JP2003335036A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which can be used readily by a handicapped user and is not inconvenient for a sound person in which information concerning secrecy or privacy can be prevented from being leaked to a third person. <P>SOLUTION: A digital copy machine 1 comprises a means for reproducing voice information stored in a voice storage means, and a means 204 for outputting the progress of key input of information concerning secrecy or privacy by the scale, volume or tone. Consequently, key operation is not specified easily by other person and the user can discriminate the progress of input for every key. Furthermore, the user can turn the voice reproducing means on/off appropriately when the apparatus is used. The user requiring no voice can thereby use the apparatus without reproducing the voice. When the apparatus is not used for a predetermined time, on/off setting returns back to that at the time of starting. <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, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for OA equipment including a voice output unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for various industrial equipment that can be easily used by users with handicaps. Further, in recent years, the necessity for the manufacturer to respond by enforcing the US rehabilitation law has increased.

Conventionally, there has been an image forming apparatus that provides guidance such as guidance by a voice output means (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). This device selects various types of voice information from guidance voice information of operation procedures and message voice information of other messages or advertisements and reproduces them by the voice output means, thereby providing various information to the user. We are trying to transmit efficiently by voice.

On the other hand, by performing the image forming operation by collating the print data with the identification data, the identification data stored in the information storage medium and the identification data added to the print data, the print of a specific user is performed. There is also an image forming apparatus and a network print system capable of surely receiving an image and ensuring the confidentiality of a print image (for example, Patent Document 2).
reference. ).

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-302017

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-16355

[0006]

However, according to the device described in Patent Document 1, care must be taken that information such as a password relating to privacy or confidentiality of individual voice output data cannot be easily discriminated by others. There was a problem that it was necessary to output.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus and the network print system described in Patent Document 2 cannot be easily used by a handicapped user.

Furthermore, the voice output function can be set to 0 in the initial state depending on the ratio between the healthy person and the handicapped user.
It is convenient if the setting is switched between N and OFF. Further, it is more convenient to return to the set state after a fixed time after changing the setting of the initial state.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems. That is, the present invention, a user with a handicap can easily use, and can prevent the leakage of confidential or privacy-related information to a third party,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that is not inconvenient for a healthy person.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a voice storing means for storing voice information, and a voice reproducing means for reproducing the voice information stored in the voice storing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a voice output unit that outputs voice information whose key operation cannot be easily specified for information relating to confidentiality / privacy.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the voice output means is provided when the user performs a series of continuous key operations such as input of the number of copies (the number of copies), a numerical value, and a password. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voice information for distinguishing the input progress for each key is output.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the audio information is at least a scale.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the audio information is at least the volume.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the audio information is at least a tone color.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, in which any one of the scale, the volume, and the tone color can be selected as the voice information. It is a thing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, further including means for turning on / off the sound reproducing means. It is a feature.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the image forming apparatus further comprises means for setting ON / OFF of the sound reproducing means at the time of starting the apparatus and holding the setting.
It is the image forming apparatus described above.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus, when the user uses the apparatus, the sound reproducing means is turned ON / O.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for appropriately switching FFs.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus has the same ON / OFF as that at the time of starting after the timer means for counting the time when the user is not using the apparatus and after the fixed time counted by the timer means. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for setting.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the overall structure of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the entire digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The schematic configuration of the digital copying machine will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital copying machine 1 (hereinafter referred to as copying machine 1) includes a copying machine main body (I), an automatic document feeder [ADF] (II), a stapler and an image forming device. Finisher that can eliminate a large amount of paper (III)
And double-sided reversing unit (IV) and expansion paper feed tray (V)
And a large-capacity paper feed tray LCIT (VI). The copying machine body (I) includes a scanner unit, a writing unit, a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, a paper feeding unit, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the entire system of the copying machine 1 according to the embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a main control board of the copying machine 1, which is an MPU which is the center of control, a ROM which stores programs and data, a RAM, and an NV-
RAM (non-volatile memory) and the like are provided.

