Electrophotography – Machine operation – Operator interface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-02
2001-05-01
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Operator interface
C399S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226472
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from an application entitled Printer And Power Controlling Method Therefor earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the Jul. 31, 1998, and there duly assigned Serial No. 98-31171, a copy of which is annexed hereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a printer and a power controlling method for the printer, and more particularly to a printer capable of reducing power consumed while the printer is not used, and a power controlling method for the printer.
2. Related Art
A printer is an image formation device which receives data from a host computer and then forms a corresponding image onto a recordable medium such as a sheet of paper.
In a laser printer, print data are received from external equipment such as a host computer to develop the print data into printable image data. The developed image data are stored in a print image buffer. Then a laser beam, corresponding to image data of one raster read out from the print image buffer, is emitted from a laser diode to perform a main scanning operation, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum for every dot line. Thereafter, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum and then transferred onto a recordable medium such as a sheet of paper. The toner on the recordable medium is heated by a fixing heater of a fixing device to fix the toner on the recordable medium, thereby completing a print process.
Laser printers are also referred to as electrophotographic printers. The host computer can be a desktop computer, a personal computer, a portable computer such as a notebook computer or palm-sized computer, or other type of computer.
I have found that power can be consumed unnecessarily by a printer when the printer is not being used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above-referenced problem and others, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a printer capable of reducing unnecessary power consumption.
To solve the above-referenced problem and others, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a printer capable of reducing unnecessary power consumption by suppressing power consumption to the maximum extent possible while the printer is not used, and a power controlling method for the printer.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objectives and others, there is provided a printer comprising: a print engine for printing a toner image on a paper; a power supply unit for supplying electric power; an engine power supply controller for controlling the power supply from the power supply unit to the print engine; a display device employing a light source for displaying information; a switch member installed for connecting or disconnecting the power supply from the power supply unit to the light source; and a controller which controls the print engine and the engine power supply controller so that an image corresponding to received print data can be printed on a paper while maintaining a print ready mode in which the print engine is supplied with enough power to perform a print job, controls the engine power supply controller so that when the print ready mode continues for a first period of time without receiving any print data from the outside, the print ready mode can be changed into a power saving mode in which power set below the power supplied to the print engine in the print ready mode is supplied to the print engine, and controls the switch member so that the switch member is in an off state so as to turn off the light source in the power saving mode.
When print data is received during a power saving mode, the controller controls the switching member so that the light source can be turned on while the power saving mode is changed into the print ready mode for a print job to be possible.
In addition, to achieve the above objectives and others, there is provided a power controlling method for a printer which comprises a print engine for printing a toner image on a paper, a power supply unit for supplying electric power, an engine power supply controller for controlling the power supply from the power supply unit to the print engine, a controller for controlling the print engine and the engine power supply controller so that an image corresponding to received print data can be printed on a paper, and a display device provided with a light source whose power is supplied from the power supply unit for displaying information provided by the controller, comprising the steps carried out by the controller of: (a) initializing the printer by preheating the print engine to a state enabling a print job to be carried out and turning on the light source; (b) after the initializing step (a) or after completion of all previously received print jobs, maintaining a print ready mode in which the controller keeps the print engine ready for a print job by supplying the print engine with enough power to carry out a print job; (c) deciding whether there is a request to change the print ready mode into a power saving mode in which power set below the power supplied to the print engine in the print ready mode is supplied to the print engine; and (d) when there is a mode change request into the power saving mode in step (c), supplying power set below the power supplied to the print engine in the print ready mode to the print engine and turning off the light source.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising: a print engine forming first visual images on a recordable medium; a power supply unit supplying a first power to said print engine; a power supply controller being coupled to said power supply unit and said print engine, said power supply controller controlling the power supplied from said power supply unit to said print engine; a display unit conveying visual information to a user, said display unit being selectively turned on and off; and a control unit receiving first print data and transmitting corresponding data to said print engine, said first visual images formed by said print engine corresponding to said first print data received by said control unit, said control unit controlling said print engine and said power supply controller to cause said first visual images to be formed on the recordable medium when said control unit selects a print ready mode, said print engine being supplied with a first quantity of power sufficient to form said first visual images on the recordable medium when said control unit selects said print ready mode, said control unit selecting a power save mode when a first predetermined quantity of time elapses without print data being received by said control unit, said control unit turning off said display unit when said control unit selects said power save mode, said control unit turning on said display unit when said control unit selects said print ready mode.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising: a print engine forming first visual images on a recordable medium; a power supply unit supplying a first power to said print engine; a power supply controller being coupled to said power supply unit and said print engine, said power supply controller controlling the power supplied from said power supply unit to said print engine; a display unit conveying visual information to a user; a switch being coupled to said display unit, said switch selectively switching ON to turn on said display unit and OFF to turn off said display unit; and a control unit receiving first print data and transmitting corresponding data to said print engine, said first visual images formed by said print engine corresponding to said first print data received by said control unit, said c
Beatty Robert
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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