JP2003131528A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it is sometimes difficult for a person who has poor eyesight or an intellectually handicapped user to find and operate a changeover key for switching a display picture of a display operation part of an image forming apparatus where many keys are arranged. SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus A is equipped with a sensor group 40 as an example of a detecting means for detecting the behavior of the user operating the image forming apparatus A, the display operation part 50 which displays the state of processing carried out by the image forming apparatus A, the contents of operation by the user, etc., and inputs settings and various instructions, and is composed of a touch panel of liquid crystal, a ROM 20 in which display pictures to be displayed at the display operation part 50, a program for controlling the image forming apparatus A, etc., are recorded, and a control part 10 which controls the operation of the image forming apparatus A by controlling each of the parts.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a display / operation unit for displaying a processing status being executed and contents of operation by a user, and for performing setting and input of various commands.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus B as shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus B is composed of a liquid crystal touch panel, and is provided with a display operation unit 50b for displaying, for example, a processing status being executed, operation contents by a user, and inputting various settings and the like. is there. The display operation unit 50b has a display unit 51b that mainly displays the processing status being executed and the content of operation by the user.
A numeric keypad 53b for setting the number of sheets to be printed by forming an image on the sheet material and a start key 52b for forming an image on the sheet material and executing the printing are arranged. Further, the image forming apparatus B is provided with a switching key 54b for changing the arrangement of the display section 51b, the ten-key 53b, the start key 52b and the like. The display operation unit 50b shown in FIG. 5 has a configuration in which a display unit 51b is arranged on the left side with respect to the user, and keys such as a ten-key 53b and a start key 52b for operating the user are arranged on the right side with respect to the user. Therefore, even if the right-handed user operates the display operation unit 50b with the right hand, the display unit 51b is not hidden. On the other hand, in the state of the display operation unit 50b shown in FIG.
When a left-handed user wants to operate the display operation unit 50b, he or she will operate it with his / her left hand.
It is difficult to operate because b is hidden. Therefore, the left-handed user presses the switching key 54b to display the operation unit 5
The arrangement of each key and the display unit 51b at 0b changes as shown in FIG. That is, the display operation unit 5 shown in FIG.
0b is a left-handed person in which a numeric keypad 53b and a start key 52b for operating the user are arranged on the left side of the user and a display section 51b is arranged on the right side of the user. Even if the user operates the display operation unit 50b with the left hand, the display unit 51b is not hidden. That is, in the conventional image forming apparatus B, by pressing the switching key 54b, the arrangement of each key in the display operation unit 50b and the display unit 51b is changed to the arrangement (FIG. 5) corresponding to the right-handed user, as described above. Switching between the arrangement (FIG. 6) corresponding to the left-handed user is realized, and the operability corresponding to the user who uses it is provided.

[0003]

