JP2019126926A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow a normal operation of an image forming device to be continued even when a part of a volatile memory breaks down after start processing.SOLUTION: A system control unit 12 executes a predetermined operation according to a program developed in a volatile memory 4. A memory check control unit 13 executes memory check of the volatile memory 4. The memory check control unit 13 executes memory check when a predetermined event is detected after start processing of the system control unit 12. The system control unit 12: (a) cuts off a region where an error is detected in the memory check as an error region; and (b) continues a predetermined operation by using a region other than the error region that has been cut off.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  A certain image forming apparatus performs a memory check of a part of the volatile memory during the startup process, and then performs a memory check of another area when a stop factor such as the shift to the energy saving mode occurs (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-66502 A

  With regard to an image forming apparatus having a sleep mode, the user often puts the device in the sleep mode without turning off the power during a period of nonuse. Therefore, since such an image forming apparatus is continuously powered on for a long time, the startup process (that is, memory check) is not executed, and even if a part of the volatile memory fails, Failure is difficult to detect.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, since the memory check is not performed for the area where the memory check was performed during the startup process until the next startup process after the startup process, the volatile memory is not updated during the operation until the next startup process. When a part fails, by continuing the operation without detecting the failure, a failure (operation stop, poor image quality, etc.) may occur in the entire system in the apparatus.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can continue normal operation even when a part of a volatile memory fails after a startup process. To do.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a volatile memory, a system control unit that executes a predetermined operation in accordance with a program expanded in the volatile memory, and a memory check control unit that performs a memory check of the volatile memory. . The memory check control unit performs the memory check when a predetermined event is detected after the activation process of the system control unit, and the system control unit (a) detects an error in the memory check. (B) continuing the predetermined operation using an area other than the separated error area.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus capable of continuing normal operation even when a part of the volatile memory fails after the startup process.

  These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the user selection process (step S13) in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, or the like, and includes a display device 1, an input device 2, a nonvolatile memory 3, a volatile memory 4, a controller 5, a socket 6, and image formation. The unit 21 is provided.

  The display device 1 is a device such as a liquid crystal display that displays various messages to the user. The input device 2 is a device such as a touch panel that accepts a user operation, a hard key, and the like. The image forming unit 21 includes a printing apparatus that prints an image, an image reading unit that optically reads an image from a document, and the like. The nonvolatile memory 3 is a flash memory that stores a program describing a predetermined operation executed by the controller 5, data necessary for the predetermined operation, and the like.

  The volatile memory 4 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which the above-described program loaded from the nonvolatile memory 3 is expanded.

  The controller 5 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and dedicated hardware, executes a program developed in the volatile memory 4 by the processor, and uses the processor and dedicated hardware to execute the memory control unit 11. The system control unit 12, the memory check control unit 13, and the sleep control unit 14 operate, and their processing units execute predetermined operations. The controller 5 controls the image forming unit 21 to execute printing, image reading, and the like.

  The memory control unit 11 executes read / write of data to the volatile memory 4 (and an additional memory module connected to the socket 6). The system control unit 12 uses the memory control unit 11 to read / write data from / to the volatile memory 4 (and the additional memory module connected to the socket 6).

  The system control unit 12 executes predetermined operations (reception of various jobs, image processing, control of an internal device such as a printing apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and the like) according to a program expanded in the volatile memory 4. At that time, the system control unit 12 secures a storage area necessary for the predetermined operation in the volatile memory 4 and executes the predetermined operation using the storage area as a work memory or the like. The system control unit 12 may include an operating system.

  The memory check control unit 13 performs memory check of the volatile memory 4. Specifically, the memory check control unit 13 performs a memory check when a predetermined event is detected after the activation processing of the system control unit 12. When an error is detected in the memory check, the system control unit 12 separates an area where the error is detected in the memory check as an error area, and uses the area other than the separated error area to perform the predetermined operation described above. Continue.

  This “predetermined event” is the establishment of a sleep mode transition condition, absence of job reception for a predetermined time, and the like.

