JP4529441B2 - Image processing apparatus and host apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, and a host device and a device location, an image processing apparatus and the host device connected via the USB between the host apparatus and the device unit, the particular normal mode from the sleep mode to the host device the return notification to an image processing apparatus and the host apparatus to perform a pull-up of the USB connecting line.

  In recent years, multifunction devices having a plurality of functions have been widely used in one OA device, and space saving and power saving of the OA device have been achieved.

  For example, there is known a so-called multi-function machine in which a copy, telephone, fax, printer, network function, and the like are installed in one OA device and can perform a plurality of processes.

  The multi-function device includes a device device such as a copy machine, a fax machine, and a printer, and a host device that manages these functional devices. The host device and each device device are connected via an interface device.

  Recently, a configuration using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface has been proposed as an interface for connecting the host device to each device.

  While a single multifunction device can operate a plurality of device devices, the power consumption is increased by always operating a plurality of device devices.

  Therefore, in general, a multi-function device composed of a host device and a device device is, for example, when the user does not use a device device such as a copy machine, a telephone, a fax machine, or a printer for a certain period of time. It has a power saving function that automatically shifts to a sleep mode that reduces power consumption by supplying a minimum amount of power.

  In the sleep mode state, for example, when an incoming signal for fax communication is input to a device device such as a fax machine, the device device and the host device automatically shift from the sleep mode to the normal mode. .

As a device that automatically shifts from the sleep mode to the normal mode by an external signal, a modem device having a power saving function described in Patent Document 1 has been known. The modem device having the power saving function described in Patent Document 1 is configured to automatically resume from the sleep mode when a ring signal is input from the outside during the sleep mode.
JP-A-8-139826

  However, in the configuration in which the host device and each device device are connected by USB, when the host device is controlled to the sleep mode, in order to return the host device to the normal mode by the notification from the device device, the device device It is necessary to transmit a return signal to the host device. When the configuration of Patent Document 1 is adopted for such a configuration, it is necessary to provide an interface and a signal line different from the USB connection for transmitting the return signal. For this reason, there are problems such as diversion to other models and versatility.

  In addition, a configuration has been proposed in which a USB device is used to notify the host device to return from the sleep mode to the normal mode, but according to this configuration, the USB controller on the host device side is always supplied with power. Therefore, there is a problem in that effective power saving control cannot be performed.

Therefore, the present invention can perform a return notification from the sleep mode to the normal mode from the device device to the host device by using the USB connection line, and the power supply of the USB controller on the host device side in the sleep mode of the host device. supply also aims to provide an image processing apparatus and the host apparatus to improve the power saving effect to be able to stop.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus having a host device and a device device, wherein the host device and the device device are connected by a USB connection line. Incoming call detection means for detecting reception of a facsimile, and when the incoming call detection means detects reception of a facsimile, a notice of return from sleep mode to normal mode by pulling up a specific data line in the USB connection line A host-side USB controller that is connected to the USB connection line and that is powered off when the host device is in a sleep mode. provided with an external to said host USB controller, the specific receiving power in the state of sleep mode Detecting a pull-up state of the data line, when detecting a pull-up detecting means becomes inoperative, the pull-up of the pull-up detecting means before Kitoku constant of the connecting line is in the state of the normal mode, the host And a return control means for returning the host device from the sleep mode to the normal mode by controlling to supply power to the side USB controller.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the pull-up detection means has an output enable terminal, and when the host device is in the normal mode, the output enable terminal is high. It includes a three-state buffer that is controlled to be in an inoperative state when a level signal is applied.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host device of an image processing apparatus in which a device connection of the image processing apparatus is connected by a USB connection line, and is connected to the USB connection line and in a sleep mode state. a host-side USB controller power is cut off, provided with an external to said host USB controller, wherein the host device is of a particular data line in the USB connecting line by receiving power in the state of sleep mode Pull-up detection means that detects a pull-up state and is controlled to be inactive in the normal mode state; and when the pull-up detection means detects a pull-up of the specific connection line, the host-side USB controller Return control means for returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode by controlling to supply power to And Bei, the pull-up detecting means, the output having an enable terminal, the host device the controlled inoperative by said to be in a state of normal mode output enable high-level signal to the terminal is applied characterized in that it comprises a three-state buffer that.

