IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20100231390A1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5004 Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off

Abstract

An image processing apparatus that enables to prolong lives of device parts of which lives are limited by preventing unnecessary returns from the power saving mode, and reduce unnecessary power consumption. A first living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus to input a trigger. A second living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus for other purposes. A switching unit switches a mode from a first electric power mode to a second electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit does not detect the living body, and maintains the first electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit detects the living body.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus that has a plurality of electric power modes including a first electric power mode and a second electric power mode that are different in conditions for supplying electric power inside the apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising:

a switching unit adapted to operate in the first electric power mode and to switch the electric power mode when detecting a trigger;

a first living body detection unit adapted to be arranged so as to detect a living body that approaches the apparatus to input the trigger; and

a second living body detection unit adapted to be arranged so as to detect a living body that approaches the apparatus for a purpose other than the input of the trigger,

wherein said switching unit switches the mode to the second electric power mode from the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body and when said second living body detection unit does not detect the living body, and

wherein said switching unit maintains the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body and when said second living body detection unit detects the living body.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first living body detection unit is arranged so as to detect the living body that approaches in order to operate an operation panel.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second living body detection unit is arranged so as to detect the living body that approaches in order to pick up ejected paper to a paper ejection unit.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second living body detection unit is arranged so as to detect the living body that approaches in order to supplement paper to a paper feeding unit.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second living body detection unit is arranged so as to detect the living body that approaches in order to supplement toner.

2. An image processing apparatus that has a plurality of electric power modes including a first electric power mode and a second electric power mode that are different in conditions for supplying electric power inside the apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising:

a switching unit adapted to operate in the first electric power mode and to switch the electric power mode when detecting a trigger;

a first living body detection unit adapted to be arranged so as to detect a living body that approaches the apparatus to input the trigger; and

a second living body detection unit adapted to be arranged so as to detect a living body that approaches the apparatus for a purpose other than the input of the trigger,

wherein said first living body detection unit defines first detection intensity that is detected when the living body approaches the apparatus at a predetermined distance, and second detection intensity that is detected when the living body approaches the apparatus at a distance shorter than the predetermined distance,

wherein said switching unit switches the mode to the second electric power mode from the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body at the second detection intensity,

wherein said switching unit switches the mode to the second electric power mode from the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body at the first detection intensity and when said second living body detection unit does not detect the living body, and

wherein said switching unit maintains the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body at the first detection intensity and when said second living body detection unit detects the living body.

3. An image processing apparatus that has a plurality of electric power modes including a first electric power mode and a second electric power mode that are different in conditions for supplying electric power inside the apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising:

a switching unit adapted to operate in the first electric power mode and to switch the electric power mode when detecting a trigger;

a condition detection unit adapted to detect a specific condition of the apparatus; and

a first living body detection unit adapted to be arranged so as to detect a living body that approaches the apparatus to input the trigger,

wherein said first living body detection unit defines first detection intensity that is detected when the living body approaches the apparatus at a predetermined distance, and second detection intensity that is detected when the living body approaches the apparatus at a distance shorter than the predetermined distance,

wherein said switching unit switches the mode to the second electric power mode from the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body at the second detection intensity,

wherein said switching unit switches the mode to the second electric power mode from the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body at the first detection intensity and when said condition detection unit does not detect the specific condition, and

wherein said switching unit maintains the first electric power mode when said first living body detection unit detects the living body at the first detection intensity and when said condition detection unit detects the specific condition.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a timer, and wherein said condition detection unit detects the specific condition after said timer measures a fixed time from a timing when the specific condition occurs.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific condition means that ejected paper exists on a paper ejection unit.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific condition means that no paper exists in a paper feeding unit.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific condition means that there is no toner.