JP2008073917A - Touch panel type operation display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel type operation display device which permits a help function to be effortlessly utilized. <P>SOLUTION: In the touch panel type operation display device in which the surface of a display section 9 on which a plurality of function keys corresponding to a variety of operations are displayed is formed of a touch panel 7, and at least one of the function keys is a help key 71, with the help key 71 depressed, when a first function key 73a from among the function keys is depressed, the help screen of the first function key 73a can be displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel type operation display device.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, operation display devices having a touch panel function have been installed in various devices such as copiers, multifunction devices, digital video cameras, and digital cameras. 2. Description of the Related Art As functions of devices are diversified and complicated, there are known devices that can display a help screen that explains each function in detail on an operation display device. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-125132 A

  By the way, in the above-described operation display device of Patent Document 1, when the help key is pressed once, the screen is switched to the help menu screen, and when the key of the function whose content is to be confirmed is pressed, the help screen for the function is displayed. It was a thing and time consuming.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a touch panel type operation display device that can utilize a help function without taking time and effort.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is configured such that a surface of a display unit on which a plurality of function keys corresponding to various operations are displayed is configured by a touch panel, and at least of the plurality of function keys. In a touch panel type operation display device, one of which is a help key, when the first function key is pressed out of the plurality of function keys while the help key is pressed, the help screen of the first function key can be displayed. It is comprised by these.
With this configuration, it is possible to directly display the help screen for the first function key without displaying the help menu screen.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the first function key is pressed while the help key is pressed, an intermediate point of a line segment connecting the reference coordinates of the help key and the reference coordinates of the first function key is determined. It is configured so that it can be recognized as being pressed.
With this configuration, the help screen for the first function key can be reliably displayed.

The invention described in claim 3 is configured such that the output voltage value differs depending on the pressed position, and the function key pressed can be identified by detecting the output voltage value. According to an arrival time at which a value is obtained, the first function key can be pressed while the help key is pressed, and the intermediate point can be pressed directly. .
By configuring in this way, it is possible to display the help screen of the first function key without fail.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the help screen of the first function key can be displayed directly without displaying the help menu screen, it is possible to utilize the help function without taking time and effort. There is.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the help screen of the first function key can be displayed reliably, there is an effect that the help function can be utilized efficiently.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the help screen of the first function key can be displayed without any mistake, there is an effect that the help function can be utilized without taking time and effort.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a touch panel type operation display device is installed in a copying machine.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the copying machine 1 has a copying machine body 3 including an image storage unit 21, an image processing unit 23, a printing unit 25, a control unit 27, and the like formed at the bottom. An operation display device 11 including an operation unit 5 for executing various operations of the copier 1 and a display unit 9 having a touch panel 7 disposed on the surface is configured on the upper front side of the copier body 3 to copy the image. In the upper part of the machine body 3, a part other than the operation display device 11 is provided with an automatic document feeder (ADF) 13 a for automatically feeding a document image and a scanner unit 13 b for reading the document image. An image reading unit 13 is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation display device 11 includes an operation unit 5 and a display unit 9. The operation unit 5 includes a plurality of buttons 15 that receive various operation instructions from the user and output the contents of the operation instructions to the control unit 27. The button 15 includes a start key 15a for starting a copying operation, a numeric keypad 15b for setting the number of copies, and a plurality of function keys 15c for starting an initial setting screen.

      The display unit 9 has a touch panel 7 formed of a transparent electrode disposed on the surface. The display unit 9 is composed of a color or monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD), displays various information as various images, characters, graphics, etc. based on display instructions input from the control unit 27, and is displayed by the user. The touch panel 7 functions by touching the function key displayed on the unit 9, and outputs the input operation instruction to the control unit 27.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the image reading unit 13 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 13 a and a scanner unit 13 b. In such an image reading unit 13, under the control of the control unit 27, the document supplied from the automatic document feeder 13 a is fed onto the glass surface, and the document is scanned by the scanner unit 13 b built in the copying machine body 3. Are sequentially read, and color image data indicating the color of the document image is output to the image storage unit 21.

