JP2013179530A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a user's troublesomeness of waiting until completion of display of an operation screen.SOLUTION: In an image processing device, a control unit executes: display processing for displaying an operation screen (31) on a display unit (13); reception processing for starting reception of an operation by an operation unit (12) without waiting for display of the operation screen (31) by the display processing, and receiving an instruction corresponding to the operation screen (31) and the operation received by the operation unit (12); and control processing for controlling an image processing unit in accordance with the instruction received in the reception processing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for receiving an instruction by displaying an operation screen.

  Conventionally, an image processing apparatus including a display unit and operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key is known. In such an image processing apparatus, the user can appropriately set a target function or condition by pressing a key while referring to the display unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-246819 A

By the way, while repeatedly using the image processing apparatus, the user can gradually grasp which key should be pressed for each operation screen in order to set a target function or condition.
As described above, there is a problem that a user who knows which key should be pressed for each operation screen may feel troublesome to wait for the display of the operation screen to be completed.

  The present specification discloses a technique for reducing the troublesomeness of the user who waits until the display of the operation screen is completed.

An image processing device disclosed in this specification includes an image processing unit that executes image processing, a display unit that displays an operation screen, an operation unit that receives an operation from a user, the image processing unit, the display unit, and A control unit that controls the operation unit, and the control unit performs display processing for displaying the operation screen on the display unit, and the operation unit without waiting for display of the operation screen by the display processing. Control for starting operation reception, receiving an instruction corresponding to the operation screen and the operation received by the operation unit, and controlling the image processing unit according to the instruction received by the reception process And processing.
According to the image processing apparatus, an instruction corresponding to the operation screen and the operation received by the operation unit is accepted without waiting for the display of the operation screen by the display process, so that the user who waits until the display of the operation screen is completed Can be reduced.

The operation screen includes a setting screen for receiving the instruction for setting an execution condition for the image processing, and an execution screen for receiving the instruction for causing the image processing unit to execute the image processing. In the reception process, when the operation screen is the execution screen, the instruction may not be received before the execution screen is displayed, and the instruction may be received after the execution screen is displayed. .
According to the image processing apparatus, when the operation screen is an execution screen, an instruction is not accepted before the display is completed, so that the user can surely recognize that the operation screen can accept an instruction to execute image processing. be able to.

The control unit may display the execution condition set on the setting screen on the execution screen in the display process.
According to the image processing apparatus, the execution condition set on the setting screen can be confirmed by the user before receiving an instruction to execute image processing.

The operation screen includes an operation screen that allows a user to check the content of the screen, and the control unit is an operation screen that allows the user to check the content of the screen in the reception process. May not accept the instruction before the display of the operation screen is completed, and may accept the instruction after the operation screen is displayed.
According to the above image processing apparatus, when the operation screen is to allow the user to confirm the contents of the screen, the instruction is not accepted before the display of the operation screen is completed, so the user confirms the contents of the screen more reliably. Can be made.

In addition, the operation screen includes a setting screen that receives the instruction for setting the execution condition of the image processing, and the image processing apparatus is a combination of the execution conditions to be set and sets the execution conditions. A combination of execution conditions that use a plurality of the setting screens is registered in advance, and the control unit receives a batch setting instruction that collectively sets the combination of execution conditions as the instruction in the receiving process In the display process, any one of the plurality of setting screens is displayed. In the receiving process, the instruction is not received before the display of the one setting screen is completed. The instruction may be received after the setting screen is displayed.
When a plurality of execution conditions are set in a lump, the user may not know which operation screen is being operated. According to the image processing apparatus, by not accepting the operation before the one setting screen is displayed, it is possible to make the user confirm which operation screen is being operated.

The control unit receives an instruction to display an operation screen corresponding to the operation screen and the operation received by the operation unit in the reception process, and the operation screen displays the operation screen by the reception process in the display process. The elapsed time from when the instruction to display is received is measured, the operation screen display is not started before the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time, and the operation screen is displayed when the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time. May start.
If an instruction is received from the user before the display of the operation screen is completed, the display of the operation screen is not necessary.
According to the image processing apparatus, since the display of the operation screen is not started before the elapsed time from when the instruction to display the operation screen is received reaches a predetermined time, it is possible to reduce unnecessary display of the operation screen. . On the other hand, if the instruction is not accepted before the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time, it is considered that the user does not grasp the accepted operation. In that case, the user can perform a desired operation by displaying the operation screen.

The operation unit may include a plurality of operation keys and a guide unit that guides the operation keys for which an operation is accepted to a user.
According to the image processing apparatus, the user is guided to the operation keys that can receive instructions on the operation screen, so that the convenience for the user is improved.

  The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in various modes such as an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium on which the image processing program is recorded.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows an operation part. The schematic diagram which shows the tray screen of a copy screen. The schematic diagram which shows the color screen of a copy screen. The schematic diagram which shows the magnification screen of a copy screen. The schematic diagram which shows the copy number screen of a copy screen. The schematic diagram which shows a screen transition table. The schematic diagram which shows the exception which receives operation before the display of an operation screen is completed. The block diagram of an operation control program. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a main control module. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of an operation part control module. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a screen display control module.