  According to the present invention, the host device is notified of the return from the sleep mode to the normal mode by pulling up the USB connection line that connects the host device and the device device, and the USB connection line is pulled up by the USB connection line. Since the host device is configured to return from the sleep mode to the normal mode based on the detection output of the detection unit, the device unit normally returns from the sleep mode to the host device. The mode can be notified using the USB connection line, and the host device can also stop the power supply to the USB controller on the other side in the sleep mode of the host device, thereby improving the effective power saving effect There is an effect that can be achieved.

  Embodiments of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a host apparatus 10 and a device apparatus 20 having a facsimile communication function. The host apparatus 10 and the device apparatus 20 are connected via a USB interface.

  Here, the host device 10 includes a USB controller 11 and a USB connector 12 that constitute a USB interface on the host side, a host controller 13 that performs overall control of the overall operation of the host device 10, and a host side that supplies power to each part of the host device 10. The device apparatus 20 includes a power supply 14. The device apparatus 20 includes a USB controller 21 and a USB connector 22 that form a USB interface on the device side, a device controller 23 that performs overall control of the entire operation of the device apparatus 20, and each unit of the device apparatus 20. A device-side power supply 24 that supplies power and an incoming call detection circuit 25 that detects facsimile reception are configured.

  Further, the USB connector 12 on the host side and the USB connector 22 on the device side are connected via a power supply line (VBus) 31, a data line (D +) 32, a data line (D−) 33, and a ground line (GND) 34. The data line (D +) 32 and the data line (D−) 33 are grounded via resistors 17 and 18, respectively.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the above embodiment, the device apparatus 20 and the main apparatus 10 sleep in which power is supplied only to the minimum necessary apparatus in a state where facsimile communication using the device apparatus 20 is not performed. It is configured to operate in mode and save power.

  That is, in the image processing apparatus of the above embodiment, in the normal mode, each unit of the host apparatus 10 operates by receiving power from the host-side power supply 14, and each unit of the device apparatus 20 has a USB interface. The power supply is supplied from the device-side power supply 24 that is supplied with power from the host-side power supply 14 via the power supply line (VBus) 31.

  In a state where facsimile communication using the device apparatus 20 is not performed, power is supplied only to the host controller 13 of the host apparatus 10, and the device apparatus 20 detects device reception for detecting facsimile reception. It operates in the sleep mode in which power is supplied from the device-side power supply 24 only to the error detector 23 and the incoming call detection circuit 25.

  When the host device 10 and the device device 20 operate in the sleep mode as described above and the facsimile reception from the public line 40 is detected by the incoming call detection circuit 23, the host device 10 and the device device 20 are in the sleep mode. The host apparatus 10 returns from the sleep mode to the normal mode upon receiving a return notification from the sleep mode to the normal mode from the device apparatus 20.

  In this embodiment, the return notification from the device apparatus 20 to the host apparatus 10 is performed by pulling up the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface connecting the host apparatus 10 and the device apparatus 20.

  That is, in the state where the device apparatus 20 is operating in the sleep mode, when the incoming call detection circuit 23 detects the facsimile reception from the public line 40, the device controller 23 controls the pull-up switch 27 to be turned on, and the USB The interface data line (D +) 32 is pulled up via a resistor (pull-up resistor) 26.

  The pull-up of the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface is detected by the detection element 15 externally connected to the data line (D +) 32 on the host device 10 side, and the detection output of the detection element 15 is Then, it is input as an interrupt signal to the host controller 13, whereby the host device 10 returns from the sleep mode to the normal mode.

Here, the detection element 15 operates by receiving power from the host-side power supply 14 even when the host device 10 is in the sleep mode. The detection element 15 includes a data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface. Can be configured using a logic IC (Integrated Circut : three-state buffer ) having a buffer function.