The main control board 200 includes a scanner unit 201, an ADF 202, and an audio output unit 204.
The operation unit 203, the paper feeding unit 206, the duplex unit 207, and the finisher 208 are connected to each other by serial I / F, and commands are transmitted / received to / from each to perform control.

An I / O control board 209 is connected to the main control board 200 by a bus. The motor 213 driven by the output signal, the fan 214, the actuator 215, and the sensor 216 for inputting a signal to the main control board 200 are connected. In addition, units such as a writing image forming unit 210 for forming image data, a high voltage power supply unit 211, and a fixing unit 212 are controlled by the main control board 200 via the I / O control board.

Based on the above, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

In FIG. 2, the voice output unit 204 can output a designated message by voice in response to a command from the main control board 200. When the voice output mode is on, the copying machine 1 outputs the contents of user operation and the state of the device by voice. For example, when the temperature of the fixing unit rises from a low temperature state and reaches a predetermined temperature,
The main control board 200 issues a command to the audio output unit 204 to say “I can copy”.
When the numeric keypad 1 is pressed, a command for uttering "Ichi" is issued. In addition, various messages such as abnormal status and copy completion are registered, and a predetermined message is uttered according to the status change of the device.

When the audio output mode is off, the copying machine 1
Makes a predetermined beep. For example, when the temperature of the fixing unit rises from the low temperature state and reaches the predetermined temperature, the main control board 200 issues a command to the audio output unit 204 to emit a beep (buzzer) sound "pipipipi". . It also issues a command that beeps when the numeric keypad or touch panel is pressed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the operation unit of the copying machine 1 used in the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The operation unit 203 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 51.
, Application switching key 52, and numeric keypad 53
, Clear stop key 54, start key 55
, A mode reset key 56, an initial setting key 57,
A voice operation switching key 58 is provided.

The liquid crystal touch panel 51 displays information on the copying machine 1. The ten-key group 53 is used for inputting numerical values, number of copies, user code, and the like. The start key 55 starts the operation of the copying machine 1. The initial setting key 57 is used for setting voice information and the like. The voice operation switching key 58 switches to the voice setting screen shown in FIG.

The voice type setting process will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 shows a voice type setting screen in one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

When the initial setting key 57 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed, a voice type setting screen is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 51 shown in FIG. 3 as shown in FIG.

The voice type selected here is held in the non-volatile memory in order to retain the voice table to be used and its setting in the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 even after the main power is turned off.

That is, in the voice type selection mode starting from step 6-1 the user selects step S6-2,
Either S6-4 or S6-6 can be used to select any of the scale, volume, and timbre. And the voice table is
The selected scale, volume, or tone color is set, and the setting is set in the nonvolatile memory.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a user code input screen in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. User code input for user authentication will be described below with reference to FIG.

When the copying machine 1 is in the user restriction mode for permitting the use only to a specific user, while the mode is reset by the reset key 56 or the like, as shown in FIG.
Wait for the user code input screen shown in a. If the audio output is on, when this screen appears,
The message "Enter user code" is output.

When a numerical value is input from the ten-key pad 53, the number of digits input by the "*" mark is displayed in the input area as shown in FIG. 5b. The reason for displaying "*" is to prevent the code being input from being known to a third party. For voice output control during this operation,
A detailed description will be given together with the flowchart. And Ent
When the er key is pressed, the input is confirmed, and when the code matches the code registered in the copying machine 1 in advance, the screen is changed to a screen where copying or the like is available as shown in FIG. If the voice output is on, the message "User code has been authenticated" is output.

Next, the features of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flow charts of FIG. 7 and subsequent figures.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the voice information setting process in one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

First, at start-up, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the voice information setting is read from the non-volatile memory and the table of voice information to be used is selected. That is, the user has steps S7-1 and S7-
Any one of the scale, the volume, and the tone color can be selected by any one of S3 and S7-5. Then, the voice table is set to any of the selected scale, volume, and tone color.

As a result, the user can switch the special voice to be used when pressing the predetermined hard keys 0 to 9 during the input of the user code.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a user operation event (voice / beep sound processing) in the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

When the operation unit 203 is operated by the user, the operated information is notified to the main control board 200, and as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8, voice output or beep sound control is performed according to the contents.

