JP2004066504A - Electric apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric apparatus in which incomplete confirmation of the content of setting concerning to operation is prevented and unintended operation can be avoided. <P>SOLUTION: The electric apparatus is arranged to announce the content of setting items at that moment in time during depression of a start key for accepting an operation start designation (step S10), and to start that operation when depression of the start key is released (step S30). The electric apparatus is also arranged not to start operation even if depression of the start key is released after finishing the announcement (step S25). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a setting input unit that has a setting item related to an operation and receives a parameter input of the setting item, and a start instruction input unit that receives a start instruction of the operation based on the parameter of the setting item. It relates to electrical equipment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as a PPC (Plain Paper Copier), a facsimile, and a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral having these functions have been widely used. Since such an image forming apparatus is provided with a large number of setting items (number of copies, copy magnification, original image quality, etc.) related to the image forming operation, an individual parameter input section and a content display section are provided for each setting item. Was difficult to provide. Therefore, the above-described image forming apparatus generally has an operation display unit including a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode, and the like, and switches display contents (such as a menu tree display having a hierarchy) of the operation display unit according to a user operation. Thus, according to the displayed contents, the configuration is such that parameter input of each setting item and content confirmation operation are accepted.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Indeed, with the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the parameter input and the contents of each setting item can be performed only by a single operation display unit without providing a separate parameter input unit and a contents display unit for each setting item. Confirmation operation can be accepted.
[0004]
However, the image forming apparatus having the above configuration cannot grasp the contents of all the setting items unless the user switches the display contents of the operation display unit. Therefore, when instructing the start of the image forming operation, the user overlooks the contents of the setting items that are not displayed on the operation display unit (such as the setting contents made by the previous operator) and starts the unintended image forming operation. There was a possibility that it would be done.
[0005]
The conventional image forming apparatus has a setting key for confirming the contents of all setting items (such as a slide display of each setting content on the operation display unit) in addition to a start key for receiving an instruction to start an image forming operation. Others have a setting content reset key for initializing the contents of all setting items. However, in such a configuration, an unintended image forming operation cannot be avoided unless the setting content confirmation key or the setting content reset key is pressed before pressing the start key. It had to be aware of the confirmation operation and the pre-initialization operation.
[0006]
Further, since the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration is designed on the assumption that the user is a person with a normal visual ability, as a means for confirming the contents of each setting item, the operation display unit which needs to be visually checked as described above. It was only provided. Therefore, it is impossible or extremely difficult for a user who has a blind or low vision handicap to check the contents of each setting item.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric device capable of preventing inadequate confirmation of setting contents related to operation and avoiding unintended operation.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the electric device according to the present invention has a setting item related to an operation, a setting input unit that receives a parameter input of the setting item, and an instruction to start the operation based on a parameter of the setting item. And a start instruction input unit for receiving, the electric device comprising: a notifying unit for notifying the contents of the setting item, while the start instruction input unit is pressed, the contents of the setting item at that time , And when the pressing of the start instruction input unit is released, the operation is started.
[0009]
In addition, the electric device having the above configuration may have a configuration in which after the completion of the notification, the operation is not started even if the pressing of the start instruction input unit is released.
[0010]
Further, the electric device according to the present invention has a setting item related to an operation, a setting input unit that receives a parameter input of the setting item, and a start instruction input unit that receives a start instruction of the operation based on the parameter of the setting item. And an informing unit for informing the contents of the setting item, and when the start instruction input unit is pressed, the informing of the contents of the setting item at that time is started, and the start is performed. The operation may be started when the instruction input unit is pressed again.
[0011]
In the electric device having the above configuration, the notification unit may be a voice notification unit that outputs the content of the setting item by voice, or a screen notification unit that displays the content of the setting item by telop or slide.
[0012]
Further, in the electric device having the above configuration, when there are a plurality of the setting items, it is preferable that the contents of the setting items are notified in order from a content having a low setting frequency by the user.
[0013]
Note that the electric device having the above configuration may be configured to sequentially update the content notification order of the setting items in the notification unit based on the frequency set by the user.
