Printer Power Supply Voltage Adjustment for Energy Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming systems face power consumption issues due to the need for continuous monitoring of control signals, leading to increased energy usage in option devices like sheet supply devices and post-processing units.
Innovation Solution
The system introduces a tower tray low-voltage power supply that adjusts its output voltage based on the operational mode of the printer, switching between 24 V, 6 V, and 0 V to conserve power, and uses a microcontroller to manage these changes, ensuring the option device is only active when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control circuit continuously monitors control signals to receive commands at any time, then the reliability of receiving control signals is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active monitoring states and sleep states. The microcontroller enters sleep mode after a predetermined time without receiving control signals, periodically waking to check for new commands. This periodic operation maintains system reliability while significantly reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the control circuit based on activity patterns. The microcontroller transitions between active and sleep states dynamically, with the ability to wake up immediately when control signals are detected. This dynamic state adjustment allows the system to maintain responsiveness to control signals while minimizing power consumption during idle periods.
2Speed
If the option device remains activated to monitor control signals, then the responsiveness to control commands is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The option device uses periodic monitoring where the microcontroller checks for control signals at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. After a set time without activity, the system enters sleep mode and periodically wakes to check for new commands. This approach maintains the ability to respond to control signals while reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary checks for control signals at predetermined time intervals before entering sleep mode. The microcontroller is configured to wake up at specific intervals to check for incoming commands, ensuring that control signals are detected promptly while allowing the device to remain in low-power state between checks.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, an option device, and a power supply line. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus controller, an image forming unit, and an apparatus power supply. The apparatus power supply is configured to generate a control voltage that is supplied to the apparatus controller and an apparatus drive voltage that is supplied to the image forming unit. The option device includes a drive load, an option power supply, an option controller, and a detector. The option controller is configured to control the option power supply and receive the control voltage supplied from the apparatus power supply, via the power supply line. The detector is configured to transmit a detection signal to the option controller, the detection signal from among a plurality of different detection signals corresponding to operation statuses of the option power supply.