Touch Panel Wake Control for Low-Power Standby Responsiveness

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing apparatuses face challenges in achieving power saving by conserving power in operation units during power saving modes, particularly when user interactions occur on touch panels.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sub-CPU and a touch panel control unit that outputs a signal to transition the apparatus from a power saving mode to a standby mode upon user interaction, ensuring power is supplied to the control unit, allowing the touch panel to function.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If power is not supplied to the first control unit in power saving mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the touch panel cannot respond to user operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtouch panel responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is divided into two independent parts: the first control unit (touch panel controller) and the second control unit (main CPU). This segmentation allows the first control unit to operate independently in power saving mode, maintaining touch panel functionality while the second control unit remains powered off to minimize overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first control unit maintains its operational state and power supply during power saving mode, preparing the touch panel to respond immediately when needed. This preliminary action ensures that when a user interacts with the touch panel, the system can respond without requiring full system wake-up, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If power is supplied to the first control unit in power saving mode, then the touch panel can function, but power saving effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch panel functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is divided into two independent parts: the first control unit (touch panel controller) and the second control unit (main CPU). This segmentation allows the first control unit to operate independently in power saving mode, maintaining touch panel functionality while the second control unit remains powered off to minimize overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of supplying power to the entire control unit, only the first control unit is partially powered to maintain minimal functionality. This partial action approach provides just enough power for touch panel operation without the excessive power consumption that would result from powering the complete system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the apparatus operates in power saving mode with minimal power supply, then energy efficiency is improved, but user interaction responsiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is divided into two independent parts: the first control unit (touch panel controller) and the second control unit (main CPU). This segmentation allows the first control unit to operate independently in power saving mode, maintaining touch panel functionality while the second control unit remains powered off to minimize overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first control unit maintains its operational state and power supply during power saving mode, preparing the touch panel to respond immediately when needed. This preliminary action ensures that when a user interacts with the touch panel, the system can respond without requiring full system wake-up, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12524113B2Information processing apparatus, control method of the same, and program

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a touch panel control unit configured to output a first signal in a case where an operation on a touch panel is received, and a first control unit configured to control the touch panel, wherein, in a case where an operation is received when a power mode of the information processing apparatus is a power saving mode, based on a return signal based on the first signal, the power mode of the information processing apparatus returns from the power saving mode to a standby mode in which power is supplied at least to the first control unit, and wherein, in a case where an operation is received when a power mode of the information processing apparatus is the standby mode, the first control unit executes a function of the touch panel based on the first signal.