JP2001136334A - Control panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control panel that informs a user about a state of a facsimile equipment in a remotely confirmed way by utilizing light emitting elements originally provided to the control panel. SOLUTION: The facsimile equipment 1 provided with the control panel 24 that is provided with various, keys, a plurality of green LED groups 42 that display a selection mode by various mode selection keys 40 by lighting/ blinking the LEDs and three red LED groups 43 that are lighted/blinked on the occurrence of a fault such as paper jamming and shortage of paper where function keys 35, an operation setting key 39 and an energy-saving mode key 33 incorporate green LEDs. The facsimile terminal 1, which conducts operations such as reception, transmission and copying, informs the user about the operation states by lighting/blinking all the green LEDs or a plurality of the LEDs and informs the user about the occurrence of a fault by lighting/blinking all or a plurality of the red LED groups 43. Thus, the user can easily confirm the state of the facsimile equipment 1 at a place away from the facsimile terminal 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation panel, and more particularly, to an operation panel for notifying a device state in a state that can be remotely confirmed by using a light emitting element provided in the operation panel. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an indoor unit such as a facsimile machine or a copying machine is provided with an operation section for operating the apparatus. The operation section is provided with various keys for operating the apparatus. In addition to the above, a display for displaying the operating state of the device and the like and a display means for various lamps are provided.

However, the conventional operation panel is an LED
(Light Emitting Diode) or the like was only turned on in accordance with the operation state, so that the operation state of the device could not be confirmed at a place away from the device, and there was a problem that the usability was poor.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, in an operation panel of a facsimile apparatus, an operation panel 100 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has appeared.
Include a numeric keypad 101, a start key 102, a stop key 103, a fax mode key 104, a copy mode key 105, a character size key 106, a halftone key 107, a density key 108, and a plurality of program keys 10.
9 and a plurality of one-touch dial keys 110, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).
play) 111, and the operation panel 100
On the front side of the facsimile machine 1, a status display lamp 112 and an error lamp 113 are provided as shown in FIG.

[0005] The fax mode key 104 and the copy mode key 105 are provided with display lamps 104a,
105a is attached. The display lamp 104a of the fax mode key 104 is turned on when the fax mode key 104 is pressed to shift to the fax mode or automatically shifts to the fax mode by facsimile reception.
5a is lit when the copy mode key 105 is depressed to shift to the copy mode.

The status display lamp 112 uses a green LCD or the like, and notifies the operating state of the facsimile apparatus by lighting / flashing.

The error lamp 113 uses a red LED or the like, and is lit / flashed according to the state of the facsimile apparatus in an unusual state, for example, when the paper is out of paper, when the paper is clogged, when there is no toner, and the like. You.

The display lamps 10 provided on the facsimile mode key 104 and the copy mode key 105
The LEDs 4a and 105a, the status display lamp 112, and the error lamp 113 have LEDs therein, and a translucent or transparent light guide plate is provided so as to cover the LEDs in order to transmit the light of the LEDs.

[0009]

However, in such a conventional operation panel, an LED is provided inside and an LE is required to transmit the light of the LED.
Since the translucent or transparent light guide plate is provided so as to cover D, the cost is increased, and if a status display lamp or an error lamp is newly provided, the cost is further increased and the operation panel is enlarged. There was a problem.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of light emitting elements of the same color among a plurality of light emitting elements of a plurality of colors provided in the operation panel are simultaneously turned on or blinked depending on the operation state of the device. By performing the simultaneous display notification process for notifying the operation state of the device, the multi-color light-emitting elements conventionally provided in the operation panel can be changed to the operation state of the device without newly providing an expensive light-emitting element or a panel member. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation panel that is inexpensive and has good usability by simultaneously turning on or flashing the light so that the state of the device can be easily checked at a place away from the device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the device is in the energy saving mode, the simultaneous display notification process is inhibited, thereby preventing unnecessary lighting / flashing display, thereby further improving energy saving and reducing the cost. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operation panel that is more usable.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the operation panel is applied to a facsimile apparatus, so that a plurality of colors provided in the operation panel of the conventional facsimile apparatus can be provided without newly providing an expensive light emitting element or a panel member. A light emitting element is turned on or flashed simultaneously according to the operation state of the facsimile apparatus, so that the state of the facsimile apparatus can be easily checked at a place away from the facsimile apparatus, and an inexpensive and highly usable operation panel is provided. It is intended to be.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation panel provided on a predetermined device, provided with a plurality of operation keys and a plurality of light emitting elements of a plurality of colors, and corresponding to key operations of the operation keys. An operation panel that causes the device to perform an operation and notifies the operating state and the like of the device by turning on the light emitting element, wherein, depending on the operating state of the device, among the plurality of light emitting elements of the plurality of colors, The above-mentioned object is achieved by performing a simultaneous display notification process of notifying an operation state of the device by simultaneously turning on or blinking a plurality of light emitting elements.

