JP2005031499A - Image forming apparatus and screen control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and exactly perform parameter selection at the function setting by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with a display element 11 which displays a screen for selecting a prescribed function relating to image formation, a screen control section 16 which controls the screen to be displayed in the display element 11, a selection section 12 which selects the parameter of the prescribed function based on the screen displayed in the display element 11, a selection parameter management section 13 which controls the temporary storage of the parameter satisfying prescribed conditions among the parameters of the functions selected in the selection section 12, and an initially set memory section 15 which stores the parameter to be an initial value in the prescribed function. The image forming apparatus is so constituted that the display of the parameter to be the initial value stored in the initially set memory section 15 and the parameter temporarily stored by the control of the selection parameter management section 13 on the same screen is performed as the screen display of the parameter of the prescribed function by the screen control section 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a screen control method for displaying a screen for selecting a parameter of a predetermined function.

  When displaying a plurality of functions on a plurality of screens in the main body user interface of a conventional copier, multifunction device, or single unit, frequently used functions are displayed on the first screen, and other functions are displayed on the second screen. A technique of displaying is disclosed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this technique, frequently used functions are displayed on the first screen (front surface) of the display panel, so that frequently used functions can be immediately selected on the front surface of the display panel.

  In addition, there is also a method of displaying parameters on the first screen of the display panel by allowing the user himself / herself to register frequently used parameters in the function.

JP 2002-202692 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, although a frequently used function can be displayed on the first screen, it is necessary to move to another screen in order to select a parameter of the function. In addition, since the position of the displayed function is changed, the function is not displayed at the usual position, which is rather difficult to use.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems. That is, the present invention provides a display unit that displays a screen for selecting a predetermined function relating to image formation, a screen control unit that controls a screen displayed on the display unit, and a predetermined unit based on the screen displayed on the display unit. Selection means for selecting a parameter of the function, selection parameter management means for performing control to temporarily store parameters of the function selected by the selection means that satisfy a predetermined condition, and an initial value for the predetermined function, An initial setting storage means for storing the parameters, and as a screen display of a parameter of a predetermined function by the screen control means, a parameter to be an initial value stored in the initial setting storage means, and a selection parameter management means The image forming apparatus performs control for displaying parameters temporarily stored in the control on the same screen.

  Further, the present invention temporarily stores parameters satisfying a predetermined condition among parameters of a predetermined function selected by the selection means when displaying a screen for selecting a predetermined function related to image formation. This is a screen control method comprising a step of placing and a step of displaying a parameter that is fixedly set in advance and a temporarily stored parameter on the same screen when displaying a parameter of a predetermined function on the screen.

  In the present invention, among the predetermined functions displayed on the screen, a plurality of selectable parameters are displayed, and a fixed parameter set in advance and a predetermined condition are met by selection by the selection means. Since the fixed parameters are displayed on the same screen, the fixed parameters are always displayed at the same position, and the parameters with high selection frequency are also displayed at the same time.

  According to the present invention, the user can easily select a parameter to be displayed at a fixed position, and a parameter with a high selection frequency is also displayed on the same screen, so that an operation such as reselection can be easily performed. Is possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a copying machine to which the present embodiment is applied, and FIG. 3 is an example of an operation panel of the copying machine. It is a schematic plan view which shows.

  First, a copying machine to which this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. The copying machine includes an automatic document feeder 2 that can be freely opened and closed on the upper surface of the main body casing 1, a sorter 3 that is provided on the side of the main body casing 1, and an operation panel 4 that is provided in front of the upper surface of the main body casing 1. And a paper tray section 5 provided at the lower front portion of the main body casing 1.

  An image reading device, a photosensitive drum, a charge corotron, an electrification removing device, a developing device, a transfer corotron, and a cleaning device (not shown) are provided inside the main body housing 1, and an image of a document placed on the platen glass is provided. , An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum, a toner image is generated, transferred to a sheet, and discharged to the sorter 3 or the like.

  When performing such an image forming operation by the copying machine, the user uses the operation panel 4 to give instructions for setting various functions and starting and stopping the image forming operation. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 4 includes a button 35 for setting the number of copies and a copy magnification, and selecting a paper size, a start button 37 for instructing start of an image forming operation, and functions currently set. A setting confirmation button 38 for confirmation and a touch panel display 36 including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and the like are provided.

