JP2003145894A - Device and method for altering set value of apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reach a desired set value of an apparatus more efficiently by reduced key operation at the time of altering the set value using a cursor key. SOLUTION: When a downward cursor key 5 is operated continuously, a set value (e.g. print magnification) decreases and the screen of a display is altered in the order of (21), (23) and (25). When the minimum set value is reached (25), the set value jumps to (21) and then decreases again. When an upward cursor key 3 is operated, the operation is reversed. In other words, the set value circulates within a variable range when any one cursor key is pushed. Current set value is displayed on the screen of a liquid crystal to indicate its location in the variable range (e.g. upper limit, lower limit, other location, which of all candidates within the variable range).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a set value changing device used in various devices such as electronic printers and digital cameras, and more particularly to a method of changing set values when changing the set values using cursor keys. Regarding the improvement of the display method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-105371, various operation modes (paper size,
When the user operates a plurality of cursor keys arranged on the operation panel to change the setting values of the number of copies, copy magnification, etc., is it possible to change the setting values by each cursor key? It is disclosed to display to the user in advance (whether it is valid or not). In this proposal, for example, when the user selects a desired magnification from a plurality of copy magnifications that can be set, any one of a plurality of screens preset for magnification selection as shown in FIG. It is selectively displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) in the operation panel section. On the currently displayed screen, only the cursor key having the change direction effective when changing it from the current magnification is displayed.

For example, now, referring to FIG.
% Screen 101 is displayed on the LCD. Since the magnification of 200% is the upper limit of the magnification variable range and only the set magnification can be lowered from there, the downward triangle mark is highlighted on the screen 101, and only the downward cursor key 113 is effective. Shows. In this state, even if the invalid upward cursor key 111 is pressed, the magnification cannot be changed. Down cursor key 113
If you press once, then the set magnification is changed to 100%,
A screen 103 with a magnification of 100% is displayed. Magnification 100%
On the screen 103, the up and down bidirectional triangle marks are highlighted, indicating that the cursor keys 111 and 113 in both directions are valid.

[0004]

In the prior art described above, there is no valid indication of the upward cursor key 111 on the screen 101 with the upper limit setting magnification of 200%, and even if the cursor key 111 is pressed in that state, it is invalid. Therefore, the set magnification does not change. Similarly, on the screen 105 with the lower limit set magnification of 50%, the down cursor key 113 is not validly displayed, and even if the down cursor key 113 is pressed in that state, the set magnification does not change.

As described above, according to the conventional technique, only the cursor key in the direction inward of the variable range can be used at the upper limit and the lower limit of the variable range of the set value.

Therefore, for example, when the current set value is at or near the upper limit of the variable range and the user wants to change the set value to or near the lower limit of the variable range, the user can use only the downward cursor key. With it, it has to be operated for a long time until the desired set point is reached.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to change and display a set value so that a desired set value can be reached more efficiently with fewer key operations when the set value is changed using the cursor keys. To improve the method.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device setting value changing device, which comprises a plurality of cursor keys having different changing directions, each cursor key being operated to change a device setting value. In response to the operation of the key, in the change direction of the operated cursor key, within the predetermined variable range,
The setting value is changed, and when the current setting value is located at one end of the variable range and a cursor key having a changing direction toward the outside of the variable range is operated, another value of the variable range is changed. The display device includes a controller that changes the current set value to the end, a current set value, and a position index that indicates the position of the current set value within the variable range.

In a preferred embodiment, the position index indicates the variable range by distinguishing it from one end, the other end, and a position other than the end, or a plurality of candidate values existing in the variable range. It may indicate some of the
In addition to them, various position indexes can be adopted.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device setting value changing device which operates a plurality of cursor keys having different changing directions to change a setting value of the device and which is responsive to the operation of each cursor key. To show the controller that changes the set value within the predetermined ring-shaped variable range, the current set value, and the position within the variable range of the current set value in the change direction of the operated cursor key. And a display device for displaying the position index.

