JP5938489B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can accept a gesture operation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, an image forming apparatus that executes various processes intuitively by a gesture operation that is an operation based on a locus of a position where a user touches a touch panel with a finger, a pen, or the like It has been known.

  In addition, as described in, for example, Patent Document 2 below, a universal mode that allows a user who is difficult to adapt to complicated operations to execute various processes with easier operations than normal operations. An image forming apparatus is known. For example, in the universal mode, touch keys (soft keys) are displayed on the touch panel in a size larger than that during normal operation.

JP 2006-215915 A JP 2008-301104 A

  However, when using an image forming apparatus to which the above prior art is applied, for users who are difficult to adapt to complicated operations such as using the universal mode, it is necessary to execute various processes intuitively by gesture operation. Even in such a case, it may be difficult to perform a gesture operation, for example, because it is difficult to move a finger at high speed or a plurality of fingers cannot be moved simultaneously.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of executing various processes by gesture operations even for a user who is difficult to adapt to complicated operations. And

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is adaptable to complicated operations, a display unit that displays information, an operation reception unit that receives a gesture operation that is an operation based on a locus of a position where the user touches the display unit, and A mode reception unit that receives a selection instruction for selecting either a normal mode for a user or a universal mode for a user who is difficult to adapt to complicated operations, and a reception when the selection instruction for the normal mode is received A normal processing storage unit that stores processing to be executed when the one or more normal operations are received by the operation receiving unit in association with one or more normal operations predetermined as the possible gesture operations And the gesture operation that can be accepted when an instruction to select the universal mode is accepted, and A universal processing storage unit that stores processing to be executed when the one or more universal operations are received by the operation receiving unit in association with one or more predetermined universal operations; When the normal operation is received by the unit, the process stored in the normal process storage unit is executed in association with the normal operation, and when the universal operation is received by the operation receiving unit, An execution control unit that executes processing stored in the universal processing storage unit in association with the universal operation, and the display unit is divided into a plurality of areas in advance, and the gesture operation is performed by the operation reception unit. Of the plurality of areas when the user accepts the table. The universal processing storage unit further includes a region detection unit that detects a region including a position touching the unit, and the universal processing storage unit is one universal operation that is the same gesture operation as the normal operation among the one or more universal operations. And storing a first process in association with the first region of the plurality of regions, the one universal operation, and a second region different from the first region of the plurality of regions, , The second process different from the first process is stored, and one area where the preview image is displayed on the display unit is divided into the first area and the second area, and the execution is performed. When the one universal operation is received by the operation receiving unit, the control unit is associated with the one universal operation and stored in the universal processing storage unit. Of the one process and the second process, the process stored in the universal process storage unit is executed in association with the area detected by the area detection unit.

  According to this configuration, a user who can adapt to a complicated operation uses the information stored in the normal processing storage unit by performing the normal operation when the mode reception unit receives an instruction to select the normal mode. Thus, the process associated with the normal operation can be executed.

In addition, a user who is difficult to adapt to a complicated operation performs a universal operation when a universal mode selection instruction is received by the mode reception unit, and uses the information stored in the universal processing storage unit to perform the universal operation. A process associated with the operation can be executed. That is, according to this configuration, even a user who is difficult to adapt to a complicated operation can execute various processes by a gesture operation.
In addition, when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted, the process to be executed can be switched depending on which region contains the position where the user touched the display unit when the universal operation was accepted. . That is, the number of processes corresponding to the area can be switched and executed by one universal operation.
For this reason, there is a possibility that the number of universal operations may be smaller than the number of normal operations, but the number of processes that can be performed by the universal operation may be smaller than the number of processes that can be performed by the normal operation. Can be reduced.

  Further, the universal operation stored in the universal process storage unit in association with the same process as that associated with at least a part of the normal operation stored in the normal process storage unit is the at least some normal operations. It is preferable that the gesture operation is different from the operation.

  According to this configuration, when a universal mode selection instruction is received, various processes can be executed by a gesture operation different from when a normal mode selection instruction is received. For this reason, for example, a user who is difficult to adapt to a complicated operation by predetermining a gesture operation that is less complicated than a normal operation for executing the process as a universal operation for executing a process. Even if it exists, various processes can be performed by gesture operation which is not complicated compared with normal operation.