<Embodiment 1>
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1) Configuration of Multifunction Device In the first embodiment, a so-called multifunction device having a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and a scan function will be described as an example of an image processing apparatus. In the following description, facsimile is abbreviated as FAX.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a simplified electrical configuration of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment. The multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, an image reading unit 14, a FAX unit 15, a printing unit 16, a communication interface unit 17, and the like.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU 10a, a ROM 10b, and a RAM 10c. The CPU 10a controls each unit of the multifunction device 1 by executing a program stored in the ROM 10b or the storage unit 11. The CPU 10a also functions as a software clock by executing a predetermined program. The ROM 10b stores programs executed by the CPU 10a, data, and the like. The RAM 10c is used as a main storage device for the CPU 10a to execute various processes.

  The storage unit 11 is a device that stores various programs and data using a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory. The storage unit 11 stores an operation control program 50 (see FIG. 9) described later. The operation control program 50 is a program for executing processing for displaying an operation screen and receiving an instruction. The operation control program 50 may be stored in the ROM 10b.

The operation unit 12 includes a plurality of operation keys 18 (see FIG. 2) and a guide unit 12b made of a light emitting element such as an LED, and accepts various operations from the user. Details of the operation unit 12 will be described later.
The display unit 13 includes a display device 13a (see FIG. 2) such as a liquid crystal display, a display drive circuit that drives the display device 13a, a substantially transparent touch panel 13b (see FIG. 2) that covers the display surface of the display device 13a, and the like. It is comprised and the operation screen mentioned later is displayed.

The image reading unit 14 includes a placement table on which a document is placed, a conveyance unit that conveys the document placed on the placement table one by one, an image sensor that reads the document conveyed by the conveyance unit, and the like. The original is read to generate image data.
The FAX unit 15 transmits and receives image data to and from the external FAX apparatus 2 via a telephone line.

  The printing unit 16 includes a plurality of sheet trays that store sheets such as printing paper, a conveyance unit that conveys the sheets stored in the sheet tray one by one, and an image represented by image data on the sheet that is conveyed by the conveyance unit. The image forming unit is formed by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The printing unit 16 is configured to execute color printing, monochrome printing, and monochrome printing.

  The communication interface unit 17 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as a personal computer (PC) 3. The communication interface unit 17 may communicate with an external device via a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), or communicate with an external device via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. There may be.

The copy function described above is a function for generating an image data by reading an original by the image reading unit 14 and printing an image represented by the generated image data on a sheet by the printing unit 16.
The FAX transmission / reception function reads an original by the image reading unit 14 to generate image data, transmits the generated image data to the external FAX apparatus 2 via a telephone line, and makes a call from the external FAX apparatus 2. This is a function for printing an image represented by image data received by FAX via a line on a sheet by the printing unit 16.

  The scan function is a function of reading an original by the image reading unit 14 to generate image data, and transmitting the generated image data to the PC 3 via the communication interface unit 17. Note that the scan function may be a function of writing image data generated by reading an original with the image reading unit 14 to a removable memory mounted in the multifunction machine 1.

  The image reading unit 14, the FAX unit 15, and the printing unit 16 described above are examples of image processing units. Copy, FAX transmission / reception, and scanning are examples of image processing.

(2) Details of Operation Unit FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the operation unit 12. The operation unit 12 is provided integrally with the display unit 13. In addition, the operation unit 12 has a numeric keypad 18a composed of Nos. 1 to 10, *, and #, a plurality of shortcut keys 18b for setting a plurality of execution conditions at once, and an instruction for executing each function. Operation keys 18 such as a start key 18c are provided. These operation keys 18 are configured as a capacitive touch sensor.

  Each operation key 18 is configured by using a translucent member that transmits light or a member in which an opening is formed. A light emitting element (not shown) such as an LED is disposed behind each operation key 18. The light emitting element is for guiding the operation key 18 for accepting the operation to the user. When the operation key 18 is turned on by the light emitting element, the user can grasp the operation key 18 for which the operation is accepted. A light emitting element is an example of the guide part 12b.

(3) Operation Screen Next, an operation screen displayed by the display unit 13 will be described. Here, a standby screen 31 shown in FIG. 2, a copy screen 40 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, and an error display screen (not shown) will be described as examples of the operation screen.
A standby screen 31 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a screen for the user to select a function to be executed by the multifunction device 1. For example, when the user touches an area on the copy icon 31a with the touch panel 13b arranged on the front surface of the display unit 13, the copy function is selected. When the copy function is selected, a copy screen 40 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is displayed.

  3 to 6 are schematic diagrams showing the copy screen 40. FIG. The copy screen 40 is a screen for setting execution conditions for the sheet tray, color, magnification, and number of copies. The copy screen 40 includes four screens: a tray screen 41 shown in FIG. 3, a color screen 42 shown in FIG. 4, a magnification screen 43 shown in FIG. 5, and a copy number screen 44 shown in FIG. These four screens are selectively displayed by tabs. Each of these four screens corresponds to one operation screen.

