Sub System Software Start-Up for Printer Engine Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face difficulties in quickly switching from a power saving mode to a normal mode due to the engine controller having to wait for the sub CPU and main CPU to complete their communication, leading to prolonged power mode switching times.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is designed such that the sub system completes its software start-up for communication with the engine controller before starting software necessary for communication with the main system, and then transmits device information to the engine controller, allowing for quicker power mode switching by prioritizing the start-up of indispensable device drivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sub system waits for the main system to complete software start-up before transmitting device information to the engine controller, then communication reliability is improved, but the power mode switching time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub system performs preliminary actions by completing its software start-up and preparing device information before the main system finishes its software start-up. This allows the sub system to transmit device information to the engine controller in advance, reducing the overall power mode switching time while maintaining communication reliability through proper synchronization mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic timing control where the sub system can independently control its software start-up completion timing relative to the main system. The engine controller dynamically receives device information from the sub system at optimized moments, allowing flexible adjustment of the communication sequence to minimize waiting time while ensuring data integrity.
2Measurement precision
If the engine controller waits for communication completion between main system and sub system, then data accuracy is improved, but the startup speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub system prepares and transmits device information to the engine controller before the main system completes its software start-up. This preliminary action allows the engine controller to receive accurate device information earlier, reducing startup time while maintaining data accuracy through verified communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub system acts as an intermediary that bridges the main system and the engine controller. By completing its software start-up and transmitting device information independently, the sub system enables the engine controller to obtain accurate data without waiting for the main system's communication cycle, thus improving startup speed while preserving data accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which is capable of quickly switching the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the power saving mode to the normal mode. The image forming apparatus includes a printer engine and operates in a normal mode and a power saving mode, the image forming apparatus further includes a main system, a sub system communicably connected with the main system, and an engine controller communicably connected with the sub system and configured to control the printer engine. When the image forming apparatus returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the sub system completes start-up of software necessary for communication between the sub system and the engine controller before starting software necessary for communication between the main system and the sub system is completed, and transmits, to the engine controller, device information of the image forming apparatus acquired from the main system.