  According to such a configuration, in the sleep mode while adopting a configuration in which the return from the sleep mode to the normal mode is performed from the device device 20 to the host device 10 by pulling up the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface, The power supply to the USB controller 11 of the host device 10 can be stopped.

  The detection element 15 has an output enable terminal 15a and an output enable terminal 15a. In the sleep mode in which the supply of power to the USB controller 11 is stopped by turning off the switch 16, the output enable terminal 15a A low level signal is added to 15 a, and the detection element 15 is in an operating state and can detect the pull-up of the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface. However, the host device 10 sleeps under the control of the host controller 13. When the mode is returned to the normal mode and the switch 16 is turned on, a high level signal is applied to the output enable terminal 15a of the detection element 15, whereby the detection element 15 is deactivated.

  Thereby, after the host device 10 returns to the normal mode, the detection element 15 does not detect the signal on the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface, so the data flowing through the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface in the normal mode. There is no unstable operation caused by signals.

  That is, since the data signal flowing through the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface in the normal mode is a high-speed signal, noise due to unnecessary electric field emission is generated. For this reason, when the logic IC is used as the detection element 15, noise may be generated from the logic IC. Therefore, in this embodiment, a logic IC having an enable control terminal (output enable terminal 15a) is used as a logic IC constituting the detection element 15, and this detection element 15 is operated only when the host device 10 is in a sleep state. After the host device 10 returns to the normal mode, the host device 10 is disabled so that unnecessary noise from the logic IC constituting the detection element 15 is prevented.

  Further, the detection element 15 can be controlled without using a special circuit by using a voltage signal from the host-side power supply 14 that is low level in the sleep mode, thereby configuring the apparatus at a low cost. be able to.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device controller 23 of the device apparatus 20 in the configuration of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the device controller 23 of the device apparatus 20 monitors the output of the incoming call detection circuit 25 when the device apparatus 20 is in the sleep state, and checks whether a facsimile incoming call has been detected from the public line 40 (step 201).

  If it is determined that a facsimile incoming call has not been detected (NO in step 201), the process returns to step 201 and waits for the detection of a facsimile incoming call.

  In step 201, when a facsimile incoming call is detected based on the output of the incoming call detection circuit 25 (YES in step 201), the device controller 23 controls the pull-up switch 27 to be on, and the normal mode is changed from the sleep mode to the host device 10. A return notification is made to the mode (step 202).

  Thereafter, the device controller 23 performs a sleep mode release process for returning the device device 20 from the sleep mode to the normal mode (step 203), and ends this process.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host controller 13 of the host apparatus 10 in the configuration of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the host controller 13 of the host device 10 monitors an interrupt from the detection element 15 based on the pull-up detection of the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface by the detection element 15 when the host device 10 is in the sleep state ( Step 301).

  If there is no interrupt from the detection element 15 (NO in step 301), the process returns to step 301 and waits for an interrupt from the detection element 15. If there is an interrupt signal from the detection element 15 in step 301 ( If YES in step 301), it is determined that the notification is a return notification from the device apparatus 20 to the normal mode, and a sleep mode canceling process for returning the host apparatus 20 from the sleep mode to the normal mode is performed (step 302). finish.

  In this sleep mode release process, the switch 16 for controlling the power supply from the host-side power supply 14 to the USB controller 11 shown in FIG. 1 is controlled from off to on.

  In the above-described embodiment, the return from the sleep mode to the normal mode from the device apparatus 20 to the host apparatus 10 is performed by pulling up the data line (D +) 32 of the USB interface. Instead of the data line (D +) 32, the above notification may be performed by pulling up the data line (D−) 33 of the USB interface.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a return notification from the sleep mode to the normal mode from the device apparatus 20 to the host apparatus 10 is performed by pulling up the data line (D−) 33 of the USB interface.

