# US 2018/0027138 A1 · Image forming apparatus, control program, and control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0027138 A1 - Document ID: US20180027138A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/644,912 - Filed: 2017-07-10 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takahiro KAWAKAMI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027138A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00896: {using a low-power mode, e.g. standby} - H04N 1/00411: {the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen} - H04N 1/00424: {using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar} - H04N 1/00474: {outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print} - H04N 1/00925: {Inhibiting an operation} - 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 ## Abstract An image forming apparatus has the power saving mode and the normal mode in which power consumption is not restricted. The image forming apparatus includes a CPU and a display with a touch panel. Under instructions from the CPU, a power saving inhibition icon for inhibiting switching from the normal mode to the power saving mode is displayed on the display with the touch panel. The power saving inhibition icon is touched so that switching to the power saving mode is inhibited. After that, when it is determined that a job that has been first performed after the inhibition has been completed, the inhibition of switching to the power saving mode is canceled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus having a power saving state and a normal state, the power saving state being a state in which power consumption is restricted to a given value or less, the normal state being a state in which power consumption is not restricted, the image forming apparatus comprising: a switching unit that switches the image forming apparatus between the normal state and the power saving state when a given condition is satisfied; a determination unit that determines whether or not an instruction to inhibit the switching performed by the switching unit is given, when the image forming apparatus is in the normal state; an inhibition unit that temporarily inhibits the switching performed by the switching unit, when the determination unit determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given; and a canceling unit that cancels the inhibition of the switching when a job performed in the image forming apparatus is completed, the inhibition being performed by the inhibition unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an input unit that includes a display unit and a touch panel, the display unit having a display surface, the touch panel being provided on the display surface of the display unit, and that displays an instruction key on the display surface of the display unit, the instruction key being used to give the instruction to inhibit the switching, wherein, in response to output from the touch panel, if the instruction key is operated, the determination unit determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input unit displays a selection screen on the display surface of the display unit, the selection screen being used to make a user select whether or not the instruction to inhibit the switching is to be given, and wherein the selection screen includes the instruction key and is displayed on a foreground of the display surface of the display unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when the switching unit performs switching from the power saving state to the normal state, the input unit displays the selection screen on the display surface of the display unit. ### Claim 5 An image forming apparatus having a power saving state and a normal state, the power saving state being a state in which power consumption is restricted to a given value or less, the normal state being a state in which power consumption is not restricted, the image forming apparatus comprising: a switching unit that switches the image forming apparatus between the normal state and the power saving state when a given condition is satisfied; a determination unit that determines whether or not an instruction to inhibit the switching performed by the switching unit is given, when the image forming apparatus is in the normal state; an inhibition unit that, when the determination unit determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given, inhibits the switching until a given time is elapsed, the switching being performed by the switching unit; and a canceling unit that cancels the inhibition of the switching when the given time is elapsed, the inhibition being performed by the inhibition unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an input unit that includes a display unit and a touch panel, the display unit having a display surface, the touch panel being provided on the display surface of the display unit, and that displays an instruction key on the display surface of the display unit, the instruction key being used to give the instruction to inhibit the switching, wherein, in response to output from the touch panel, if the instruction key is operated, the determination unit determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the input unit displays a selection screen on the display surface of the display unit, the selection screen being used to make a user select whether or not the instruction to inhibit the switching is to be given, and wherein the selection screen includes the instruction key and is displayed on a foreground of the display surface of the display unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, when the switching unit performs switching from the power saving state to the normal state, the input unit displays the selection screen on the display surface of the display unit. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer readable medium including a control program for an image forming apparatus having a power saving state and a normal state, the power saving state being a state in which power consumption is restricted to a given value or less, the normal state being a state in which power consumption is not restricted, the control program causing a computer in the image forming apparatus to execute a process comprising: switching the image forming apparatus between the normal state and the power saving state when a given condition is satisfied; determining whether or not an instruction to inhibit the switching is given, when the image forming apparatus is in the normal state; inhibiting the switching temporarily when the determining determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given; and canceling the inhibition of the switching when a job performed in the image forming apparatus is completed. ### Claim 10 A non-transitory computer readable medium including a control program for an image forming apparatus having a power saving state and a normal state, the power saving state being a state in which power consumption is restricted to a given value or less, the normal state being a state in which power consumption is not restricted, the control program causing a computer in the image forming apparatus to execute a process comprising: switching the image forming apparatus between the normal state and the power saving state when a given condition is satisfied; determining whether or not an instruction to inhibit the switching is given, when the image forming apparatus is in the normal state; inhibiting the switching until a given time is elapsed, the inhibiting being performed when the determining determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given; and canceling the inhibition of the switching when the given time is elapsed. ### Claim 11 A control method for an image forming apparatus having a power saving state and a normal state, the power saving state being a state in which power consumption is restricted to a given value or less, the normal state being a state in which power consumption is not restricted, the control method comprising: switching the image forming apparatus between the normal state and the power saving state when a given condition is satisfied; determining whether or not an instruction to inhibit the switching is given, when the image forming apparatus is in the normal state; inhibiting the switching temporarily when the determining determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given; and canceling the inhibition of the switching when a job performed in the image forming apparatus is completed. ### Claim 12 A control method for an image forming apparatus having a power saving state and a normal state, the power saving state being a state in which power consumption is restricted to a given value or less, the normal state being a state in which power consumption is not restricted, the control method comprising: switching the image forming apparatus between the normal state and the power saving state when a given condition is satisfied; determining whether or not an instruction to inhibit the switching is given, when the image forming apparatus is in the normal state; inhibiting the switching until a given time is elapsed, the inhibiting being performed when the determining determines that the instruction to inhibit the switching is given; and canceling the inhibition of the switching when the given time is elapsed.