  The image storage unit 21 includes an external storage device such as a hard disk and / or a semiconductor memory, and stores color image data of a document image input from the image reading unit 13. Under the control of the control unit 27, the image storage unit 21 writes color image data of the read document image, reads out the color image data, and outputs it to the image processing unit 23.

      Under the control of the control unit 27, the image processing unit 23 converts the color image data input from the image storage unit 21 into data for printing and outputs the data to the printing unit 25.

      The printing unit 25 is a printing unit that outputs a document image on the printing paper based on the color image data by transporting the printing paper and attaching toner to the printing paper under the control of the control unit 27. .

      The control unit 27 controls the overall operation of the copier 1 based on operation instructions input from the touch panel 7 of the operation unit 5 or the display unit 9, control programs stored in the internal memory, various control data, and the like. It is. That is, the control unit 27 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs control calculation based on the operation instruction, the control program, various control data, and the like (that is, the operation unit 5, the display unit 9, and the image reading unit 13). , Image storage unit 21, image processing unit 23, and printing unit 25), and various input / output interface lines that exchange data with each other. The document image read by 13 can be printed by the printing unit 25.

Next, a configuration between the operation display device 11 and the control unit 27 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 27 temporarily includes a display control CPU 45 that controls the display method of the display unit 9 based on a predetermined program, a ROM 47 that stores the predetermined program, and various data. A RAM 49 that is stored and functions as a working area is provided.
Data and operation signals obtained from the display control CPU 45, the ROM 47, and the RAM 49 are configured to be communicable with the VRAM 51 that develops display data on the display unit 9 constituting the liquid crystal display screen, and the input / output port 63.

Further, the VRAM 51 is configured so that a liquid crystal driver 53 that drives the display unit 9 based on display data can communicate, and the liquid crystal driver 53 displays a necessary image on the display unit 9 of the operation display device 11. Has been.
Furthermore, the touch panel 7 is configured to be able to communicate with a position detection unit 55 that detects the position of the touch panel 7 pressed by the user. When a certain point on the touch panel 7 is pressed, the position detection unit 55 can detect the coordinates in the vertical and horizontal directions by the resistance provided on the touch panel. Moreover, in this embodiment, when the several location of the touch panel 7 is pressed simultaneously, it recognizes as what pressed the intermediate point of the line segment which connects each position.

  In addition, a driver circuit 59 configured to be able to output to an individual display element 57 composed of a backlight, an LED, etc. disposed on the back of various buttons 15 such as a start key 15a, a numeric keypad 15b, or a function key 15c; A buffer circuit 61 to which operation signals from various buttons 15 such as a start key 15a, a numeric keypad 15b, or a function key 15c are input is configured.

  The input / output port 63 is configured to be able to input signals from the position detection unit 55 and the buffer circuit 61, configured to be able to output signals to the driver circuit 59, and further configured to be able to input / output with the display control CPU 45. ing.

  The display screen includes a display unit 9 and a touch panel 7. When the touch panel 7 is pressed, the position information detected by the position detection unit 55 is input to the display control CPU 45 via the input / output port 63, and which function is based on the display data developed in the VRAM 51 by the display control CPU 45. It is determined whether the key 29 has been selected. The liquid crystal driver 53 drives the display unit 9 based on the display data developed in the VRAM 51. With these operations, when the function key 29 is input on the display screen, the display on the display screen is controlled to be updated based on the program.

As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 9 is provided with a touch panel 7 on its upper surface, various function keys are displayed on the screen, and various operations and settings can be executed by the touch panel 7 functioning. Has been. In the present embodiment, a help key 71 is arranged near the lower right corner of the display unit 9. Further, a parent function key 73 for various functions is arranged at a necessary location, and a plurality of child function keys 77 for setting the parent function in detail are arranged. Here, the parent function key 73 includes, for example, keys such as paper setting (tray selection), density setting, enlargement / reduction ratio setting, and finishing setting such as sorting in the basic page. The sub-function key 77 is composed of keys for performing automatic tray selection, specific tray selection, and the like in the paper setting, for example, and in the magnification setting, in order to perform automatic magnification, equal magnification (100%), reduction / enlargement, and the like. It consists of keys. By pressing the child function key 77, the detailed setting of printing is possible.
Further, a page key 75 provided with a basic page, a user function, a function list, a program, and the like is disposed near the lower end of the display unit 9. The page is switched by pressing the page key 75.
In this embodiment, when a certain function key is pressed, it is determined that the upper left corner of the function key is pressed regardless of the position in the display area of the function key. The corner coordinates are recognized as the reference coordinates. Furthermore, the arrangement of the function keys described above is an example in the present embodiment, and it goes without saying that the arrangement is not particularly limited.

Next, the operation will be described.
The copying machine 1 is turned on and is in a standby state. When copying in this state, the original to be copied is set in the ADF 13a of the image reading unit 13, and the paper size, number of copies, density, magnification, etc. are set by the touch panel 7 of the display unit 9 or the numeric keypad 15b of the operation unit 5. Copying is started by setting and pressing the start button 15a.

      When copying is started, the document is conveyed from the ADF 13a to the scanner unit 13b, and the document is read by the scanner unit 13b. The read image data of the original is sent from the image storage unit 21 provided in the copying machine main body 3 to the image processing unit 23, and then the data is sent to the printing unit 25 and incorporated in the copying machine main body 3. The toner is printed on printing paper and discharged as printed matter.

Here, a procedure for using the help function of the copying machine 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the help key 71 arranged on the display unit 9 is pressed with a finger as a first step.
Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the state where the help key 71 is pressed as the second step, one of the parent function keys 73 for which the help screen is to be displayed, for example, the density in the present embodiment. Press the key 73a.
As shown in FIG. 6C, when the help key 71 and the density key 73a are pressed at the same time as the third step, the help screen 81 of the pressed density key 73a is displayed on the display unit 9.

Next, a processing method until the help screen 81 is displayed will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the output voltage value when the touch panel 7 of the display unit 9 is not pressed is 0 (V). When the help key 71 is pressed in the first step, it is recognized that the reference point 83 formed at the upper left corner of the help key 71 is pressed, and the touch panel 7 reacts to increase the output voltage value from zero. The output voltage value V1 is obtained.
Next, when the density key 73a is pressed in the second step, it is recognized that the reference point 85 formed at the upper left corner of the density key 73a is pressed. In the state where the help key 71 and the density key 73a are pressed at the same time, the touch panel 7 recognizes that the intermediate point 87 of the line segment connecting the reference point 83 and the reference point 85 is pressed, and the output voltage value. V2 is obtained.
In the third step, when it is recognized that the intermediate point 87 is pressed while the help key 71 is pressed, the help screen 81 of the density key 73 a is displayed on the display unit 9.

Here, a means for distinguishing between the case where the density key 73a is pressed while pressing the help key 71 and the case where only the intermediate point 87 is pressed directly will be described.
In the present embodiment, an automatic magnification key 77a is arranged at a position corresponding to the intermediate point 87. Therefore, the output voltage value V2 is obtained even when the automatic magnification key 77a is directly pressed.
The graph (A) in FIG. 8 shows the respective output voltage values and time when the density key 73a is pressed while the help key 71 is pressed, and the graph (B) shows the respective output voltage values and time when the automatic magnification key 77a is pressed directly. It shows the relationship. FIG. 8 shows the output voltage value on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis.
In the graph (A), when the help key 71 is first pressed, the output voltage value V1 is obtained at a certain reaction speed. When the help key 71 is kept pressed, the output voltage value is kept at V1. Thereafter, when the concentration key 73a is pressed while the help key 71 is pressed, the output voltage value changes from V1 to V2 at a certain reaction speed. The arrival time when the output voltage value changes from V1 to V2 is (t2-t1).

