Image processing apparatus

• US 20030095298A1
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Chizawa, Noriyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,292,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/505
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00891 Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use H04N1/00896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015

Abstract

A power control circuit (120) is driven by electric power supplied from a controller (200) as an external device via a cable (150), and controls opening/closure of a switch (104) in accordance with instructions from the controller (200). A DC power supply (105) converts an AC voltage supplied via the switch 104 into a DC voltage and provides it to individual units such as a reader (140).

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus having a function of connecting to the other apparatus;

a switch adapted to connect or disconnect a power input unit and a power circuit; and

a power controller adapted to control said switch by using electric power supplied from the other apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power input unit comprises a connector adapted to connect an AC power supply.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power controller controls said switch on the basis of an instruction given by the other apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a main controller adapted to give an instruction concerning control of said switch to said power controller, wherein said power controller controls said switch on the basis of the instruction given by said main controller.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a main controller adapted to give an instruction concerning control of said switch to said power controller, wherein said power controller controls said switch on the basis of the instruction given by said main controller and an instruction given by the other apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said main controller operates by using electric power supplied from said power circuit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said power controller controls said switch to a connected state on the basis of the instruction given by the other apparatus, and controls said switch to a disconnected state on the basis of the instruction given by said main controller and the instruction given by the other apparatus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notifying unit adapted to notify the other apparatus of whether a predetermined operation is executable, wherein said power controller controls said switch on the basis of an instruction given by the other apparatus in response to the notification by said notifying unit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said power controller controls said switch to the disconnected state on the basis of an instruction given by the other apparatus when a state in which a predetermined operation is unexecutable continues for not less than a predetermined time.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said main controller determines, on the basis of information given by the other apparatus, whether the other apparatus is able to execute a predetermined operation, and gives an instruction concerning control of said switch to said power controller on the basis of the determination.

11. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when a state in which the other apparatus is unable to execute a predetermined operation continues for not less than a predetermined time, said main controller instructs said power controller to control said switch to the disconnected state.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor adapted to sense a specific state, wherein said power controller controls said switch on the basis of an output from said sensor.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an image reader adapted to read an image, wherein said sensor senses an operation for starting image read, and said power controller controls said switch to the connected state on the basis of the output from said sensor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sensor operates by using electric power supplied from the other apparatus.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image reader includes one of a press plate and a document feeder, and said sensor senses opening/closure of one of said press plate and said document feeder.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image reader comprises an original platen, and said sensor senses that an original is placed on said original platen.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image reader comprises a document feeder, and said sensor senses that an original is placed on said document feeder.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other apparatus comprises an image output unit.

19. An image processing apparatus having a function of connecting to another image processing apparatus including a switch adapted to connect or disconnect a power input unit to or from a power circuit, and a power controller adapted to control said switch, comprising:

a controller adapted to supply electric power to said power controller of the other image processing apparatus, and control said switch by controlling said power controller.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said controller determines on the basis of information given by the other image processing apparatus, whether the other image processing apparatus is able to execute a predetermined operation, and controls said power controller on the basis of the determination.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein when a state in which the other image processing apparatus is unable to execute a predetermined operation continues for not less than a predetermined time, said controller so controls said power controller to set said switch to the disconnected state.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising an image output unit.

23. An image processing system in which first and second image processing apparatuses are connected, wherein

said first image processing apparatus comprises:

a switch adapted to connect or disconnect a power input unit to or from a power circuit; and

a power controller which operates by using an electric power supplied from said second image processing apparatus, and controls said switch on the basis of an instruction given by said second image processing apparatus, and

said second image processing apparatus comprises a controller adapted to supply electric power to said first image processing apparatus and give an instruction concerning control of said switch to said first image processing apparatus.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said first image processing apparatus has a function of reading an image, and said second image processing apparatus has a function of outputting an image provided by said first image processing apparatus.