Printer and power controlling method therefor

Abstract

A printer and a power controlling method therefor are disclosed. The disclosed printer has a print engine for printing a toner image on a sheet of paper; a power supply unit for supplying power; a power supply controller for supplying the print engine from the power supply unit with power corresponding to any one power mode selected from power modes of different power levels, including a ready-to-print mode in which the print engine is supplied with power so that the print engine can be ready for printing, a power saving mode in which the print engine is supplied with a level of power set below the level of power supplied to the print engine in the ready-to-print mode, and a power off mode in which power supply to the print engine is cut off; and a controller which controls the power mode setting of the print engine and the power supply controller so that an image corresponding to received print data can be printed on a sheet of paper. The controller controls the power supply controller so that when print data is not received from the outside for a first period of time in the ready-to-print mode, the ready-to-print mode is changed into the power saving mode, and controls the power supply controller so that when print data is not received from the outside for a second period of time in the power saving mode, the power saving mode is changed into the power off mode. With the printer and power controlling method for the printer, power consumption of the printer can be reduced when the printer in the on state is not used for a long time.