Patent ID: 7278705
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: B41J,G06K

Abstract:
1. A power management control method of a printing apparatus, having a first controller for receiving data transmitted by a host unit, performing image processing on the received data, and generating bitmap data and a second controller for controlling the printing apparatus to execute printing on a printing medium based on the bitmap data, operating in a first operation mode of low power consumption, a second operation mode of intermediate power consumption and a third operation mode of high power consumption, wherein the first and second controllers are inoperative in the first operation mode, the first controller is inoperative while the second controller is operative in the second operation mode, and the first and second controllers are operative in the third operation mode, comprising: a detection step of detecting whether or not any of a plurality of events that cause a shift from the first operation mode to either the second or third operation mode has occurred; a shift step of shifting an operation mode of the printing apparatus from the first operation mode to either the second or third operation mode based on a detection result at said detection step; a discrimination step of discriminating whether or not the event detected at said detection step is an event for a maintenance operation executed periodically by the printing apparatus for maintaining an excellent printing state; a control step of performing control to shift the operation mode of the printing apparatus from the first operation mode to the second operation mode so as to execute the maintenance operation in a case where it is discriminated at said discrimination step that the event detected at said detection step is an event for a maintenance operation, while performing control to shift the operation mode of the printing apparatus from the first operation mode to the third operation mode so as to be ready to execute a corresponding operation in a case where it is discriminated at said discrimination step that the event detected at said detection step is an event other than the event for the maintenance operation; and a return step of returning the operation mode of the printing apparatus from the second operation mode to the first operation mode.