Image forming device and power consumption control method in an image forming device

An image forming device for recording an image on a record medium based on a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of basic recording colors, the image forming device comprising:

• a plurality of image exposure units corresponding to the plurality of the basic recording colors, wherein only one of the plurality of image exposure units is used to record a monochrome image on the record medium and at least two of the plurality of image exposure units are used to record a color image on the record medium;
• a power supply unit for supplying electrical power to each of the plurality of image exposure units;
• and
• an image data identification unit for identifying each of said plurality of image data corresponding to each of the plurality of basic recording colors from input image information;
• wherein the power supply unit initially supplies a lower electrical power to all of the plurality of image exposure units when a low power consumption mode is designated, and, upon cancellation of the low power consumption mode and a subsequent selection of a monochrome image recording, supplies a predetermined electrical power to said only one of the plurality of image exposure units while continuing to supply the lower electrical power to the rest of the plurality of image exposure units.

A power consumption control method for an image forming device for recording an image on a record medium based on a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of basic recording colors, the image forming device comprising a plurality of image exposure units corresponding to the plurality of basic recording colors, wherein only one of the plurality of image exposure units is used to record a monochrome image on the record medium and at least two of the plurality of image exposure units are used to record a color image on the record medium, the method comprising:

• a power supply process for supplying electrical power to each of the plurality of image exposure units;
• and
• an image data identification process for identifying each of said plurality of image data corresponding to each of the plurality of basic recording colors from input image information;
• wherein in the power supply process, a lower electrical power is initially supplied to all of the plurality of image exposure units when a lower power consumption mode is designated, and when the lower power consumption mode is cancelled and then monochrome image recording is subsequently designated, a predetermined electrical power is supplied to said only one of the plurality of image exposure units, while the lower electrical power is continuously supplied to the rest of the plurality of image exposure units.