  The present embodiment is characterized by such screen display control on the touch panel display 36. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment selects a display unit 11 that displays a screen for setting functions related to image formation, and selects various function setting parameters, or an image forming mode. A selection unit 12 for selecting a parameter, and a selection parameter management unit 13 that performs control to temporarily store in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 a parameter that satisfies a predetermined condition among the function setting parameters selected by the selection unit 12; , An initial setting storage unit 15 that stores parameters serving as initial values in various functions of the image forming apparatus, and a screen control unit 16 that controls screen display on the display unit 11.

  Here, the display unit 11 corresponds to the touch panel display 36 on the operation panel 4 of the copying machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the selection unit 12 displays various buttons B displayed on the touch panel display 36 and the operation panel 4. It corresponds to the various setting buttons. The screen control method executed by the screen control unit 16 is realized as a screen control program. In particular, the present embodiment is characterized in that the screen control unit 16 performs a fixed display of the initially set parameters and a dynamic display of parameters that meet a predetermined condition on the same screen. .

  Next, the process of the screen control program executed by the screen control unit 16 will be described along with a specific example. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first specific example. FIG. 4A shows an example of a function setting screen. In the figure, the setting screens for function 1 and function 2 can be selected in a tab format. In the function 1 setting screen, parameters for the “paper tray” and “magnification selection” functions can be selected. For example, in “paper tray”, “tray 1”, “tray 2”, “others” can be selected. In “Select magnification”, “100%”, “Automatic”, “141%”, “Others” can be selected.

  Of the buttons for selecting each parameter, the top buttons B10 and B20 are the initial setting values (preset and stored values) of the image forming apparatus stored in the initial setting storage unit 15 shown in FIG. Is fixedly displayed. As a result, the user can recognize that the parameter that is the initial setting value is always displayed at the same position, and can easily and accurately select the button for this parameter.

  Further, the second buttons B11 and B21 display the preset values set by the user among the initial setting values of the image forming apparatus stored in the initial setting storage unit 15 shown in FIG. As a result, the user can always display his / her favorite parameter at the same position, and the button for this parameter can be selected easily and accurately.

  The third buttons B12 and B22 display parameters stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 shown in FIG. Since the parameter that matches the predetermined condition is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 by the selected parameter management unit 13, the parameter that meets the predetermined condition is dynamically displayed on the third buttons B12 and B22. Will be. In this example, since it is a condition that the parameter is the latest selected, the parameter “141%” is displayed here.

  In this state, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the “Others” button B23 of “Select magnification” is selected, all parameters of “Select magnification” are displayed in the pull-down menu display. For example, when the “70%” button B 231 is selected from the pull-down menu display, the “70%” parameter is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 in accordance with the condition in the selected parameter management unit 13.

  That is, since the selected parameter management unit 13 sets the most recently selected parameter as the predetermined condition to match the condition, the parameter “70%” selected here is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14.

  Next, when this pull-down menu display is closed, a function selection screen as shown in FIG. That is, when displaying the function selection screen, the screen control unit 16 refers to the stored contents of the parameter temporary storage unit 14 and performs control to display the parameters stored here on the third buttons B12 and B22. In this example, since “70%” is stored as “magnification selection” in the parameter temporary storage unit 14, the parameter “70%” is displayed on the third button B22 in “magnification selection” on the function selection screen. .

  In this way, by displaying the most recently selected parameter on the third buttons B12 and B22, the user can immediately select the same parameter when he / she wants to select it again.

  Next, a second specific example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows an example of a function setting screen. In the figure, the setting screens for function 1 and function 2 can be selected in a tab format. In the function 1 setting screen, parameters for the “paper tray” and “magnification selection” functions can be selected. For example, in “paper tray”, “tray 1”, “tray 2”, “tray 3”, “others” can be selected. In “Select magnification”, “100%”, “Automatic”, “70%”, “141%”, “Others” can be selected.

  Of the buttons for selecting each parameter, the top buttons B10 and B20 are the initial setting values (preset and stored values) of the image forming apparatus stored in the initial setting storage unit 15 shown in FIG. Is fixedly displayed. As a result, the user can recognize that the parameter that is the initial setting value is always displayed at the same position, and can easily and accurately select the button for this parameter.

  Further, the second buttons B11 and B21 display the preset values set by the user among the initial setting values of the image forming apparatus stored in the initial setting storage unit 15 shown in FIG. As a result, the user can always display his / her favorite parameter at the same position, and the button for this parameter can be selected easily and accurately.

