JP2003316211A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which is capable of offering an optimum supporting means to each disorder even when there are a plurality of users with different disorders, and which still does not hinder a usual operability for a physically unimpaired person. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device comprises an operational panel using a means by which a physically unimpaired person conducts an inputting operation in a usual manner, and an input supporting means with a plurality of supporting means to support inputting for a physically impaired person. The operational panel has a plurality of input mode switching keys which switch the usual mode to the input supporting mode and vice versa. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an operation panel, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having an operation panel which can be easily operated by persons with disabilities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an operation panel control technique for an image forming apparatus or the like, a supporting means for a disabled person or an elderly person with various obstacles is disclosed in, for example, "Pointing Device" of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-95703. Discloses a technology for providing a pointing device for a personal computer, which can be easily operated by persons with limb disabilities and elderly people, and which improves the operability of healthy persons.

In recent years, there is an increasing demand for development of a device having a mechanism capable of accessing electronic information equivalent to that of a healthy person, even for persons with various disabilities, such as the Rehabilitation Act (Article 508) established in the United States. .

[0004]

However, since the degree and the kind of the disorder are various, the support means are also various. Also in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, for a visually impaired person, for example, a voice guidance or an alternative operation means of a touch panel which diverts a pointing device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-95703, a visually impaired person For the elderly, it is necessary to expand the screen keys and emphasize the screen brightness, and if there are multiple obstacles, it is necessary to combine more complicated support means.

However, in the usage environment of each device (office, etc.), it is not necessary to enable the support means for all the obstacles, and the support according to the degree of the obstacle of the person using the device. It is easier to use only the functions. In addition, it is often advantageous for healthy people to disable the support means in terms of operation speed, etc.
The / OFF function is considered to be an effective means.

However, there may be a case where a plurality of users who use a certain device have different obstacles, and it does not necessarily mean that the operation support means can be turned on / off simply. .

In consideration of such a situation, the present invention makes it possible to provide an optimal support means for each obstacle even when there are a plurality of users having different obstacles, and for healthy persons. Another object is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not impair the conventional operability.

[0008]

In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises means for normal operation input by a healthy person and a plurality of support means for assisting input for a disabled person. In the image forming apparatus having the operation panel which is used in combination with the input support means, the operation panel has a plurality of input mode switching keys for switching between the normal mode and the input support mode.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the input mode switching key is provided on the frontmost surface of the operation panel.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the invention described in (1), the input mode switching key has a means for selecting a key having the most effective support means and a means for setting the selected key.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the input mode switching keys are different in shape or size.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the support means set in the input mode switching key becomes effective by pressing each key, and the same key is pressed. It is characterized by returning to the normal mode only by pressing.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, when the input support mode is changed by pressing each input mode switching key, the input support mode is set. It is characterized in that it has means for displaying what is contained on a display device such as an LCD on the operation panel.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the operation panel of the present invention. On the operation panel, a power key 101, which is an operation key used for normal operation, a copy start key 102, a clear / stop key 103, a ten-key group 104, an interrupt copy key 105, a preheat mode key 106, There is an alert display section 109 which is composed of a program key 107, an application switching key 108, an initial setting key 110, and an LCD + touch panel 100, and further displays an alert such as jam or toner end. In the present invention, a plurality of support keys 111 are further added to enable the input support function. By pressing this key, the operation support function for persons with disabilities becomes effective. There are two or more support keys 111,
And it is desirable to install it in front of the operation panel.

Further, the input support function can be separately set for the plurality of support keys 111. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when the name of the key for which input support is to be set is pressed in the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the operation panel of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The support function to be set in the input switching key can be set by the user from the initial setting key 110 on the operation panel so that it can be easily adjusted to the usage environment of the device. When the initial setting key 110 is pressed, the screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. The squares on the screen are soft keys. When the key is pressed, it is highlighted and confirmed with the OK key. Now, when the input support setting key is pressed and the OK key is pressed, the screen in FIG. 2 is displayed. Here, when the name of the key for which input support is desired to be set (here, the support 1 key) is pressed and then OK is pressed, the screen at the bottom of FIG. 2 is displayed. On this screen, the support 1 key is pressed to select the input support function that is valid, and the OK key is pressed. The function of the support 1 key is confirmed. By setting the other support keys similarly, different functions can be set for each support key.

