Method and apparatus for controlling supply of electric power to an indicator for indicating a state of the apparatus

• US 5,697,717 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuribayashi, Akira, Kaneko, Yuichi, Horigome, Hideo, Ikeda, Tetsuhito, Arakawa, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLEY, STEVEN SHAUN
• Application Number:
  US08/535,318
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 400/54, 400/88, 400/120 HH, 400/703, 400/711, 400/83, 364/707
• US Class Current: 400/703
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Abstract

A printer has an electric power supply controller which controls electric power supplied to an indicator indicating a state of the printer so as to prolong a driving time of the printer, which is driven by a battery. When the apparatus is set to an on-line state using an on-line key, electric power is initially supplied to an on-line LED, which indicates the apparatus is in the on-line state. Afterwards, when a predetermined time period has passed, the supply of electric power is cut off to the on-line LED, whereby the consumption of electric power supplied to the indicator can be minimized.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an indicator having a function of indicating a predetermined state of another function of said apparatus;

electric power supply means for supplying electric power to said indicator from a battery;

set-up means for setting up said apparatus in the predetermined state;

selection means for selecting either of a first state in which said indicator can operate and a second state in which said indicator cannot operate;

control means for controlling said electric power supply means so that electric power is supplied to said indicator when the predetermined state of said apparatus is set up by said set-up means, in a case where the first state is selected by said selection means, and for controlling said electric power supply means so that the electric power is not supplied to said indicator, even if the predetermined state of said apparatus is set up by said set-up means, in a case where the second state is selected by said selection means; and

detecting means for detecting that an AC power supply is connected to said apparatus, and said control means controls said electric power supply means so that electric power is supplied to said indicator from the AC power supply while said detecting means detects that the AC power supply has been connected to said apparatus, even if the second state is selected by said selection means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a confirmation switch for confirming the predetermined state of said apparatus, wherein said control means controls said electric power supply means so that electric power is supplied to said indicator when said confirmation switch is actuated.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said electric power supply means to prevent supply of the electric power to said indicator, in a case where the second state is selected by said selection means, when the predetermined state of said apparatus is set up, while maintaining said apparatus in the predetermined state.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means comprises a switch operable by a user to select either of the first state and the second state by operating said switch.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a printer.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said indicator indicates an on-line or off-line state of said apparatus.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said indicator indicates a power-on or power-off state of said apparatus.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said indicator indicates a state of a font of said apparatus.

9. A printing apparatus for communicating with a host device, said printing apparatus comprising:

printing means for printing information supplied from the host device on a printing medium;

an indicator having a function of indicating a predetermined state of another function of said apparatus;

electric power supply means for supplying electric power to said indicator from a battery;

set-up means for setting up said apparatus in the predetermined state;

selection means for selecting either of a first state in which said indicator can operate and a second state in which said indicator cannot operate;

control means for controlling said electric power supply means so that electric power is supplied to said indicator when the predetermined state of said apparatus is set up by said set-up means, in a case where the first state is selected by said selection means, and for controlling said electric power supply means so that the electric power is not supplied to said indicator, even if the predetermined state of said apparatus is set up by said set-up means, in a case where the second state is selected by said selection means; and

detecting means for detecting that an AC power supply is connected to said apparatus, and said control means controls said electric power supply means so that electric power is supplied to said indicator from the AC power supply while said detecting means detects that the AC power supply has been connected to said apparatus, even if the second state is selected by said selection means.

10. A printing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a confirmation switch for confirming the predetermined state of said apparatus, wherein said control means controls said electric power supply means so that electric power is supplied to said indicator when said confirmation switch is actuated.

11. A printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means controls said electric power supply means to prevent supply of the electric power to said indicator, in a case where the second state is selected by said selection means, when the predetermined state of said apparatus is set up, while maintaining said apparatus in the predetermined state.

12. A printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said selection means comprises a switch operable by a user to select either of the first state and the second state by operating said switch.

13. A printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said set-up means sets up the predetermined state of power supply to said apparatus and said indicator indicates that power is being supplied to said apparatus.

14. A printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said set-up means sets up the predetermined state of said apparatus being on-line with the host device and said indicator indicates that said apparatus is on-line with the host device.

15. A printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said set-up means sets up the predetermined state of the printing means printing with a predetermined font style and said indicator indicates that said printing means is set up to print with the predetermined font style.

16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said indicator indicates an on-line or off-line state of said apparatus.

17. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said indicator indicates a power-on or power-off state of said apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said indicator indicates a state of a font of said apparatus.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an indicator having a function of indicating a predetermined state of another function of said apparatus;

key-input means for setting up said apparatus in the predetermined state; and

electric power supply means for supplying electric power to said indicator from a battery during a time period corresponding to an operation time of said key-input means by a user and for stopping supply of the electric power to said indicator after supplying the electric power to said indicator from the battery during the time period,

wherein said apparatus is maintained in the predetermined state set up by said key-input means even after stopping supply of the electric power to said indicator.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising input means for confirming whether said apparatus is set up in the predetermined state, and means for supplying the electric power to said indicator from the battery in response to an input signal from said input means when said apparatus is set up in the predetermined state.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said input means comprises a second key-input means operable by a user.

22. An apparatus according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein said apparatus effects recording in accordance with image data transmitted from a host apparatus.

23. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said indicator indicates an on-line or off-line state of said apparatus.

24. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said indicator indicates a power-on or power-off state of said apparatus.

25. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said indicator indicates a state of a font of said apparatus.

26. An apparatus comprising:

an indicator having a function of indicating a predetermined state of another function of said apparatus;

electric power supply means for supplying electric power to said indicator from a battery;

set-up means for setting up said apparatus in the predetermined state;

stop means for stopping supply of the electric power to said indicator, while maintaining said apparatus in the predetermined state; and

input means for generating an input signal for confirming whether said apparatus is set up in the predetermined state, said input means comprising means for supplying electric power to said indicator from the battery during a time period when the input signal is being generated in a state where supply of the electric power to said indicator is stopped by said stop means.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said stop means comprises key-input means, operable by a user, for causing stopping of supply of the electric power to said indicator in accordance with an operation of said key-input means.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said stop means comprises timing means for timing a predetermined time period in accordance with supply of the electric power to said indicator, said timing means stopping supply of the electric power to said indicator after the predetermined time period.

29. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said input means comprises key-input means operable by a user.

30. An apparatus according to any one of claims 26-29, wherein said apparatus effects recording in accordance with image data transmitted from a host apparatus.

31. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said indicator indicates an on-line or off-line state of said apparatus.

32. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said indicator indicates a power-on or power-off state of said apparatus.

33. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said indicator indicates a state of a font of said apparatus.