In the case of the normal setting (voice output mode off),
Only the beep sound is always output in response to the user operation event (S8-1, S8-2). If the voice output mode is on (S8-1Y), during the user code input (S8-3Y), confidential voice output is performed for each operation event (S8-5), and in other events (S8).
-3N), voice output according to the user operation is performed (S8).
-4).

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of confidential audio output processing in one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the confidential voice output process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the voice corresponding to the scale, volume, or timbre set in the voice type setting process is output for each key.

In this way, by controlling the inputting of the user code and the other output voice, it is possible to notify the user of the input progress accompanying the operation at the same time without leaking the user code information to a third party. Becomes

The features of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to switch whether the voice output function is turned on or off in the initial state by setting, that the setting of the initial state can be temporarily changed, and after the setting of the initial state is changed, it is fixed. The feature is that it returns to the set state after a lapse of time.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of a voice setting initialization process in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, at startup,
The voice information setting is read from the nonvolatile memory and the voice information to be used is set. That is, voice setting / initialization processing is performed in step S10-1, and then, in step S10-2, the voice setting is set to the nonvolatile memory.

This process is executed even when the user has not operated for a certain period of time, and the voice setting is returned to the initial state.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a process for setting the voice setting at the time of startup to the setting of the non-volatile memory in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Initial setting key 57 on the operation unit 203 of FIG.
When is pressed, the display on the liquid crystal touch panel 51 is switched, and a screen for performing voice setting in the initial state is displayed as shown in FIG.

User selects beep key, voice key, OF
By selecting and pressing one of the F keys and then pressing the setting key, the sound setting becomes a sound such as a beep sound, a scale, a volume, a timbre, or is turned off. If the wrong key is pressed, before pressing the setting key, after pressing the cancel key, the correct beep sound key, voice key, or OFF key may be pressed again.

The voice setting selected here is held in the non-volatile memory and is selected at the next start-up.

Referring to FIG. 11, when the beep sound is selected (Yes in step S11-1), the setting that makes the sound setting in the initial state beep sound is set in the nonvolatile memory (step S11-2). When a voice such as a scale, a volume, and a timbre is selected (No in step S11-1, step S1
1-3) Yes), the voice setting of the initial state, scale, volume,
The setting for making a voice such as a tone color is set in the nonvolatile memory (step S11-4). If neither beep sound nor voice is selected (No in step S11-3), the setting for turning off the voice setting in the initial state is set in the nonvolatile memory (step S11-5).

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart for temporarily changing the audio setting in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

When the voice operation switching key 58 on the operation unit 203 in FIG. 3 is pressed, the display on the liquid crystal touch panel 51 is switched and the voice setting screen as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed.

User selects beep key, voice key, OF
By selecting and pressing one of the F keys and then pressing the setting key, the sound setting becomes a sound such as a beep sound, a scale, a volume, a timbre, or is turned off. If the wrong key is pressed, before pressing the setting key, after pressing the cancel key, the correct beep sound key, voice key, or OFF key may be pressed again.

Referring to FIG. 12, step S12-1.
If the answer is Yes, the voice setting is set to beep sound (step 12-2). If No in step S12-1 and Yes in step S12-3,
The voice setting is set to voice of scale, volume, tone color, etc. (step 12-4). If both steps S12-1 and S12-3 are No, the voice setting is set to OFF (step 12-5).

The audio setting selected here operates for a fixed time with this setting, and is returned to the setting of the non-volatile memory according to the flow of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of control for outputting sound according to each setting in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

OFF / beep / voice is output according to the voice output mode for each key operation by the user.

That is, in step S13-1,
The audio output mode is determined. If it is determined to be a beep voice, a beep sound is generated (step S13-2). If it is determined to be voice, voice data such as scale, volume, and tone color is output (step S13-3). If it is determined to be OFF, no sound is generated.

[0069]

According to the inventions of claims 1 to 10,
By not directly outputting the personal / confidential information such as the password / user code by voice, the operation cannot be easily specified, and it is possible to prevent the confidential information from being leaked to a third party.