  A tray screen 41 shown in FIG. 3 is an operation screen for setting a sheet tray. The execution condition of any one of automatic, tray 1 and tray 2 can be set for the sheet tray. The number displayed before each execution condition indicates the number of the numeric keypad 18a for giving an instruction to set a tray. For example, when the user touches number 1 on the numeric keypad 18a, an instruction to set automatic as a tray execution condition is accepted. The instruction to set automatic as the execution condition of the tray is an instruction corresponding to the tray screen 41 and the number 1 on the numeric keypad 18a.

  A color screen 42 shown in FIG. 4 is an operation screen for setting a color. For the color, one execution condition of color printing, monochrome printing, and monochrome printing can be set. The number displayed before each execution condition indicates the numeric keypad 18a for setting the execution condition.

  A magnification screen 43 shown in FIG. 5 is an operation screen for setting a magnification for forming an image on a sheet, in other words, an enlargement / reduction ratio. As the magnification, any one execution condition of 100%, 150%, and 50% can be set. The number displayed before each execution condition indicates the numeric keypad 18a for setting the execution condition.

  A copy number screen 44 shown in FIG. 6 is an operation screen for setting the number of copies. The user can set an arbitrary number as an execution condition for the number of copies by touching the numeric keypad 18a. As shown in the figure, the copy screen 44 displays the tray screen 41, the color screen 42, the magnification screen 43, and the execution conditions set on the copy screen 44. Note that the default execution condition is displayed for the execution condition of the operation screen on which the user has not yet performed an operation for setting the execution condition.

  The operation screen includes an error display screen (not shown) in addition to the standby screen 31 and the copy screen 40 described above. The error display screen is a screen for displaying the error on the display unit 13 and allowing the user to check the content of the error when any error occurs in the multifunction device 1.

  The tray screen 41, the color screen 42, and the magnification screen 43 described above are examples of a setting screen. The copy screen 44 is an example of a setting screen and an execution screen. The error display screen is an example of an operation screen that allows the user to confirm the contents of the screen.

(4) Batch setting of execution conditions using shortcut keys When the user touches the shortcut key 18b on the standby screen 31, the execution conditions registered in advance in the storage unit 11 are changed to the execution conditions of tray, color, magnification, and number of copies. Can be set as a batch. The execution conditions registered in advance are specifically as follows, for example.

Tray = 1 (automatic)
Color = 2 (monochrome)
Magnification = 1 (100%)
Number of copies = 1 (1 copy)

  In the first embodiment, these execution conditions are referred to as batch setting information. The batch setting information is an example of a combination of execution conditions to be set, and a combination of execution conditions in which a plurality of setting screens are used to set the execution conditions.

Further, the following information is associated with the collective setting information.
Shortcut key number = 1 (first)
Transition destination operation screen = number of copies setting screen Accepted instruction = Set execution conditions

The shortcut key number is the number of the shortcut key 18b assigned to the batch setting information. The operation screen of the transition destination shows the operation screen of the transition destination when the batch setting information is set. The instruction to be accepted is an instruction according to the batch setting information, and in the example shown in the figure, is an instruction to set an execution condition included in the batch setting information. The instruction to accept is an example of a collective setting instruction that collectively sets combinations of execution conditions.
In the case of the above-described example, when the user touches the first shortcut key 18b on the standby screen 31, the above-described execution conditions are set for the tray, color, magnification, and number of copies, and the copy screen 44 is displayed.

  The batch setting information can be set arbitrarily. For example, the operation screen at the transition destination may be an operation screen other than the copy number screen 44. A plurality of batch setting information can be registered. When registering a plurality of batch setting information, different shortcut key numbers are assigned to the batch setting information.

(5) Screen transition table FIG. 7 shows the correspondence between events that occur on each operation screen, the destination operation screen that transitions when that event occurs, and the instructions that are accepted when that event occurs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the screen transition table shown.
In the figure, the copy icon event is an event that occurs when the user touches the copy icon 31 a on the standby screen 31. In the standby screen 31, the FAX icon 31b and the scan icon 31c can be touched, but are omitted here.

The tab event on the copy screen is an event that occurs when the user touches the tab on the copy screen 40. Specifically, the tabs of the copy screen 40 are a tab of the tray screen 41, a tab of the color screen 42, a tab of the magnification screen 43, and a tab of the copy screen 44.
The numeric keypad event is an event that occurs when the user touches the numeric keypad 18a of the operation unit 12. The same applies to the shortcut key and the start key.

  The error occurrence event is an event that occurs when the control unit 10 detects that some abnormality has occurred in the multifunction device 1. For example, the abnormality may be caused by, for example, a maintenance opening / closing cover provided in the multifunction device 1 being left open, a sheet jam occurring, a sheet not being set on the tray, toner, ink, etc. The colorant is less than the reference amount. The detected error is not limited to these.

In the figure, “transition destination” indicates an operation screen to which a transition is made when the event occurs. “Accepting instruction” indicates an instruction corresponding to the operation screen and the event.
Hereinafter, the relationship between each operation screen and the event will be described.

