JP2000298545A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by providing a switching means for switching a mode in which the selection of a display pattern is performed by a display part and a mode in which the selection of the display pattern is performed by a soft key. SOLUTION: A display part 2 is constituted with a touch panel consisting of a liquid crystal display part (LCD) and a touch key which is provided on the LCD and performs setting and the like. An operation part 3 is constituted with an abbreviated key for calling, a one touch key, hard keys such as a ten key for dialing or inputting a telephone number and a soft key 24 which selects one out of three functions displayed on the LCD, and inputs information on a user or the like other than function setting. Also, a switching means (a switching key) 25 is provided for switching a touch panel operation mode for setting an item from the touch panel, a soft key operation mode for setting the item by the soft key 24 or a shared mode for setting the item from both the touch panel and the soft key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device used in a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and the like having an operation panel for inputting various functions by touch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an input device, setting contents of various conditions are displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) by soft keys (press-type key input means) which can be pressed with a fingertip, and various functions are set. . In recent years, it has become possible to use a touch panel as an operation panel to set various functional conditions from the touch panel.

[0003]

However, in the function setting using the soft keys, it is not possible to directly select an item to be set on the display unit.
In some cases, stress is felt. In addition, in the function selection using the touch panel, the item displayed on the display unit can be directly selected, and the selection time can be reduced. In addition, there are advantages such as easy sorting and arrangement of selection items. On the other hand, there are drawbacks such as that the key is hard to press and the reaction time becomes longer when used for a long time. Therefore,
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that is easy to use by improving the operability of an operator by switching between function selection using soft keys and function selection using a touch panel as needed. And

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying a display pattern corresponding to an input key, and a touch panel provided on the display device. In an input device including a display unit and a soft key for selecting a display pattern displayed on the display unit, a mode for selecting a display pattern by the display unit and a mode for selecting a display pattern by the soft key are provided. Switching means for switching is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first aspect, the switching means further includes a dual-use mode in which a display pattern can be selected using either a touch panel or a soft key. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the input device according to the first or second aspect, further comprising an indicator for instructing which mode is set.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus provided with an input device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a main control unit, 2 is a display unit, 3 is an operation unit,
4 is a reading unit, 5 is a recording unit, 6 is a communication unit, 7 is an NCU, 8
Is a modem, 9 is image memory, 10 is RAM, 11 is RO
M and 12 are buses, and 13 is a lamp control unit for controlling lamp lighting described later. 23A, 23B, 23C
Is a display such as a light emitting diode. As an input device,
The main control unit 1, the display unit 2, and the operation unit 3 correspond thereto.

[0008] The main control unit 1 operates each function unit to control the entire apparatus. The communication unit 6 has at least a facsimile transmission / reception function.

The display unit 2 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), an LC
D, and is configured by a touch panel including touch keys for performing settings and the like. Touch panel is transparent, LC
The setting item indicated by D is transmitted on the touch panel. Further, in addition to the setting items, the received telephone number and various states of the apparatus are displayed. The operation unit 3 includes a hard key such as an abbreviated key for making a call, a one-touch key, a dial or a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number, and 3 displayed on the LCD.
It is composed of soft keys for selecting one of the three functions, and inputs user information and the like in addition to function settings. Also,
A switching key is provided for switching to a touch panel operation mode for setting items from a touch panel, a soft key operation mode for setting items by soft keys, or a dual mode for setting items from both the touch panel and the soft keys.

The reading unit 4 includes a photoelectric conversion element such as a charge-coupled device or a contact image sensor, a light source for irradiating a document,
And a mechanism for transporting the original. An original image to be sent to the destination by facsimile transmission or an image on the original in the copy function is read. The recording unit 5 forms an image read by the reading unit 4 in the copy function, an image received by facsimile, and the like on a recording medium. The recording unit 5 includes, for example, an electrophotographic recording method, a thermal recording method, and the like.
Various recording methods can be applied.

The communication unit 7 comprises the NCU 7 and the modem 8. The NCU 7 controls the line L to communicate with the facsimile machine. The modem 8 modulates and demodulates image data to be transmitted and received. The image memory 9 stores image data to be transmitted by facsimile, image data to be received by facsimile, image data for performing copy processing, and the like.

The RAM 10 is used for storing telephone numbers for abbreviated dialing or one-touch dialing, and temporary data during program execution.

