Printing Apparatus USB Port State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing apparatuses struggle to maintain the user-prioritized state when a new external device is coupled, often switching to an unintended host or device state due to the USB-Type-C interface's versatility and power supply voltage requirements.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a control section that manages USB ports to set and prioritize states based on the connected external device's role (host or device) and power requirements, using USB controllers to adjust power supply and communication interfaces accordingly, and an LED panel for state notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the printing apparatus switches USB port states automatically when a new external device is coupled, then the apparatus can adapt to different device roles (host or device), but the originally prioritized state set by the user is replaced with an unintended state
Solution Approach 1:
The control section determines the role (host or device) of an externally coupled USB port before switching the USB port state. This preliminary determination prevents automatic switching that would replace user-prioritized states, allowing the apparatus to adapt to device roles only when appropriate while maintaining user-defined state preferences.
2Power
If the printing apparatus supplies higher power to external devices, then the devices can operate with full functionality, but the power consumption and heat generation of the apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control section dynamically switches between a first power supply state (higher power) and a second power supply state (lower power) based on the determined role of the externally coupled USB port. This dynamic power adjustment allows the apparatus to supply adequate power when needed while reducing power consumption during normal operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the printing apparatus maintains multiple USB port states simultaneously, then it can support both host and device modes, but the control complexity and state management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control section determines the role of the externally coupled USB port before switching states, and maintains a determined role state until a role switching condition is met. This preliminary determination and state maintenance approach simplifies control by avoiding frequent state transitions and reducing the complexity of managing multiple simultaneous USB port states.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a printing apparatus including: a printing section; a first USB port; a second USB port; and a control section, and the control section is configured to set a state where the printing apparatus operates as a USB device when an device coupled to a USB port is a USB host, set a state where the printing apparatus operates as a USB host when the device coupled to the USB port is a USB device, set a state of supplying a first power amount of energy to the device coupled to the USB port, set a state of supplying a second power amount of energy, which is greater than the first power amount, to the device coupled to the USB port, and perform setting for giving priority to at least one of the states over another state when the printing section is not performing printing.