ACTIVATABLE AND DEACTIVATABLE SUPPLY UNIT FOR AN ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20120120695A1
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
• Inventors: Jauert, Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 8,933,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/100
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5004 Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/80 Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00258 Electronic hardware aspects, e.g. type of circuits used

Abstract

A supply unit for an electronic apparatus that can be activated and deactivated has a mains adapter, a first voltage regulator and a voltage source that are connected on the input side with the direct voltage output of the mains adapter, and a logic module supplied by the voltage source with a suitable auxiliary direct voltage. The enable input of the first voltage regulator is connected with the output of the logic module. A switch contact pair is electrically connected to switch the logic module. In the operating mode, a microcomputer is programmed to establish and evaluate the number an duration of the connection of the contact pair. Depending on an evaluation of a user input into the microcomputer, a digital signal is output to switch from the operating mode into standby mode.

Claims

1. A supply unit for an activatable and deactivatable electronic apparatus, that can be activated and deactivated, which supply unit has a mains adapter, wherein the supply unit has a first voltage regulator and a voltage source which are connected at the input side with the direct voltage output of the mains adapter, characterized in that the supply unit has a logic module which is supplied by the voltage source with a suitable auxiliary directed voltage;

that the first voltage regulator has an enable input that is connected with the output of the logic module and can be activated or, respectively, deactivated as controlled by the latter, wherein a switching contact pair is provided whose contacts are connected with one another to switch over the logic module;

that a first contact of the switching contact pair is connected to the auxiliary direct voltage of the logic module and a second contact of the switching contact pair is connected on the one hand to an input of the logic module and on the other hand via the control output of the supply unit to an input of a microcomputer of a control unit;

that, in the operating mode, the microcomputer is programmed by a program stored in a program memory in order to establish and evaluate the number and duration of the connection of the contact pair, wherein as a result an input of information is made based on a user input into the apparatus or a switching between states of the apparatus, wherein depending on the evaluation of the input in the microcomputer a digital signal is emitted at a control output to switch from the operating mode into a standby mode; and

that a second input of the logic module is connected to the control output via a control input of the supply unit.

2. Supply unit according to claim 1 comprising contact piece associated with the switch contact pair of a circuit closer and a circuit closer is fashioned as a button;

or the contact piece is a component of a microswitch; and

, in the operating mode, the processor is programmed to switch the electronic apparatus from one state into another state, or in order to make a switch into the standby mode due to an activation of the button or microswitch.

3. Supply unit according to claim 1 when the logic module has a number of NOT elements, wherein the input of a first NOT element forms the first input of the logic module, wherein a second NOT element and a third NOT element are wired to form a flip-flop, wherein the input of the second NOT element is connected with the output of the first NOT element and, via a series circuit of a diode and an ohmic resistor, with the second input of the logic module, wherein the first NOT element consists of a first transistor having an emitter connected to ground;

and an ohmic resistor is wired between the collector of the first transistor and the output of the third NOT element; and

when the control unit is programmed to switch into standby mode due to a passage of time or an activation of the button, and a digital signal is emitted via the control output at the second input of the logic module.

4. Supply unit according to claim 1 comprising an input of a fourth NOT element is connected at the output of the third NOT element, wherein the output of the fourth NOT element forms the output of the logic module.

5. Supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the two contacts of the contact pair are electrically connected with one another automatically by an electronic switch in order to switch the electronic apparatus from one state into another state, or to produce a different input.

6. Supply unit according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary direct voltage is derived from the output direct voltage of the mains adapter.

7. Supply unit according to claim 1 wherein the processor is operationally connected with a non-volatile memory and with an input/output unit, a display is connected via a touch controller to the input/output unit and the control unit for switching into the standby mode due to a corresponding user input via a button at the circuit closer or another suitable activation means or an activation panel of the user interface, and/or due to a passage of time;

that the input/output unit is connected via a first driver with a motor in order to activate the motor for a transverse displacement of a printer carriage before the control unit is switched over into standby mode; and

that a sensor is connected at the output side via a conductor to a pin of the input/output unit that signals that the printer carriage has reached a sealed position by emitting a signal with a digital value of “

one”

;

that the microcomputer is programmed to output at the control output of the input/output unit a control signal as soon as a signal with a digital value of “

one”

is emitted by a first sensor when the apparatus should be switched into the standby mode.

8. Supply unit according to claim 7 that can be activated and deactivated, wherein the sensor is a first sensor formed as a thru-beam sensor or a microswitch;

and consisting a second sensor connected to the input/output unit and wherein the input/output unit is connected via a second driver to a second motor and activates the latter to drive a transport belt of the printing carriage to print a flat good when the control unit is switched into the operating mode and when the second sensor signals the presence of a flat item.

9. Supply unit according to claim 7 wherein the processor is operationally connected via the input/output unit or directly with a security module.

10. Supply unit according to claim 7 wherein a SPI-FLASH that is connected with the microcomputer via a serial data line used as a non-volatile memory.

11. Supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the processor is connected with an interface unit via a serial data line and with the input/output unit via an internal bus.

12. Supply unit according to claim 1 comprising a freely programmable gate array (FPGA) programmed as an input/output unit.

13. Supply unit according to claim 1 wherein a SD card forms a program memory that is operationally connected with the processor via serial data lines.

14. Supply unit according to claim 1 comprising a circuit closer connected to the power supply in order to trigger a reactivation of the power supply of the apparatus before switching over from standby mode into the operating mode via the logic module and the voltage regulator.