[0014]
Further, the electric device having the above configuration may be configured to notify only the content of the setting item changed from the initial value or the content other than the setting item changed by the current user.
[0015]
In the electric device having the above configuration, the operation may be an image forming operation and / or an image transmitting operation.
[0016]
Further, the electric device having the above configuration may be configured to start only the image reading operation prior to the image forming operation and / or the image transmitting operation when the start instruction input unit is pressed.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system using a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. This network system constructed with an in-house LAN [Local Area Network], etc., is a network-compatible MFP 10 having a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and a copy function. It has a plurality of personal computers 11a to 11n for transmitting and receiving (hereinafter, referred to as PCs 11a to 11n), and a public line 12 for connecting between the MFP 10 and another communication device (for example, a facsimile device or a PC). Consisting of
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the multifunction peripheral 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present invention stores a central processing unit 20 (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU [Central Processing Unit]) 20 for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, and various control programs and the like. ROM [Read Only Memory] 21, RAM [Random Access Memory] 22 used as a work area, operation means (numeric keys, a touch panel, a start key for receiving an instruction to start an image forming operation or a transmission / reception operation, etc.) and a display means (liquid crystal) Display, etc.), a scanner 24 for reading a document or an image and converting it into document data, a printer 25 for printing the document data as a document or image on a recording sheet, and encoding and decoding of transmission / reception data Through the public decompression unit 26 and the public line 12 A communication control unit 27 for controlling transmission / reception operations with an external communication device, a modem 28 for converting transmission / reception data into a telephone line signal, a network control unit 29 connected to the public line 12, and a NIC [Network Interface Card]. ] And a network control unit 30 connected to a LAN line, and a voice notification unit 31 for outputting various information as voice.
[0019]
Here, the multifunction peripheral 10 having the above configuration has setting items related to an image forming operation and a transmission / reception operation, and switches display contents (a menu tree display having a hierarchy or the like) of the operation display unit 23 according to a user operation. In addition to the conventional configuration of accepting a parameter input or a content confirmation operation of each setting item according to the display content, the content of each setting item is notified based on a predetermined operation of a start key provided on the operation display unit 23. Has features. Therefore, hereinafter, a setting content notification operation of the multifunction peripheral 10 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described in detail.
[0020]
First, a first embodiment of a setting content notification operation in the multifunction peripheral 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, when the start key provided on the operation display unit 23 is pressed when instructing the start of the image forming operation or the transmission / reception operation, the multifunction peripheral 10 of the present embodiment first proceeds to step S5. It is determined whether or not the start key has been released. Here, if it is determined that the press has not been released, the flow proceeds to step S10, and if it is determined that the release has been released, the flow proceeds to step S30.
[0021]
If it is determined in step S5 that the press of the start key has been released, in step S30, an image forming operation and a transmitting / receiving operation based on the parameters of the respective setting items at that time are started. As described above, in the MFP 10 of the present embodiment, the release of the start key is used as the operation start trigger instead of pressing the start key. Therefore, unless the user releases the start key, the image forming operation and the transmission / reception operation are not performed. It will not be started.
[0022]
If the scanner 24, the printer 25, and the communication control unit 27 can be operated asynchronously with each other, only the original reading operation of the scanner 24 is advanced in advance when the start key is pressed, and the original data is buffered. Alternatively, the configuration may be made. With such a configuration, it is possible to immediately start the image forming operation and the image transmitting operation when the user releases the press of the start key.
[0023]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the pressing of the start key has not been released yet, in step S10, the voice notifying unit 31 provides voice guidance indicating the content of each setting item at that time. The voice data necessary for the voice guidance is stored in the ROM 21 in advance.
[0024]
At this time, in step S15, a determination is made as to whether or not the voice guidance has been completed. If it is determined that the voice guidance has been completed, the flow proceeds to step S20 that continues, but it is determined that the voice guidance has not been completed. If so, the flow returns to step S5, and the start key press / release determination is repeated. That is, in the multifunction peripheral 10 of the present embodiment, the voice guidance by the voice notification unit 31 is continued while the start key is pressed.
