# US 8,543,018 B2 · Image forming apparatus and power-supply control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,018 B2 - Document ID: US8543018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/512,510 - Filed: 2009-07-30 - Published: 2010-02-04 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-01 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Tomonori Maekawa - Inventors: Tomonori Maekawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543018B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/80: {Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections} - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - H02J 7/92: with prioritisation of loads or sources - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A detecting unit detects a usage state of a charge storage unit for each predetermined time period. A setting unit determines whether the usage state of the charge storage unit satisfies a predetermined condition for each time period, and when it is determined that the usage state satisfies the predetermined condition, sets a corresponding time period as a charge-use permitted time. A control unit determines whether a current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, and when it is determined that the current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, allows a discharging unit to discharge the charge storage unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a charge storage unit capable of charging and discharging; a charging unit that charges the charge storage unit with power from a power source; a discharging unit that discharges the charge storage unit and supplies a discharge power to a load; a setting unit that determines whether, during a predetermined time period, at least one of a total executing time and a number of executions satisfies a predetermined condition, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied, sets a charge-use permission for the predetermined time period; and a control unit that determines whether a current time of day corresponds to the predetermined time period having the charge-use permission set, and when the current time of day is determined to correspond to the predetermined time period having the charge-use permission set, allows the discharging unit to discharge the charge storage unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving unit that receives an input of a charge-use permitted time; and a priority setting unit that sets a priority of the charge-use permitted time received by the receiving unit and the charge-use permitted time set by the setting unit, wherein the control unit determines whether a measured time falls in a charge-use permitted time having a higher priority. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit allows the charging unit to charge the charge storage unit before the charge-use permission is set. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit forces the discharging unit to discharge the charge storage unit after the charge-use permission is no longer set. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge storage unit is either one of a capacitor and a secondary battery. ### Claim 6 A method of controlling a power supply in an image forming apparatus that includes a charge storage unit capable of charging and discharging, the method comprising: charging the charge storage unit with a power from a power source; discharging which supplies a discharge power to a load; setting, including, determining, during a predetermined time period, whether at least one of a total executing time and a number of executions satisfies a predetermined condition, and setting, when the predetermined condition is determined to be satisfied, a charge-use permission for the predetermined time period; and controlling, including, determining whether a current time of day corresponds to the predetermined time period having the charge-use permission set, and allowing, when the current time of day is determined to correspond to the predetermined time period having the charge-use permission set, the discharging to discharge the charge storage unit. ### Claim 7 A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer-readable program codes embodied in the non-transitory computer-usable medium for controlling a power supply in an image forming apparatus that includes a charge storage unit capable of charging and discharging, the program codes when executed causing a computer to perform a method comprising: charging the charge storage unit with a power from a power source; discharging which supplies a discharge power to a load; setting, including, determining, during a predetermined time period, whether at least one of a total executing time and a number of executions satisfies a predetermined condition, and setting, when the predetermined condition is determined to be satisfied, a charge-use permission for the predetermined time period; and controlling, including, determining whether a current time of day corresponds to the predetermined time period having the charge-use permission set, and allowing, when the current time of day is determined to correspond to the predetermined time period having the charge-use permission set, the discharging to discharge the charge storage unit.