IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20170013156A1
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Horishita, Yusuke
• Granted Patent: US 10,313,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00015 Reproducing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00034 Measuring, i.e. determining a quantity by comparison with a standard H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00058 using a separate apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00068 Calculating or estimating
• 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus provided with a sensor including a plurality of elements that detect temperature in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit that obtains temperature data indicating the temperature detected by each of the plurality of elements, a calculation unit that calculates a feature point of a heat source region in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus based on obtained plurality of pieces of temperature data, and a recover unit that causes the image forming apparatus to recover from a power saving state based on a position of the calculated feature point.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including a sensor including a plurality of elements configured to detect temperature in a vicinity of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to obtain temperature data indicating the temperature detected by each of the plurality of elements;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a feature point of a heat source region in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus based on a plurality of pieces of temperature data obtained by the acquisition unit; and

a recover unit configured to cause the image forming apparatus to recover from a power saving state based on a position of the calculated feature point.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit further includes an identification unit configured to identify the heat source region based on pre-stored background temperature data and the obtained plurality of pieces of temperature data.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification unit is configured to identify the heat source region based on a difference between the obtained plurality of pieces of temperature data and the background temperature data.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is configured to take coordinates including an uppermost y coordinate in a y-axis direction of the heat source region as the feature point.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recover unit is configured to, if the y coordinate of the feature point falls within a predetermined recovery area, cause the image forming apparatus to recover from the power saving state.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is configured to take coordinates including an x coordinate of a center of gravity or a center point in an x-axis direction of the heat source region as the feature point.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recover unit is configured to, if a moving width of the x coordinate of the feature point falls within a predetermined range, cause the image forming apparatus to recover from the power saving state.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is configured to take coordinates including an uppermost y coordinate in a y-axis direction of the heat source region and an x coordinate of a center of gravity or a center point in an x-axis direction of the heat source region as the feature point.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recover unit is configured to, if the y coordinate of the feature point falls within a predetermined recovery area and a moving width of the x coordinate of the feature point falls within a predetermined range, cause the image forming apparatus to recover from the power saving state.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elements are configured to receive infrared rays.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elements are arranged in a grid-like pattern.

12. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including a sensor including a plurality of elements configured to detect temperature in a vicinity of the image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining temperature data indicating the temperature detected by each of the plurality of elements;

calculating a feature point of a heat source region in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus based on an obtained plurality of pieces of temperature data; and

causing the image forming apparatus to recover from a power saving state based on a position of the calculated feature point.

13. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising identifying the heat source region based on pre-stored background temperature data and the obtained plurality of pieces of temperature data.

14. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein identifying the heat source region includes identifying based on a difference between the obtained plurality of pieces of temperature data and the background temperature data.

15. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein calculating the feature point includes taking coordinates including an uppermost y coordinate in a y-axis direction of the heat source region as the feature point.

16. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising causing the image forming apparatus to recover from the power saving state if the y coordinate of the feature point falls within a predetermined recovery area.

17. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein calculating the feature point includes taking coordinates including an x coordinate of a center of gravity or a center point in an x-axis direction of the heat source region as the feature point.

18. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising causing the image forming apparatus to recover from the power saving state if a moving width of the x coordinate of the feature point falls within a predetermined range.

19. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein calculating the feature point includes taking coordinates including an uppermost y coordinate in a y-axis direction of the heat source region and an x coordinate of a center of gravity or a center point in an x-axis direction of the heat source region as the feature point.

20. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising causing the image forming apparatus to recover from the power saving state if the y coordinate of the feature point lies in a predetermined recover area and a moving width of the x coordinate of the feature point falls within a predetermined range.

21. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of elements are configured to receive infrared rays.

22. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of elements are arranged in a grid-like pattern.