[0025]
As described above, while the start key is pressed, the content of each setting item at that time is voice-guided, and when the start key is released, the operation is started. The contents of each setting item can be confirmed without being conscious of a prior confirmation operation (such as pressing a setting confirmation key).
[0026]
In particular, since the MFP 10 of the present embodiment is configured to output the content of each setting item by the audio notifying unit 31, even if the user has a blind or low vision handicap, the user can confirm the content of each setting item. Can be easily performed.
[0027]
If it is determined in step S15 that the voice guidance has ended, the flow proceeds to step S20. In step 20, the start key is released, and when the start key is released, in step S25, the start of the image forming operation and the transmission / reception operation in the multifunction device 10 is temporarily disallowed, and a series of setting content notification is performed. The operation ends. With such a configuration, when the user notices an error in the setting content by the voice guidance of the voice notification unit 31 in step S10, the user finishes listening to the voice guidance to the end, thereby performing an unintended image forming operation or transmission / reception. Operation can be avoided.
[0028]
When this configuration is adopted, a voice such as "Please release the start key since it does not start thereafter, release the start key" or an alarm sound indicating that is added to the end of the voice guidance in step S10. Good. With such a configuration, even when the user notices an error in the setting content by the voice guidance, the user can release the press of the start key with ease.
[0029]
Although not shown in the present flow, in the MFP 10 of the present embodiment, by pressing the stop key provided in the operation display unit 23, the flow skips to step S25 without listening to the voice guidance to the end. It is possible to do.
[0030]
Next, a second embodiment of the setting content notifying operation in the multifunction peripheral 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, when the start key provided on the operation display unit 23 is pressed when instructing the start of the image forming operation or the transmission / reception operation, the multifunction peripheral 10 of the present embodiment first proceeds to step S35. It is determined whether the start key has been pressed again. Here, when it is determined that the button has not been pressed again, the flow proceeds to step S40, and when it is determined that the button has been pressed again, the flow proceeds to step S55.
[0031]
If it is determined in step S35 that the start key has been pressed again, in step S55, an image forming operation and a transmission / reception operation based on the parameters of each setting item at that time are started. As described above, in the multifunction peripheral 10 of the present embodiment, since the operation start trigger is not the first start key press but the second start key press, the image forming operation and the image forming operation are not performed unless the user presses the start key again. The transmission / reception operation is not started.
[0032]
If the scanner 24, the printer 25, and the communication control unit 27 can be operated asynchronously with each other, only the original reading operation of the scanner 24 is advanced at the time when the first start key is pressed, and the original data is read. May be buffered. With this configuration, it is possible to immediately start the image forming operation and the image transmitting operation when the user presses the start key again.
[0033]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S35 that the start key has not been pressed again, in step S40, the voice notification unit 31 provides voice guidance indicating the content of each setting item at that time. The voice data necessary for the voice guidance is stored in the ROM 21 in advance.
[0034]
At this time, in step S45, a determination is made as to whether or not the voice guidance has been completed. If it is determined that the voice guidance has been completed, the flow proceeds to step S50 that continues, but it is determined that the voice guidance has not been completed. If so, the flow returns to step S35, and the determination of whether the start key has been pressed again is repeated. That is, in the MFP 10 of the present embodiment, the voice guidance by the voice notification unit 31 is continued until the start key is pressed again.
[0035]
As described above, until the start key is pressed again, the content of each setting item at that time is voice-guided, and when the start key is pressed again, the operation is started. As in the first embodiment, the contents of each setting item can be confirmed without being conscious of the prior confirmation operation. Further, compared with the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to keep pressing the start key, even a user having a handicap at a fingertip or the like can relatively easily check the contents of each setting item.