  The third buttons B12 and B22 display parameters stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 shown in FIG. Since the parameter that matches the predetermined condition is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 by the selected parameter management unit 13, the parameter that meets the predetermined condition is dynamically displayed on the third buttons B12 and B22. Is done. In this example, since it is a condition that the parameter is selected last time, the parameter “70%” is displayed here.

  The fourth buttons B13 and B23 display the parameters stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 shown in FIG. 1 as with the third buttons B12 and B22. Of these conditions, since the condition is that the parameter was selected last time, the parameter “141%” is displayed here.

  In this state, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the “Others” button B24 of “Select magnification” is selected, all parameters of “Select magnification” are displayed in the pull-down menu display. For example, when the button B241 of “81%” is selected from the pull-down menu display, “81%” for the previous time and “70%” for the previous time are used as the conditions in the selection parameter management unit 13, that is, the previous and previous selection parameters. In accordance with the conditions, this correspondence is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14.

  In other words, the selected parameter management unit 13 rewrites the parameters (the previous time “70%” and the previous time “141%”) stored until the current parameter is selected by the current parameter selection. In this example, “70%” last time is set as the previous time, and “81%” is newly stored in association with the previous time.

  Next, when this pull-down menu display is closed, a function selection screen as shown in FIG. That is, when displaying the function selection screen, the screen control unit 16 refers to the stored contents of the parameter temporary storage unit 14, displays the previous parameter stored here on the third buttons B12 and B22, Is controlled to be displayed on the buttons B13 and B23. In this example, since “81%” was previously stored as “magnification selection” in the parameter temporary storage unit 14, the parameter “81%” is displayed on the third button B22 in the “magnification selection” on the function selection screen. Since “70%” is stored two times before, the parameter “70%” is displayed on the fourth button B23 in the “magnification selection” on the function selection screen.

  In this way, the third button B12, B22 and the fourth button B13, B23 display the parameters selected last time and the last time in order, so that the user can select the same parameter again or before that When you want to select the selected parameter again, you can select it immediately.

  In this example, the parameter selected last time and the last time is displayed in order, but the parameter selected retroactively may be displayed.

  Next, a third specific example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A shows an example of a function setting screen. In the figure, the setting screens for function 1 and function 2 can be selected in a tab format. In the function 1 setting screen, parameters for the “paper tray” and “magnification selection” functions can be selected. For example, in “paper tray”, “tray 1”, “tray 2”, “tray 3”, “others” can be selected. In “Select magnification”, “100%”, “Automatic”, “70%”, “141%”, “Others” can be selected.

  Of the buttons for selecting each parameter, the top buttons B10 and B20 are the initial setting values (preset and stored values) of the image forming apparatus stored in the initial setting storage unit 15 shown in FIG. Is fixedly displayed. As a result, the user can recognize that the parameter that is the initial setting value is always displayed at the same position, and can easily and accurately select the button for this parameter.

  Further, the second buttons B11 and B21 display the preset values set by the user among the initial setting values of the image forming apparatus stored in the initial setting storage unit 15 shown in FIG. As a result, the user can always display his / her favorite parameter at the same position, and the button for this parameter can be selected easily and accurately.

  The third buttons B12 and B22 display parameters stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 shown in FIG. Since the parameter that matches the predetermined condition is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 by the selected parameter management unit 13, the parameter that meets the predetermined condition is dynamically displayed on the third buttons B12 and B22. Is done. In this example, since it is a condition that the parameter is the most frequently selected parameter in the past (within a predetermined period), a parameter of “70%” is displayed here.

  The fourth buttons B13 and B23 display the parameters stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 shown in FIG. 1 as with the third buttons B12 and B22. Of these conditions, since the condition is that the parameter is the second most frequently selected in the past, the parameter “141%” is displayed here.

  In this state, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the “Other ...” button B24 of “Select magnification” is selected, all the parameters of “Select magnification” are displayed in the pull-down menu display. For example, when the “115%” button B242 is selected from the pull-down menu display, the selection parameter management unit 13 counts the number of selections in the past for each parameter, and among these, the number of selections (count) is the most. This correspondence is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 for the most frequent and the second most frequent.

  In this example, when the parameter “115%” is pressed this time, the count of “115%” is the largest in the past, and the second most common parameter is “70%”. If the counts are the same, the most recently selected one is prioritized. As a result, the selected parameter management unit 13 stores “115%” as the parameter with the largest number of selections and “70%” as the parameter with the second largest number of selections in association in the parameter temporary storage unit 14.

