Patent ID: 8537405

Claim:
A control apparatus comprising: a first controller comprising a first sub-control substrate, a first main control substrate, and a first non-volatile memory; and a second controller comprising a second sub-control substrate and a second main control substrate, wherein the first controller is connectable to or removable from the control apparatus including a plurality of modules that realize different functions respectively, and controls the plurality of modules while the first controller is connected to the control apparatus, wherein the second controller is connectable to or removable from the control apparatus including the plurality of modules, and controls the plurality of modules while the second controller is connected to the control apparatus, wherein the first sub-control substrate stores first control information, and controls the plurality of modules by using the stored first control information, wherein the second sub-control substrate stores second control information, and controls the plurality of modules by using the stored second control information, wherein the first main control substrate controls an operation of the first sub-control substrate, wherein the second main control substrate controls an operation of the second sub-control substrate, wherein when a first operation is performed while the first controller is connected to the control apparatus, the first main control substrate acquires the second control information stored in the second sub-control substrate, and stores the acquired second control information in the first non-volatile memory, and wherein when a second operation is performed, the first main control substrate supplies the second control information stored in the first non-volatile memory to the second controller, and causes the second sub-control substrate to store the second control information.