[0036]
If it is determined in step S45 that the voice guidance has ended, in step S50, the start of the image forming operation or the transmission / reception operation in the multifunction peripheral 10 is temporarily prohibited, and a series of setting content notification operations is ended. You. With such a configuration, when the user notices an error in the setting content by the voice guidance of the voice notification unit 31 in step S35, the user finishes listening to the voice guidance to the end, thereby performing an unintended image forming operation or transmission / reception. Operation can be avoided.
[0037]
Although not shown in the present flow, in the MFP 10 of the present embodiment, by pressing the stop key provided on the operation display unit 23, the flow skips to step S50 without listening to the voice guidance to the end. It is possible to do.
[0038]
Subsequently, the output order of the content of each setting item in the voice guidance of the voice notification unit 31 will be described. As described above, in the multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present invention, when the start key is released or pressed again during the voice guidance, even if the voice guidance is in progress, the multifunction peripheral 10 is configured based on the parameters of each setting item at that time. The image forming operation and the transmitting / receiving operation are started. Therefore, by setting the output order later as the content is expected to have a higher degree of recognition of the user, the user does not need to listen to the subsequent voice guidance when the content recognized by the user is voice-guided. Then, it is possible to shift to an instruction to start an image forming operation or a transmitting / receiving operation.
[0039]
As a specific output order, in view of the fact that the hierarchical structure of the menu tree display on the operation display unit 23 is designed based on the setting frequency of the user, the setting contents of the deep hierarchy (sort setting and document image quality setting) , Etc.) in order to read out the setting contents of the shallow hierarchy (output magnification setting, output number setting, etc.).
[0040]
Alternatively, the content notification order of each setting item may be automatically updated based on the actual setting frequency by a user operation. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide voice guidance according to user needs.
[0041]
Also, if only the content of the setting item changed from the initial value or the content other than the setting item changed by the current user is set to the voice guidance in the above output order, the time required for the voice guidance can be reduced. Becomes possible. In particular, this configuration is effective when the number of setting items is large.
[0042]
In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a network-compatible MFP has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a PPC, a facsimile, a scanner, or the like. In addition to the single-function image forming apparatus, there is a setting item related to the operation, a setting input unit that receives a parameter input of the setting item, and a start instruction input unit that receives a start instruction of the operation based on the parameter of the setting item. , And can be widely applied to electric devices (such as microwave ovens and remote controllers).
[0043]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given by taking as an example a case where a voice notification unit by voice output is provided as the notification unit that notifies the content of the setting item, but the notification unit performs telop display and slide display. The notification may be performed by an image notification unit. With such a configuration, even a user with hearing impairment can easily confirm the contents of each setting item.
[0044]
Further, in the above embodiment, the voice guidance is started by pressing the start key, and when the start key is released or pressed again during the voice guidance, an image forming operation or transmission / reception based on the parameters of each setting item at that time is performed. Although the configuration in which the operation is started has been described as an example, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this. Contrary to the above-described embodiment, the end of the voice guidance is used as the operation start trigger, and the voice guidance is performed. If the start key is released or pressed again during the operation, the start of the image forming operation and the transmission / reception operation may be temporarily disallowed, and a series of setting content notification operations may be ended (see FIGS. 5 and 6).
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
In order to achieve the above object, the electric device according to the present invention has a setting item related to an operation, a setting input unit that receives a parameter input of the setting item, and an instruction to start the operation based on a parameter of the setting item. And a start instruction input unit for receiving, the electric device comprising: a notifying unit for notifying the contents of the setting item, while the start instruction input unit is pressed, the contents of the setting item at that time , And when the pressing of the start instruction input unit is released, the operation is started. With this configuration, the user can check the contents of each setting item without being conscious of the prior confirmation operation.
[0046]
In addition, the electric device having the above configuration may have a configuration in which after the completion of the notification, the operation is not started even if the pressing of the start instruction input unit is released. By adopting such a configuration, when the user notices an error in the setting content by the notification, it is possible to avoid an unintended operation by waiting for the completion of the notification.