  The normal process storage unit stores an enlargement / reduction process, which is a process of enlarging or reducing information displayed on the display unit in association with the pinch operation as the normal operation, and the universal process The storage unit preferably stores the enlargement / reduction process in association with the swipe operation as the universal operation.

  According to this configuration, when the normal mode selection instruction is accepted, the enlargement / reduction process is executed by performing a pinch operation, and when the universal mode selection instruction is accepted, the enlargement is performed by performing a swipe operation. Reduction processing can be executed. Therefore, for a user who is difficult to perform a pinch operation, such as a user who is difficult to operate a plurality of fingers at the same time, a swipe operation to move one finger up and down after instructing to select the universal mode is performed. This is preferable because the enlargement / reduction process can be executed.

  The operation accepting unit accepts a double tap operation as the gesture operation when the display unit is tapped twice by a user within a predetermined acceptance time, and accepts an instruction to select the universal mode. It is preferable that the reception time used when the normal mode is selected is set to be longer than the reception time used when the normal mode selection instruction is received.

  According to this configuration, when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted, the time interval between the first tap operation on the display unit and the second tap operation on the display unit is the normal mode selection instruction. Used when accepting a double tap operation in the operation accepting unit when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted, even if it is longer than the acceptance time used when accepting a double tap operation in the operation accepting unit. If it is shorter than the reception time, a double tap operation is accepted.

  Therefore, for example, for a user who has difficulty in moving his / her finger quickly, even if the universal mode is selected and instructed, even if two tap operations are performed over a longer time than in the normal mode, This is preferable because the possibility of being accepted as a tap operation by the operation accepting unit is increased.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of executing various processes by a gesture operation even for a user who is difficult to adapt to a complicated operation.

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a multifunction peripheral that is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of an operation part. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of a multifunction machine. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the copy screen displayed on the liquid crystal display, when normal mode is received. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the copy screen displayed on the liquid crystal display when universal mode is received. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the normal process memory | storage part. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the preview screen displayed on the liquid crystal display, when the selection instruction | indication of normal mode is received. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the preview screen displayed on the liquid crystal display, when the selection instruction of universal mode is received. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the universal process memory | storage part. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the relationship between reception time used when receiving a double tap operation, and reception of gesture operation by an operation reception part.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a multifunction machine 1 which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a document reading unit 5, a document feeding unit 6, a main body unit 8, and an operation unit 7.

The document reading unit 5 is disposed on the upper portion of the main body unit 8. The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner unit 51 including an exposure lamp and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and a document table 52 and a document reading slit 53 made of a transparent member such as glass.

  The scanner unit 51 is configured to be movable by a drive unit (not shown). When reading a document placed on the document table 52, the scanner unit 51 is moved along the document surface at a position facing the document table 52, and the document image is scanned. The image data acquired while scanning is output to the control unit 10. Further, when reading a document fed by the document feeding unit 6, the document is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and synchronized with the document feeding operation by the document feeding unit 6 via the document reading slit 53. The image of the original is acquired and the image data is output to the control unit 10.

  The document feeding unit 6 is disposed above the document reading unit 5. The document feeding unit 6 includes a document placing unit 61 for placing a document, a document discharge unit 62 for discharging a document whose image has been read, and a document placed on the document placing unit 61. A document transport mechanism 63 that feeds out the sheets one by one and transports them to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and discharges them to the document discharge section 62 is provided.

  The main body 8 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 461, a paper feed roller 412 that feeds paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 461 and transports the paper to the image forming unit 4, and an image on the paper carried out from the paper feed cassette 461. , An image forming unit 4, a stack tray 47 and a discharge tray 48 on which a sheet on which an image is formed are discharged, and a control unit 10 that controls operation of the entire apparatus.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a paper transport unit 41, an optical scanning device 42, a photosensitive drum 43, a developing unit 44, a transfer unit 45, and a fixing unit 46.

  The paper transport unit 41 is provided in the paper transport path in the image forming unit 4, and transports the paper transported by the paper feed roller 412 to the photosensitive drum 43 and transports the paper to the stack tray 47. A transport roller 414 for transporting the paper, a transport roller 415 for transporting the paper to the discharge tray 48, and the like.

  The optical scanning device 42 outputs a laser beam based on the image data input to the control unit 10, and scans the photosensitive drum 43 with the laser beam, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 43. To do.

  The developing unit 44 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 43. The transfer unit 45 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 to a sheet. The fixing unit 46 heats the sheet on which the toner image is transferred to fix the toner image on the sheet.

