Printer and power controlling method therefor

• US 6,134,401 A
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yong-geun, Yun, Jin-su
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,676
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 399/379, 399/43, 399/69, 399/70, 399/81, 399/82, 399/85, 399/88, 395/733, 395/750.01, 395/750.05
• US Class Current: 399/70
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5004 Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function

Abstract

A printer and a power controlling method therefor are disclosed. The disclosed printer has a print engine for printing a toner image on a sheet of paper; a power supply unit for supplying power; a power supply controller for supplying the print engine from the power supply unit with power corresponding to any one power mode selected from power modes of different power levels, including a ready-to-print mode in which the print engine is supplied with power so that the print engine can be ready for printing, a power saving mode in which the print engine is supplied with a level of power set below the level of power supplied to the print engine in the ready-to-print mode, and a power off mode in which power supply to the print engine is cut off; and a controller which controls the power mode setting of the print engine and the power supply controller so that an image corresponding to received print data can be printed on a sheet of paper. The controller controls the power supply controller so that when print data is not received from the outside for a first period of time in the ready-to-print mode, the ready-to-print mode is changed into the power saving mode, and controls the power supply controller so that when print data is not received from the outside for a second period of time in the power saving mode, the power saving mode is changed into the power off mode. With the printer and power controlling method for the printer, power consumption of the printer can be reduced when the printer in the on state is not used for a long time.

Claims

1. A printer comprising:

a print engine for printing a toner image;

a power supply unit for supplying power;

a power supply controller which receives power from said power supply unit and supplies said received power to said print engine at a power level corresponding to a power mode selected from one of a ready-to-print mode in which said print engine receives power for printing, a power saving mode in which said print engine receives a level of power set below the level of power received by said print engine in said ready-to-print mode, and a power off mode in which power supplied to said print engine is cut off;

a controller which controls the power mode selection of said power supply controller so that data received by said controller and converted into image data is printed, whereas when print data is not received for a first period of time while in said ready-to-print mode, said controller sends a signal to said power supply controller to operate in said power saving mode, and when print data is not received for a second period of time while in said power saving mode, said controller sends a signal to said power supply controller to operate in said power off mode; and

an input device having a power mode set key for selecting one of said power modes, wherein said input device supplies a signal to said controller to change the present power mode to said selected power mode.

2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said controller signals said power supply controller to operate in said ready-to-print mode upon receiving print data.

3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a display device which displays information concerning the existing power mode selection, wherein said controller signals said display device to display information concerning the existing power mode selection.

4. A power controlling method for a printer comprising a print engine for printing a toner image, a power supply unit for supplying power, a power supply controller for controlling a power supply level from said power supply unit to said print engine, a controller which controls a power mode selection of said power supply controller so that data received by said controller and converted into image data is printed, an input device having a power mode set key for selecting one of power modes, and a display device which displays information concerning the existing power mode selection, the power controlling method comprising the steps of:

(a) initializing the print engine so that the print engine is ready for printing;

(b) displaying present power mode on said display device;

(c) maintaining a ready-to-print mode in which said controller signals said power supply controller to supply said print engine with power for printing after said initializing step (a) or after a waiting print job is completed;

(d) if print data is not received for a first period of time while said printer is in said ready-to-print mode, changing said ready-to-print mode into a power saving mode in which said print engine is supplied with a level of power set below the level of power supplied to said print engine in said ready-to-print mode;

(e) if print data is not received for a second period of time while said printer is in said power saving mode, changing said power saving mode into a power off mode, in which power supplied to said print engine is cut off;

(f) when print data is receive while said printer is in step (c) or step (d), automatically changing said power saving mode of step (c) or said power off mode of step (d) to said ready-to-print mode; and

(g) when a user desires the printer to operate in a specified mode, manually selecting from among said power modes using said power mode set key of said input device.

5. The power controlling method for a printer according to claim 4, wherein said controller signals said power supply controller to operate in said ready-to-print mode, thereby causing said print engine to perform a print job corresponding to the print data.