Power control method for image forming apparatus to selectively control switching circuit unit to manage power supply according to last known power status when power is resumed after an abnormal power failure

摘要

An image forming apparatus and a power control method thereof are provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit which forms an image; a power supply which supplies operating power for the image forming apparatus; a switching circuit unit which switches to selectively supply the operating power; a memory unit which stores information about power status of the switching circuit unit; and a controller which outputs a power control signal for controlling a switching operation of the switching circuit unit in accordance with the information about the power status stored in the memory unit if power is abnormally shut off and then supplied again from the power supply to the switching circuit unit. With this, the image forming apparatus operates in a last power status, so that power can be prevented from being wastefully consumed or data can be prevented from being lost.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit which forms an image; a power supply which supplies operating power for the image forming apparatus; a switching circuit unit which switches to selectively supply the operating power; a memory unit which stores information about power status of the switching circuit unit; a controller which outputs a power control signal to control a switching operation of the switching circuit unit in accordance with the information about the power status stored in the memory unit if power is abnormally shut off and then supplied again from the power supply to the switching circuit unit; and a key input unit through which a user input related to supply of the operating power is received, wherein the switching circuit unit comprises a first switch turned on/off in response to the user input into the key input unit, and a second switch turned on/off in response to the power control signal of the controller, wherein the controller reads the information about the power status from the memory unit and outputs the power control signal for turning on/off the second switch to match with the read information about the power status if power is supplied to the switching circuit unit without a user input to the first switch and the first switch is in an “off” status, and wherein the second switch is coupled between a general output port of the controller and the first switch.