JP2005117080A - Display apparatus, image forming apparatus provided with same, and input reception apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display apparatus capable of displaying a plurality of operation menus for receiving external entry operations wherein a user depresses another button having a cancel function by mistake when depressing a button with the canceling function. <P>SOLUTION: The display apparatus is provided with a display panel, and first and second display control sections. The first display control section can display a setting menu 20 including a job stop button 21. The second display control section can display a selection menu 24 overlapped on the setting menu 20 by a prescribed entry operation applied to the setting menu 20, and the selection menu 24 includes a closing button 23 located in a facial direction region overlapped on the job stop button 21. Then the first display control section stops the reception of an entry operation applied to the job stop button 21 for a prescribed time after the closing button 23 is depressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device capable of displaying an operation screen for accepting an input operation from the outside.
The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus and an input receiving apparatus provided with the display device.

  There are a scanner device and an image forming device having a scanner function as a device for reading image and character information recorded on a document and digitizing it to obtain image data (including document data).

  In recent years, a communication system in which such a scanner device or the like and a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) are connected via a LAN or the Internet has become widespread (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Data is shared and managed.

  In such a system, a scanner device or the like is usually provided with a communication unit for transmitting and receiving various data to and from a plurality of PCs, and the digitized image data is sent via a LAN or via the Internet. It is transmitted to another PC by transmission.

  In addition, an image forming apparatus having a scanner function, which is used in this type of system, normally further includes an input operation unit for setting various conditions and the like at the time of communication in addition to the communication unit. . As a conventional input operation unit, one having a touch panel display device capable of displaying an operation screen for accepting an input operation from the outside is already known. In this type of display device, for example, when setting communication conditions, when selecting which PC image data is transmitted to, a predetermined setting screen is displayed. In this setting screen, a plurality of input buttons for accepting input operations for setting image data transmission size, resolution, file format, and the like are displayed, and a work cancel button for canceling the setting work is displayed. The work stop button is usually arranged in the upper right area of the setting screen.

  When such a setting screen is displayed, for example, when an input button for selecting a transmission size is pressed, a selection screen for selecting a transmission size is displayed over the setting screen. On the selection screen, a plurality of input buttons corresponding to a plurality of paper sizes are displayed, and a close button for closing the screen is displayed. This close button is also usually arranged in the upper right part of the selection screen, like the work stop button on the setting screen.

In such a display device, when one of the transmission sizes is selected on the selection screen and the close button is pressed by the operator, the selection screen is closed and the setting screen is displayed again.
JP 2002-290661 A JP 2002-281111 A

  However, when closing the selection screen, depending on the operator, the close button of the selection screen may be pressed a plurality of times. When such an operation is performed, the selection screen does not stop but the same area as the close button. The work stop button displayed on the screen is pressed, and the setting work is ended.

  On the other hand, buttons with a cancel function that does not accept subsequent input operations, such as a work stop button and a close button, are generally displayed in the upper right area of the operation screen from the viewpoint of ensuring ease of use. Therefore, it is not preferable to change the arrangement position on each operation screen.

  An object of the present invention is to avoid accidentally pressing another button having a cancel function when a button having a cancel function is pressed in a display device capable of displaying a plurality of operation screens that accept external input operations. There is.

  A display device according to a first aspect is a device capable of displaying an operation screen for accepting an input operation from the outside, and includes a display unit, a first display control unit, and a second display control unit. . The first display control unit can display a first operation screen having a first end button for ending acceptance of a subsequent input operation by an input operation from the outside on the display unit. The second display control unit can display the second operation screen so as to overlap the display unit on the first operation screen by a predetermined input operation performed on the first operation screen. A second end button is disposed in the surface direction area overlapping the first end button and closes the second operation screen by an input operation from the outside. Then, the first display control unit stops accepting an input operation for the first end button for a predetermined time after the second end button is pressed.

  In this apparatus, by performing a predetermined input operation on the first operation screen, the second operation screen is displayed over the first operation screen. When the input operation on the second operation screen is finished, the second operation screen is closed and the first operation screen is displayed again by pressing the second end button.

