Power supply controller for use in an image formation apparatus and method

A power supply controller for use in an image formation apparatus, said power supply controller comprising:

• a first control circuit for controlling the image formation apparatus to form an image;
• a second control circuit for controlling electric power supplied to said image formation apparatus;
• a first power supply for supplying electric power to said first control circuit;
• a second power supply for supplying electric power to said second control circuit;
• a third power supply for supplying electric power to a load in said image formation apparatus;
• a dew protection switch operable in an on-state and an off-state, the on-state for setting an operation mode of said image formation apparatus to prevent dew condensation inside said image formation apparatus;
• and
• low power consumption mode setting means for setting a low power consumption mode of said image forming apparatus,
• wherein, when said low power consumption mode is set and said dew protection switch is in the on-state, said second control circuit turns off said third power supply and maintains operation of said first and second power supplies, and
• wherein, when said dew protection switch is in the off-state, said second control circuit turns off said first and third power supplies and maintains operation of said second power supply.

A power supply control method for use in electronic apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• supplying electric power to a first circuit of said electronic apparatus;
• supplying electric power to a second circuit different from said first circuit;
• controlling, when said electronic apparatus is switched to a low power consumption mode, to turn off the power supply to said first circuit and to maintain the power supply to said second circuit if a dew condensation prevention mode for preventing dew condensation inside said electronic apparatus is set;
• and
• controlling, when said electronic apparatus is switched to a low power consumption mode, to turn off the power supply to said first circuit and said second circuit if the dew condensation prevention mode is not set.

A method of controlling a power supply of an image formation apparatus which can operate in a low power consumption mode and a dew condensation prevention mode, said method comprising the steps of:

• supplying electric power to a first control circuit for controlling image formation in the image formation apparatus;
• supplying electric power to a second control circuit for controlling electric power supplied to said image formation apparatus;
• and
• supplying electric power to a load in said image formation apparatus;
• wherein, when said image formation apparatus operates in both the low power consumption mode and the dew condensation prevention mode, said method stops supplying the electric power to the load in the image formation apparatus and continues to supply electric power to the first and second control circuits, and
• wherein, when said image formation apparatus does not operate in the dew condensation prevention mode, said method stops supplying electric power to the first control circuit and to the load and continues to supply electric power to the second control circuit.