According to the above configuration, among the plurality of light emitting elements of the plurality of colors provided in the operation panel, the plurality of light emitting elements of the same color are simultaneously turned on or blinked depending on the operation state of the apparatus, thereby operating the apparatus. Simultaneous display notification processing for notifying the status is performed, so that the multi-color light emitting elements conventionally provided in the operation panel are simultaneously turned on or off according to the operation state of the device without newly providing expensive light emitting elements or panel members. By blinking, the state of the device can be easily checked at a place away from the device, and the operation panel can be made inexpensive and highly usable.

In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the device has an energy saving mode for saving power consumption, and the operation panel displays the simultaneous display when the device is in the energy saving mode. Notification processing may be prohibited.

According to the above configuration, when the device is in the energy saving mode, the simultaneous display notification processing is prohibited. Therefore, unnecessary lighting / flashing display is prohibited, and the energy saving can be further improved. Panels can be made cheaper and more usable.

Also, for example, the device may be a facsimile machine.

According to the above configuration, since the operation panel is applied to the facsimile apparatus, the multi-color light-emitting elements conventionally provided in the operation panel of the facsimile apparatus can be provided without newly providing an expensive light-emitting element or a panel member. Can be turned on or flashed simultaneously according to the operation state of the facsimile apparatus, so that the state of the facsimile apparatus can be easily checked at a place away from the facsimile apparatus. It can be good.

[0019]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. The embodiments are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the operation panel of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus 1 to which the embodiment of the operation panel of the present invention is applied. It is.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 includes a power supply unit 2, an image memory unit 3, an image processing unit 4, a CCD (Char
ge Coupled Device) 5, polygon motor 6, main motor 7, registration sensor 8, paper ejection sensor 9, paper end sensor 10, cover open sensor 11, toner end detection sensor 12, paper size detection sensor 13, driver 14, scanner motor 15, a paper feed motor 16, a toner feed motor 17, a power pack 18, a driver 19,
Stamp 20, LED (Light Emitting Diode)
21, light source 22, exhaust fan motor 23, operation panel 2
4, a communication control unit 25, a system control unit 26, and the like.

The power supply unit 2 supplies necessary power to each unit of the facsimile machine 1 by, for example, transforming a commercial power supply.

The image memory section 3 is composed of, for example, a hard disk or a large-capacity RAM (Random Access Memory), and mainly stores image data for transmission and received image data.

The image processing section 4 is connected to a CCD 5 of a scanner (not shown).
Image processing required for the image of the original read by
For a value image, resolution conversion and size conversion are performed, and for a multi-tone image including a color image, color (color component) conversion, resolution conversion, size conversion, and the like are performed.

The polygon motor 6 is provided on a plotter (not shown). The polygon motor 6 rotates a polygon (not shown) at a constant angular velocity, and outputs laser light modulated and outputted from a semiconductor laser (not shown) by an image. Scan in the direction. The laser beam scanned in the horizontal direction by the polygon is irradiated onto a photoconductor (not shown) via an optical element, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor.

The main motor 7 is a motor for transporting the original of the scanner and the recording paper of the plotter. The registration sensor 8 detects the recording paper transported to the registration roller disposed in front of the photosensitive member. To detect. When the registration sensor 8 detects a recording sheet, the facsimile apparatus 1 adjusts the conveyance timing by a registration roller, drives the main motor 7 to rotate, and conveys the recording sheet between the photoconductor and the transfer unit.

The paper end sensor 10 detects the end of the recording paper and outputs it to the system control unit 26. The cover open sensor 11 detects that the open / close cover and the recording paper cassette (not shown) of the facsimile apparatus 1 are opened. Detected and output to the system control unit 26.

The toner end detection sensor 12 detects that the developing unit of the plotter has run out of toner, and outputs it to the system control unit 26.
The size of the document set on the scanner is detected and output to the system control unit 26.

The driver 14 includes a scanner motor 15,
The paper feed motor 16 and the toner feed motor 17 are connected, and the driver 14 drives the scanner motor 15, the paper feed motor 16 and the toner feed motor 17 under the control of the system control unit 26.

The scanner motor 15 moves the traveling body on which the CCD 5 is mounted, and causes the CCD 5 to scan the original set on the scanner.

The paper feed motor 16 conveys the document set on the scanner, and the toner feed motor 17 rotates a supply roller for supplying the toner in the developing section of the plotter to the developing roller.

The power pack 18 supplies a transfer voltage (charge voltage) to a charge wire of a transfer section for transferring a toner image on a photosensitive member onto recording paper.

The driver 19 is connected with the completed stamp 20, the static elimination LED 21, the light source 22 and the exhaust fan motor 23. 22 and the operation of the exhaust fan motor 23 are controlled.

The completed stamp 20 stamps a document which has been read and transmitted by the scanner with a completed stamp indicating that the transmission has been completed, and the charge removing LED 21 transfers the transferred image to remove the photosensitive member. The light source 22 uses the above-described semiconductor laser or the like, and irradiates the photosensitive member with a laser beam modulated with image data. The exhaust fan motor 23 discharges the air inside the facsimile machine 1 to the outside to cool the facsimile machine 1.

The communication control unit 25 executes a facsimile communication procedure by exchanging a facsimile control signal with a partner facsimile apparatus, setting communication functions and exchanging various control information. The communication control unit 25 has a built-in modem, and the modem performs modulation of a transmission signal and demodulation of a reception signal.

The system control unit 26 has a CPU (Central
Processing unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM, and the like, and the ROM stores various programs such as a basic control program and a display control program of the facsimile machine 1 and various data necessary for executing these programs. Have been. The system control unit 26 controls each unit of the facsimile machine 1 while the CPU uses the RAM as a work memory based on a program in the ROM to execute basic processing as the facsimile machine 1 and a display control process described later. In particular, a simultaneous display notification process is executed.

The operation panel 24 includes a numeric keypad 30, a start key 31, a stop key 32, and an energy saving mode key 3.
3, copy mode key 34, function key 35,
Various operation keys such as a Yes key 36, a No key 37, a plurality of one-touch dial keys 38, various operation setting keys 39, and various mode selection keys 40 are provided.
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 41 is provided, and a plurality of green LED groups 4 for lighting / flashing a selection mode by various mode selection keys 40.
2. There are provided three red LED groups 43 that are turned on / flashing when there is an abnormality such as a paper jam, running out of paper, and a remaining amount of toner. The function key 35, the operation setting key 39, and the energy saving mode key 33 are green LEDs.
Built-in, illuminates / flashes green to indicate operation status.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment changes the operation state of the facsimile apparatus 1 by simultaneously turning on / off the LEDs on the operation panel 24.
The feature is that the blinking is controlled so that it can be confirmed from a place remote from the facsimile machine 1.