The ROM 11 stores program data and fixed data for controlling the operation of the facsimile machine. When an input operation is performed based on the above-described soft key operation mode or touch panel operation mode, the lamp control unit 13 controls lighting of the lamps 23 (A, B, and C) that indicate the current mode.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the operation unit 3 of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention. The operation unit 3 is a display unit 2
And an operation panel 21. Operation panel 21
Switches between hard keys such as soft keys 24 (A, B, C), abbreviated keys 26, a memory transmission key 27, a numeric keypad 28, a soft key operation mode, a touch panel operation mode, and a dual-purpose (soft / touch) mode. Switching key 2
5. A lamp 23 (A, B, C) for instructing the mode switched by the switching key 25.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for switching the input operation mode from the operation panel 21 of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention. In S31, the main control unit 1 determines whether the switching key 25 of the operation unit 3 has been pressed. S32
Then, if the current operation mode is the touch panel operation mode, the process proceeds to S35. If not, the process proceeds to S33.

In S35, the mode is changed to the soft key operation mode, and input by the soft keys is enabled. At this time, the lamp control unit 13 turns on the lamp 23A indicating that the mode is the soft key operation mode in response to a command from the main control unit 1. In S33, it is determined whether the current operation mode is the soft key operation mode. If it is in the soft key operation mode, the flow shifts to S36. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S34.

In S34, the mode is changed to the touch panel operation mode, and input from the touch panel is enabled. At this time, the lamp controller 13 turns on the lamp 23B indicating that the touch panel operation mode is set. In S36, the mode is changed to the dual-purpose mode, and input can be performed using either the touch panel or the soft keys. At this time, the lamp control unit 13 lights the lamp 23C indicating that the touch panel operation mode is set.

Now, the soft key operation mode will be described with reference to FIG. In (a), the text of the setting item “function” is displayed on the display unit 2 right above the soft key 24B. When the soft key 24B is pressed in this state, the display is changed to the state shown in FIG. The display section 2 displays the setting items “input telephone number”, “copy”, and “next item”.
In this state, the soft key 24B is pressed to select "copy". The display unit 2 is changed to (c). In (C), the number of copies "3" is inputted by the ten keys 28 of the operation unit 3, and the number of copies is set by pressing the soft key 24C. The display is
(D) is changed. Press the soft key 24A to start copying.

Next, the touch panel operation mode will be described with reference to FIG. In (a), the characters of the setting item “function” are displayed on the display unit 2. In this state, when the character of “function” displayed on the display unit 2 is pressed down with a finger, the display is changed to the state of FIG. The display section 2 displays the setting items “input telephone number”, “copy”, and “next item”. In this state, the character "copy" on the display unit 2 is pressed with a finger to select "copy". The display unit 2 is changed to (c). In (C), a numeric keypad is displayed on the display unit 2, and the numeral “3” on the display unit 2 is pressed with a finger,
The number of copies “3” is input and the number of copies is set. The display is changed to (d). Pressing "start" on the display unit 2 starts copying.

Next, the dual mode will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, the display is the same as in the touch panel operation mode. In S41, it is determined whether the operator has pressed a setting item on the display unit 2. That is,
When the character of "function" on the display unit 2 in FIG. 6A is pressed, an input process in the touch panel operation mode is performed in S44. Otherwise, when the operator presses the soft key 24B, key input processing is performed in the soft key operation mode in S45. If neither the touch panel operation mode nor the soft key operation mode is set, a process based on the key operation is performed in S43. As described above, since both the input from the soft keys 24 (A, B, and C) and the input from the touch panel can be accepted, the operator can select the one which is easier to operate.

[0021]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator can appropriately select between the operation by the soft keys and the operation by the touch panel by using the switching key. It has an excellent effect of being easy.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the input can be made by either the operation using the soft keys or the operation from the touch panel, the operation mode in which the input can be easily performed can be selected according to the contents of the setting items, so that operability is improved. be able to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to recognize at a glance which operation mode is currently used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a main configuration of an input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of an operation panel of the input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for switching an input operation mode from an operation panel 21 of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing both a soft key operation mode and a touch panel operation mode of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example showing an input operation in a soft key operation mode of the input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example showing an input operation in a touch panel operation mode of the input device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Main control unit 2 Display unit 3 Operation unit 6 Communication unit 21 Operation panel 23 Lamp 24 Soft key 25 Switching key

Claims (3)

[Claims] A display unit configured to display a display pattern corresponding to an input key; a display unit including a touch panel provided on the display unit; and a soft key for selecting a display pattern displayed on the display unit. An input device provided with a switching means for switching between a mode for selecting a display pattern by the display unit and a mode for selecting a display pattern by the soft keys. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said switching means has a dual-use mode in which a display pattern can be selected by using either a touch panel or a soft key. . 3. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator for instructing which mode is set.