a user interface 154 the controller 152 receives a command related to for example an image forming process from user 39 s operation and also notifies the user of information about for example an image forming process furthermore the controller 152 is connected to an external host computer not shown via a network line and is configured to receive image data when the controller 152 receives the image data the controller 152 analyzes for example the image data and print command information included in the image data converts the data into a format e g bitmap data suitable for the engine section 10 and then transmits the image data to an image forming process controller 156 functioning as a part of an mcu based on the input image data the image forming process controller 156 synchronously controls the image forming process controller 156 as well as a drive system control unit 158 a charge control unit 160 the exposure control unit 162 a transfer control unit 166 a fixation control unit 168 a diselectrification control unit 170 a cleaner control unit 172 and a development control unit 164 which function as the mcu so as to execute an image forming process the lph driver 26 is controlled by a light emission time controller driver 162 a provided in the exposure control unit 162 the image forming process controller 156 is connected to a status management unit 176.