  Next, when this pull-down menu display is closed, a function selection screen as shown in FIG. That is, when displaying the function selection screen, the screen control unit 16 refers to the stored contents of the parameter temporary storage unit 14, and displays the parameter with the largest number of selections stored in the third buttons B12 and B22. Then, the second most frequently selected parameter is controlled to be displayed on the buttons B13 and B23. In this example, “115%” is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 as the parameter having the largest number of selections as “magnification selection”, and therefore “115” is set in the third button B22 in “magnification selection” on the function selection screen. % ”Is displayed, and“ 70% ”is stored as the second most frequently selected parameter. Therefore, the parameter“ 70% ”is set to the fourth button B23 in“ Select magnification ”of the function selection screen. Display.

  Thus, by displaying the parameters according to the number of selections in order on the third button B12, B22 and the fourth button B13, B23, the user can immediately select a parameter with a high selection frequency.

  In this example, the parameter with the largest number of selections and the parameter with the second largest number of selections are displayed in order, but the parameter with the third and subsequent selections may be displayed.

  Further, in any example, the button display switching by the screen control unit 16 is an example in which the pull-down menu display described above is closed to return to the function selection screen, but at other timings, for example, at power-on or reset When the power saving mode is canceled, when the user inserts a copy card or the like.

  In particular, when switching is performed when a user inserts a copy card or the like, if the user is stored in the parameter temporary storage unit 14 in association with each user, the screen control unit 16 sets a parameter temporary storage unit corresponding to the user. 14 and the stored contents of the initial setting storage unit 15 can be displayed in accordance with the user parameter selection history, and the optimum parameter can be selected for each user.

  At this time, even if a parameter temporary storage unit 14 for storing information for each user or an initial setting storage unit 15 provided in the image forming apparatus is used, contents stored in a copy card or the like inserted by the user are read. You may do it. When reading the content stored in a copy card or the like, the screen control unit 16 reads the content of the copy card or the like from the card reader or the like using a card reader or the like and uses it for the above-described screen control. This eliminates the need to store information for each user in the image forming apparatus, thereby simplifying the device and facilitating information management.

  Further, as an example of function setting, any function other than “paper tray” and “magnification selection” can be applied as long as a plurality of parameters can be displayed and selected on the same screen. For example, “paper selection” may include “A4”, “B5”, “A3”, “others”, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus and the image display method of the present embodiment described above can be applied to a printer or a scanner in addition to a copying machine. In this case, the configuration in which the operation instruction is issued from an external computer can be realized by applying the screen control method (program) of the present embodiment as a printer driver or a scanner driver.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a copying machine to which the present embodiment is applied. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an operation panel of a copying machine. FIG. It is a schematic diagram explaining a 1st specific example. It is a schematic diagram explaining the 2nd specific example. It is a schematic diagram explaining the 3rd specific example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body, 2 ... Automatic document feeder, 3 ... Sorter, 4 ... Operation panel, 5 ... Paper tray part, 11 ... Display part, 12 ... Selection part, 13 ... Selection parameter management part, 14 ... Parameter temporary storage part , 15 ... Initial setting storage unit

Claims (6)

Display means for displaying a screen for selecting a predetermined function relating to image formation;
Screen control means for controlling the screen displayed on the display means;
Selection means for selecting a parameter of the predetermined function based on a screen displayed on the display means;
Selection parameter management means for performing control to temporarily store parameters satisfying a predetermined condition among the parameters of the function selected by the selection means;
Initial setting storage means for storing a parameter to be an initial value in the predetermined function,
The screen control means is temporarily stored as a parameter indicating a predetermined function on the screen as a default parameter stored in the initial setting storage means and under the control of the selection parameter management means. An image forming apparatus that performs control to display parameters on the same screen. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection parameter management unit determines whether to temporarily store parameters according to the number of selections for each parameter selected by the selection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection parameter management unit performs control to temporarily store a newest parameter selected by the selection unit. A step of temporarily storing parameters satisfying a predetermined condition among parameters of the predetermined function selected by the selection unit when displaying a screen for selecting a predetermined function related to image formation;
A screen control method comprising: a step of displaying a parameter that is fixedly set in advance and the temporarily stored parameter on the same screen when displaying the parameter of the predetermined function on the screen . The screen control method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined condition is determined according to the number of selections for each parameter selected by the selection unit. The screen control method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined condition is a newest parameter selected by the selection unit.

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