Image forming apparatus having reduced power consumption mode and control method therefor
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus having a normal standby mode, and a reduced power consumption mode in which less electric power is consumed than in the normal standby mode, comprising:
- a first control circuit that controls processing related to image formation;
a second control circuit operable when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode, for carrying out part of operations of said first control circuit carried out when the image forming apparatus is in the normal standby mode; and
a detecting device that detects a status of the image forming apparatus;
wherein;
said first control circuit responds to an externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in the normal standby mode, and enters an inoperative state where it does not respond to the externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode; and
said second control circuit responds to the externally input status request on behalf of said first control circuit when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of responding to a status request with the minimum possible energy consumption even when the image forming apparatus is in a sleep state, to thereby achieve energy conservation. A main-chip microcomputer Q701 responds to an externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in a normal standby mode, and enters an inoperative state where it does not respond to the externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in a reduced power consumption mode. A 1-chip microcomputer Q702 responds to the externally input status request on behalf of the main-chip microcomputer Q701 when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode.
37 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus having a normal standby mode, and a reduced power consumption mode in which less electric power is consumed than in the normal standby mode, comprising:
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a first control circuit that controls processing related to image formation;
a second control circuit operable when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode, for carrying out part of operations of said first control circuit carried out when the image forming apparatus is in the normal standby mode; and
a detecting device that detects a status of the image forming apparatus;
wherein;
said first control circuit responds to an externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in the normal standby mode, and enters an inoperative state where it does not respond to the externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode; and
said second control circuit responds to the externally input status request on behalf of said first control circuit when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A control method of controlling an image forming apparatus having a normal standby mode, and a reduced power consumption mode in which less electric power is consumed than in the normal standby mode, the image forming apparatus comprising a first control circuit that controls processing related to image formation, a second control circuit operable when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode, for carrying out part of operations of said first control circuit carried out when the image forming apparatus is in the normal standby mode, and a detecting device that detects a status of the image forming apparatus, the control method comprising the steps of:
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causing the first control circuit to respond to an externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in the normal standby mode; and
causing the first control circuit to enter an inoperative state where it does not respond to the externally input status request and causing the second control circuit to respond to the externally input status request on behalf of said first control circuit, when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode.
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Specification