Printer and power controlling method therefor

Abstract

A printer and a power controlling method therefor are disclosed. The printer includes a print engine for printing a toner image on a paper; a power supply unit for supplying electric power; an engine power supply controller for controlling the power supply from the power supply unit to the print engine; a display device employing a light source for displaying information; a switch member installed for connecting or disconnecting the power supply from the power supply unit to the light source; and a controller which controls the print engine and the engine power supply controller so that an image corresponding to received print data can be printed on a paper while maintaining a print ready mode in which the print engine is supplied with enough power to perform a print job, controls the engine power supply controller so that when the print ready mode continues for a first period of time without receiving any print data from the outside, the print ready mode can be changed into a power saving mode in which power set below the power supplied to the print engine in the print ready mode is supplied to the print engine, and controls the switch member so that the switch member is in an off state so as to turn off the light source in the power saving mode. With such a printer and a method of controlling the power thereof, when the printer frequently encounters cases in which the printer in an on state is not used for a long time, the power consumption of the printer can be reduced.