  The memory check control unit 13 is dedicated hardware, and accesses the volatile memory 4 and the like separately from the memory control unit 11.

  In the memory check, the memory check control unit 13 writes (a) data of a specific value (for example, all 0s, all 1s, random values, etc.) to the target area of the memory check, and (b) the target area (C) compare the read value with the specific value, and based on the comparison result, identify the presence or absence of an error.

  In this embodiment, when the error area is separated by the memory check control section 13, the system control section 12 uses the usable area in the volatile memory 4 (that is, not the error area and data is not written). If the size of the (region) is not equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value, the user is notified of the decrease in the usable region, and the above-described predetermined operation is continued without adding the additional memory module, or after the addition of the additional memory module, Let the user choose whether to continue the operation.

  For example, when notifying the user of a decrease in the usable area, the system control unit 12 causes the display device 1 to display a message indicating that and continues the above-described predetermined operation without adding an additional memory module, or After the addition of the additional memory module, a soft key for selecting whether to continue the predetermined operation described above is displayed on the display device 1, and the user operation on any of the soft keys is detected by the input device 2.

  Further, in this embodiment, here, if it is selected to continue the above-mentioned predetermined operation after the addition of the additional memory module, the memory check control unit 13 adds at least the addition when the additional memory module is added. The memory check of the memory module (for example, all areas other than the error area) is performed, and the system control unit 12 reallocates an area other than the error area as an area for the above-described program.

  Further, in this embodiment, the memory check control unit 13 (a) a plurality of divided volatile memories 4 (that is, all storage areas of the volatile memory 4) each time the predetermined event is detected. One block is sequentially selected from the blocks, and (b) a memory check is performed on the selected block. Accordingly, when a predetermined event is executed a predetermined number of times, a memory check of all blocks including the operating system use area (that is, the entire storage area of the volatile memory 4) is executed.

  When selecting a block, the memory check control unit 13 selects a block that has the longest elapsed time since the previous memory check.

  The system control unit 12 issues a command to the memory check control unit 13 to start a memory check, and when the memory check is completed, the memory check control unit 13 generates an interrupt to the system control unit 12, Notify completion of memory check.

  Furthermore, the sleep control unit 14 detects establishment of the sleep mode transition condition as the above-mentioned “predetermined event”, and performs sleep mode transition processing (such as switching of the power supply mode) in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 12.

  The socket 6 is a socket to which an additional memory module (for example, a DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module) having a RAM) can be attached and detached. The additional memory module mounted in the socket 6 is used as a series of storage area together with the volatile memory 4. That is, the storage area is expanded by mounting the additional memory module.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  For example, when the establishment of the sleep mode transition condition is detected, the memory check control unit 13 selects one block from a plurality of blocks of the volatile memory 4 (step S1), and the data written in the selected block A storage area (save memory area) is saved (step S2), and the data is copied to the save memory area (step S3). The save memory area is an unused area where no data is written. Thereafter, the memory check control unit 13 performs a memory check of the selected block (step S4).

  Then, the memory check control unit 13 determines whether an error is detected in the memory check of the selected block (step S5).

  If no error is detected in the memory check of the selected block, the memory check control unit 13 writes the saved data back to the block (step S6).

  Thereafter, the system control unit 12 switches the power supply mode from the normal mode or the ready mode to the sleep mode (step S7).

  On the other hand, when an error is detected in the memory check of the selected block, the system control unit 12 separates the error area (step S8) and specifies the size of the current usable area in the volatile memory 4 (step S9). Then, it is determined whether or not the size of the usable area is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold (step S10). It should be noted that the separation of the error area is to prohibit access to the error area.

  If the size of the usable area is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value, the system control unit 12 secures the alternative area of the error area from the available area and changes the memory allocation from the error area to the alternative area (step S11). ). At this time, if data is saved from the error area, the data may be written back to the alternative area, or the address setting is changed and the area where the data is saved is used instead of the error area. Also good.

  Thereafter, the system control unit 12 switches the power supply mode from the normal mode or the ready mode to the sleep mode (step S7).

