JP2010088006A - Input/output control device, image reader, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in changing settings of setting items relating to device operations. <P>SOLUTION: A display control section displays an item key group 90 corresponding to high-order setting items as a default screen during a standby state. When any key in the item key group 90 is selected by a user, the display control section 101 displays the item name of a high-order setting item indicated by the selected item key and a low-order setting item key within one image together with the item key group 90. In such a case, the display control section 101 varies the size of the item key group 90 in accordance with the number of selected item keys. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input / output control device that performs control for displaying various setting items on a display panel, an image reading device such as a scanner, a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and the like, and an image forming apparatus including such an input / output control device. is there.

  In recent years, an image forming apparatus called a multifunction peripheral having functions such as a scanner, a printer, a copy, and a facsimile has been widely used. Such a multifunction peripheral has a display panel on which a plurality of setting items are displayed in order to set the operation of each function, and is displayed on the display panel via a touch panel configured integrally with the display panel. The user can perform various settings by operating the item keys.

  In recent years, many multifunction devices have high functions, and such multifunction devices have a large number of items that can be set by the user. The user can make the setting as he wishes, but on the other hand, the setting operation is complicated and difficult to use. In other words, the setting screens of many multifunction devices have a hierarchy of selection screens for the upper setting items and lower setting items, so after selecting the upper setting item you want to change, move to the selection screen for the lower setting items. The lower setting item was selected on the screen. Thereafter, when it is desired to change the setting of a different upper setting item, it is necessary to return to the upper setting item screen again. For example, when it is desired to copy or scan a plurality of originals with different settings one by one, the screen shifts every time the original is set and the setting is changed, which deteriorates the operation efficiency.

In view of this, Patent Document 1 describes a method in which the setting content can be easily changed again by displaying a switch indicating the item whose setting content has been changed on the standby screen.
JP 2007-300289 A

  However, the method described in Patent Document 1 shifts to the setting change screen when the switch displayed on the standby screen is selected, and shifts to the standby screen again when the setting on the setting change screen is completed. For example, when the user wants to change the setting for each document and perform a scan or copy operation, the standby screen switch is selected every time the document is set, the setting change screen is set, and the standby screen is used. Since an operation work involving screen switching is required, the operation is inefficient for the user.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input / output control device, an image reading device, and an image forming device with improved operability on a selection screen for setting items related to device operation. It is what.

  An input / output control device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a display control means for performing control for displaying an item key group having item keys corresponding to a plurality of higher setting items related to device operation on a display panel; Item key selection accepting means for accepting a selection input, and the display control means includes a lower setting item included in an upper setting item corresponding to the item key for which the item key selection accepting means accepts the selection input. In a state where any one of the setting items can be selected, control is performed to display the item key group on the same screen on which the item key group is displayed.

  According to this configuration, since the display control unit displays the lower setting items included in the upper setting item corresponding to the item key selected together with the item key group in the same screen, the screen does not shift every time the setting is changed. The user can change the setting contents efficiently. Furthermore, since the item keys indicating the higher setting items are displayed in a list, it is possible to reduce the user's forgetting to set. That is, setting mistakes and operation mistakes can be reduced, so that work can be performed smoothly.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the input / output control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means is configured to select the item key according to the number of item keys received by the item key selection receiving means. Control is performed to change the display size of the item key group and display it on the display panel.

  According to this configuration, even if the number of selected item keys is large, the lower setting item and the item key group included in the upper setting item indicated by the selected item key can be displayed on one screen. Therefore, the screen does not shift every time the setting is changed, and the user can change the setting contents efficiently.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the input / output control device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising lower setting item selection receiving means for receiving selection input of the displayed lower setting item, wherein the display control The means performs control to delete the display of the lower setting item for which the lower setting item selection receiving means has received the selection input.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to secure an empty space in the display panel by erasing the display of the lower setting items that have been selected, so that when another item key is newly selected, the display control unit Can display the lower setting item of the upper setting item corresponding to the item key on the screen.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the input / output control apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein priority setting means for setting the priority of each upper set item and the lower set item selection receiving means are selected and input Determining means for deciding whether to delete the lower setting item received according to the priority of each upper setting item set by the priority setting means, the display control means, Control for erasing the display of the lower setting item whose erasure is determined by the determining means is performed.