(5-1) Standby Screen The standby screen 31 is associated with a copy icon event, a shortcut key event, and an error occurrence event as events.
Although the tray screen 41 is associated with the copy icon event as a transition destination, “accept instruction” is not associated with it. In this case, when the user touches the copy icon 31a, only the transition to the tray screen 41 is performed.

  The shortcut key event is associated with a transition destination according to the batch setting information as a transition destination, and with an instruction according to the batch setting information as an “accepting instruction”. In this case, when the user touches the shortcut key 18b, a transition is made to the transition destination operation screen set in the batch setting information registered in the storage unit 11 in association with the shortcut key 18b, and the batch setting information The “accepting instruction” set in is accepted.

  An error display screen (“error display” in the figure) is associated with the error occurrence event as a transition destination, but “accept instruction” is not associated with it. In this case, when an error occurs, only the transition to the error display screen is performed.

(5-2) Copy Screen The tray screen 41 is associated with tab events, numeric keypad events, and error occurrence events on the copy screen as events. The copy screen tab event is associated with an operation screen corresponding to the tab as a transition destination, but is not associated with an “accept instruction”. In this case, when the user touches the tab of the copy screen 40, only the transition to the operation screen corresponding to the touched tab is performed.

The ten key event is associated with a transition destination operation screen and an instruction to set an execution condition corresponding to the operated ten key 18a. In this case, when the user touches the numeric keypad 18a, a transition is made to the associated operation screen, and an instruction to set an execution condition corresponding to the numeric keypad 18a is accepted.
The same applies to the color screen 42, the magnification screen 43, and the copy number screen 44.

  Further, in addition to the above-described event, the copy screen 44 is further associated with a start key event. A standby screen 31 is associated with the start key event as a transition destination, and copy execution is associated with an “accepting instruction”. In this case, when the user touches the start key 18c, the screen transitions to the standby screen 31, and an instruction to execute copying is accepted.

(5-3) Error display screen The error display screen is associated with a start key event as an event. Although the standby screen 31 is associated with the start key event as the transition destination, the “accepting instruction” is not associated with it. In this case, when the user touches the start key 18c, only the transition to the standby screen 31 is performed.

(6) Acceptance of instructions Here, an outline of acceptance of instructions will be described first, and then the flow of processing of the operation control program will be described.

(6-1) Outline of Accepting Instructions It may take a long time to display the operation screen. For example, when the resolution of the display unit 13 is high, the number of pixels to be displayed on the display unit 13 increases, so that a long time is required for data processing, and a long time is required until the display of the operation screen is completed. Alternatively, even if the resolution of the display unit 13 is not so high, it takes a long time to complete the display of the operation screen if the processing capability of the CPU 10a or the processing capability of the image processing circuit included in the display unit 13 is low. If it takes a long time to complete the display of the operation screen, the waiting time for the user to wait for the completion of the display of the operation screen becomes long.

  By the way, as the user repeats the operation of the multifunction device 1, the user can gradually grasp which operation should be performed on which operation screen in order to give a desired instruction. For example, when an instruction to set automatic as a tray execution condition is to be given, the user can grasp that it is only necessary to touch the first numeric keypad 18a on the tray screen 41.

  Therefore, when displaying the transition destination operation screen, the control unit 10 does not wait for the display of the transition destination operation screen to be completed, and the operation received by the transition destination operation screen and the operation unit 12. An instruction corresponding to is accepted. Here, the reason why the operation accepted by the touch panel 13b is excluded is that it is difficult to perform the operation accepted by the touch panel 13b before the display of the operation screen is completed.

  However, even if the operation is accepted by the operation unit 12, the corresponding instruction is not accepted before the display is completed on some operation screens as an exception. This will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the exception described above. In the first embodiment, the operation screen for allowing the user to confirm the contents and the operation screen for accepting an instruction to execute the function are not accepted until the display is completed as an exception.

In FIG. 8, whether or not user confirmation is required indicates whether or not the operation screen allows the user to confirm the contents. “◯” indicates an operation screen for allowing the user to confirm the content, and “−” indicates an operation screen for not allowing the user to confirm the content.
As shown in the figure, “◯” is set on the error display screen. The reason for the exception of the error display screen is to allow the user to confirm the content of the error and to prompt the user to perform an appropriate error cancel operation.

  The execution instruction indicates whether the operation screen accepts an instruction to execute a function. “◯” indicates an operation screen that accepts an execution instruction, and “−” indicates an operation screen that does not accept an execution instruction. When the copy function is selected, only the copy screen 44 is accepted for the start key 18c. For this reason, “◯” is set on the copy number screen 44, and “−” is set on the other operation screens.

  The reason for the exception of the copy screen 44 is to allow the user to reliably recognize that the copy screen 44 is an operation screen that accepts a copy execution instruction. If the user recognizes that the copy screen 44 is an operation screen that accepts a copy execution instruction, the user can check whether the execution conditions set up to that point are correct before executing the copy. Can reduce copying.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the copy screen 44 displays the tray screen 41, the color screen 42, the magnification screen 43, and the execution conditions set on the copy screen 44. For this reason, by not accepting the operation for the copy number screen 44 until the display is completed, the execution condition can be confirmed by the user before the copy execution instruction is given. That is, it can be said that the copy screen 44 is an operation screen that allows the user to confirm the contents. The reason why the user confirms the contents on the copy screen 44 is that, for example, the intention of setting 10 copies is set as 100 copies, and 90 copies may be copied unnecessarily.