According to the second to tenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a voice that can be discriminated by the operator while maintaining the confidentiality, and it is possible to prevent the leakage of confidentiality or privacy and to discriminate the both.

According to the invention described in claims 3 and 6 to 10, the voice information is scaled so that confidentiality can be maintained.
By using a voice that can be discriminated by the operator, it is possible to achieve both prevention of leakage of confidentiality and privacy and discrimination. That is, by outputting information such as input numerical values (numeric keys) in a scale, it is possible to reduce the possibility that others will know the password, user code, etc., as compared to the case where the numbers are read aloud. The user can distinguish the voice information.

According to the invention described in claims 4, 6 to 10, the sound information is set to the volume, so that the confidentiality can be maintained.
By using a voice that can be discriminated by the operator, it is possible to achieve both prevention of leakage of confidentiality and privacy and discrimination. That is, by outputting the information such as the numerical value (numeric keypad) to be input at a volume, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the password, the user code, etc. will be known to others as compared to the case of reading the numerical value by voice, and The user can distinguish the voice information.

According to the invention described in claims 5 to 10, by making the voice information timbre, the voice can be discriminated by the operator while maintaining the confidentiality, and the discrimination of the leakage of confidentiality or privacy is discriminated. It is possible to achieve both the compatibility. That is, by outputting information such as input numerical values (numeric keys) in a timbre, it is possible to reduce the possibility that others will know the password, user code, etc., as compared to reading the numbers by voice, and The user can distinguish the voice information.

According to the invention described in claims 6 to 10, by making the voice information selectable, it becomes possible to use the voice which is easy for the operator to use. In other words, by making it possible to select the output format of the input numerical information (numeric keypad), etc., it is possible to select an output method that is easy for the operator to understand and difficult for others to understand. The probability of being known can be further reduced, and the user can more easily discriminate the audio information.

According to the invention described in claims 7 to 10, the voice output function can be turned on or off or switched depending on the setting, which is not inconvenient for a healthy person, so that the voice operates properly in the environment of the user. An image forming apparatus with an output function can be provided.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since it has a function of changing the setting of the initial state and returning it to the set state after a fixed time, it has a voice output function which operates more appropriately in the environment of the user. An image forming apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a system of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an operation unit used in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a voice type setting screen in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a user code input screen in the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a voice type selection process in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a voice information setting process in the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a user operation event (voice / beep sound processing) in the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of confidential audio output processing in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a voice setting initialization process in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process of setting a voice setting at startup to a setting of a nonvolatile memory in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for temporarily changing audio settings in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of control for outputting sound according to each setting in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a voice type input screen used in an initial state in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a voice type input screen to be used in the other embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Digital copier 51 LCD touch panel 52 Application switching key 53 numeric keypad 54 clear stop key 55 Start key 56 Mode reset key 57 Initialization key 58 Voice operation switching key 200 Main control board 201 Scanner unit 202 ADF 203 Operation unit 204 audio output unit 206 paper feed unit 207 duplex unit 208 finisher 209 I / O control board 210 Image writing unit 211 High-voltage power supply unit 212 fixing unit 213 motor 214 fans 215 Actuator 216 sensor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A voice operation storing means for storing voice information, a voice reproducing means for reproducing the voice information stored in the voice storing means, and a key operation cannot be easily specified for confidential / privacy information. An image forming apparatus comprising: an audio output unit that outputs the audio information. 2. The voice output means distinguishes the progress of the input for each key when the user performs a series of continuous key operations such as input of a numeral (copy number), a numerical value, and a password. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus outputs voice information. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the voice information is at least a scale. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the voice information is at least volume. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the voice information is at least a tone color. 6. The sound information can be selected from a scale, a volume, and a timbre.
The image forming apparatus described. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for turning on / off the sound reproducing means. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for setting ON / OFF of the sound reproducing means when the apparatus is activated and holding the setting. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for appropriately switching ON / OFF of the sound reproducing means when a user uses the apparatus. 10. A timer means for counting the time when the user is not using the device, and a means for setting the same ON / OFF as the start-up after a certain time counted by the timer means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein