Image forming apparatus operating in normal operation mode or power save operation mode utilizing a plurality of processors
View Patent ↗An electric device is capable of operating in a normal operation mode and a power save operation mode. The electric device includes a first processor for processing information input externally in the normal operation mode, and a second processor for processing an internal operation of the electric device in the normal operation mode. The second processor consumes power smaller than that of the first processor. In the electric device, power of the first processor is restricted through a restriction process in the power save operation mode. Further, in the power save operation mode, the second processor restricts the internal operation and processes the information input externally. When the second processor detects the information input externally, power of the first processor is released through a restriction releasing process.
1. An electric device capable of operating in a normal operation mode and a power save operation mode, comprising:
a first processor for processing information input externally in the normal operation mode;
a second processor for processing an internal operation of the electric device in the normal operation mode, said second processor having power consumption smaller than that of the first processor, said second processor restricting the internal operation and processing the information input externally in the power save operation mode; and
a program storing unit for storing a program in a plurality of areas to be retrieved with the second processor, said first processor being arranged to switch the areas in the power save operation mode,
wherein power of the first processor is restricted through a restriction process in the power save operation mode, and the power of the first processor is released through a restriction releasing process when the second processor detects the information input externally.
2. The electric device according to claim 1 , wherein said restriction process is performed to terminate the power of the first processor.
3. The electric device according to claim 1 , wherein said restriction releasing process is performed to supply the power to the first processor.
4. The electric device according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus connected to a network for forming an image on a recording medium according to print data received through the network.
5. An electric device capable of operating in a normal operation mode and power save operation mode, comprising:
a first processor for processing information input externally in the normal operation mode; and
a second processor for processing an internal operation of the electric device in the normal operation mode, said second processor having power consumption smaller than that of the first processor, said second processor restricting the internal operation and processing the information input externally in the power save operation mode,
wherein said first processor is arranged to process the information including print data, said second processor being arranged to process the internal operation for controlling a mechanical process of an image forming unit with a function of forming an image on a recording medium according to the print data.
6. An electric device ca able of operating in a normal operation mode and a power save operation mode, comprising:
a first processor for processing information input externally in the normal operation mode; and
a second processor for processing internal operation of the electric device in the normal operation mode, said second processor having power consumption smaller than that of the first processor, said second processor restricting the internal operation and processing the information input externally in the power save operation mode,
wherein said first processor is arranged to process the information including print data, said second processor being arranged to process the internal operation for controlling an image forming unit with a function of forming an image on a recording medium according to the print data, said image forming unit including an exchangeable unit.
7. The electric device according to claim 6 , further comprising a detection unit for storing a record that the exchangeable unit is exchanged in the power save operation mode so that a process of the image forming unit is shortened in the normal operation mode using the record.