  Here, the priority is based on the number of times of setting change of the upper setting item, the importance of the setting content, or the like. According to this configuration, the lower setting item included in the higher setting item having a higher priority can be displayed without being deleted even after selection. Since higher setting items with higher priority are often subject to setting changes, leaving the lower setting items displayed eliminates the need for the user to select item keys from the item key group again and changes the settings. Can be done easily.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: the input / output control device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects; and a reading unit that reads a document image and generates image data. The upper setting item is an item related to the reading operation by the reading means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: the input / output control apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects; and an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data on a recording medium. The upper setting item is an item related to an image forming operation by the image forming means.

  According to these structures, there exists an effect similar to Claims 1-4.

  According to the present invention, since the display control unit displays the lower setting items included in the upper setting item corresponding to the item key selected together with the item key group in the same screen, the screen does not shift every time the setting is changed. The user can change the setting contents efficiently. Furthermore, since the item keys indicating the higher setting items are displayed in a list, it is possible to reduce the user's forgetting to set. That is, setting mistakes and operation mistakes can be reduced, so that work can be performed smoothly.

  Hereinafter, a multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a multifunction peripheral will be described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to an image reading apparatus such as a scanner, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

  FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of a multifunction machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The multifunction device 1 has functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The multifunction device 1 has a main body 2, a stack tray 3 disposed on the left side of the main body 2, and a main body 2. The document reading unit 5 is disposed above the document reading unit 5, and the paper feeding unit 6 is disposed above the document reading unit 5.

  An input operation unit 47 is provided on the front part of the multifunction machine 1. The input operation unit 47 displays a start key 471 for a user to input a print execution instruction, a numeric keypad 472 for inputting the number of copies to be printed, operation guide information for various copying operations, and the like. A display panel 473 formed of a liquid crystal display or the like having a touch panel function, a reset key 474 for resetting setting contents set on the display panel 473, and a stop key for stopping a printing (image forming) operation being executed 475 and a function switching key 477 for switching between a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

  The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner unit 51 including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, an exposure lamp, and the like, a document table 52 formed of a transparent member such as glass, and a document reading slit 53. With. The scanner unit 51 is configured to be movable by a drive unit (not shown). When reading a document placed on the document table 52, the scanner unit 51 is moved along the document surface at a position facing the document table 52, and the document image is scanned. Image data acquired while scanning is output to an unillustrated image processing unit. When reading the document fed by the paper feed unit 6, the document is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 53, and the document is synchronized with the document feeding operation by the paper feed unit 6 via the document reading slit 53. And the image data is output to the image processing unit.

  The paper feed unit 6 includes a document placement unit 61 for placing a document, a document discharge unit 62 for discharging a document whose image has been read, and a document placed on the document placement unit 61. A document transport mechanism 63 including a paper feed roller (not shown), a transport roller (not shown), and the like for feeding the paper one by one to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and discharging it to the document discharge section 62 is provided. The document conveyance mechanism 63 further includes a sheet reversing mechanism (not shown) that reverses the document and reversely conveys the document to a position facing the document reading slit 53, and scans the images on both sides of the document via the document reading slit 53. The data can be read from the unit 51.

  The sheet feeding unit 6 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body unit 2 so that the front side thereof can move upward. By moving the front side of the paper supply unit 6 upward to open the upper surface of the document table 52, the operator can place a read document, for example, a book in a spread state, on the upper surface of the document table 52. ing.

  The main body 2 includes a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 461, a paper feeding roller 462 that feeds recording paper from the paper feeding cassette 461 one by one and transports it to the image forming unit 40, and a recording paper transported from the paper feeding cassette 461. And an image forming unit 40 for forming an image.

  The image forming unit 40 outputs a laser or the like based on image data acquired by the photosensitive drum 43 that is an image carrier, the charging device 42 that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 43, the scanner unit 51, and the like. An exposure device 49 that exposes the photosensitive drum 43, a developing device 44 that forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 43, a transfer device 41 that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 to a recording sheet, and a toner image A fixing device 45 that heats the transferred recording paper to fix the toner image on the recording paper, and a transport that is provided in a paper transport path in the image forming unit 40 and transports the recording paper to the stack tray 3 or the discharge tray 48. Rollers 463 and 464 are provided.

  When forming images on both sides of the recording paper, the image forming unit 40 forms an image on one side of the recording paper, and then the recording paper is nipped by the conveyance roller 463 on the discharge tray 48 side. In this state, the conveyance roller 463 is reversed to switch back the recording paper, and the recording paper is sent to the paper conveyance path L to be conveyed again to the upstream area of the image forming unit 40. After the formation, the recording paper is discharged to the stack tray 3 or the discharge tray 48.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 100, a storage unit 73, a document reading unit 5, an image memory 74, an image processing unit 75, a paper transport unit 76, an image forming unit 40, an input operation unit 47, and a network I / F unit 77. Configured.

  The control unit 100 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a program stored in the storage unit 73 in accordance with an input instruction signal or the like, executes a process, and sends the processing to each functional unit. The multifunction device 1 is comprehensively controlled by outputting an instruction signal, transferring data, and the like. The control unit 100 includes a display control unit 101. The display control unit 101 generates image data to be displayed on the display panel 473 according to the operation state of the multifunction machine 1 and operation keys and button operations performed by the user, and outputs the image data to the input operation unit 47. A display driving device (not shown) provided on the display panel 473 causes the display panel 473 to display an image based on the image data generated by the display control unit 101.

  The storage unit 73 stores programs, data, and the like for realizing various functions provided in the multifunction machine 1. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 73 stores a print program 731 and a setting item data table 732. The print program 731 is a program for causing the display panel 473 to display upper setting items related to the operation of the multifunction machine 1 and its lower setting items, accepting setting changes by the user, and executing print processing. Are read and processed.

  The setting item data table 732 is a data table in which upper setting items and lower setting items relating to the operation of the multifunction device 1 that can be set by the user are stored. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of the setting item data table 732. The setting item data table 732 stores, for example, “color mode”, “density”, “resolution”, “image quality”, “enlargement / reduction”, “aggregation”, and the like as upper setting items, and each upper setting item has a plurality of items. Are further stored. For example, the upper setting item “color mode” has “color” and “monochrome” as lower setting items. Further, the upper setting item “image quality” has “photograph”, “character”, and “OCR” as lower setting items.

  The document reading unit 5 reads a document with a scanner such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and converts the read image into image data. The image memory 74 temporarily stores image data transmitted from an external device via the network I / F unit 77. The image processing unit 75 performs image processing such as image correction and enlargement / reduction on the image data stored in the image memory 74. The paper transport unit 76 feeds paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 461 and transports the paper to the image forming unit 40.

  The image forming unit 40 forms an image based on the image data output from the image memory 74 on a sheet, and includes the charging device 42, the photosensitive drum 43, the developing device 44, and the like described with reference to FIG. . The input operation unit 47 has operation keys and buttons, and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 100 when the operation keys and buttons are operated by the user. The network I / F unit 77 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits / receives various data to / from an external device via a network (not shown) connected to the network unit I / F unit 77.

  Next, the printing process in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the flow of the printing process. The control unit 100 reads out the printing program 731 and the process is executed.

  While the multifunction device 1 is in the standby state, the display control unit 101 causes the display panel 473 to display an item key group having item keys indicating each higher setting item stored in the setting item data table 732 (step S11). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen 81 displayed on the display panel 473 in step S11. In this embodiment, this screen 81 is set as a default screen. The display control unit 101 displays an item key group 90 indicating each higher setting item in a matrix. The item key group 90 includes a color mode key 91, a density key 92, a resolution key 93, an image quality key 94, an enlargement / reduction key 95, an aggregation key 96, and the like. The user touches the key of the item whose setting is to be changed. To choose by.