According to the present invention, the user can select the direction of the cursor key to be used from among the cursor keys of a plurality of directions so that the target set value can be reached more efficiently with less key operation. Moreover, it is possible to easily determine which direction the cursor key should be selected based on the displayed position within the variable range of the present set value.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel of a device setting value changing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to an electronic printer, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 100 of the electronic printer includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 1, a pair of (upward and downward) cursor keys 3 and 5 arranged in the vicinity thereof, and others. And several switches 7 of.

When the user selects set values for various print modes (eg, print magnification, paper size, number of copies, etc.) in this electronic printer, the user operates the cursor keys 3 and 5 to set the set values. Can be changed, and a screen showing the current set value is displayed on the LCD 1.

For example, when the set value of the print magnification is selected, a screen showing the current set magnification is displayed on the LCD 1, and the user operates (presses) the up cursor key 3 or the down cursor key 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the screen showing the current set magnification is 20
0% screen 21, 100% screen 23 and 50
The screen selectively transits to one of the% screens 25. Although only three types of magnification candidates of 200%, 100%, and 50% are shown here, in reality, a large number of magnification candidates normally exist in the variable range in smaller increments. The current setting value changes in response to the cursor key operation among the magnification candidates.

As a general rule, the setting magnification transition direction is an increasing direction when the upward cursor key 3 is pressed and a decreasing direction when the downward cursor key 5 is pressed. However, the current setting magnification is the upper limit of the variable range (for example, 200
%) When the up cursor key 3 is pressed and the current set magnification is the lower limit of the variable range (for example, 50%)
If the down cursor key 5 is pressed when
There is an exception. That is, when the upward cursor key 3 is pressed while the current set magnification is at the upper limit (for example, 200%) of the variable range, the set magnification jumps from 200% at the upper limit to 50% at the lower limit at a stroke, and accordingly, The screen of the LCD 1 is also switched from the screen 21 shown in FIG. 3 to the screen 25.
On the contrary, if the downward cursor key 5 is pressed when the current setting magnification is at the lower limit (for example, 50%) of the variable range, the setting magnification jumps from 50% at the lower limit to 200% at the upper limit all at once. Accordingly, the screen of the LCD 1 also switches from the screen 25 shown in FIG. 3 to the screen 21.

In short, both the upward cursor key 3 and the downward cursor key 5 are effective regardless of the position of the current set value in the variable range, and the set value is changed in response to the operation of each cursor key. Transition is made so as to cycle through the variable range in the change direction of the cursor key. In other words, the variable range of the set value has a ring shape, and the set value transits so as to circulate in the ring variable range in the direction of the operated cursor key. And LC
The screen of D1 also changes so as to display the current set value along with the change of the set value.

Further, on the screen showing the present set value displayed on the LCD 1, not only the present set value but also a position index showing where the present set value is located within the variable range are displayed. Made to appear. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, on the screen 21 with a magnification of 200%, the upward triangle mark 213 as one position index is lightly displayed (or not displayed), and the downward triangle mark 215 as another position index is displayed. It is displayed darkly (highlighted), which means that the current magnification of 200% is the upper limit of the variable range (the magnification can be changed only in the decreasing direction). In addition, an upward triangle mark 2 is displayed on the screen 23 of 100% magnification.
33 and the downward triangle mark 235 are both darkly displayed (highlighted), so that the current magnification of 100% is neither the upper limit nor the lower limit of the variable range (the magnification can be changed in the increasing or decreasing direction). Is represented. Furthermore, on the screen 25 with a magnification of 50%, the upward triangle mark 253 is darkly displayed (reversed display) and the downward triangle mark 255 is lightly displayed (or not displayed), so that the current magnification 50% can be changed. It is the lower limit of the range (the magnification can be changed only in the increasing direction).