  That is, in the image processing apparatus of this embodiment, when the incoming call detection circuit 23 detects a facsimile reception from the public line 40 in a state where the device apparatus 20 is operating in the sleep mode, the device controller 23 The up switch 27 is turned on, and the USB interface data line (D−) 33 is pulled up via the resistor 26.

  The pull-up of the data line (D−) 33 of the USB interface is detected by the detection element 15 externally connected to the data line (D−) 33 on the host device 10 side. The output is input to the host controller 13 as an interrupt signal, whereby the host device 10 returns from the sleep mode to the normal mode.

  Other configurations are the same as those shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1 are assigned to portions that perform the same functions as those of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the device apparatus 20 has a facsimile communication function has been described. However, the same applies to the case where a device apparatus having another function that is effective in the sleep mode for power saving is employed. It is applicable to.

  The present invention can be used for an image processing apparatus in which a device apparatus having a facsimile communication function, for example, in which operation in a sleep mode is effective for power saving and a host apparatus are connected by a USB interface. According to the present invention, the host device is notified of the return from the sleep mode to the normal mode by pulling up the USB connection line that connects the host device and the device device, and the USB connection line is pulled up by the USB connection line. Since the host device is configured to return from the sleep mode to the normal mode based on the detection output of the detection unit, the device unit normally returns from the sleep mode to the host device. The mode return notification can be performed using the USB connection line, and the power supply of the USB controller on the host device side can be stopped when the host device is in the sleep mode, thereby improving the effective power saving effect. Can do.

It is a block diagram which shows one Example of the image processing apparatus concerning this invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a device controller 23 of the device apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a host controller 13 of the host device 10 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the other Example of the image processing apparatus concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Host device 10
11 USB controller 12 USB connector 13 Host controller 14 Host-side power supply 15 Detection element (logic IC)
15a Output enable terminal (enable control terminal)
16 switch 17 resistor 18 resistor 20 device device 21 USB controller 22 USB connector 23 device controller 24 device side power supply 25 incoming call detection circuit 26 resistor (pull-up resistor)
27 Pull-up switch 31 Power line (VBus)
32 data lines (D +)
33 Data line (D-)
34 Grounding wire (GND)
40 Public line

Claims (3)

In an image processing apparatus having a host device and a device device and connecting the host device and the device device by a USB connection line,
The device device is:
Incoming call detection means for detecting reception of a facsimile;
A return notification means for notifying the host device of a return from a sleep mode to a normal mode by pulling up a specific data line in the USB connection line when the incoming call detection means detects reception of a facsimile; Equipped,
The host device is
A host-side USB controller that is connected to the USB connection line and that is powered off when the host device is in a sleep mode;
The provided with an external host side USB controller, in the state of sleep mode detects a pull-up state of the particular data line receives the power, in the state of normal mode pull-up detection made inoperative Means,
If the pull-up detecting means detects a pull-up pre Kitoku constant of the connecting line, to return the host device by controlling to supply power to the host-side USB controller from the sleep mode to the normal mode An image processing apparatus comprising: a return control unit. The pull-up detection means includes
Has an output enable terminal, and wherein the host device comprises a three-state buffer to be controlled in the inoperative state by a high level signal is applied to the output enable terminal and a state of the normal mode The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 . A host device of an image processing apparatus in which the device apparatus of the image processing apparatus is connected by a USB connection line,
A host-side USB controller that is connected to the USB connection line and in which power is cut off in a sleep mode;
Provided with an external to said host USB controller, the host device detects a pull-up state of a particular data line in the USB connecting line by receiving power in the state of sleep mode, the state of the normal mode A pull-up detection means that is controlled in a non-operating state ;
And a return control means for returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode by controlling power supply to the host-side USB controller when the pull-up detection means detects a pull-up of the specific connection line. ,
The pull-up detection means includes
Has an output enable terminal, and wherein the host device comprises a three-state buffer to be controlled in the inoperative state by a high level signal is applied to the output enable terminal and a state of the normal mode Host device to perform.

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