JP2004040264A - Image forming apparatus and touch panel setting method in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a touch panel setting method in the image forming apparatus, which reduces the development man-hours of a user interface and the man-hours for dealing with customers to improve customer satisfaction. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has a printer engine 4 for printing a manuscript read by a scanner 1, based on print settings on a touch panel 2 and a hard key 3. The image forming apparatus and the touch panel setting method comprise a means for optionally setting the display and the operation form of the touch panel 3, based on an image of the display form, including an image of such a frame read by the scanner 1 as a user desires. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a method of setting a display format of a touch panel in the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a display format setting method for a touch panel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, it has been necessary to individually incorporate operation unit control software in order to realize a user's request regarding user customization in an image forming apparatus. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the screen specifications need to be reconciled or the number of development steps after the specification is determined increases.
[0003]
In addition, even if an attempt is made to achieve a desired specification by touch panel key input, the key arrangement is difficult or a large number of key inputs are required, so that the user cannot easily achieve the desired specification. Especially for elderly people with poor eyesight, it is desirable to use specifications that allow easy input on an enlarged screen.However, a considerable number of key inputs are required to achieve the screen specifications, and the desired operation specifications are reached. No, customer satisfaction was low.
[0004]
Furthermore, user preferences vary widely, and it is not easy to realize easy-to-use operability for each user having different preferences.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a touch panel setting method in the image forming apparatus, which can reduce the number of steps for developing a user interface and the number of steps for responding to a customer, and can increase customer satisfaction. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Invention]
The above problem can be solved by the following inventions.
[0007]
(1) An image forming apparatus which prints an original read by a scanner by a printer engine based on print settings of a touch panel and hard keys,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display format setting unit configured to arbitrarily set a display and an operation format of the touch panel based on a display format image including an image of an arbitrary frame desired by a user read by the scanner. apparatus.
[0008]
(Claim 2) The touch panel displays an image of an arbitrary frame desired by the user read by the scanner, and accepts a selection for an arbitrary frame region displayed on the touch panel.
The hard key receives a selection of a function of a frame area selected on the touch panel,
The display format setting means stores the image in the display format and stores a frame area selected on the touch panel in association with a function selected on the hard key, and displays the image on the touch panel based on the storage. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display and the operation format of the touch panel are arbitrarily set by the operation.
[0009]
(3) An image forming apparatus which prints a document read by a scanner by a printer engine based on print settings of a touch panel and hard keys,
A touch panel for the image forming apparatus, wherein the scanner reads an image in a display format including an image of an arbitrary frame desired by the user, and arbitrarily sets a display and an operation format of the touch panel based on the read image. Setting method.
[0010]
(4) In the scanner, the read image of an arbitrary frame desired by the user is displayed on the touch panel, and an arbitrary frame displayed on the touch panel is selected by touching the hard key. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a function assigned to the selected hard key is assigned to a selected frame of the touch panel, thereby arbitrarily setting a display and an operation format of the touch panel. Touch panel setting method for the device.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the touch panel and the hard keys.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming apparatus, which includes a scanner 1, a touch panel 2, a hard key 3, a printer engine 4, and a display format setting unit 5.
[0014]
The scanner 1 has a role of reading an original to be printed by the printer engine 4 based on the print settings of the touch panel 2 and the hard keys 3, and in the present invention, a display including an arbitrary frame desired by the user of the original Read image in format.
[0015]
The image in the display format is obtained by displaying an arbitrary frame desired by the user on a document such as paper. The image in the display format may be freely created by the user, It may be prepared in advance. For example, a display in which a plurality of frames are displayed as shown in FIG. 2 can be used.
[0016]
When reading the image in the display format in the scanner 1, for example, the position of the frame area is determined by recognizing the frame area from the image data and calculating the center coordinates of the frame area. The shape of the frame region can be determined by comparing an arbitrary shape stored in the image forming apparatus in advance with a sample of the shape, and determining the shape having the highest matching rate as the shape of the frame region.
[0017]
The touch panel 2 displays an image of an arbitrary frame desired by the user read by the scanner 1 and detects a user's touch on the surface of the touch panel 2 to enable selection of the arbitrary frame region. The touch panel 2 is hardware, and for example, a liquid crystal screen having a touch sensor for a screen can be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the vicinity of the part A is touched, the frame area of the part A is selected. Similarly, when the vicinity of the portion B is touched, the frame region of the portion B is selected. Note that an area assumed as a message display unit as shown in the figure may be provided on the upper part of the touch panel 2.
[0018]
The hard key 3 is composed of keys including a numeric keypad and a start key as shown in FIG. This is hardware for sensing an input by pressing the key and accepting an input from the user. For example, a push button capable of sensing the input by pressing can be used.
[0019]
In the hard key 3, a role setting of a function setting mode (also referred to as a function setting) is previously set to a 10-key portion. For example, "1 key" functions as "duplex selection" mode setting key, "2 key" functions as "magnification" mode setting key, "3 key" functions as "size selection" mode setting key, etc. Setting mode is assigned. In order to assign such a function setting mode, it is preferable to provide a database that associates information defining a key with a function setting mode assigned to the key. For example, the database shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
[0020]
The display format setting means 5 performs a process as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, an image in a display format read by the scanner 1 is stored (S1), and the image is displayed on the touch panel 2 (S2). In addition, after the user selects an arbitrary frame area on the touch panel 2, it is accepted that the function setting is selected by the hard key 3 and the function setting of the selected frame area is determined (S 3). Is stored in association with the selected frame area and the function setting (S4). After being stored in this manner, the display format setting unit 5 displays the display and operation format on the touch panel 2 as shown in FIG. 6 based on the stored display format image and the function settings for the frame area of the image. Arbitrary settings can be displayed (S5).