  The control unit 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a predetermined control program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, and the like ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) that is dedicated hardware configured to be capable of high-speed processing of predetermined processing such as image processing, storage media such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various data such as memory, image data, etc. And peripheral circuits thereof. The control unit 10 executes various processes by executing a control program stored in a ROM or the like by the CPU, and controls the operation of each unit in the multifunction machine 1.

  The operation unit 7 is provided in the front part of the multifunction machine 1 and is configured to allow input of various operation instructions by the user. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the operation unit 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 7 is provided with a touch panel device 71, indicators 72a to 72f, input keys 73a to 73d, and switches 74a to 74p.

  The touch panel device 71 includes a liquid crystal display (display unit) P having a touch panel function. With this touch panel function, when a soft key displayed on the liquid crystal display P is touched by the user, an instruction to press the soft key is input. In addition, the touch panel function recognizes the locus of the position touched by the user on the liquid crystal display P, and inputs a gesture operation instruction that is a predetermined operation based on the locus.

  For example, in this touch panel function, a tap operation of tapping the liquid crystal display P, a double tap operation of tapping twice within a predetermined reception time, an operation of holding the liquid crystal display P with two fingers, or a picking operation Pinch operation that operates to spread two fingers from an open state, swipe operation that slides the finger as it is while touching the LCD display P, flick operation that moves the finger to lightly touch the LCD display P, etc. A gesture operation instruction is input.

  The indicators 72a to 72f are made of light emitting diodes, and indicate the state of the multifunction device 1 by blinking or turning on / off. For example, the indicator 72a blinks during printing, the indicator 72b blinks during transmission of data to the outside, and the indicator 72c blinks during reception of data from the outside. The indicator 72d blinks during access to data stored in a hard disk or memory provided in the multi function device 1. The indicator 72e lights up or blinks when an abnormality occurs. The indicator 72f is lit when the multifunction device 1 is powered on.

  The input keys 73a to 73d are provided for inputting numbers and symbols and for erasing or confirming the input character string. For example, the input key 73a is a so-called numeric key group, and is provided for inputting numbers and symbols. The input key 73b is a so-called clear key, and is provided for erasing an input character string. The input key 73c is a so-called abbreviated key, and is provided for reading and inputting a character string stored in advance in a memory or the like. The input key 73d is a so-called enter key (return key), and is provided to confirm a character string input instruction, a soft key selection instruction, and the like.

  The switches 74a to 74p are switches for switching various functions provided in the multifunction machine 1 and starting and stopping operations of the various functions. For example, as a typical example, the switch 74j is a switch that switches to the copy function and displays an operation screen for the copy function on the liquid crystal display P. The switch 74m is a start switch that starts operation of various functions. The switch 74n is a stop switch that stops the operation of various functions. The switch 74o is a reset switch that returns set values of operation conditions of various functions to an initial state.

  The switch 74p is a mode changeover switch for selecting either a normal mode for users who can adapt to complicated operations or a universal mode for users who are difficult to adapt to complicated operations.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine 1. The multifunction device 1 is configured so that the functional units such as the document reading unit 5, the document feeding unit 6, the image forming unit 4, the operation unit 7, the communication unit 9, and the control unit 10 can communicate with each other. It is connected to the. Since the document reading unit 5, the document feeding unit 6, the image forming unit 4, and the operation unit 7 have already been described, description thereof will be omitted.

  The communication unit 9 includes a facsimile communication unit 91 and a network I / F unit 93. The facsimile communication unit 91 is connected to the telephone line 95. The facsimile communication unit 91 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) for controlling connection of a telephone line with a destination facsimile and a modulation / demodulation circuit for modulating / demodulating a signal for facsimile communication. The facsimile communication unit 91 transmits the image data read by the document reading unit 5 to another facsimile device via the telephone line 95, and receives image data transmitted from the other facsimile device.

  The network I / F unit 93 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 97. The network I / F unit 93 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication with a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the LAN 97. The network I / F unit 93 transmits the image data read by the document reading unit 5 to an external computer such as a personal computer via the LAN 97, or receives image data transmitted from the external computer.

  When the control unit 10 executes various processes based on the operation instruction input to the operation unit 7 by the user, the operation reception unit 11, the mode reception unit 12, the normal process storage unit 13, the region detection unit 14, It functions as the universal processing storage unit 15 and the execution control unit 16.