  Next, in the graph (B), when the automatic magnification key 77a corresponding to the intermediate point 87 is directly pressed, the output voltage value V2 is obtained at a certain reaction speed. The arrival time when the output voltage value changes from 0 to V2 is (t3-t1).

  When the graphs (A) and (B) are compared, the time to reach the output voltage value V2 is (t2-t1) in the graph (A), and (t3-t1) in the graph (B). Different. In the present embodiment, since the output voltage value can be sampled in the microsec order by the software built in the control unit 27, the above difference in arrival time is detected, and the concentration is kept while the help key 71 is pressed. Whether the key 73a is pressed or the automatic magnification key 77a is pressed directly can be distinguished.

  In the present embodiment, while the help key 71 is pressed, the help key 71 is pressed by changing the display color of the help key 71, inverting the color, or inverting the color of the entire display unit 9. It may be made easier for the user to recognize the current situation.

  Accordingly, in the present embodiment, when the parent function key 73 is pressed while the help key 71 is pressed, the help screen of the parent function key 73 is directly displayed. Therefore, the efficiency is improved without displaying the help menu screen. You can use the help function without much trouble. In addition, by using the characteristics of the touch panel and detecting the arrival time until the output voltage value is obtained, the parent function key is pressed while the help key is pressed or directly between the help key and the parent function key. Since the point is pressed or not, it is possible to display the help screen of the parent function key without fail.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the following aspects may be employed.
In this embodiment, when the parent function key is pressed while the help key is pressed, the help screen for the parent function key is displayed. However, the help key and the child function key or page key are pressed simultaneously. In such a case, a help screen corresponding to the function may be displayed.
In the present embodiment, the reference point for detecting the coordinates has been described as being assigned to the upper left corner of each key. However, the central portion of each key may be used as the reference point, or another location may be used as the reference point. . Further, the coordinates of the position where the reference point is directly pressed may be detected without particularly defining the reference point.
In the present embodiment, the case where the touch panel type operation display device according to the present invention is installed in a copying machine has been described, but it may be adopted in a device having a similar function such as a multifunction machine or a digital camera.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the operation display apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the operation display apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the display part in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the display part in the case of using the help function in embodiment of this invention, (a) is a 1st step, (b) is a 2nd step, (c) is a 3rd step. It is a top view which shows the coordinate of the display part in the case of using the help function in embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the output voltage of a touch panel and time in embodiment of this invention, (A) is a case where a parent function key is pressed after pressing a help key, (B) is a case where a middle point is pressed directly It is.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 7 ... Touch panel 9 ... Display part 11 ... Operation display apparatus (touch panel type operation display apparatus) 71 ... Help key 73a ... Parent function key (first function key) 81 ... Help screen 83, 85 ... Reference point (reference coordinate) 87 ... Intermediate point V1, V2 ... Output voltage value

Claims (3)

In the touch panel type operation display device in which the surface of the display unit on which a plurality of function keys corresponding to various operations are displayed is configured by a touch panel, and at least one of the plurality of function keys is a help key.
Touch panel type operation characterized in that a help screen of the first function key can be displayed when the first function key is pressed among the plurality of function keys while the help key is pressed. Display device.   When the first function key is pressed in a state where the help key is pressed, it is configured so that it can be recognized that the intermediate point of the line segment connecting the reference coordinates of the help key and the reference coordinates of the first function key is pressed. The touch panel type operation display device according to claim 1, wherein: The touch panel is configured such that the output voltage value differs depending on the pressed position, and the pressed function key can be determined by detecting the output voltage value.
The case where the first function key is pressed while the help key is pressed and the case where the intermediate point is directly pressed can be discriminated by the arrival time at which the output voltage value is obtained. The touch panel type operation display device according to claim 1, wherein the operation display device is a touch panel type operation display device.

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