  In the following description, the operation screen in which an instruction is not accepted until the display is completed, that is, the error display screen and the copy screen 44 are referred to as a forced display screen, and the other operation screens are referred to as normal display screens. .

(6-2) Process Flow by Operation Control Program FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the operation control program 50 that displays an operation screen and accepts an operation. The operation control program 50 includes a main control module 51, an operation unit control module 52, a screen display control module 53, and a touch panel control module 54.
These modules are executed in parallel by multitasking. Further, the priority of execution of processing is set in these modules in the order of the operation unit control module 52> the main control module 51> the screen display control module 53.

Here, the touch panel control module 54 is a module that notifies the main control module 51 of position information indicating a position where the user touches the touch panel 13b. In the following description, the description of the touch panel control module 54 is omitted.
Further, in the first embodiment, an operation screen other than the forced display screen, that is, a normal display screen is described as an example in which the display is not started immediately and the display is started after a predetermined time has elapsed.

(6-2-1) Process of Main Control Module FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the main control module 51. The main control module 51 is activated when the multifunction device 1 is powered on. Here, it is assumed that the multifunction device 1 displays a standby screen 31 on the display unit 13 when the power is turned on.

In S <b> 101, the CPU 10 a that executes the main control module 51 (hereinafter simply referred to as “main control module 51”) outputs a normal display request for requesting normal display of the standby screen 31 to the screen display control module 53.
In S102, the main control module 51 notifies the operation unit control module 52 of the standby screen 31 as a transition destination operation screen.

In S103, the main control module 51 determines whether or not the event shown in the screen transition table described above has occurred. If an event has occurred, the process proceeds to S104 (S103: YES), and if not, waits for a predetermined time. After that, S103 is executed again.
Here, whether or not an event has occurred is specifically determined as follows.
The occurrence of the copy icon event and the tab event of the copy screen is determined from the operation screen currently displayed and the position information notified from the touch panel control module 54 to the main control module 51. However, the position information is not notified unless the display of the operation screen is completed.

The occurrence of the numeric keypad event, the start key event, and the shortcut key event is determined by notifying the main control module 51 of operation information indicating the operation accepted by the operation unit 12 from the operation unit control module 52. The operation information may be notified before the display of the operation screen is completed, or may be notified after the display is completed.
Regarding the error occurrence event, the occurrence of the event is determined by the control unit 10 detecting the occurrence of the error as described above.

In S104, the main control module 51 refers to the screen transition table, and determines a transition destination operation screen corresponding to the last operation screen determined as the transition destination and the event generated in S103.
Here, when the execution of S104 is the first time, it is assumed that the last operation screen determined as the transition destination is the standby screen 31. When S104 is executed for the second time or later, the operation screen determined as the transition destination when S104 was executed last time is the operation screen determined as the transition destination last time.

For example, it is assumed that the execution of S104 is the first time. In this case, the operation screen finally determined as the transition destination is the standby screen 31. Then, it is assumed that an operation of touching the copy icon 31a is performed after the display of the standby screen 31 is completed. In this case, it is determined that the tray screen 41, which is an operation screen corresponding to the standby screen 31 and the copy icon event, is the transition destination operation screen.
If it is determined that the tray screen 41 is the operation screen at the transition destination, the next operation screen determined as the transition destination is the tray screen 41 when S104 is executed next time.

  As is clear from the screen transition table, there may be no transition destination operation screen.

  The main control module 51 proceeds to S105 if there is a transition destination operation screen (S104: YES), and proceeds to S112 if there is not (S104: NO).

  In S105, the main control module 51 determines whether or not the generated event is a shortcut key event, and if it is an event other than the shortcut key event, the process proceeds to S106 (S105: NO), and if it is a shortcut key event. The process proceeds to S107 (S105: YES).

  In S106, the main control module 51 determines whether or not the operation screen at the transition destination determined in S104 is a forced display screen. If it is a forced display screen, the process proceeds to S107 (S106: YES). If not, the process proceeds to S108 (S106: NO).

In S107, the main control module 51 outputs to the screen display control module 53 a forced display request that requests to forcibly display the operation screen at the transition destination determined in S104.
Here, as described above, when the main control module 51 determines in S105 that the event is a shortcut key event, the process proceeds to S107. That is, when the shortcut key 18b is operated, it is forcibly displayed even if the operation screen at the transition destination set in the batch setting information to which the shortcut key 18b is assigned is the normal display screen.

S108 to S110 are processes in the case where it is determined in S106 that the screen is not a forced display screen, that is, a process in the case where it is determined that the screen is a normal display screen.
In S <b> 108, the main control module 51 outputs a counter clear request for clearing the elapsed time counter for measuring the elapsed time to the screen display control module 53.

In S109, the main control module 51 outputs a counter start request for starting the elapsed time counter to the screen display control module 53.
In S110, the main control module 51 outputs a normal display request for requesting normal display of the operation screen at the transition destination determined in S104 to the screen display control module 53.
In S111, the main control module 51 notifies the operation unit control module 52 of the transition destination operation screen determined in S104.