  The reset key 991 is a key selected when the selection of the item key group 90 is reset and the display of the display panel 473 is returned to the default screen. The clear key 992 will be described later. A start key 993 is a key selected when starting a copy operation or a scan operation.

  When any key of the item key group 90 is selected by the user (step S12; YES), the display control unit 101 determines the item key according to the number of selected item keys (hereinafter referred to as “selected item keys”). The size of the group 90 is calculated (step S13). In the present embodiment, when the number of selection item keys is two or less, the size of the item key group 90 is not changed. This step will be described in detail later.

  Subsequently, the display control unit 101 reads out the lower setting item included in the upper setting item indicated by the selection item key from the setting item data table 732, and calculates the item name and lower setting item indicated by the selection item key, and in step S13. The size item key group 90 is displayed on the display panel 473 (step S14). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the screen 82 displayed in step S14 when the color mode key 91 and the resolution key 93 are selected by the user. On the display panel 473, lower setting item keys 911b and 931b are displayed together with item names 911a and 931a of the upper setting items. For example, when the user wants to make a color copy of a set original, the user touches the “color” character of the lower setting item key 911b. As a result, the control unit 100 sets the color mode to “color”.

  In this way, after the lower setting item is selected (step S15; YES), the display control unit 101 deletes the display of the item name of the selected upper setting item and the lower setting item key (step S16). For example, when the user touches the “color” character of the lower setting item key 911b and the control unit 100 sets the color mode to “color”, the display control unit 101 displays the item name 911a and the lower setting item key 911b. Clear the display. By doing this, an empty space is created on the screen, and when an item key is selected from the item key group 90 thereafter, the item name of the upper setting item and the lower setting item key can be displayed. In addition, for example, when the user operates the clear key 992 when the item name 911a is in the selected state, the display control unit 101 deletes the display of the item name 911a and the lower setting item key 911b.

  When any key of the item key group 90 is further selected (step S17; YES), the control unit 101 shifts the process to step S13. Here, when the user selects the density key 92 and the image quality key 94 in addition to the color mode key 91 and the resolution key 93, the number of selection item keys is four. When the number of selection item keys increases, it becomes difficult to display the item name of the upper setting item, the lower setting item key, and the item key group 90 in one screen.

  Therefore, the display control unit 101 varies the display size of the item key group 90 according to the number of selection item keys. For example, when the number of selection item keys is three or more, the display control unit 101 displays the item key group 90 by reducing the size of the item key group 90 by a predetermined magnification. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the screen 83 when the item key group 90 is displayed in a reduced size. If the number of selection item keys is a predetermined number or more (for example, 6 or more), the display control unit 101 deletes the reset key 991, the clear key 992, and the start key 993 as shown in the screen 84 of FIG. Also good.

  When the selection of the lower setting items is completed and the start key 993 is selected by the user (step S18; YES), the control unit 100 performs a copy process according to the selected setting content (step S19). Alternatively, when the reset key 991 is selected (step S20; YES), the control unit 100 shifts the process to step S11, and the display control unit 101 causes the display panel 473 to display the screen 81 that is a default screen.

  If the reset key 991 is not selected (step S20; NO) and the power-off operation is not performed (step S21; NO), the control unit 100 proceeds to step S15. That is, while the item key group 90, the item name of the upper setting item indicated by the selection item key, and the lower setting item key are displayed on the display panel 473, the user can change the setting for the next copy operation. It is possible to change the setting easily.

  As described above, the display control unit 101 displays the item name of the upper setting item and the lower setting item key indicated by the selection item key together with the item key group 90 on the same screen, so that the screen does not shift for each setting. The user can change the setting contents efficiently. Furthermore, since the keys indicating the upper setting items that can be set are displayed in a list as the item key group 90 on the default screen, it is possible to reduce the user's forgetting to set. That is, setting mistakes and operation mistakes can be reduced, so that work can be performed smoothly.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in this embodiment, after the lower setting item is selected in the lower setting item key, the display control unit 101 deletes the display of the item name of the selected upper setting item and the lower setting item key. Depending on the priority of the upper setting item, it may be determined whether or not to delete. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a modified example of the present embodiment. Only parts different from the functional block diagram of FIG. 2 will be described.

