# US 10,481,520 B1 · Image forming apparatus and control method of image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,520 B1 - Document ID: US10481520B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/155,973 - Filed: 2018-10-10 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-10 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masami Ohshima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481520B1 ## CPC - G03G 15/043: with means for controlling illumination or exposure (G03G15/041 takes precedence) - G03G 15/50: {Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control (sequencing control G03G21/14)} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, a first processor, a second processor, and an arbitration unit. The storage unit stores control information related to at least one parameter of light emission of each of a plurality of light emitting elements that irradiate a photoconductor with light. The first processor accesses the storage unit. The second processor accesses the storage unit and accesses faster than the first processor. The arbitration unit controls the second processor to access the storage unit in a first period during which predetermined processing is performed. In a second period other than the first period, the arbitration unit controls the first processor to access the storage unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a storage unit configured to store control information related to at least one parameter of light emission of each of a plurality of light emitting elements that irradiate a photoconductor with light; a first processor that accesses the storage unit; a second processor that accesses the storage unit that accesses faster than the first processor; and an arbitration unit configured to control the second processor to access the storage unit in a first period during which predetermined processing is performed, and control the first processor to access in a second period other than the first period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing comprises at least one of activating of the image forming apparatus, deactivating of the image forming apparatus, and maintaining of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing comprises at least one of writing of the control information to the storage unit or reading out of the control information from the storage unit with respect to the plurality of light emitting elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second processor executes imaging of image data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first processor executes control related to image formation of image data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second period includes a period during which the control related to the image formation is executed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emission of the plurality of light emitting elements is controlled based on the control information stored in the storage unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements comprise a plurality of light emitting elements for each of a plurality of colors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arbitration unit comprises: a register that stores permission information indicating whether or not the access by the second processor is permitted; and a control unit configured to control the second processor to access when the permission information held by the register indicates permission, and the control unit causes the register to hold the permission information indicating permission during the first period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of light emission of each of a plurality of light emitting elements is an amount of light emitted therefrom. ### Claim 11 A control method of an image forming apparatus comprising: controlling a second processor, which is faster than a first processor in accessing, to access a storage unit storing control information related to at least one parameter of light emission of each of a plurality of light emitting elements that irradiate a photoconductor with light in a first period during which predetermined processing is performed, and controlling the first processor to access the storage unit in a second period other than the first period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein predetermined processing comprises at least one of: activating of the image forming apparatus, deactivating of the image forming apparatus, and maintaining of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein predetermined processing comprises at least one of: writing of the control information to the storage unit, or reading out of the control information from the storage unit with respect to the plurality of light emitting elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: imaging image data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: controlling image formation of image data by the first processor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: controlling the image formation in a period during the second period. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: controlling the light emission of the plurality of light emitting elements based on the control information stored in the storage unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements comprise a plurality of light emitting elements for each of a plurality of colors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: storing permission information indicating whether or not the accessing by the second processor is permitted; and controlling the second processor to access when the permission information held indicates permission, and causing a register to hold the permission information indicating permission during the first period. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter of light emission of each of a plurality of light emitting elements is an amount of light emitted therefrom.