That is, in the facsimile apparatus 1, the system control unit 26 controls each unit of the facsimile apparatus 1 to receive basic data of the facsimile apparatus 1, for example, image data transmitted via a line. Facsimile reception operation for recording and outputting on a recording paper with a plotter, facsimile transmission operation for transmitting image data of a document scanned by a scanner to a partner facsimile machine, and copy operation for recording and outputting image data of a document scanned by a scanner on a plotter And the like, these operations are, for example,
During the facsimile reception operation, the facsimile transmission operation, or the image data received by the facsimile reception operation is being recorded and output by the plotter, all the green LEDs or a plurality of LEDs, that is, the LED group 42 and the function key 35, All or a plurality of green LEDs built in the operation setting key 39 and the energy saving mode key 33 are simultaneously lit or blinked to notify the operation state.

In such an operation, the facsimile apparatus 1 may operate, for example, when all the paper cassettes run out of paper, toner, or paper jams, or when all the paper cassettes are pulled out, all or a plurality of paper cassettes are pulled out. Red LED group 43 is turned on at the same time, and when some of the paper cassettes run out of paper or some of the paper cassettes are pulled out, all or a plurality of red LED groups 43 blink at the same time. Then, the operation state is notified.

For example, when a paper shortage (recording paper shortage) occurs, as shown in FIG. 3, the lighting / flashing of the red LED group 43 is controlled depending on whether or not the power is being saved (in the energy saving mode). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the paper end sensor 10 detects that the paper has run out, the system control unit 26 checks whether it is within the time set by the power saving timer, that is, whether it is in the power saving mode (energy saving mode). When the power saving mode is not set (step S1), the LEs of all or a plurality of red LED groups 43 are set.
D is simultaneously lit or flashed (lighted / flashed) (step S2), and it is checked whether or not paper has been replenished from the detection results of the cover open sensor 11 and the paper end sensor 10 (step S3). Therefore, by simultaneously turning on / on the plurality of LEDs, it is possible to easily confirm the state of the facsimile machine 1, in this case, that the paper has run out, even in a place away from the facsimile machine 1.

If it is determined in step S3 that the paper has not been replenished, the system control unit 26 returns to step S2, continues lighting / flashing the LED group 43, and checks again whether the paper has been replenished (step S3). S2, step S
3) Continue this process until the paper is replenished.
The group 43 is turned on / off.

In step S3, when the paper is replenished, the system control unit 26 sets the illuminated red LED group 43
Is turned off, and the process shifts to the standby state or the recording output process that was in operation.

In the power saving mode in step S1, the system control unit 26 maintains a state in which only the alarm LED 43a of the LED group 43 is turned on without performing simultaneous lighting / flashing of a plurality or all of the LED groups 43. Then, it is checked whether or not the set time of the power saving timer has expired, that is, whether or not the power saving mode has been exited (step S5). In this case, the alarm LE
It is good also as a state where all the LEDs are turned off without turning on only D43a. Therefore, the power saving effect in the energy saving mode can be improved.

In step S5, if the system is in the power saving mode, the system control unit 26 checks whether or not the power saving mode is performed at predetermined time intervals without performing simultaneous lighting of all or a plurality of red LED groups 43. (Steps S4 and S5), and after exiting from the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S2, in which all or a plurality of red LED groups 43 are simultaneously lit or blinked (lighted / blinked) (step S2). Then, it is checked whether or not the paper is replenished from the detection results of the cover open sensor 11 and the paper end sensor 10 (step S3).

In the same manner as described above, the system control unit 26 checks whether or not the paper has been replenished while all or a plurality of red LED groups 43 are simultaneously turned on or blinking (lighting / flashing) (steps S2 and S3). When the paper is replenished, all the red LED groups 43 are turned off, and the process shifts to the standby state or the recording output process in operation.

As described above, the operation panel 24 of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of LEDs 42 and 43 of a plurality of colors and a function key 35 provided on the operation panel 24 depending on the operation state of the facsimile apparatus 1. The simultaneous display notification process of notifying the operation state of the facsimile apparatus 1 is performed by simultaneously lighting or blinking a plurality of LEDs of the same color.

Accordingly, the LEDs 42 and 43 of a plurality of colors and the function keys 35 which are conventionally provided on the operation panel 24 are simultaneously turned on in accordance with the operation state of the facsimile apparatus 1 without providing a new expensive light emitting element or panel member. Alternatively, the status of the facsimile device 1 can be easily checked by blinking it at a place remote from the facsimile device 1, and the operation panel 24 can be made inexpensive and have good usability.

