# US 2010/0166448 A1 · Image forming apparatus and control method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166448 A1 - Document ID: US20100166448A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/641,252 - Filed: 2009-12-17 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-27 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Fumio Mikami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166448A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00891: {Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use (H04N1/00896 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/5004: {Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off} - G06K 15/406: {Wake-up procedures (start-up of a laser scanner G06K15/1219)} - H04N 1/00904: {Arrangements for supplying power to different circuits or for supplying power at different levels (H04N1/00896 takes precedence)} - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on recording paper, a first control unit configured to control the image forming unit, a second control unit configured to control the image forming unit, and a power supplying unit configured to supply power, when the image forming apparatus is to operate in a normal power mode, such that the first control unit goes into a normal power state in which the first control unit can control the image forming unit, and supply power, when the image forming apparatus is to operate in a power saving mode, such that the first control unit goes into a power saving state in which the first control unit cannot control the image forming unit and the second control unit goes into a state in which the second control unit can control the image forming unit, wherein the second control unit controls the power supplying unit to supply power to the image forming unit and controls the image forming unit to perform a specific operation at predetermined timing when the image forming apparatus operates in the power saving mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on recording paper; a first control unit configured to control the image forming unit; a second control unit configured to control the image forming unit; and a power supplying unit configured to supply power, when the image forming apparatus is to operate in a normal power mode, such that the first control unit goes into a normal power state in which the first control unit can control the image forming unit, and supply power, when the image forming apparatus is to operate in a power saving mode, such that the first control unit goes into a power saving state in which the first control unit cannot control the image forming unit and the second control unit goes into a state in which the second control unit can control the image forming unit, wherein the second control unit controls the power supplying unit to supply power to the image forming unit and controls the image forming unit to perform a specific operation at predetermined timing when the image forming apparatus operates in the power saving mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit controls, when a notification of abnormality from the image forming unit is received while the image forming unit performs the specific operation, the power supplying unit so that the first control unit goes into the normal power state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit which transfers toner onto the photosensitive drum, the specific timing is generated at regular intervals, and the specific operation is an operation for rotating the photosensitive drum in the image forming unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit controls the image forming unit so that power is supplied to the image forming apparatus by outputting an activation control signal to the image forming unit at the specific timing, and the image forming unit is activated in a mode for performing the specific operation in response to input of the activation control signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a timing setting unit configured to set the specific timing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific timing is timing after printing operation has ended, and further comprising an exhaust fan configured to exhaust gas inside the image forming apparatus, wherein the specific operation is an operation for driving the exhaust fan. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a drive time setting unit configured to set drive time of the exhaust fan at the specific timing, wherein the second control unit controls the power supplying unit to stop supplying power to the image forming unit at the specific timing after the drive time of the exhaust fan has elapsed. ### Claim 8 A method for controlling an image forming apparatus which includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on recording paper, a first control unit configured to control the image forming unit, and a second control unit configured to control the image forming unit, the method comprising: controlling a power supplying unit to supply power, when the image forming apparatus is to operate in a normal power mode, such that the first control unit goes into a normal power state in which the first control unit can control the image forming unit; controlling a power supplying unit to supply power, when the image forming apparatus is to operate in a power saving mode, such that the first control unit goes into a power saving state in which the first control unit cannot control the image forming unit and the second control unit goes into a state in which the second control unit can control the image forming unit; and controlling the power supplying unit with the second control unit to supply power to the image forming unit and controlling the image forming unit to perform a specific operation, at predetermined timing when the image forming apparatus operates in the power saving mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising causing the second control unit to control, when a notification of abnormality from the image forming unit is received while the image forming unit performs the specific operation, the power supplying unit so that the first control unit goes into the normal power state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit which transfers toner onto the photosensitive drum, the specific timing is generated at regular intervals, and the specific operation is an operation for rotating the photosensitive drum in the image forming unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: causing the second control unit to control the image forming unit so that power is supplied to the image forming apparatus by outputting an activation control signal to the image forming unit at the specific timing, and so that the image forming unit is activated in a mode for performing the specific operation in response to input of the activation control signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising setting the specific timing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the specific timing is timing after printing operation has ended, the image forming apparatus further includes an exhaust fan configured to exhaust gas inside the image forming apparatus, and the specific operation is an operation for driving the exhaust fan. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising setting drive time of the exhaust fan at the specific timing, wherein the second control unit controls the power supplying unit to stop supplying power to the image forming unit at the specific timing after the drive time of the exhaust fan has elapsed.