  The operation reception unit 11 receives an operation instruction for gesture operation input by the touch panel function of the liquid crystal display P.

  The mode receiving unit 12 receives a selection instruction for selecting either the normal mode or the universal mode every time the switch 74p is pressed by the user. In other words, the mode receiving unit 12 receives a universal mode selection instruction when the user presses the switch 74p when a normal mode selection instruction is received. On the other hand, when the universal mode selection instruction is received and the switch 74p is pressed by the user, the mode reception unit 12 receives the normal mode selection instruction.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a copy screen displayed on the liquid crystal display when the normal mode is accepted. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a copy screen displayed on the liquid crystal display when the universal mode is accepted. For example, if the switch 74p has never been pressed after the multifunction device 1 is turned on, the mode accepting unit 12 is in a state of accepting a normal mode selection instruction as an initial state. When the mode accepting unit 12 accepts a normal mode selection instruction and the switch 74j of the operation unit 7 is pressed, a copy screen for the normal mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display P, for example, as shown in FIG. Is done.

  When the normal mode selection instruction is received by the mode reception unit 12 and the switch 74p of the operation unit 7 is pressed, the mode reception unit 12 receives the universal mode selection instruction. When the universal mode selection instruction is accepted by the mode accepting unit 12, when the switch 74j of the operation unit 7 is pressed, for example, as shown in FIG. A copy screen for universal mode with large and soft keys displayed.

  The normal processing storage unit 13 is associated with information indicating one or a plurality of normal operations predetermined as gesture operations that can be received by the operation receiving unit 11 when the mode receiving unit 12 receives a normal mode selection instruction. Thus, information indicating processing to be executed when one or a plurality of normal operations is received by the operation receiving unit 11 is stored. Hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, storing information indicating a normal operation is simply referred to as storing a normal operation, and storing information indicating a process is simply referred to as storing a process.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the normal process storage unit 13. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a preview screen displayed on the liquid crystal display P by pressing the soft key SK1 shown in FIG. 4 when a normal mode selection instruction is accepted. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a pinch operation, a swipe operation, and a double tap operation are predetermined as normal operations. The normal process storage unit 13 enlarges or reduces the information displayed on the liquid crystal display P as a process to be executed when a normal mode selection instruction is received and a pinch operation is received. An enlargement / reduction process that is a process to be performed is stored. When a pinch operation is accepted when a normal mode selection instruction is accepted, an enlargement / reduction process associated with the pinch operation is executed using the information stored in the normal process storage unit 13.

  In this enlargement / reduction process, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when a pinch operation for spreading two fingers is accepted, the image displayed on the preview screen is enlarged and displayed, and a pinch operation for picking up two fingers is performed. When accepted, the image displayed on the preview screen is reduced and displayed.

  Further, the normal process storage unit 13 stores a scroll process that is a process of scrolling information displayed on the liquid crystal display P as a process to be executed when a swipe operation is accepted, and a double tap operation is accepted. As a process to be executed at the time, a determination process for determining a character string input instruction, a soft key selection instruction, and the like is stored.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the gesture receiving operation is received by the operation receiving unit 11, the region detection unit 14 divides the position where the user touched the liquid crystal display P at the time of receiving the operation into the plurality of regions in advance. It is detected which region is included in the plurality of regions generated as a result. When a gesture operation is accepted by the operation accepting unit 11, the position where the user touches the liquid crystal display P at the time of acceptance is identified by the touch panel function of the liquid crystal display P.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a preview screen displayed on the liquid crystal display P by pressing the soft key SK2 shown in FIG. 5 when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal display P displays an area P0 where the entire preview screen is displayed, a left half area P1 of the area where the preview image is displayed on the preview screen, and a preview image displayed on the preview screen. It is divided in advance into three areas, the right half area P2 of the areas to be processed.

  In this case, for example, when the swipe operation is accepted by the operation accepting unit 11, the region detecting unit 14 includes the position where the user touched the liquid crystal display P at the start of the swipe operation included in the region P <b> 1. Detects that the position where the user touches the liquid crystal display P when the swipe operation is received is included in the region P1.

  However, the position where the user touches the liquid crystal display P when accepting the gesture operation is not limited to the position where the user touches the liquid crystal display P when the accepted gesture operation starts as described above. . For example, the touch panel of the liquid crystal display P is identified so that the position where the user touches the liquid crystal display P at the end of the accepted gesture operation is identified as the position where the user touched the liquid crystal display P when the swipe operation is accepted. Functions may be configured.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the universal processing storage unit 15 performs one or more universal operations predetermined as gesture operations that can be accepted by the operation accepting unit 11 when the mode accepting unit 12 accepts a universal mode selection instruction. In association with the indicated information, information indicating processing to be executed when one or more universal operations are received by the operation receiving unit 11 is stored.

  Further, the universal processing storage unit 15 associates the information indicating the universal operation with the information indicating the area including the position where the user has touched the liquid crystal display P when the universal operation is received, and executes the process to be executed when the universal operation is received. Information to be stored is stored. Hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, storing information indicating a universal operation is simply referred to as storing a universal operation, and storing information indicating a process is simply referred to as storing a process, and indicates an area. Is referred to simply as storing an area.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the universal processing storage unit 15. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the swipe operation and the double tap operation are predetermined as universal operations. Note that the pinch operation is an operation of moving two fingers at the same time, which may be difficult for a user who instructs to select the universal mode. Accordingly, the pinch operation is included in the normal operation, but is not included in the universal operation.

  In the universal process storage unit 15, the enlargement / reduction process (FIG. 6) associated with the process executed when the pinch operation is accepted when the normal mode selection instruction is accepted is displayed. This is associated with processing to be executed when a swipe operation is accepted when an instruction is accepted. The universal process storage unit 15 is also associated with a scroll process as a process to be executed when a swipe operation is accepted by the operation accepting unit 11 when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted. That is, the universal process storage unit 15 includes two processes, a scroll process and an enlargement / reduction process, which are executed when a swipe operation is received by the operation receiving unit 11 when a universal mode selection instruction is received. It is associated.

  Then, the scroll processing to be executed when the swipe operation is accepted is further stored in the universal processing storage unit 15 in association with the region P1 (FIG. 8), and the enlargement / reduction to be executed when the swipe operation is accepted. The processing is further stored in association with the area P2 (FIG. 8).

  When a swipe operation is accepted when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted, if the area including the position where the user touched the liquid crystal display P at the time of accepting the swipe operation is the area P1, the universal processing storage is performed. Using the information stored in the unit 15, the swipe operation and the scroll process associated with the region P1 are executed. When the area including the position where the user touches the liquid crystal display P at the time of accepting the swipe operation is the area P2, the swipe operation and the area P2 are performed using the information stored in the universal processing storage unit 15. The enlargement / reduction process associated with is executed.

  The universal process storage unit 15 stores a confirmation process as a process to be executed when a double tap operation is accepted. Furthermore, the universal process storage unit 15 stores a confirmation process to be executed when a double tap operation is received in association with the area P0 (FIG. 8).

  When a normal operation is received by the operation receiving unit 11, the execution control unit 16 executes a process stored in the normal process storage unit 13 in association with the normal operation. In addition, when a universal operation is received by the operation receiving unit 11, the execution control unit 16 is detected by the region detection unit 14 among the processes stored in the universal processing storage unit 15 in association with the universal operation. The processing stored in the universal processing storage unit 15 is executed in association with the area.

  Specifically, for example, when the normal mode is received by the mode reception unit 12 and the pinch operation is received by the operation reception unit 11, the execution control unit 16 performs normal processing as illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. Using the information stored in the storage unit 13, an enlargement / reduction process associated with the pinch operation is executed.

  For example, when the universal mode is received by the mode receiving unit 12, the execution control unit 16 receives a swipe operation by the operation receiving unit 11, and further, when the swipe operation is received by the region detection unit 14, When the area P1 is detected as an area including a position where the touch panel is touching the liquid crystal display P, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the information stored in the universal processing storage unit 15 is used to correspond to the swipe operation. Of the two processes of the scroll process and the enlargement / reduction process, the scroll process associated with the region P1 is executed.

  For example, when the universal mode is received by the mode receiving unit 12, the execution control unit 16 receives a swipe operation by the operation receiving unit 11, and further, when the swipe operation is received by the region detection unit 14, When the area P2 is detected as an area including the position where the touch panel is touching the liquid crystal display P, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the information stored in the universal processing storage unit 15 is used to correspond to the swipe operation. Of the two processes of the scroll process and the enlargement / reduction process, the enlargement / reduction process associated with the region P2 is executed.

  In the enlargement / reduction process, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the locus of the position where the user touches the liquid crystal display P during the swipe operation in the area P2 indicates the locus toward the center of the preview image. When the preview image is displayed in a reduced size and the locus indicates a locus away from the center of the preview image, the preview image is enlarged and displayed.

  The operation reception unit 11 is configured to receive a double tap operation as a gesture operation when the liquid crystal display P is tapped twice by a user within a predetermined reception time. Also, the reception time used when accepting a double tap operation when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted is compared to the acceptance time used when accepting a double tap operation when a normal mode selection instruction is accepted. It is set for a long time.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the reception time used when receiving a double tap operation and the reception of a gesture operation by the operation reception unit 11. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the reception time Tu used when receiving a double tap operation when a universal mode selection instruction is received is longer than the reception time Tn used when a normal mode selection instruction is received. It is set for a long time.

  Therefore, when the next tap operation is performed at time t1 from when the first tap operation is received at the operation reception unit 11 at time t0 until the reception time Tn elapses, the mode reception unit 12 normally The operation receiving unit 11 receives a double-tap operation regardless of whether a mode or universal mode selection instruction has been received.

  However, when an instruction for selecting the normal mode is received by the mode receiving unit 12, after the reception time Tn has elapsed since the first tap operation was received by the operation receiving unit 11 at time t0, and When the next tap operation is performed at time t2 until the reception time Tu elapses, the operation reception unit 11 has already passed the reception time Tn, and therefore double-tap the tap operation. It is not accepted as the second tap operation, but is accepted as another tap operation.

  On the other hand, when the mode accepting unit 12 accepts the universal mode selection instruction and the next tap operation is performed at time t2, the operation accepting unit 11 determines that the acceptance time Tu has elapsed. Therefore, the tap operation is accepted as the second tap operation of the double tap operation, that is, the double tap operation is accepted.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, a user who can adapt to a complicated operation performs a normal operation when the mode reception unit 12 receives a normal mode selection instruction. Using the information stored in 13, the process associated with the normal operation can be executed.

  In addition, a user who is difficult to adapt to a complicated operation performs the universal operation when the universal mode selection instruction is received by the mode reception unit 12, thereby using the information stored in the universal processing storage unit 15. A process associated with the universal operation can be executed. That is, according to this configuration, even a user who is difficult to adapt to a complicated operation can execute various processes by a gesture operation.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the process (for example, the enlargement illustrated in FIG. 6) associated with at least a part of the normal operation (for example, the pinch operation illustrated in FIG. 6) stored in the normal process storage unit 13. The universal operation (for example, swipe operation) stored in the universal processing storage unit 15 in association with the same process (for example, the enlargement / reduction process shown in FIG. 9) as the reduction process) is at least a part of the normal operation (for example, The gesture operation is different from the pinch operation shown in FIG.

  That is, when a universal mode selection instruction is received, various processes can be executed by a gesture operation different from that when a normal mode selection instruction is received. For this reason, for example, a user who is difficult to adapt to a complicated operation by predetermining a gesture operation that is less complicated than a normal operation for executing the process as a universal operation for executing a process. Even if it exists, various processes can be performed by gesture operation which is not complicated compared with normal operation.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, when the universal mode selection instruction is received, depending on which region the position where the user touched the liquid crystal display P when the universal operation was received is included. The process to be executed can be switched. That is, the number of processes corresponding to the area can be switched and executed by one universal operation.

  For this reason, there is a possibility that the number of universal operations may be smaller than the number of normal operations, but the number of processes that can be performed by the universal operation may be smaller than the number of processes that can be performed by the normal operation. Can be reduced.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, when a normal mode selection instruction is received, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a scaling operation is performed by performing a pinch operation, and a universal mode selection instruction is issued. If accepted, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the enlargement / reduction process can be executed by performing a swipe operation. Therefore, for a user who is difficult to perform a pinch operation, such as a user who is difficult to operate a plurality of fingers at the same time, a swipe operation to move one finger up and down after instructing to select the universal mode is performed. This is preferable because the enlargement / reduction process can be executed.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the reception time Tu used when receiving a double tap operation when a universal mode selection instruction is received is received by the normal mode selection instruction. In this case, the time is set to be longer than the reception time Tn used when a double tap operation is received.

