Image forming device

• US 20070092283A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Sugihara, Tomoyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/81
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5016 User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console

Abstract

The device is constituted so that, when a non-processing period continues for more than a predetermined time in a normal mode, in which an image forming process is possible, the image forming device switches to a power saving mode, in which power consumption is reduced, two types of LEDs 8a and 8b that have display colors that differ from one another being provided, and each light source 8a and 8b being selectively illuminated by the mode notification means 13 according to the normal mode and the power saving mode.

Claims

1. An image forming device comprising:

a main body;

an operating mode switching control system being configured to switch the image forming device to a power saving mode from a normal mode upon continuation of a non-processing period for more than a predetermined amount of time in the normal mode allowing an image forming process, the power consumption being reduced in the power saving mode; and

,

a control panel having a display unit, the display unit having a mode notification device being configured to make a display mode of light sources of the display unit differ according to the normal mode and the power saving mode, the mode notification device having a first light source being configured to be used in the normal mode, and a second light source being configured to be used in the power saving mode and being configured to consume less power than the first light source, the first light source and the second light source each being an LED.

2. The image forming device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources have display colors that are different from one another, and an illumination drive device that switches between and driving the illumination of the each light source according to the normal mode and the power saving mode.

4. The image forming device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are used as a backlight for a liquid crystal display unit provided on the control panel.

3. (canceled)

5. An image forming device comprising:

a main body;

an operating mode switching control system being configured to switch the image forming device to a power saving mode from a normal mode upon continuation of a non-processing period for more than a predetermined amount of time in the normal mode allowing an image forming process, the power consumption being reduced in the power saving mode; and

a control panel having a display unit, the display unit having a mode notification device being configured to make a display mode of a light source of the display unit differ according to the normal mode and the power saving mode, the mode notification device having the light source being configured to be continuously illuminated in the normal mode, and being configured to flash repeatedly at a predetermined interval in the power saving mode.

6. The image forming device as recited in claim 5, wherein the light source is used as a backlight for a liquid crystal display unit provided on the control panel.

7. An image forming device comprising:

a main body means;

an operating mode switching control system means for switching the image forming device to a power saving mode from a normal mode upon continuation of a non-processing period for more than a predetermined amount of time in the normal mode allowing an image forming process, the power consumption being reduced in the power saving mode; and

control panel means for providing display means, the display means having mode notification means for making a display mode of a light source of the display means differ according to the normal mode and the power saving mode, the mode notification means having a first light source being configured to be used in the normal mode, and a second light source being configured to be used in the power saving mode and being configured to consume less power than the first light source.

8. The image forming device as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second light sources have display colors that are different from one another, and an illumination drive means that switches between and driving the illumination of the each light source according to the normal mode and the power saving mode.

9. The image forming device as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second light sources are used as a backlight for liquid crystal display means provided on the control panel means.