By the way, in the image forming apparatus B, the display of the display operation section 50b is always switched by the user himself pressing the switch key 54b. Therefore, for example, a user who is visually impaired or an abnormal person such as an intellectually disabled person cannot find and operate the switching key 54b from the display operation unit 50b where many keys are arranged. It can be difficult. In addition, the user who is a healthy person can use the above-mentioned switching key 5
Even when operating 4b, the user cannot move freely, for example, when the user holds a lot of luggage beside him (ie, when he has many documents to be copied with one arm). In some situations, it may be difficult to press the switching key 54b. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to solve the problems even if the user cannot freely move the body of the unhealthy person or the healthy person. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that enables a user to easily switch the display of the display operation unit to a left-handed or right-handed display screen.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a display operation unit for displaying the processing status being executed and the contents of operation by a user, and for setting and inputting various commands. In the image forming apparatus including the above, when the image forming apparatus is operated by the user,
The image forming apparatus includes a behavior detecting unit that detects the behavior of the user, and changes the display of the display operation unit based on the detection result of the behavior detecting unit. Since the present invention is configured as described above, it indicates that the user wants to switch the display arrangement, for example, even in a situation where the user cannot freely move the body of the unhealthy person or the healthy person. If it behaves in a certain way,
Since the display on the display unit is switched, the trouble of the operator who is not able to move is eliminated. Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is not necessary to dispose the switching key on the display operation unit for changing the display screen as in the conventional case, so that the number of display points on the display operation unit is reduced and the display is easy for the user to understand. The operability is improved. Further, it is possible to reduce the size of the display / operation unit by the amount of the changeover key eliminated. Further, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the display of the display operation unit is changed to a left-handed display screen or a right-handed display screen based on the detection result of the behavior detection means, and the behavior detection means detects the behavior. The behavior may be recorded in association with the left-handed display screen and the right-handed display screen. With this configuration, it is possible to easily display the display screen corresponding to the dominant hand of the user on the display operation unit based on the behavior of the user who uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Furthermore, the number of times the display screen is displayed on the display operation unit may be recorded, and the initial screen displayed on the display operation unit may be set according to the recorded number of times of display. In this case, for example, it is possible to automatically set the display of the display operation unit (that is, the initial screen) at the stage when the power of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is turned on to the display screen that the user frequently uses. The display can be automatically set to satisfy more users.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. It should be noted that the following embodiments and examples are merely examples embodying the present invention and are not of the nature to limit the technical scope of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a display example diagram of a display operation unit 50 (example of a right-handed display screen), and FIG. 3 is a display operation unit 50. FIG. 4 is a display example diagram (example of a left-handed display screen), and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processing performed by
6 is a display example diagram of the display operation unit 50b of the conventional image forming apparatus B, and FIG. 6 is a display example diagram of the display operation unit 50b of the conventional image forming apparatus B.

A schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The outline of the external appearance of the image forming apparatus A is shown in FIG.
Same as. The image forming apparatus A includes an image forming unit 30 that forms an image on a sheet material and prints it out, a sensor group 40 that is an example of a detecting unit that detects a behavior of a user who operates the image forming apparatus A, and a liquid crystal touch panel. And a display operation unit 50 for displaying the processing status being executed by the image forming apparatus A, the content of operation by the user, etc. and for inputting settings and various commands, and a display displayed on the display operation unit 50. A ROM 20 in which a screen, a program for controlling the image forming apparatus A, and the like are recorded, and a control unit 10 that controls the above-mentioned units to control the operation of the image forming apparatus A.
And is configured. The substance of the sensor group 40 is, as shown in FIG. 2, optical sensors S1, S2, S3 provided around the display operation unit 50. The optical sensors S1 to S3 contactlessly indicate that the user's hand or arm is near the upper portion of the display operation unit 50 by blinking light, reflection of infrared rays, change in capacitance, change in electric field strength, or the like. It is something to detect. In this way, the optical sensors S1 to S3
In the state in which the optical sensor is provided, for example, when the user moves his / her hand or arm so as to hold it counterclockwise near the upper portion of the display operation unit 50, the optical sensor is moved to S3 → S2 → S.
The optical sensor responds to S1 in the order of 1, while the user similarly moves the hand or arm in a clockwise direction.
→ S2 → S3 will be reacted in this order. That is, the image forming apparatus A of the present invention detects the moving direction of the hand or arm (clockwise or counterclockwise), which is an example of the behavior of the user, by the optical sensors S1 to S3, and based on the detection result. The display screen of the display operation unit 50 is switched. For example, in FIG. 2, the behavior when a right-handed user moves his / her hand by a motion peculiar to the right-handed person as shown by an arrow Y1 is detected, and depending on the detection result, the processing status being executed or the user The display unit 51 for displaying the operation content is displayed on the operation unit 50.
On the other hand, an operation key such as a ten-key 53 for forming an image on a sheet material and setting the number of sheets to be printed and a start key 52 for forming an image on the sheet material and executing printing 7 is a display example in which a right-handed display screen in which items are arranged on the right side of the display operation unit 50 is displayed on the display operation unit 50. On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows a state in which a left-handed user detects a behavior when he / she moves his / her hand by an action peculiar to the left-handed person as shown by an arrow Y2, and switches to a left-handed screen accordingly, and the above display is shown. In the display example, a left-handed display screen is displayed on the display operation unit 50 in which the unit 51 is arranged on the right side of the display operation unit 50 and the operation keys such as the ten-key 53 and the start key 52 are arranged on the left side of the display operation unit 50. In addition, the right-handed display screen and the left-handed display screen are associated with the results of detection of the behavior of the user by the optical sensors S1 to S3 (that is, the order of detection) in the ROM.
It is recorded in 20. Therefore, the image forming apparatus A detects the behavior of the user by the optical sensors S1 to S3, and based on the detection result, the right-handed display screen (FIG. 2) or the left-handed display screen (FIG. 3) is displayed. Display either operation unit 5
It is possible to display 0. Hereinafter, a series of processes performed by the image forming apparatus A will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the optical sensor S1 has reacted (S10). This step S1
If it is determined that the optical sensor S1 has reacted, the process proceeds to step S110, while the optical sensor S1
If it is determined that 1 has not reacted, the process proceeds to step S2.
Move to 0. In the following, first, the process is step S110.
The case of shifting to will be described. In the process of step S110, the timer operates. The timer function may be a function included in the control unit 10, and generally, the counter function of the control unit 10 may be used instead. Next, the control unit 1
0 determines whether or not the optical sensor S2 has reacted (S1
20) If the optical sensor S2 responds, it is subsequently determined whether the optical sensor S3 responds (S130).
If it is determined in steps S120 and S130 that the optical sensors S2 and S3 are not responding, the user moves the hand or arm counterclockwise in order to switch the display screen of the display operation unit 50. Since it is considered that the operation has not been performed, the processing is interrupted (S300). On the other hand, when it is determined that the optical sensors S2 and S3 have reacted in the determinations in steps S120 and S130, the control unit 10
After the optical sensor S1 has reacted (ie, step S
At 110, it is determined whether the optical sensors S2 and S3 have continuously reacted within a predetermined time (after the timer is activated) (S140). That is, the user switches the display screen of the display operation unit 50 by determining whether or not the optical sensor continuously responds within the predetermined time in the order of S1 → S2 → S3 by the determination of step S140. Therefore, the final judgment is made as to whether or not the hand or arm is moving counterclockwise. In addition, in this embodiment, the predetermined time is set to 1 second. This is an example of the case where it is considered that one second is sufficient for the above-mentioned behavior. In the determination of step S140, the control unit 10 determines that the optical sensors S1 → S2 → S within 1 second.
When it is determined that the reaction has been made in the order of 3, it is determined that the user has performed a behavior to make the display screen of the display operation unit 50 a left-handed display screen, and the pattern of the left-handed display screen is read from the ROM 20. , Is displayed on the display operation unit 50 (see FIG. 3).

Next, from step S10 to step S
A case where the processing shifts to 20 will be described. The processing of steps S20, S210 to S250 described below is the same as the processing of steps S10, S110 to 150 already described, only in the order of the optical sensor S3 → S2 → S1. To do. First, the control unit 10
Determines whether the optical sensor S3 has reacted (S2
0). If it is determined in step S20 that the optical sensor S3 has reacted, the process proceeds to step S210, while if it is determined that the optical sensor S3 has not reacted, the process of step S10 is performed again. Step S21
In the processing of 0, the timer operates (S210). next,
The control unit 10 determines whether the optical sensor S2 has reacted (S220), and if the optical sensor S2 has responded, subsequently determines whether the optical sensor S1 has reacted (S2).
30). If it is determined in steps S220 and S230 that the optical sensors S2 and S1 are not responding, the user moves the hand or arm counterclockwise in order to switch the display screen of the display operation unit 50. Since it is considered that the operation has not been performed, the processing is interrupted (S300). On the other hand, if it is determined in steps S220 and S230 that the optical sensors S2 and S1 have reacted, the control unit 10 determines that the optical sensor S3 has reacted (that is, the timer is activated in step S210). (From) It is determined whether the optical sensors S2 and S1 continuously react within a predetermined time (S240). That is, the user switches the display screen of the display operation unit 50 by determining whether or not the optical sensor continuously responds within 1 second in the order of S3 → S2 → S1 by the determination of step S240. In addition, the final judgment is made as to whether or not the behavior of moving the hand or arm counterclockwise is performed. Subsequently, when it is determined that the optical sensors have reacted in the order of S3 → S2 → S1 within 1 second in the determination of step S240, the control unit 10 allows the user to display the display screen of the display operation unit 50. It is judged that the behavior for making a left-handed display screen has been performed, and the ROM
The pattern of the right-handed display screen is read from 20 and displayed on the display operation unit 50 (see FIG. 2). In this way, by performing a series of processes, it is possible to switch the display screen of the display operation unit 50 to the left-handed display screen or the right-handed display screen according to the user's behavior.