  Therefore, when the universal mode selection instruction is accepted, the time interval between the time when the liquid crystal display P is first tapped and the time when the liquid crystal display P is tapped for the second time is determined by the normal mode selection instruction. When the operation accepting unit 11 accepts a double tap operation when the operation accepting unit 11 accepts a universal mode selection instruction even if the acceptance time Tn is longer than the acceptance time Tn used when accepting the double tap operation. If it is shorter than the reception time Tu used for the double tap operation is accepted.

  Therefore, for example, for a user who has difficulty in moving his / her finger quickly, even if the universal mode is selected and instructed, even if two tap operations are performed over a longer time than in the normal mode, This is preferable because the possibility of being accepted by the operation accepting unit 11 as a tap operation is increased.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the multifunction machine 1 has been described.

  Further, the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment.

  For example, a universal operation associated with a certain process stored in the universal process storage unit 15 is the same gesture as a normal operation associated with the same process as the certain process stored in the normal process storage unit 13. It may be a gesture operation that is an operation and not a complicated operation.

  Further, the area detector 14 may not be provided. In accordance with this, the universal process storage unit 15 stores a process to be executed when the universal operation is received in association with the universal operation. You may make it the structure which is not matched with the area | region containing the position where the user touched the liquid crystal display P at the time of reception of universal operation.

  Also, the reception time used when accepting a double tap operation when a universal mode selection instruction is accepted is compared to the acceptance time used when accepting a double tap operation when a normal mode selection instruction is accepted. The configuration may not be set for a long time.

1 MFP (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 11 Operation acceptance part 12 Mode acceptance part 13 Normal process memory | storage part 14 Area | region detection part 15 Universal process memory | storage part 16 Execution control part 4 Image formation part 5 Original reading part 6 Original feeding part 7 Operation part 71 Touch panel apparatus 72a- 72f Indicators 73a to 73d Input keys 74a to 74p Switch 8 Main unit 9 Communication unit P Liquid crystal display (display unit)
P0, P1, P2 area

Claims (4)

A display for displaying information;
An operation accepting unit that accepts a gesture operation that is an operation based on a locus of a position where the user touches the display unit;
A mode reception unit for receiving a selection instruction for selecting either a normal mode for users who can adapt to complicated operations or a universal mode for users who are difficult to adapt to complicated operations;
The one or more normal operations are received by the operation receiving unit in association with one or more normal operations predetermined as the gesture operations that can be received when the normal mode selection instruction is received. A normal process storage unit for storing processes to be executed each time,
The one or more universal operations are received by the operation receiving unit in association with one or more universal operations predetermined as the gesture operations that can be received when the universal mode selection instruction is received. A universal process storage unit that stores processes to be executed each time,
When the normal operation is received by the operation receiving unit, the process stored in the normal process storage unit is executed in association with the normal operation, and the universal operation is received by the operation receiving unit. In this case, an execution control unit that executes processing stored in the universal processing storage unit in association with the universal operation;
With
The display unit is divided into a plurality of regions in advance, and when the gesture operation is received by the operation receiving unit, a region including a position where the user touches the display unit at the time of receiving among the plurality of regions Further comprising an area detection unit for detecting
The universal processing storage unit is associated with one universal operation that is the same gesture operation as the normal operation among the one or more universal operations, and a first area of the plurality of areas. Storing one process, storing a second process different from the first process in association with the one universal operation and a second area different from the first area among the plurality of areas;
One area where the preview image is displayed on the display unit is divided into the first area and the second area,
When the operation accepting unit accepts the one universal operation, the execution control unit associates the first universal operation with the first process and the second process stored in the universal process storage unit. An image forming apparatus that executes a process stored in the universal process storage unit in association with an area detected by the area detection unit.   The universal operation stored in the universal process storage unit in association with the same process as that associated with at least a part of the normal operation stored in the normal process storage unit is the at least a part of the normal operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gesture operations are different gesture operations. The normal process storage unit stores an enlargement / reduction process, which is a process of enlarging or reducing the information displayed on the display unit in association with the pinch operation as the normal operation,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement / reduction processing is stored in the universal processing storage unit in association with a swipe operation as the universal operation. The operation reception unit receives a double tap operation as the gesture operation when the display unit is tapped twice by a user within a predetermined reception time,
4. The reception time used when the universal mode selection instruction is received is set to be longer than the reception time used when the normal mode selection instruction is received. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.