| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain power consumption by cutting off power supply to a part related to the detection of remaining amount from information obtained from a detection part to detect the remaining amount in a digital camera or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The remaining amount of consumables such as color material and paper is detected by a remaining amount detection part, and the remaining amount of the color material is compared to examine the color material whose remaining amount is the least. Then, amount by which printing is performed in the case of printing entire paper with the least remaining amount is examined to estimate the smallest number of printed sheets. By controlling a power supply part by a control part until printing the paper by the estimated number, power supply to the part related to the detection of the remaining amount is turned off. When printing operation is performed to print the paper by the smallest number of printed sheets, the power supply to the part related to the detection of the remaining amount is turned on. The same operation is repeated until the consumables are depleted. By controlling in such a way, the power consumption is restrained by turning off the power supply when the consumables are sufficient. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI |
