JP2000151870A - Copy and facsimile combined equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve an operability by simultaneously displaying a required program key within a prescribed fixed number and directly executing a shift from an initial image to operation state corresponding to the key by means of the selection of the key on the initial image. SOLUTION: Since image information is stored in a storage device 5 before the shift to a certain operation state, image information of the initial image is read from the storage device 5 after the execution of respective register contents by the depression of a start key in a copying or facsimile function and the initial image is displayed again. In this case, the initial image with intermediate image configuration is provided in addition to the copying initial image and the facsimile initial image and one of the three initial images is designated by a user. That is, a transition is executed to the copying initial image by depressing the copying function selecting key and is executed to the facsimile initial image by depressing the facsimile function selecting key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunction peripheral having both a copying function and a facsimile function in a single apparatus, and more particularly to a copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral having improved operability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multifunction peripheral having a copy function and a facsimile function, a user selects and inputs a predetermined key from an operation panel or the like to set a mode.
Alternatively, it is used as a facsimile machine. In this type of conventional multifunction peripheral, settings necessary for a desired operation are collectively registered in advance as a program key in order to save time and effort of operation, and the corresponding operation is executed by inputting the program key. A method is used. Examples of the program key include a communication mode along with the destination telephone number of the facsimile, a facsimile program key for designating the addition of sender information, or a sort mode for copying,
There is a copy program key for holding designation of paper size, density, and the like.

[0003]

However, these program keys in the conventional multifunction peripheral are displayed on the screen of the copy mode and the facsimile mode on the operation panel screen of the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an initial screen when a facsimile mode is selected on an LCD screen (touch panel screen) of an operation unit in a conventional multifunction machine, and FIG. 8 shows an example of an initial screen when a copy mode is selected. It is.

[0005] The user presses the copy key or the fax key (see 24 or 25 in FIG. 2) of the operation unit of the multifunction device, and selects either the copy or facsimile function mode. In this mode, the program key of each function is selected from the screen shown in FIG. 7 or FIG.

As described above, in the conventional multifunction peripheral, it is necessary to perform a total of two steps of mode selection and program key selection before executing a desired operation with the program key. And there is room for improvement in operability.

Therefore, the present invention has been made based on the recognition of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a copy / facsimile multifunction machine which can improve operability particularly.

[0008]

A copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral according to the present invention which achieves the above object has an intermediate screen separate from a dedicated display screen in a mode of a copy function and a facsimile function, and has a program key of a different function. Are displayed at the same time, so that the user can select a desired program key by one action (one operation). More specifically, according to the present invention, in a multifunction peripheral having a copy function and a facsimile function, a predetermined program key related to the copy function and / or the facsimile function is set in advance on a display unit of an operation unit as an initial screen. Display is performed simultaneously within the number, and by selecting a key on the initial screen, it is possible to directly shift from the initial screen to an operation state corresponding to the key.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example of an intermediate display screen according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, in the embodiment of the present invention, three facsimile program keys 31 for designating a destination and a transmission option for a facsimile transmission function are provided.
Two copy program keys 32 in which options for the copy function are registered in advance are displayed on one screen. In one embodiment of the present invention, as described above, regardless of the copy function and the facsimile function, for example, by displaying several frequently used program keys on the initial screen, the key can be operated in one action. It is possible to select

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a document reading unit 1 that optically reads a document for copying and facsimile transmission and acquires the data as image data of an electric signal; A printer unit 3 for outputting a received facsimile image, a line interface unit 2 for performing facsimile communication, an operation unit 4 for specifying operation of a copy function and a facsimile function, a facsimile transmission destination, and device setting values. And a control unit 6 that controls the above-described units and controls the entire apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a specific arrangement of the operation unit 4 in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
The operation unit 4 is disposed on an upper surface of the housing of the multifunction peripheral device, and has application switching keys 24 and 25 for entering each mode of copy or facsimile, a start key 22,
Numeric keypad 2 for inputting the number of copies and facsimile number
6. Panel reset key 23 for resetting the value being set to the initial value
In addition, a key 27 such as a stop 27 and an interrupt 28 and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display i liquid crystal display) screen 21 are provided.

FIG. 3 shows an LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen 21. This LCD screen 21
Has a transparent panel on the liquid crystal panel, and has a touch panel configuration in which the XY coordinates of the pressed position are detected by pressing a key or the like displayed on the screen with a finger or the like, and is pressed on the touch panel. Key at the selected position is selected. FIG.
Shows a state in which three facsimile program keys 31 for designating a destination and a transmission option, and two copy program keys 32 in which designation of copy options are registered are displayed.

When the user presses, for example, a desired program key 31 or a copy program key 32 from a panel on the LCD screen 21, the operation unit 4 controls the control unit 6.
Is notified of the press of the program key, the control unit 4 decodes the press, and causes the process corresponding to the key to execute the facsimile function or the copy function. Thus, the user can perform the facsimile program key 3 in the facsimile function or the copy function with one operation (action).
1. The operation corresponding to the copy program key 32 can be executed by the multifunction peripheral.

The operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

Here, what is displayed on the LCD screen 21 in an operation standby state after a certain operation is completed is called an "initial screen".

As an initial screen, the screen shown in FIG.
21 (step S401).

When a predetermined key is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 3 (step S402), the type of the pressed key is identified.

If the key is the facsimile program key 31 (Y branch in step S403), the operation unit 4
The facsimile function selection key 25 is pressed, and the screen transits to the same screen as when the program key is selected (step S407).

If the start key 22 is further pressed (Y branch of step S408), a facsimile operation is executed (step S409), and after the end, step S4 is performed again.
Returning to 10, the initial screen is displayed.

The pressed key is copy program key 3
If it is 2 (Y branch of step S404), the screen changes to the same screen as when the copy program is selected by pressing the copy function selection key 24 on the operation unit 4 (step S406).

Further, when the start key 22 is pressed (Y branch of step S410), a copy operation is executed (step S411), and after the end, step S401 is performed again.
To display the initial screen.

Each program key is displayed on the LCD screen (initial screen) shown in FIG. 3. When any one of the program keys is pressed, a transition is made to a state corresponding to the operation of the key. I do.

As described above, in the conventional multifunction peripheral, the screen of the mode corresponding to the copy or facsimile function is displayed, and then the program key is selected to transit to a desired state. Then, a transition is made from the top screen to an operation corresponding to a key which is directly selected and operated with a single touch.

The fact that the initial screen is, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 3 means that the screen information is stored in the storage device 5 before a transition to a certain operation state. After the respective registration contents are executed by pressing, the screen information of the initial screen is read out from the storage device 5, and the initial screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed again.

In the conventional multifunction peripheral, the initial screen includes a copy initial screen displayed when the copy function selection key 24 is pressed, and a facsimile displayed when the facsimile function selection key 25 is pressed. Although an initial screen is provided, in one embodiment of the present invention, an intermediate screen configuration as shown in FIG. 3 is additionally provided in the initial screen, and any one of these three initial screens is provided. Can be specified by the user.

When the LCD screen 21 is in the state shown in FIG. 3, for example, the copy initial screen shown in FIG. 8 can be transited by pressing the copy function selection key 24, and the facsimile initial screen shown in FIG. The screen can be transited by pressing the facsimile function selection key 25. Further, a transition from another screen to the intermediate screen shown in FIG. 3 is performed by pressing the panel reset key 23 twice, for example, continuously.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the multifunction peripheral and the configuration of the operation unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 5 shows an LCD screen 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows an example of a display.

Referring to FIG. 5, a one-touch key 51 in which a facsimile destination is registered is displayed on the LCD screen 21 together with a facsimile program key 52 and a copy program key 53.

On this screen, three types of keys are displayed at the same time and can be selected.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention. The processing in steps S601 to S611 in FIG. 6 is performed in steps S401 to S4 in FIG.
11 corresponds to the processing. Referring to FIG. 6, in the second embodiment of the present invention, a facsimile one-touch operation is performed in step S612 between step S603 of the program key determination process of the facsimile function and step S604 of the program key determination process of the copy function. A process for determining whether the key is a key has been added.

In the screen shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that only the selected one-touch key is highlighted and the screen does not change. Then, when the start key 22 is pressed (Y branch of step S608), a facsimile operation is executed (step S609), and the display returns to the initial screen display (step S601).

Further, regarding the key display on the screen shown in FIG. 5, the distribution of the numbers of the facsimile-related keys 51 and 52 and the copy program key 53 can be arbitrarily set by the user.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, among the various setting menus on the LCD screen 21 of the operation unit 4, what kind of key distribution is to be performed on an intermediate screen is described.
The user can edit, such as designation input and update. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the number of keys that can be displayed is 5, (the number of facsimile function related keys: the number of copy function keys) = (0: 5), (1: 4), (2: 3),
It can be specified from (3: 2), (4: 1) and (5: 0). In this way, keys that are used more frequently can be displayed on the screen in accordance with the usage status of the user.

In the intermediate screen shown in FIG. 5,
When the numeric keypad 26 is pressed, a copy or facsimile operation is performed by implementing together with a well-known technique of switching a facsimile or copy mode according to the entered numerical value or the number of input digits. You may comprise.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

A first effect of the present invention is that a desired program key can be selected with one action from the screen of the operation section, and operability is improved.

The reason is that, in the present invention, program keys for both copy and facsimile functions are arranged on an intermediate screen, and when the program key is pressed on the screen, the program key directly corresponds to the program key. This is because the operation is performed.

The second effect of the present invention is that, in addition to the initial screen for copying and the initial screen for facsimile, an intermediate screen can be designated as the standby screen, and the range of selection of the standby screen is expanded. It is to improve convenience and availability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of an operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an LCD screen of an operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an LCD of an operation unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure showing an example of a screen.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile function screen of an operation unit of a conventional multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy function screen of an operation unit of a conventional multifunction peripheral.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 original reading unit 2 line interface unit 3 printer unit 4 operation unit 5 storage unit 6 control unit 21 LCD screen 22 start button 23 panel reset 24 copy function selection key (copy key) 25 facsimile function selection key (fax key) 26 numeric keypad 27 Stop key 28 Interrupt key 31 Facsimile program key 32 Copy program key 51 One touch key 52 Facsimile program key 53 Copy program key

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A multifunction device having a copy function and a facsimile function, wherein a copy function and / or
Or a means for simultaneously displaying a desired program key related to a facsimile function within a predetermined number of ranges, by selecting a key of the initial screen, from the initial screen,
A copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral wherein the operation state can be directly shifted to the operation state corresponding to the key. 2. A copy facsimile multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, wherein a copy function initial screen displayed on said display section when a copy function is selected from said operation section, and is displayed on said display section when a facsimile function is selected. 2. A multi-function facsimile machine characterized in that an arbitrary initial screen can be selected and displayed among a total of three types of initial screens, a facsimile initial screen and the initial screen according to claim 1. 3. The copy facsimile machine according to claim 1, wherein the initial screen information is stored in a storage unit, and after the operation state corresponding to the program key is executed, the initial screen is displayed on the display unit again. Multi-function facsimile machine. 4. The copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, wherein a desired number of program keys and / or one-touch keys of the facsimile function relating to the copy function and / or the facsimile function are simultaneously displayed on the initial screen up to a predetermined number. A multi-function facsimile machine wherein the selection of keys, the assignment of the number of keys, and the arrangement on the initial screen are freely changeable. 5. A copy facsimile machine according to claim 1, wherein a copy function or a facsimile function is selected and set from said operation unit while said initial screen is being displayed.
A copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral, wherein an initial screen of a copy function or an initial screen of a facsimile function is displayed on the display unit.