In S112, the main control module 51 refers to the screen transition table, and determines an instruction corresponding to the operation screen that was last determined as the transition destination immediately before executing S104 and the event that occurred in S103.
For example, assume that the execution of S104 is the first time. In this case, the operation screen that was finally determined as the transition destination immediately before executing S104 is the standby screen 31. Assume that the event that occurred in S103 is an operation of the shortcut key 18b. In this case, it is determined that the instruction corresponding to the batch setting information, which is an instruction corresponding to the standby screen 31 and the operation of the shortcut key 18b, is an instruction corresponding to the operation screen and the event.
Further, as is apparent from the screen transition table, there may be no corresponding instruction.
The main control module 51 proceeds to S113 if there is a corresponding instruction (S112: YES), and returns to S103 if there is no corresponding instruction (S112: NO).

  In S113, the main control module 51 receives the instruction determined in S112 and executes the received instruction. S113 is an example of a reception process and a control process.

(6-2-2) Processing of Operation Unit Control Module 52 FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the operation unit control module 52. The operation unit control module 52 is also activated when the multifunction device 1 is powered on.
In S <b> 201, the CPU 10 a that executes the operation unit control module 52 (hereinafter simply referred to as “operation unit control module 52”) determines whether or not the transition operation screen is notified from the main control module 51. If not, the process proceeds to S202 (S201: YES), and if not notified, the process proceeds to S203 (S201: NO).

  In S202, the operation unit control module 52 guides the operation key 18 corresponding to the operation screen at the transition destination to the user. For example, it is assumed that the transition destination operation screen is the tray screen 41. Since the operation of the first to third numeric keys 18a is accepted on the tray screen 41, the operation unit control module 52 turns on the LEDs corresponding to the first to third numeric keys 18a.

  Here, even if the operation screen of the transition destination is notified from the main control module 51, the display of the operation screen is not necessarily completed at the time of S202. This is because the main control module 51 requests the screen display control module 53 to display the operation screen in S107 or S110, and does not wait for the display of the operation screen to be completed. Notify the operation screen. Since the main control module 51 has a higher priority than the screen display control module 53, the notification of the operation screen at the transition destination by the main control module 51 is executed with priority over the display of the operation screen by the screen display control module 53.

Since the operation unit control module 52 has a higher priority than the screen display control module 53, the processing by the operation unit control module 52 is executed with priority over the display of the operation screen by the screen display control module 53.
For this reason, the display of the operation screen may not be completed at the time of S202. When the display of the operation screen is not completed at the time of S202, the operation unit control module 52 guides the user through the operation keys 18 that are accepted on the operation screen without waiting for the display of the operation screen to be completed. Become.

In S203, the operation unit control module 52 determines whether or not an operation by the operation unit 12 is accepted. If the operation is accepted, the process proceeds to S204 (S203: YES), and if not accepted, the process returns to S201 (S203: NO). ).
Here, the display of the transition destination operation screen notified in S201 is not necessarily completed at the time of S203. For this reason, when the display of the operation screen is not completed at the time of S203, the operation unit control module 52 accepts an operation accepted on the operation screen without waiting for the display of the operation screen to be completed. .

In S204, the operation unit control module 52 determines whether or not the received operation is an operation that is accepted on the operation screen that was notified as the last transition destination, in other words, valid on the operation screen that was last reported as the transition destination. It is determined whether or not the operation is a troublesome operation.
For example, it is assumed that the operation screen last notified as the transition destination is the tray screen 41. Since the operation of the shortcut key 18b is not accepted on the tray screen 41, when the shortcut key 18b is operated on the tray screen 41, it is determined that the operation is not an effective operation. On the other hand, since the operation of the first to third numeric keys 18a is accepted on the tray screen 41, it is determined that the operation is effective when the first to third numeric keys 18a are operated.
If the operation unit control module 52 is an effective operation, the process proceeds to S205 (S204: YES), and if it is not an effective operation, the process returns to S201 (S204: NO).

In S205, the operation unit control module 52 determines whether or not the acceptance of the operation is prohibited.
As will be described in detail later, the screen display control module 53 turns on the operation reception prohibition flag when a forced display request is output from the main control module 51. Then, the screen display control module 53 turns off the operation reception prohibition flag when the display of the operation screen is completed.
The operation unit control module 52 determines whether the operation reception prohibition flag is on or off. If the operation reception control flag is off, the operation unit control module 52 proceeds to S206 because the operation reception is not prohibited (S205: NO) and is on. In this case, it is determined that the acceptance of the operation is prohibited, and the process returns to S201 (S205: YES).
That is, in the case of the forced display screen, the operation information is not notified to the main control module 51 even if the operation is valid while the operation reception prohibition flag is on. Therefore, the instruction cannot be accepted while the operation acceptance prohibition flag is on.
In the case of the forced display screen, the operation key 18 may not be guided by S202 until the display is completed.

In S206, the operation unit control module 52 notifies the main control module 51 of operation information indicating the accepted operation.
Here, as described above, the operation unit control module 52 accepts an operation without waiting for the display of the operation screen to be completed. Therefore, when the display of the operation screen is not completed at the time of S206, the operation unit control module 52 notifies the main control module 51 of the operation information without waiting for the display of the operation screen to be completed. Become. Since the main control module 51 has a higher priority than the screen display control module 53, when the operation information is notified from the operation unit control module 52, the main control module 51 has priority over the display of the operation screen by the screen display control module 53 in S113. The corresponding instruction will be accepted.

(6-2-3) Process of Screen Display Control Module 53 FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the screen display control module 53. The screen display control module 53 is also activated when the multifunction device 1 is powered on.
In S301, the CPU 10a that executes the screen display control module 53 (hereinafter simply referred to as “screen display control module 53”) determines whether or not a request is output from the main control module 51, and if the request is output, The process proceeds to S302 (S301: YES).

In S302, the screen display control module 53 determines whether or not the request from the main control module 51 is a counter clear request. If the request is a counter clear request, the process proceeds to S303 (S302: YES). If there is, the process proceeds to S305 (S302: NO).
In S303, the screen display control module 53 stops the elapsed time counter.
In S304, the screen display control module 53 clears the elapsed time counter. When the elapsed time counter is cleared, the value of the elapsed time counter is reset to zero.

  In S305, the screen display control module 53 determines whether or not the request from the main control module 51 is a forced display request. If the request is a forced display request, the process proceeds to S306 (S305: YES). If there is, the process proceeds to S309 (S305: NO).

In S306, the screen display control module 53 prohibits acceptance of the operation. Specifically, the screen display control module 53 turns on the operation reception prohibition flag.
In S307, the screen display control module 53 displays the operation screen requested to be displayed by the forced display request on the display device 13a. The screen display control module 53 proceeds to S308 after the display is completed.
In S308, the screen display control module 53 permits the acceptance of the operation. Specifically, the screen display control module 53 turns off the operation reception prohibition flag.

In S309, the screen display control module 53 determines whether or not the request from the main control module 51 is a normal display request. If the request is a normal display request, the process proceeds to S310 (S309: YES). If there is, the process proceeds to S312 (S309: NO).
In S310, the screen display control module 53 determines whether or not the elapsed time counter is equal to or longer than the predetermined time. If the elapsed time counter is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to S311. The predetermined time can be set appropriately.

  In S311, the screen display control module 53 displays the operation screen requested to be displayed by the normal display request on the display device 13a.

  Here, if a normal display request is newly output from the main control module 51 during the display of the operation screen requested to be displayed by the normal display request, the screen display control module 53 displays the displayed operation screen. It is assumed that the operation screen specified by the new normal display request is canceled and displayed.

  In S312, the screen display control module 53 determines whether or not the request from the main control module 51 is a counter start request. If the request is a counter start request, the process proceeds to S313 (S312: YES). If there is, the process returns to S301 (S312: NO).

In S313, the screen display control module 53 starts an elapsed time counter.
In S314, the screen display control module 53 displays on the display device 13a a message screen that guides the user that the user is waiting for a predetermined time until screen display is started.

  S307 and S311 described above are examples of display processing.

(7) Effect of Embodiment According to the multifunction device 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the operation screen and the operation unit 12 accept the operation screen display without waiting for the display of the operation screen by the screen display control module 53 to be completed. An instruction corresponding to the operation is received. For example, if the shortcut key 18b is operated before the display of the standby screen 31 is completed, the multifunction device 1 accepts an instruction according to the batch setting information before the display of the standby screen 31 is completed. Alternatively, if the numeric keypad 18a is operated before the display of the tray screen 41 is completed, the multifunction device 1 accepts a tray setting corresponding to the numeric keypad 18a before the display of the tray screen 41 is completed. For this reason, the user does not have to wait for the display of the operation screen to be completed.
Therefore, according to the multifunction device 1, it is possible to reduce the troublesomeness of the user who waits until the display of the operation screen is completed.

  Further, according to the multifunction device 1, when the operation screen is the copy screen 44, the instruction is not accepted even if the operation is accepted by the operation unit 12 before the display is completed. It can be surely recognized by the user.

  Furthermore, according to the multifunction device 1, the execution conditions set on the tray screen 41, the color screen 42, the magnification screen 43, and the copy screen 44 are displayed on the copy screen 44. Therefore, the execution conditions set on the setting screen are The user can be confirmed before accepting the copy execution instruction.

  Further, according to the multifunction device 1, when the operation screen is an error display screen, the instruction is not accepted even if the operation unit 12 accepts the operation before the display of the error display screen is completed. The user can be surely confirmed.

  Further, according to the multifunction device 1, when the operation of the shortcut key 18b is accepted, the copy execution instruction is not accepted even if the start key 18c is operated before the display of the copy number screen 44 is completed. When a plurality of execution conditions are set in a lump, the user may not know which operation screen is being operated when the execution conditions are set in a lump. For this reason, by not accepting the operation before the display of the setting screen is completed, it is possible to make the user confirm which operation screen is being operated.

Further, according to the multifunction device 1, the elapsed time from when the operation for displaying the normal display screen is received by the operation unit 12 is measured, and the display of the normal display screen is not started before the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time. When the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time, display of the normal display screen is started.
If an instruction is received before the display of the normal display screen is completed, the display of the normal display screen is not necessary. According to the MFP 1, the normal display screen display is not started before the elapsed time from when the operation for displaying the normal display screen is received reaches a predetermined time, so that the normal display screen is displayed unnecessarily. Can be reduced. On the other hand, if the instruction is not accepted before the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time, it is considered that the user does not grasp the accepted operation. In that case, the user can give a target instruction by displaying the normal display screen.

  Furthermore, according to the multifunction device 1, the user is guided to the user by turning on the operation key 18 that accepts an instruction on the operation screen by the light emitting element, so that convenience for the user is improved.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the multifunction device 1 has been described as an example of the image processing device. However, the image processing device is a single-function image processing device having any one of a copy function, a FAX transmission / reception function, and a scan function. There may be.

  (2) In the first embodiment, copying, FAX transmission / reception, and scanning have been described as examples of image processing. However, the image processing may be direct printing. With direct printing, the user selects image data to be printed from image data stored in a removable memory such as a USB memory attached to the multifunction device 1, and prints an image represented by the image data selected by the user. It is processing.

  (3) In the first embodiment, while the operation acceptance prohibition flag is on, even if an operation is accepted by the operation unit 12, the operation information is not notified to the main control module 51 so that the instruction is not accepted. While the operation reception prohibition flag is on, the operation itself may not be received by turning off the power supply to the operation unit 12.

  (4) Although the case where the control unit 10 includes the CPU 10a has been described as an example in the above embodiment, the control unit 10 may be configured by one or more CPUs, may be configured by an ASIC, or 1 The above CPU and one or more ASICs may be used.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the error display screen has been described as an example of the operation screen that allows the user to confirm the content when the selected function is the copy function. On the other hand, when the selected function is the FAX function, the screen for setting the FAX transmission destination number may be an operation screen for allowing the user to confirm the contents. As a result, the user can be surely confirmed who the transmission partner is.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... MFP, 2 ... FAX machine, 3 ... PC, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Memory | storage part, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Display part, 13a. ..Display device, 13b ... Touch panel, 14 ... Operation keys, 14 ... Image reading unit, 15 ... FAX unit, 16 ... Printing unit, 17 ... Communication interface unit, 18. ..Operation keys, 18a... Numeric keypad, 18c... Copy start key, 18b... Shortcut key, 31a... Copy icon, 31 .. standby screen, 40. -Tray screen, 42 ... color screen, 43 ... magnification screen, 44 ... copy number screen, 50 ... operation control program, 51 ... main control module, 52 ... operation unit control module, 53 ... Screen display control module , 54 ... touch panel control module

Claims (7)

An image processing unit for executing image processing;
A display for displaying the operation screen;
An operation unit for receiving an operation from a user;
A control unit that controls the image processing unit, the display unit, and the operation unit;
With
The controller is
Display processing for displaying the operation screen on the display unit;
An accepting process for accepting an instruction corresponding to the operation screen and an operation accepted by the operation unit, and starting accepting an operation by the operation unit without waiting for the display of the operation screen by the display process;
A control process for controlling the image processing unit in accordance with the instruction received in the reception process;
An image processing apparatus that executes The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The operation screen includes a setting screen for receiving the instruction for setting the execution condition of the image processing, and an execution screen for receiving the instruction for causing the image processing unit to execute the image processing.
When the operation screen is the execution screen in the reception process, the control unit does not receive the instruction before the display of the execution screen is completed, and the instruction is displayed after the execution screen is displayed. An image processing apparatus to accept. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The said control part is an image processing apparatus which displays the said execution conditions set on the said setting screen on the said execution screen in the said display process. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Among the operation screens, there is an operation screen that allows the user to confirm the contents of the screen,
In the reception process, when the operation screen is an operation screen that allows a user to confirm the contents of the screen, the control unit does not receive the instruction before the display of the operation screen is completed, and the operation screen An image processing apparatus which receives the instruction after being displayed. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The operation screen includes a setting screen for accepting the instruction to set execution conditions for the image processing,
In the image processing apparatus, combinations of execution conditions to be set and combinations of execution conditions in which a plurality of the setting screens are used to set the execution conditions are registered in advance.
When the control unit receives a batch setting instruction for collectively setting the combination of the execution conditions in the receiving process as the instruction, any one of the plurality of setting screens is set in the display process. An image processing apparatus that displays, in the receiving process, the instruction is not received before the display of the one setting screen is completed, and the instruction is received after the one setting screen is displayed. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The controller is
In the reception process, an instruction to display an operation screen corresponding to the operation screen and the operation received by the operation unit is received;
In the display process, the elapsed time from when the instruction to display the operation screen is received by the reception process is measured, and the display of the operation screen is not started before the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time. An image processing apparatus that starts displaying the operation screen when an elapsed time reaches a predetermined time. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The operation unit is
Multiple operation keys and
A guide unit that guides the operation keys to be operated to a user;
An image processing apparatus.

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