Multifunction devices and printers are designed to deliver high energy efficiency by reducing power consumption through a power-saving mode when not in use. However, some users reported that having to manually disable the power-saving mode or wait for the device to resume operation was inconvenient.
To address this issue, we developed Smart WelcomEyes*1 technology, which automatically wakes the device from power-saving mode when a user approaches and ensures that the menu screen is ready when the user arrives at the multifunction device. By integrating a distance sensor based on our proprietary Smart Addressable VCSEL technology and a new power control mechanism into Smart WelcomEyes, we improved convenience as well as energy savings.
Smart Addressable VCSEL combines Self-Scanning Light Emitting Device (SLED) technology, which enables more compact and quieter printers, with Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology, a surface-emitting laser technology that enables high-speed, high-resolution performance. This newly developed proprietary laser light source incorporates control circuits integrated onto a single chip, enabling independent light emission from segmented areas. Combined with a wide-angle projection lens, it enables wide-area sensing by scanning a large field of view (Fig. 1-1). In addition, to accommodate a wide range of distances and variations in clothing reflectivity, we implemented an adaptive illumination control function that adjusts light output according to the amount of received light. We also developed a self-calibration function to maintain accurate distance measurements under various conditions, including installation locations (Fig. 1-2). As a result, user movement can be detected more accurately, enabling the device to quickly recover from power-saving mode and providing a more seamless user experience.
Fig. 1-2: Distance sensor powered by Smart Addressable VCSEL
The distance sensor powered by our proprietary Smart Addressable VCSEL technology enables accurate distance measurement over a wide range. Furthermore, by processing sensor data with a high-performance human detection algorithm, the system can accurately identify intended users of the multifunction device.
The system employs two detection zones: an approach detection zone and a user detection zone. When a person is detected in the approach detection zone, the system begins a pre-recovery process by waking up low-power subsystems. Once the user is identified in the user detection zone closer to the multifunction device, the device is fully restored and ready for use. As a result, users experience a wait time of only about one second*2 when the device recovers from power-saving mode (Fig. 2-1).
In addition, Smart Addressable VCSEL periodically scans multiple areas and measures the distance to detected objects, enabling the system to track their movement. This makes it possible to distinguish between people and objects, as well as to differentiate between seated individuals, passersby, and users intending to operate the multifunction device, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption (Fig. 2-2).
Fig. 2-2: Fast recovery through user movement detection
By accurately identifying users and their movements, the system notifies users through audible alerts and on-screen messages when they leave documents behind. This helps reduce the risk of personal or confidential information leakage.
The system also provides an automatic reset function that activates when a user moves away from the multifunction device. This helps prevent unintended operations or accidental transmissions caused by settings left by the previous user, while also reducing the risk of unauthorized access resulting from forgotten logoffs.
- *1: Smart WelcomEyes and Smart Addressable VCSEL are a registered trademark or trademark of FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
- *2: Measured under FUJIFILM Business Innovation evaluation conditions