Image output apparatus and computer-readable recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9905141-B2
Application number	US-201314036197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2013
Priority date	Oct 25, 2012
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

An image output apparatus is disclosed that is capable of switching between a normal status and a low power status in which consumption power is lower than that in the normal status. The image output apparatus includes an interface for acquiring an image signal; a signal detector configured to detect a signal at the interface; and a switching controller configured to switch a status from the low power status to the normal status based on a detection result of the signal in the low power status.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image output apparatus that is capable of switching between a normal status and a low power status in which consumption power is lower than that in the normal status, the image output apparatus comprising:
an interface that is configured (a1) to be connected to an external device external to the image output apparatus, (a2) to generate a connection signal when the external device is connected to the interface, and (a3) to receive an image signal from the external device;
a signal detector configured to detect the connection signal and the image signal;
a power status switching storage that stores a power status switching setting having plural settings including (b1) a first power status switching setting indicating that, in response to the connection signal being detected, the low power status is to be switched to the normal power status, and (b2) a second power status switching setting indicating that, in response to the image signal being detected after the connection signal is detected, the low power status is to be switched to the normal power status; and
a switching controller that (i) switches, when the power status switching setting is set to the first power status switching setting, the low power status to the normal power status in response to the connection signal being detected, and (ii) that switches, when the power status switching setting is set to the second power status switching setting, the low power status to the normal power status in response to the image signal being detected after the connection signal is detected,
wherein the signal detector detects a connection of a recording medium to the interface based on the connection signal, and the switching controller keeps the low power status if the connection of the recording medium to the interface is detected in the low power status and the image signal stored in the recording medium cannot be output as an image.

2. The image output apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switching controller switches the status from the normal status to the low power status based on the detection result of the signal in the normal status.

3. The image output apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switching controller switches the status from the normal status to the low power status at a predetermined timing after the detection of the signal based on the detection result of the signal in the normal status.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a control program for an image output apparatus that includes an interface configured to be connected to an external device external to the image output apparatus, and that is capable of switching between a normal status and a low power status in which consumption power is lower than that in the normal status, in which the control program causes the image output apparatus to execute a process comprising:
generating a connection signal by the interface when the external device is connected to the interface of the image output apparatus, and receiving an image signal from the external device through the interface;
detecting the connection signal and the image signal;
storing, in a storage device, a power status switching setting having plural settings including (b1) a first power status switching setting indicating that, in response to the connection signal being detected, the low power status is to be switched to the normal power status, and (b2) a second power status switching setting indicating that, in response to the image signal being detected after the connection signal is detected, the low power status is to be switched to the normal power status;
switching, when the power status switching setting is set to the first power status switching setting, the low power status to the normal power status in response to the connection signal being detected, and switching, when the power status switching setting is set to the second power status switching setting, the low power status to the normal power status in response to the image signal being detected after the connection signal is detected; and
detecting a connection of a recording medium to the interface based on the connection signal, and keeping the low power status when the connection of the recording medium to the interface is detected in the low power status and the image signal stored in the recording medium cannot be output as an image.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 4 , wherein the process performed by the image output apparatus further comprises:
switching the status from the normal status to the low power status based on the detection result of the signal in the normal status.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 4 , wherein the process performed by the image output apparatus further comprises:
switching the status from the normal status to the low power status at a predetermined timing after the detection of the signal based on the detection result of the signal in the normal status.

Assignees

• Ozaki Hiroki
• Mori Hiroki
• Iwasaki Ryo
• Oouchi Miki
• Nakamura Rie
• Maeda Hiroshi
• Ishii Shigeyuki
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ozaki Hiroki
• Mori Hiroki
• Iwasaki Ryo
• Oouchi Miki
• Nakamura Rie
• Maeda Hiroshi
• Ishii Shigeyuki

Classifications

• G06F1/3209 Primary

  Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections · CPC title

• Y02B60/32

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• G06F1/3265 Primary

  Power saving in display device · CPC title

• H04N21/4113

  PC · CPC title

• G09G3/00 Primary

  Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes · CPC title