  On the other hand, if the size of the usable area is not equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value in step S10, the system control unit 12 notifies the user of the decrease in the usable area (step S12) and executes the user selection process (step S13). ).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the user selection process (step S13) in FIG.

  In the user selection process, first, the system control unit 12 specifies whether or not the user has selected addition of an additional memory module based on a user operation on the input device 2 (step S21).

  If addition of an additional memory module is selected, the system control unit 12 turns off the power of the image forming apparatus (step S22).

  After the power is turned off, the user attaches an additional memory module to the socket 6 and performs a power on operation.

  In accordance with the power-on operation, the system control unit 12 is activated (step S23), and performs a memory check of all storage areas of the volatile memory 4 and the additional memory module (step S24).

  The system control unit 12 determines whether an error is detected in the memory check (step S25). When an error is detected, the system control unit 12 separates the area where the error is detected (the minimum unit area including the location where the error is detected) (step S26).

  Then, the system control unit 12 specifies the size of the currently available area in the volatile memory 4 (step S27), and determines whether the size of the available area is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold (step S28). .

  If the size of the usable area is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value, the system control unit 12 secures the alternative area of the error area from the available area and changes the memory allocation from the error area to the alternative area (step S29). ). At this time, when data is saved from the error area, the data may be written back to the alternative area, or the area where the data is saved may be used instead of the error area.

  On the other hand, if the size of the usable area is not equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold in step S28, the system control unit 12 notifies the user of the decrease in the usable area (step S30), and returns to step S21.

  On the other hand, if the user does not select the addition of the additional memory module in step S21, the system control unit 12 changes the memory allocation so as not to use the error area (step S31), and sets the currently available area. Use to continue the above-mentioned predetermined operation.

  Therefore, when an additional memory module is added, a predetermined operation can be continuously performed. However, when an additional memory module is not added, a specific process (image processing) in which there is not enough storage area in the currently usable area. Etc.) is prohibited from executing, or the processing time of a specific process is prolonged.

  Thus, the user selection process (step S13) is performed. When the user selection process (step S13) is completed, the power supply mode is set to the ready mode. When the additional memory module is not added, the power supply mode may be set to the sleep mode after the user selection process is completed.

  As described above, according to the above embodiment, the system control unit 12 executes a predetermined operation according to the program developed in the volatile memory 4. The memory check control unit 13 performs memory check of the volatile memory 4. The memory check control unit 13 performs a memory check when a predetermined event is detected after the activation processing of the system control unit 12, and the system control unit 12 performs (a) an area where an error is detected in the memory check. As an error area, and (b) continue the predetermined operation using an area other than the separated error area.

  As a result, even when part of the volatile memory fails after the start-up process, normal operation of the image forming apparatus can be continued.

  Various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. That is, such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the size of the block described above may be fixed or may be determined according to the size of the usable area described above.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus.

4 Volatile memory 12 System control unit 13 Memory check control unit

Claims (5)

Volatile memory,
A system control unit that executes a predetermined operation according to the program developed in the volatile memory;
A memory check control unit for performing memory check of the volatile memory;
The memory check control unit performs the memory check when a predetermined event is detected after the activation process of the system control unit.
The system control unit (a) separates an area where an error is detected in the memory check as an error area, and (b) continues the predetermined operation using an area other than the separated error area,
An image forming apparatus characterized by   In the case where the error area is separated by the memory check control unit, the system control unit may decrease the usable area to the user when the size of the usable area in the volatile memory is not equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold. The image according to claim 1, wherein the user is made to select whether to notify and continue the predetermined operation without adding an additional memory module or to continue the predetermined operation after adding an additional memory module. Forming equipment. The memory check control unit performs a memory check of at least the additional memory module when the additional memory module is added,
The system control unit reallocates an area other than the error area to the program.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   The memory check control unit (a) each time the predetermined event is detected, sequentially selects one block from a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the volatile memory, and (b) the block for the selected block. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a memory check is performed.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined event is one of satisfaction of a sleep mode transition condition and absence of job acceptance for a predetermined time.

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