Image processing apparatus having plurality of power modes and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9338319-B2
Application number	US-201314044779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2013
Priority date	Dec 17, 2008
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a living body detection unit configured to detect approaching of a living body based on a detection output depending on a distance to the living body, an operation unit configured to receive an operation command from a user, a history recording unit configured to record a history of a detection output of the living body detection unit and a history of an operation performed on the operation unit, and a determination unit configured to determine a threshold value of the detection output, the threshold value being used by the living body detection unit as a determination reference value in determining whether a living body is detected, the determination of the threshold value being made based on the history recorded in the history recording unit as to the detection output of the living body detection unit and as to the operation performed on the operation unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus which is capable of operating in a first power mode and in a second power mode in which less electric power is supplied than in the first power mode, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a detection unit configured to detect an object;
an operation unit configured to receive user's operation for changing a power mode of the image forming apparatus;
a power control unit configured to change the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode in a case where the detection unit detects an object or in a case where the operation unit receives the user's operation; and
a determination unit configured to determine a range of detection of the detection unit, based on an operation history of the operation unit and a detection history of the detection unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines a threshold value which is to be compared with a detection strength of the object detected by the detection unit.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detection history of the detection unit is a history of detection strength of the object detected by the detection unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation history of the operation unit is a history of presence or absence of the user's operation received by the operation unit.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power control unit changes the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode, in response to the operation unit receiving a user's operation in the second power mode.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a reading unit configured to read an image of a document; and
an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein, in the second power mode, power supply to the reading unit and the image forming unit is stopped.

8. An image forming apparatus which is capable of operating in a first power mode and in a second power mode in which less electric power is supplied than in the first power mode, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a detection unit configured to detect an object;
an operation unit configured to receive a user's operation for changing a power mode of the image forming apparatus;
a power control unit configured to change the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode in a case where the detection unit detects an object; and
an adjusting unit configured to adjust a range of detection by the detection unit, if the operation unit does not receive the user's operation before a predetermined time period passes after the power control unit changes the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adjusting unit adjusts a threshold value which is compared with a detection strength of the object detected by the detection unit.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a reading unit configured to read an image of a document; and
an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein, in the second power mode, power supply to the reading unit and the image forming unit is stopped.

12. A method of operating in a first power mode and in a second power mode in which less electric power is supplied than in the first power mode, the method comprising:
detecting an object;
receiving an user's operation for changing a power mode of an image forming apparatus;
changing the power mode from the second power mode to the first power mode in a case where an object is detected or in a case where the user's operation is received; and
determining a range of detection, based on an operation history and a detection history.

13. A method of operating in a first power mode and in a second power mode in which less electric power is supplied than in the first power mode, the method comprising:
detecting an object;
receiving a user's operation for changing a power mode of an image forming apparatus;
changing the power mode from the second power mode to the first power mode in a case where an object is detected; and
adjusting a range of detection, if the user's operation is not received before a predetermined time period passes after the power mode of the image forming apparatus is changed from the second power mode to the first power mode.

14. An image forming apparatus which is capable of operating in a first power mode and in a second power mode in which power consumption is smaller than power consumption in the first power mode, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a detection unit configured to detect an object;
an operation unit configured to receive a user's operation;
a power control unit configured to change the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode in a case where a detection strength of an object detected by the detection unit exceeds a threshold value; and
a changing unit configured to change the threshold value, based on a result of a user's operation which is received by the operation unit after the power control unit changes the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the changing unit changes the threshold value, based on a fact that the operation unit has not received a user's operation after the power control unit changes the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the changing unit changes the threshold value, based on a fact that the operation unit has not received a user's operation before a predetermined time period passes after the power control unit changes the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the changing unit increases the threshold value, based on a fact that the operation unit has not received a user's operation before a predetermined time period passes after the power control unit changes the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the changing unit does not change the threshold value, in a case where the operation unit receives a user's operation after the power control unit changes the power mode of the image forming apparatus from the second power mode to the first power mode.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein power is supplied to the image forming unit in the first power mode and power is not supplied to the image forming unit in the second power mode.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Oyoshi Kazuhiro

Classifications

• H04N1/00896 Primary

  using a low-power mode, e.g. standby · CPC title

• G03G15/5004 Primary

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

• G03G15/5016

  User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console · CPC title

• H04N1/00891 Primary

  Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use (H04N1/00896 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title