply of the printer is forcibly turned off during user operation and the setting operation of the user is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit checks whether the user is currently operating the printer before executing the power supply off request. This preliminary check prevents the power supply from being turned off during active user operations, thereby avoiding interruption of setting operations while still allowing power saving when the printer is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the operation state of the printer and uses this feedback information to determine whether to execute the power supply off request. When the monitor detects that the user is operating the printer, it prevents the power supply from being turned off, thus adapting the power management behavior based on real-time operational status.
2Loss of energy
If the power supply of the printer is turned off remotely, then energy consumption is reduced, but the user must restart the setting operation which deteriorates convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs a preliminary check of the operation state before turning off the power supply. By detecting whether the user is currently operating the printer, the system prevents power shutdown during active operations, thereby avoiding the need for users to restart their setting operations and eliminating the time loss associated with reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitor continuously provides feedback on the operation state to the control unit, which uses this information to decide whether to execute the power supply off request. This feedback mechanism ensures that power is not turned off during user operations, preventing interruption and the associated time loss for restarting operations.
3Speed
If the power supply off request is executed immediately, then the response time is reduced, but the user operation is interrupted and convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit checks the operation state as a preliminary action before executing the power supply off request. This preliminary check adds a small processing step but prevents the harmful effect of interrupting user operations, thereby maintaining operational continuity while still providing relatively fast response to power down commands when the printer is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from the monitor about user operations to dynamically adjust the execution of the power supply off request. When the feedback indicates active user operation, the power down command is postponed or cancelled, ensuring operational continuity. When no operation is detected, the command executes promptly, maintaining fast response time.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus configured to enter in a first power state and a second power state, a reception unit configured to receive a power down command, an operation unit configured to receive an operation of a user, and a control unit configured, if the reception unit receives the power down command, in a case where an elapse time without operating the operation unit is less than a preset time, to execute shift processing for shifting the power state of the image forming apparatus from the second power state to the first power state after elapse of a predetermined time after receiving the data, and in a case where the elapse time without operating the operation unit is equal to or more than the preset time, to execute the shift processing before the elapse of the predetermined time after receiving the power down command.