  The control unit 100 includes a priority setting unit 102 and a display / erase determination unit 103 in addition to the display control unit 101. The priority setting unit 102 sets the priority of each upper setting item. This priority may be set in advance based on the importance of the setting contents of each higher setting item and stored in the storage unit 73. In addition, the priority of the corresponding higher setting item may be set higher according to the number of selections of the item key group 90, or the priority is set according to the history selected by the user in the past. It is also good to do.

  For example, it is assumed that the priority setting unit 102 sets the upper setting item “color mode” to the highest priority. Then, the color mode key 91 is selected from the item key group 90, and the display control unit 101 displays the item name 911a and the lower setting item key 911b on the display panel 473 as shown in FIG. Assume that “color” is selected from the item key 911 b and the color mode is set to “color” by the control unit 100.

  After this selection and setting, the display / erase determination unit 103 determines whether or not to delete the item name and the lower setting item key according to the priority of the upper setting item of the selected lower setting item. That is, the display / erase determination unit 103 determines whether to delete the item name 911a and the lower setting item key 911b based on the priority of the upper setting item “color mode”. When the display / deletion determining unit 103 determines not to delete, the display control unit 101 does not delete the item name 911a and the lower setting item key 911b after selection and setting, but keeps the display. That is, since the lower setting item key of the higher setting item with a higher priority is not automatically deleted after selection setting, the display is continued, so that it is troublesome to select the item key again from the item key group 90 when changing the setting. This makes it easy to change settings.

FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the internal configuration of the multifunction machine. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a multifunction machine. The figure which showed an example of the data structure of a setting item data table. The flowchart shown about the flow of the setting item display process. Continuation of FIG. The figure which showed an example of the default screen displayed on a display panel. The figure which showed an example of the screen displayed on a display panel. The figure which showed an example of the screen displayed on a display panel. The figure which showed an example of the screen displayed on a display panel. The functional block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the multifunctional machine of the example of a change.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 100 Control Unit 101 Display Control Unit (Display Control Unit)
102 Priority setting unit (priority setting means)
103 Display / Erase Determination Unit (Determination Unit)
73 Storage Unit 731 Basic Operation Program 732 Setting Item Data Table 5 Document Reading Unit (Reading Unit)
74 Image memory 75 Image processing unit 6 Paper feed unit 40 Image forming unit (image forming means)
47 Input operation section (item key selection accepting means, lower setting item selection accepting means 473 Display panel 76 Network I / F section

Claims (6)

Display control means for performing control to display on the display panel an item key group having item keys corresponding to a plurality of upper setting items related to device operation;
Item key selection receiving means for receiving selection input of the item key;
The display control means is capable of selecting any one of the lower setting items, the lower setting item of the upper setting item corresponding to the item key that the item key selection receiving means has received the selection input, An input / output control device for performing control to display the item key group on the same screen on which the item key group is displayed.   The display control means performs control to change the display size of the item key group and display it on the display panel according to the number of item keys received by the item key selection receiving means. Item 4. The input / output control device according to Item 1.   Subordinate setting item selection receiving means for receiving selection input of the displayed lower setting item is further provided, and the display control means displays the lower setting item after the lower setting item selection receiving means receives the selection input. The input / output control device according to claim 1, wherein the input / output control device performs control to erase. Priority setting means for setting the priority of each of the upper setting items;
After the lower setting item selection accepting means accepts the selection input, a determining means for determining whether or not to delete the lower setting item according to the priority of each upper setting item set by the priority setting means When,
The input / output control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: the display control unit configured to perform a control to delete the display of the lower setting item determined to be deleted by the determination unit. Input / output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Reading means for reading a document image and generating image data;
And the upper setting item is an item related to a reading operation by the reading unit. Input / output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Image forming means for forming an image based on the image data on a recording medium;
And the upper setting item is an item related to an image forming operation by the image forming unit.

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