When the facsimile machine 1 is in the energy saving mode, simultaneous display notification processing is prohibited.

Therefore, unnecessary lighting / flashing display is prohibited, energy saving can be further improved, and the operation panel 24 can be made cheaper and more usable.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the present invention is applied to the facsimile apparatus 1, a plurality of the operation panel 24 of the facsimile apparatus 1 can be provided without providing a new expensive light emitting element or panel member. Color LED
42, 43 and the function key 35 are simultaneously lit or flashed according to the operation state of the facsimile apparatus 1, so that the state of the facsimile apparatus 1 can be easily confirmed at a place remote from the facsimile apparatus 1, and The operation panel of the device 1 can be made inexpensive and have good usability.

As described above, the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the case where the present invention is applied to the facsimile apparatus 1. However, the equipment is not limited to the facsimile apparatus 1.
The present invention can be applied to general equipment including an operation unit such as a copying machine.

[0054]

According to the operation panel of the first aspect of the present invention, among the plurality of light emitting elements of the plurality of colors provided in the operation panel, a plurality of light emitting elements of the same color are simultaneously operated depending on the operation state of the device. Simultaneous display notification processing for notifying the operation state of the device by turning on or blinking is performed, so that a multi-color light emitting device conventionally provided in the operation panel can be used without providing a new expensive light emitting device or panel member. Can be turned on or flashed simultaneously according to the operation state of the device, so that the state of the device can be easily checked at a place away from the device, and the operation panel can be inexpensive and have good usability.

According to the operation panel of the second aspect of the present invention, when the device is in the energy saving mode, the simultaneous display notification process is inhibited, so that unnecessary lighting / flashing display is inhibited, thereby further saving energy. Can be improved,
The operation panel can be made cheaper and more usable.

According to the operation panel of the third aspect of the invention, the operation panel is applied to the facsimile machine.
Without providing new expensive light-emitting elements and panel members,
Conventionally, light emitting elements of a plurality of colors provided on an operation panel of a facsimile apparatus are simultaneously lit or flashed according to the operation state of the facsimile apparatus, so that the state of the facsimile apparatus can be easily confirmed at a place away from the facsimile apparatus. Thus, the operation panel of the facsimile apparatus can be made inexpensive and have good usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of an operation panel according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel of the facsimile apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a simultaneous display notification process by the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an operation panel of a conventional facsimile machine.

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the conventional operation panel of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Power supply part 3 Image memory part 4 Image processing part 5 CCD 6 Polygon motor 7 Main motor 8 Registration sensor 9 Discharge sensor 10 Paper end sensor 11 Cover open sensor 12 Toner end detection sensor 13 Paper size detection sensor 14 Driver 15 Scanner motor 16 Paper feed motor 17 Toner feed motor 18 Power pack 19 Driver 20 Finished stamp 21 Static electricity removal LED 22 Light source 23 Exhaust fan motor 24 Operation panel 25 Communication control unit 26 System control unit 30 Numeric keypad 31 Start key 32 Stop key 33 Energy saving Mode key 34 Copy mode key 35 Function key 36 Yes key 37 No key 38 One touch dial key 39 Operation setting key 40 Mode selection key 41 LCD 42 , 43 LED group

Claims (3)

[Claims] An apparatus provided in a predetermined device, comprising a plurality of various operation keys and a plurality of light-emitting elements of a plurality of colors. The device performs an operation corresponding to a key operation of the operation key and controls an operation state of the device. In the operation panel for notifying by lighting the light emitting element, depending on the operation state of the device, among the plurality of light emitting elements of the plurality of colors, a plurality of light emitting elements of the same color are simultaneously turned on or blinked, and the An operation panel for performing a simultaneous display notification process for notifying an operation state. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device has an energy saving mode for saving power consumption, and the operation panel inhibits the simultaneous display notification process when the device is in the energy saving mode. 1. The operation panel according to 1. 3. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein said device is a facsimile machine.