From the above position index, the user can immediately know where in the variable range the current set value is.
What is important is that both the upward cursor key 3 and the downward cursor key 5 are effective regardless of the position of the current setting value in the variable range. With these two functions, the user can efficiently reach the target set value with a few key operations. For example, when the user wants to change the set magnification from the current 200% to 50%, the user knows that the current set magnification of 200% is the upper limit, and jumps from there to the lower limit all at once. Considering that 50% can be reached, press the up cursor key 3. Thereby, the magnification of 50% can be reached quickly. On the other hand, in the conventional technique, if the downward cursor key 5 is not pressed twice, the magnification ratio of 200% to 5
I can't reach 0%.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the set value changing device according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 4, the operation detecting section 9 detects that the user has pressed the up cursor key 3 or the down cursor key 5, and notifies the controller 15 of this.

Liquid crystal display drive circuit (LCD driver) 1
1 is L based on the command signal from the controller 15.
It controls what screen is displayed on the CD 1.

The memory 13 has various modes (print magnification,
The current setting value for each paper size, number of copies, etc., the variable range of the setting value, the increment of setting value change within the variable range (or multiple concrete candidate values within the variable range), ,
Data of a screen to be displayed on the LCD 1 (character font indicating a set value, data such as a position index) is stored.

The controller 15 uses the cursor keys 3, 5
In response to the user's operation, the data in the memory 13 is used to change the set value as described above or to the LCD.
Controls the change of screen 1 and so on.

FIG. 5 shows a flow of control operation by the controller 15 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, first, when the user selects a mode (print magnification, paper size, number of copies, etc.) in which the setting value is to be changed (step S31), the controller 15 makes the selection. Mode
Regarding (for example, print magnification), a certain initial value (predetermined value or current setting value until immediately before) is set as the current setting value (step S32). Then, the controller 15 displays the current set value and the position index indicating the position of the current set value within the variable range on the LCD 1 (step S33).

Next, when the up cursor key 3 is operated by the user ("up key" in step S34), the controller 15 causes the current set value to be the upper limit value of the variable range (for example, 200% in case of magnification). It is checked whether or not (step S35). If the result of the check is that it is not the upper limit, the controller 15 shifts the current set value to the next upper candidate value (that is, increases the current set value by one increment) (step S36). At the same time, the controller 15 displays the current set value after the shift and its position index on the LCD 1 (step S33).

If the result of the check in step S35 is that it is the upper limit, the controller 15 jumps the current set value to the lower limit of the variable range (for example, 50% in the case of the magnification) (step S37). At the same time, the controller 15 displays the current set value after the shift and its position index on the LCD 1 (step S33).

When the down cursor key 5 is operated (“down key” in step S34), the controller 15 sets the current set value to the lower limit value of the variable range (eg, the lower limit value).
It is checked whether or not the magnification is 50%) (step S38). If the result of the check is that it is not the lower limit, the controller 15 shifts the current set value to the next candidate value on the lower side thereof (that is, the current set value is reduced by one increment) (step S39). At the same time, the controller 15
Indicates the current set value after shifting and its position index by LC
It is displayed on D1 (step S33).

When the result of the check in step S38 is the lower limit, the controller 15 jumps the current set value to the upper limit of the variable range (for example, 200% in the case of the magnification) (step S40). At the same time, the controller 15 displays the current set value after the shift and its position index on the LCD 1 (step S33).

FIG. 6 shows another screen example that can be displayed on the LCD 1 by taking the case of changing the set value of the paper size as an example.

As shown in FIG. 6, for example, B5 size, A4
In the variable range consisting of four types of candidate values of B, B4, and A3, the set value of the paper size is moved counterclockwise in the figure if the up cursor key is operated, and the down cursor key is operated. For example, the display screen is changed to the clockwise direction in the figure, and the display screen is also changed to the counterclockwise direction in the figure or the clockwise direction in the figure accordingly. Then, as the position index, as shown at the right end of each screen (not necessarily at the right end), it indicates which of the four types of candidate values the current set value is, "1". "/ 4", "2/4", "3 /"
Fractions such as "4" and "4/4" are used (the numerator is the ordinal number, and the denominator is the total number of candidate values).

