Image Forming Apparatus That Suppresses Level of Unwanted Irradiation

• US 20170003642A1
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoda, Junya
• Granted Patent: US 9,690,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/80 Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1657 Wireless connection means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1882 details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00302 with a telephonic apparatus, e.g. telephone answering machine or videotex terminal H04N1/00307 takes precedence; telephonic communication H04M
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/50 Picture reproducers for halftone screening H04N1/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body and a unit. The unit is installed on the image forming apparatus body and includes a wireless tag. The image forming apparatus body includes a first power supply unit, a setting unit, a second power supply unit, a generating unit, and a communication unit. The second power supply unit generates a second value of voltage set in the setting unit. The generating unit uses the first power supply unit as a power source and generates a first signal for transmission to the wireless tag. The communication unit uses the second power supply unit as a power source, generates a second signal having amplitude in proportion to the second value set in the setting unit based on the first signal, and transmits the second signal to the wireless tag by wireless.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming apparatus body; and

a unit installed on the image forming apparatus body and including a wireless tag;

wherein

the image forming apparatus body includes

a first power supply unit that generates a fixed first value of voltage,

a setting unit that sets a second value and ensures varying the second value,

a second power supply unit that generates the second value of voltage set in the setting unit,

a generating unit that uses the first power supply unit as a power source and generates a first signal for transmission to the wireless tag, and

a communication unit that uses the second power supply unit as a power source, generates a second signal having amplitude in proportion to the second value set in the setting unit based on the first signal, and transmits the second signal to the wireless tag by wireless.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit includes:

a buffer unit that buffers the first signal in digital form; and

a modulation unit that modulates a carrier wave by the first signal output from the buffer unit to generate the second signal;

wherein

the buffer unit has an open-collector output pulled-up by the second value of voltage supplied from the second power supply unit to shift an H-level component value of the first signal to the second value.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit further includes:

a wave detection unit that extracts an analog third signal from a signal transmitted from the wireless tag by wireless and received by the communication unit; and

an A/D conversion unit that converts the third signal from analog to digital;

wherein

the A/D conversion unit includes a comparator that compares the analog third signal with a reference signal,

the comparator has an open-collector output pulled-up by the first value of voltage supplied from the first power supply unit to shift a H-level component of the third signal for conversion into digital form, to the first value, and

the image forming apparatus body uses the first power supply unit as a power source and includes a processing unit that performs a predetermined process based on the third signal converted into digital form by the A/D conversion unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the image forming apparatus body further includes a communications control unit that causes the communication unit to attempt wireless communication with the wireless tag, and determines whether or not wireless communication is established; and

the setting unit causes the communications control unit to determine whether or not the wireless communication is established while varying a prospective value of the second value, and sets a minimum value of the second value at which the wireless communication is established as the second value.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the image forming apparatus further comprises a plurality of toner containers as a plurality of the units; and

the communication unit includes

a communication unit body that generates the second signal,

a plurality of antennas each located corresponding to the wireless tag included in each of the plurality of toner containers, the plurality of antennas transmitting the second signal to the wireless tag, and

a switching unit that switches an antenna connecting to the communication unit body among the plurality of antennas.