[0047]
Further, the electric device according to the present invention has a setting item related to an operation, a setting input unit that receives a parameter input of the setting item, and a start instruction input unit that receives a start instruction of the operation based on the parameter of the setting item. And an informing unit for informing the contents of the setting item, and when the start instruction input unit is pressed, the informing of the contents of the setting item at that time is started, and the start is performed. The operation may be started when the instruction input unit is pressed again. With this configuration, the user can confirm the contents of each setting item without being conscious of the prior confirmation operation, as described above. Further, compared to the above configuration, since it is not necessary to keep pressing the start instruction input unit, even a user having a handicap at the fingertip or the like can relatively easily check the contents of each setting item.
[0048]
In the electric device having the above configuration, the notification unit may be a voice notification unit that outputs the content of the setting item by voice, or a screen notification unit that displays the content of the setting item by telop or slide. With such a configuration, even a user who is blind or deaf can easily confirm the contents of each setting item.
[0049]
Further, in the electric device having the above configuration, when there are a plurality of the setting items, it is preferable that the contents of the setting items are notified in order from a content having a low setting frequency by the user. By adopting such a configuration, the user can shift to the operation start instruction at the time when the content recognized by the user is notified without waiting for the subsequent notification.
[0050]
Note that the electric device having the above configuration may be configured to sequentially update the content notification order of the setting items in the notification unit based on the frequency set by the user. With such a configuration, notification according to user needs can be performed.
[0051]
Further, the electric device having the above configuration may be configured to notify only the content of the setting item changed from the initial value or the content other than the setting item changed by the current user. With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the time required for the notification operation.
[0052]
In the electric device having the above configuration, the operation may be an image forming operation and / or an image transmitting operation. With such a configuration, the present invention can be applied to a PPC, a scanner, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral thereof.
[0053]
Further, the electric device having the above configuration may be configured to start only the image reading operation prior to the image forming operation and / or the image transmitting operation when the start instruction input unit is pressed. With such a configuration, it is possible to immediately start the image forming operation and the image transmitting operation when the user releases or presses down the start instruction input unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network system using a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the multifunction peripheral 10.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of a setting content notification operation in the multifunction peripheral 10.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a setting content notification operation in the multifunction peripheral according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a setting content notification operation in a multifunction peripheral according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a setting content notification operation in a multifunction peripheral according to a fourth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 MFPs 11a-11n Personal computer (PC)
12 public line 20 central processing unit (CPU)
21 ROM
22 RAM
23 operation display unit 24 scanner 25 printer 26 compression / decompression unit 27 communication control unit 28 modem 29 network control unit 30 network control unit 31 audio notification unit

Claims (10)

There is a setting item related to the operation, a setting input unit that receives a parameter input of the setting item, and a start instruction input unit that receives a start instruction of the operation based on the parameter of the setting item, an electric device including:
A notification unit that notifies the contents of the setting item, while the start instruction input unit is pressed, notifies the contents of the setting item at that time, and when the pressing of the start instruction input unit is released And an electric device for starting the operation. 2. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein after the notification is completed, the operation is not started even if the pressing of the start instruction input unit is released. 3. There is a setting item related to the operation, a setting input unit that receives a parameter input of the setting item, and a start instruction input unit that receives a start instruction of the operation based on the parameter of the setting item, an electric device including:
Having a notifying unit for notifying the contents of the setting item, when the start instruction input unit is pressed, starts notifying the contents of the setting item at that time, when the start instruction input unit is pressed again, An electric device, wherein the operation is started. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is a voice notification unit that outputs a content of the setting item by voice. 4. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is a screen notification unit that displays a content of the setting item in a telop display or a slide display. 5. The electric device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when there are a plurality of setting items, the contents of the setting items are notified in order from a content having a low setting frequency of a user. The electric device according to claim 6, wherein a content notification order of the setting items in the notification unit is sequentially updated based on a user setting frequency. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein only the content of the setting item changed from the initial value or the content other than the setting item changed by the current user is notified. 9. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the operation is an image forming operation and / or an image transmitting operation. 10. The electric device according to claim 9, wherein when the start instruction input unit is pressed, only the image reading operation is started prior to the image forming operation and / or the image transmitting operation.

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