Thus, even in an environment in which there are a plurality of users with different obstacles, the optimum support function for the obstacle can be set and utilized, so that an environment that is the easiest to operate according to the type and degree of the obstacle is obtained. You can Also, by installing the support key on the front of the panel, even a person with a limb disability or a visually impaired person can easily press the support key.

Next, an embodiment of a support key particularly effective for visually impaired persons will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the input support keys have the same shape, but for visually impaired persons, there may be a case where it is not possible to immediately determine which key has the optimal support function set for them. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the shape of each support key is clearly distinguished as shown in FIG. In this embodiment,
The key shape is a rectangle, an ellipse, or a trapezoid, but it goes without saying that the shape can be freely set if there is a clear difference in shape.

As described above, the input support function is enabled by pressing each support key, but when canceling the support function and returning to the normal mode, it is possible only by re-pressing the currently effective support key. This is because the operation may take a long time depending on the degree of the failure, and for example, when the support function is timed out, there is a risk that the function may be cleared even during the operation.

However, when another support key is pressed while a certain support key is valid, the function of the latter support key is switched. This is because it may not be possible to identify the currently effective function depending on the failure.

Next, an embodiment for improving convenience when a healthy person wants to return to a normal operation mode will be described with reference to FIG. As mentioned above, the support mode is released only by pressing the same support key for the convenience of the handicapped person. Therefore, in order for the healthy person to return to the normal mode, it is necessary to find the currently effective support key. . Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, an LED that clearly indicates that the support key is effective
111a is installed and the operating support key is displayed on the LCD screen. Thereby, the healthy person can accurately identify the key for returning to the normal operation mode.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, by providing a plurality of input support keys, even if a plurality of persons with different disabilities use the same device, each obstacle will be affected. It is possible to set and utilize an appropriate support means that corresponds to.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the input support key on the front surface of the operation panel, even a person having a relatively serious obstacle can easily shift to the support mode.

Further, according to the present invention, the input support function for a plurality of support keys can be freely set, so that the support function corresponding to a failure can be provided without excess or deficiency.

Further, according to the present invention, by making the shapes of the support keys clearly different, even a visually impaired person can easily identify the keys for which the support function is set.

Further, according to the present invention, the support function enabled by the support key can be released only by pressing the same support key, so that the function is cleared even if the operation takes a long time. The operation can be continued without any operation.

Further, according to the present invention, by clearly indicating the valid input support key, it is possible to promptly deal with a healthy person when returning to the normal mode.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an operation panel of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when the name of a key for which input support is to be set is pressed in the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the operation panel of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an operation panel of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows one Example of the support key especially effective for a visually impaired person.

FIG. 4 shows an operation panel of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the 1st Example for improving the convenience when returning to a normal operation mode.

FIG. 5 shows an operation panel of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the 2nd Example for improving the convenience when returning to a normal operation mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 power key 102 Copy start key 103 Clear / Stop key 104 numeric keypad 105 Interrupt copy key 106 Preheat mode key 107 Program key 108 Application switching key 109 Alert display section 110 Initialization key 111 support key

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Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an operation panel, in which a means for a normal person to perform a normal operation input and an input supporting means having a plurality of supporting means for assisting a disabled person or an elderly person are used together. The image forming apparatus, wherein the operation panel has a plurality of input mode switching keys for switching between a normal mode and an input support mode. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input mode switching key is provided on a front surface of the operation panel. 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the input mode switching key has means for selecting a key having the most effective support means and means for setting the selected key. Forming equipment. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input mode switching keys have different shapes or sizes. 5. The support means set in the plurality of input mode switching keys becomes effective by pressing each key and returns to the normal mode only by pressing the same key. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 6. When the input support mode is entered by pressing each of the input mode switching keys, means for displaying that the input support mode has been entered on a display device such as an LCD on the operation panel is provided. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is characterized in that.