[0021]
The display format setting means 5 stores the display format image read by the scanner 1 by, for example, creating an image created by thinning out the read display format image according to the screen size as an image file, By providing a database in which the center coordinates of the frame area and the shape of the frame area are associated with each image file, the frame area can be defined for one image file. It is preferable to assign a frame number to each frame area defined in this way. Assigning a frame number is preferable because, when a database is provided, a plurality of attributes of a corresponding frame area can be extracted using the frame number as a key.
[0022]
As a method of thinning out, for example, a method of reducing the data by deleting the read image in the display format for each predetermined dot can be adopted. For example, thinned data can be created by recognizing white or black (0 or 1) of a dot every 6 dots and deleting data other than the recognized data.
[0023]
The storage of the frame area and the function setting in the image of the display format in association with the function setting by the touch panel 2 and the hard keys 3 in the display format setting means 5 is performed, for example, in accordance with the selection of the frame area on the touch panel 2. Assuming that the number is selected, the function setting for the selected frame area is stored in association with the frame number. For example, by configuring a database as shown in FIG. 7, the selected frame area and the function setting can be stored in association with each other.
[0024]
A specific mode of the touch panel setting method in the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the touch panel setting method in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
[0026]
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a description will be given assuming that a function setting mode as shown in FIG.
[0027]
A description will be given of a case where the assignment of the function of paper setting (hereinafter, also referred to as size selection) is set as an example.
[0028]
First, the LCD screen custom setting mode is entered by some operation.
[0029]
The original (framed object) is read by the scanner 1 (S11), the image of each frame is read inside, and the frame is displayed on the touch panel 2 (S12).
[0030]
The user touches the framed part (for example, part A) displayed on the touch panel 2 with a finger, and selects a frame area with a “start key” having a determination function (S13).
[0031]
By pressing, for example, "3 key" of the ten hard keys, a function setting (size selection) corresponding to the "3 key" is selected from the database shown in FIG. On the other hand, the assignment of the function setting (size selection) is selected (S14). Subsequently, by pressing the "start key", the selection is determined, and the function setting is performed by storing the frame area and the function setting in association with each other (S15).
[0032]
When the processing of S15 ends, the end of the setting is confirmed by the display format selection means 5 (S16). If it is determined in S16 that the process has not been completed, the process returns to S13, and the function setting process continues.
[0033]
If it is determined in S16 that the process has been completed, the display on touch panel 2 is updated (S17).
[0034]
Further, in the processing of S13 to S15, for example, when setting the paper size, after the setting of the section A is completed, the user touches the portion of the frame area to be specified (for example, the section B), and presses the hard key “Start key”. "(S13). Next, when the "3 key" used in the setting of the section A provided with the paper size function is pressed, the section B is recycled as "A4", "A3", "B5"... The paper size is displayed by clicking (S4). When the desired paper size is displayed, the display and the operation format of the touch panel 2 can be finally determined by confirming with the "start key" (S5). In this way, it is possible to assign detailed functions for double-sided selection, magnification, size selection, and the like.
[0035]
By repeating the above S13 to S15, work is performed for each function setting, an entire custom screen is created, and each user custom screen is created and completed.
[0036]
As described above, the user can easily customize the touch panel to a desired display and operation form using the existing scanner.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display format image. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a touch panel and hard keys. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of a display format setting unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display and an operation format of a touch panel after setting. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a database for assigning function settings to frame regions. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a touch panel setting method in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
1: Scanner 2: Touch panel 3: Hard key 4: Printer engine 5: Display format setting means 10: Image forming apparatus

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus that prints a document read by a scanner by a printer engine based on print settings of a touch panel and hard keys,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display format setting unit configured to arbitrarily set a display and an operation format of the touch panel based on a display format image including an image of an arbitrary frame desired by a user read by the scanner. apparatus. The touch panel displays an image of an arbitrary frame desired by the user read by the scanner, and accepts a selection for an arbitrary frame area displayed on the touch panel,
The hard key receives a selection of a function of a frame area selected on the touch panel,
The display format setting means stores the image in the display format and stores a frame area selected on the touch panel in association with a function selected on the hard key, and displays the image on the touch panel based on the storage. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display and the operation format of the touch panel are arbitrarily set by the operation. An image forming apparatus that prints a document read by a scanner by a printer engine based on print settings of a touch panel and hard keys,
A touch panel for the image forming apparatus, wherein the scanner reads an image in a display format including an image of an arbitrary frame desired by the user, and arbitrarily sets a display and an operation format of the touch panel based on the read image. Setting method. In the scanner, the read image of an arbitrary frame desired by the user is displayed on the touch panel, and an arbitrary frame displayed on the touch panel is touched to be selected and the hard key is selected, and the selected key is selected. 4. A touch panel setting method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a function assigned to the hard key is assigned to a selected frame of the touch panel, thereby arbitrarily setting a display and an operation format of the touch panel. .

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