Image processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9235178-B2
Application number	US-72182310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2010
Priority date	Mar 13, 2009
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

An image processing apparatus that enables to prolong lives of device parts of which lives are limited by preventing unnecessary returns from the power saving mode, and reduce unnecessary power consumption. A first living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus to input a trigger. A second living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus for other purposes. A switching unit switches a mode from a first electric power mode to a second electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit does not detect the living body, and maintains the first electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit detects the living body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus that has a first mode in which electric power is supplied to a part of the image processing apparatus and a second mode in which electric power is not supplied to the part of the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising:
a first detection unit adapted to detect a change of state;
a second detection unit adapted to, in response to, and after, a detected change of state by the first detection unit, start a detecting operation, and detect an object; and
a control unit adapted to switch the electric power mode of the image processing apparatus from the second mode to the first mode in a case where said second detection unit detects the object.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second detection unit detects the object that approaches to the image processing apparatus.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit switches the electric power mode of the image processing apparatus from the second mode to the first mode when said second detection unit detects the object after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a timer adapted to store information indicative of the predetermined time period.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein electric power consumption in the second mode is lower than that in the first mode.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a printer unit adapted to print image on paper.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the electric power is not supplied to the printer unit in the second mode, and the electric power is supplied to the printer unit in the first mode.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first detection unit and the second detection unit is a sensor.

9. A control method for an image processing apparatus that has a first mode in which electric power is supply to a part of the image processing apparatus and a second mode in which electric power is not supply to the part of the image processing apparatus, the control method comprising:
detecting, by a first detecting unit, change of state;
in response to, and after, a detected change of state by the first detection unit, starting a detecting operation, and detecting an object, by a second detecting unit;
switching, by a control unit, the electric power mode of the image processing apparatus from the second mode to the first mode in a case where the object is detected by the second detecting unit.

10. The control method according to claim 9 , wherein said control unit switches the electric power mode of the image processing apparatus from the second mode to the first mode when said second detection unit detects the object after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

11. The control method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
printing an image on paper in the first mode.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation of the second detection unit is linked to the operation of the first detection unit.

Assignees

• Hashimoto Minoru
• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Hashimoto Minoru

Classifications

• G03G15/5004 Primary

  Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off · CPC title