Power supply apparatus that outputs voltage supplied to load

A power supply apparatus operable to output a voltage to be supplied to a load, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor configured to generate a control signal for setting a target voltage to be outputted and generate a drive signal for driving an element of the power supply apparatus to output the target voltage;
• a power supply circuit configured to, upon being inputted with the drive signal and the control signal, start generation of an output voltage based on the target voltage specified by the control signal;
• and
• a detection circuit configured to generate a detection signal to be used for determining, based on the drive signal and the output voltage outputted from the power supply circuit, a fault related to the drive signal, the control signal, or the power supply circuit,
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute a first sequence and a second sequence, in the first sequence the at least one processor determines occurrence of a fault related to the drive signal based on the detection signal outputted from the detection circuit at a predetermined timing at which both the drive signal and the control signal are stopped, and in the second sequence the at least one processor determines occurrence of a fault related to the drive signal, the control signal, and the power supply circuit in a first time period in which output of the drive signal starts and output of the control signal does not start, and determines occurrence of a fault related to the control signal and the power supply circuit in a second time period after the drive signal is output and output of the control signal is started.

A power supply apparatus for outputting a voltage to be supplied to a load, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor configured to generate a control signal for setting a target voltage to be outputted, and a drive signal for driving an element of the power supply apparatus to output the target voltage;
• a power supply circuit configured to, upon being inputted with the drive signal and the control signal, start generation of an output voltage based on the target voltage that is designated in accordance with the control signal;
• and
• a detection circuit configured to generate a detection signal to be used for determining, based on the drive signal and the output voltage outputted from the power supply circuit, a fault related to the drive signal, the control signal, or the power supply circuit,
• wherein the at least one processor determines the presence or absence of a fault related to the drive signal, the control signal, or the power supply circuit based on the detection signal outputted from the detection circuit,
• wherein the at least one processor in a time period where output of the drive signal starts before the control signal and the control signal is not output determines a fault related to the drive signal based on the detection signal outputted from the detection circuit,
• wherein the power supply circuit includes:
• a transformer,
• a switching element configured to switch a primary side voltage applied to a primary side of the transformer based on the drive signal, and
• a setting circuit configured to set a magnitude of the primary side voltage based on the control signal, and
• wherein the detection circuit includes:
• a first detection circuit configured to detect the drive signal,
• a second detection circuit configured to detect the output voltage, and
• a generation circuit configured to generate the detection signal based on a detection result of the first detection circuit and a detection result of the second detection circuit.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a power supply apparatus;
• and
• an image forming unit configured to use an output of the power supply apparatus to form an image on a sheet,
• wherein the power supply apparatus comprises:
• at least one processor configured to generate a control signal for setting a target voltage to be outputted and a drive signal for driving an element of the power supply apparatus to output the target voltage;
• a power supply circuit configured to, upon receiving the drive signal and the control signal, start generation of an output voltage based on the target voltage specified by the control signal;
• and
• a detection circuit configured to generate a detection signal used for determination of a fault related to the drive signal based on the drive signal and the output voltage outputted from the power supply circuit,
• wherein the at least one processor in a time period where output of the drive signal starts before the control signal and the control signal is not output determines a fault related to the drive signal based on the detection signal outputted from the detection circuit, and
• wherein, in a case where a fault related to the drive signal is not detected, the at least one processor starts output of the control signal, and in a case where a fault related to the drive signal is detected, stops output of the drive signal.