[0009]

Embodiment In addition, in the image forming apparatus A, the ROM
If 20 is a rewritable non-volatile ROM, the following is also possible. For example, the number of display times of the display screens (the right-handed display screen, the left-handed display screen) displayed on the display operation unit 50 according to the behavior of the user is set to the ROM 20.
Alternatively, the control unit 10 may display the display screen with the largest number of current display times as the default screen (initial screen) when the power of the image forming apparatus A is turned on. By doing so, a display screen frequently used by the user can be conveniently displayed since the image forming apparatus A is powered on.

[0010]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image forming is provided with the display operation unit for displaying the processing status being executed and the contents of the operation by the user, and for setting and inputting various commands. The apparatus includes a behavior detection unit that detects the behavior of the user when the user operates the image forming apparatus, and changes the display of the display operation unit based on the detection result of the behavior detection unit. It is configured as an image forming apparatus. Since the present invention is configured as described above, it indicates that the user wants to switch the display arrangement, for example, even in a situation where the user cannot freely move the body of the unhealthy person or the healthy person. The display of the display unit is switched when the predetermined behavior is performed, so that the trouble of the operator who cannot move is eliminated. Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is not necessary to dispose the switching key on the display operation unit for changing the display screen as in the conventional case, so that the number of display points on the display operation unit is reduced and the display is easy for the user to understand. The operability is improved. Further, it is possible to reduce the size of the display / operation unit by the amount of the changeover key eliminated. Further, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the display of the display operation unit is changed to a left-handed display screen or a right-handed display screen based on the detection result of the behavior detection means, and the behavior detection means detects the behavior. The behavior may be recorded in association with the left-handed display screen and the right-handed display screen. With this configuration, it is possible to easily display the display screen corresponding to the dominant hand of the user on the display operation unit based on the behavior of the user who uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Furthermore, the number of times the display screen is displayed on the display operation unit may be recorded, and the initial screen displayed on the display operation unit may be set according to the recorded number of times of display. In this case, for example, it is possible to automatically set the display of the display operation unit (that is, the initial screen) at the stage when the power of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is turned on to the display screen that the user frequently uses. The display can be automatically set to satisfy more users.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a display operation unit 50 (example of display screen for right-handed person).

FIG. 3 is a display example diagram of a display operation unit 50 (left-handed display screen example).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes performed by the image forming apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a display example diagram of a display operation unit 50b of a conventional image forming apparatus B.

FIG. 6 is a display example diagram of a display operation unit 50b of a conventional image forming apparatus B.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Control unit 20 ... ROM 30 ... Image forming unit 40 ……… Sensor group 50 ... Display operation unit S1 ... Optical sensor (sensor group 40) S2 ......... Optical sensor (sensor group 40) S3: Optical sensor (sensor group 40)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 3/033 360 B41J 29/00 T

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a display / operation unit for displaying a processing status being executed, contents of operation by a user, etc., and for setting and inputting various commands.
A behavior detection unit that detects the behavior of the user when the image forming apparatus is operated by the user is provided, and the display of the display operation unit is changed based on the detection result of the behavior detection unit. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 2. Based on the detection result of the behavior detecting means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display of the display operation unit is changed to a left-handed display screen or a right-handed display screen. 3. A behavior detected by the behavior detecting means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the left-handed display screen and the right-handed display screen are recorded in association with each other. 4. The number of times the display screen is displayed on the display operation unit is recorded, and the initial screen displayed on the display operation unit is set according to the recorded number of times of display. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.