Patent ID: 6134401
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: G03G,G06K

Abstract:
A printer comprising:a print engine for printing a toner image;a power supply unit for supplying power;a power supply controller which receives power from said power supply unit and supplies said received power to said print engine at a power level corresponding to a power mode selected from one of a ready-to-print mode in which said print engine receives power for printing, a power saving mode in which said print engine receives a level of power set below the level of power received by said print engine in said ready-to-print mode, and a power off mode in which power supplied to said print engine is cut off;a controller which controls the power mode selection of said power supply controller so that data received by said controller and converted into image data is printed, whereas when print data is not received for a first period of time while in said ready-to-print mode, said controller sends a signal to said power supply controller to operate in said power saving mode, and when print data is not received for a second period of time while in said power saving mode, said controller sends a signal to said power supply controller to operate in said power off mode; andan input device having a power mode set key for selecting one of said power modes, wherein said input device supplies a signal to said controller to change the present power mode to said selected power mode.