FIG. 7 shows still another screen example that can be displayed on the LCD 1 by taking the case of changing the set value of the number of copies as an example.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, from 200 sheets to 1
Within the variable range consisting of 200 kinds of candidate values up to the number of sheets, the set value of the number of copies is counterclockwise in the figure if the up cursor key is operated, and clockwise in the figure if the down cursor key is operated. The display screen is also adapted to transition to the counterclockwise direction in the figure or to the clockwise direction in the figure accordingly. Then, as the position index, as shown at the right end of each screen (not necessarily at the right end),
A horizontal line 602 (indicating the level of the currently set value) is used in a vertical bar 601 (indicating the whole), which indicates which level in the entire candidate value the current set value is. .

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but this is an example for explaining the present invention.
It is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to this embodiment only. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms. As the position index, various ones other than the above examples can be adopted. Further, the “current set value” changed by operating the cursor keys may be definitely registered as a formal set value in the memory of the device each time the cursor key is operated once. Alternatively, the cursor keys are temporarily selected at the time of individual operation, and only after the operation of the cursor keys is completed, they are definitely registered in the memory of the device as the official set value. It may be like this.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen transition for changing a set magnification displayed on a liquid crystal display unit of an operation panel according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel included in a device setting value changing device according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to an electronic printer.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of screen transition for changing a setting magnification that can be adopted in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller of the same embodiment.
chart.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen transition for changing a set paper size that can be adopted in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen transition example for changing the number of copies that can be adopted in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Liquid crystal display (LCD) 3 Up cursor key 5 Down cursor key 7 Various switches 9 Operation detector 11 Liquid crystal display drive circuit (LCD driver) 13 memory 15 Controller 100 Electronic Printer Operation Panel

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C061 CQ05 CQ14 CQ29 CQ36                 5B020 AA17 BB02 CC12 GG05 GG27                       HH24                 5C022 AA13 AB00 AC01 AC12 AC31                 5E501 AA06 AA15 BA05 CA02 CB02                       EA10 FA02 FA46

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of cursor keys having different changing directions which are operated to change a set value of the device, and, in response to an operation of each cursor key, a changing direction which the operated cursor keys have, The set value is changed within a predetermined variable range, and when the current set value is located at one end of the variable range, a cursor key having a changing direction toward the outside of the variable range is operated. A controller for changing the current set value to another end of the variable range, the current set value, and a position index indicating the position of the current set value in the variable range. And a display device, and a setting value changing device for equipment. 2. The set value display device for a device according to claim 1, wherein the position index is indicated by distinguishing one end or the other end of the variable range and a position other than the end. 3. The set value display device for a device according to claim 1, wherein the position index indicates an order of a plurality of candidate values existing in the variable range. 4. A step of, in response to an operation of each of a plurality of cursor keys having different changing directions, changing a current set value within a predetermined variable range in a changing direction of the operated cursor key. When the current set value is located at one end of the variable range and a cursor key having a changing direction toward the outside of the variable range is operated, the current setting is set to another end of the variable range. A method of changing a set value of a device, comprising: a step of changing a value; and a step of displaying the current set value and a position index indicating a position of the current set value within the variable range. 5. A plurality of cursor keys having different changing directions, which are operated to change the set value of the device, and, in response to the operation of each cursor key, in the changing direction of the operated cursor key, Within a predetermined ring-shaped variable range, a controller that changes the setting value, a current setting value, and a display device that displays a position index indicating the position of the current setting value within the variable range, Setting value changing device for equipment. 6. In response to the operation of each of a plurality of cursor keys having different changing directions, the current set value is changed in the predetermined link-shaped variable range in the changing direction of the operated cursor key. And a step of displaying the current set value and a position index indicating the position of the current set value within the variable range.