  Here, when the second operation screen is closed, even if the second end button is further pressed within a predetermined time, an input operation for the first end button is not accepted, so that an input operation to the first operation screen is accepted. Can be avoided from accidental termination.

  The display device according to claim 2 is the device according to claim 1, wherein the first display control unit holds the content of the input operation performed on the first operation screen while the first operation screen is displayed. If the first end button is pressed, the contents of the input operation that has been performed on the first operation screen until then are deleted.

  In this display device, even if the second end button is pressed twice or more within a predetermined time, it is possible to prevent the items already input to the first operation screen from being returned to the initial state. This eliminates the need to perform the same input operation again on the operation screen, improving usability.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect includes a document reading unit, an image forming unit, and an input operation unit. The document reading unit is for reading information recorded on the document. The image forming unit forms an image based on the information read by the document reading unit. The input operation unit can input information including conditions relating to image formation, and has the display device according to claim 1.

  Since the image forming apparatus includes the display device according to claim 1 or 2, even when the second end button is further pressed within a predetermined time when the second operation screen is closed, an input to the first end button is performed. Since the operation is not accepted, it is possible to prevent the acceptance of the input operation on the first operation screen from being ended erroneously.

  The image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect includes a display device and an input device. The display device is the device according to claim 1 or 2. The input device is a device for performing an input operation on an operation screen displayed on the display unit of the display device.

  Since the input receiving device includes the display device according to claim 1 or 2, even when the second end button is further pressed within a predetermined time when the second operation screen is closed, the input to the first end button is performed. Since the operation is not accepted, it is possible to prevent the acceptance of the input operation on the first operation screen from being ended erroneously.

  According to the present invention, when the second operation screen is closed, even if the second end button is further pressed within a predetermined time, an input operation for the first end button is not accepted. It is possible to avoid accidentally terminating the acceptance of the operation.

1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.
Here, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is communicably connected to a plurality of PCs (not shown) via a LAN and the Internet will be described.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document reading unit 3, an image forming unit 5, an input operation unit 7, a communication unit 9, another input / output unit 11, and a control unit 13.
The document reading unit 3 is for reading image information (including character information) recorded on a document placed on the table 2 and has an optical system (not shown). The image information read here is sent to the image forming unit 5 or the control unit 13.

  The image forming unit 5 is for performing image formation based on image information read by the document reading unit 3 and image data sent from a PC connected to the image forming apparatus 1. Specifically, the image forming unit 5 includes a photosensitive drum, a main charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device (not shown). The photosensitive drum has an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface. The main charging device is a device for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum. The developing device is a device that forms a toner image by supplying toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The transfer device is a device for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum onto a sheet. The fixing device is a device for fixing the transferred toner image on a sheet.

  The input operation unit 7 includes a key group and a display panel (not shown), and the key group includes a numeric keypad, a start key, and the like. The start key is a key for instructing image formation by the image forming unit 5. The display panel is a touch panel type that allows an operator to perform input operations by touching the screen directly, and displays various information related to image formation, as well as settings for communication with other PCs. The operation screen in the order of seeds can be displayed. A plurality of input buttons, tags, and the like are displayed on each operation screen as necessary.

The communication unit 9 transmits / receives image data to / from a PC connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
Here, the other input / output unit 11 has a paper feeding device (not shown). The paper feeding device is a device for feeding papers arranged in the plurality of paper feeding cassettes 10 and the manual feed tray 12 to the image forming unit 5.

The control unit 13 is connected to the document reading unit 3, the image forming unit 5, the input operation unit 7, the communication unit 9, and the other input / output unit 11, and specifically includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The
The CPU controls the operation of the image forming unit 5 and the like, and can create image data by digitizing the image information sent from the document reading unit 3. Further, the CPU displays a predetermined operation screen when performing an input operation.

Here, the case where the setting screen (first operation screen) 20 shown in FIG. 3 and the selection screen (second operation screen) 24 shown in FIG. 4 are displayed will be described as an example.
The setting screen 20 is an operation screen for performing various settings related to communication with the PC selected by the operator, and includes a transmission size selection button 22 for selecting the transmission size of image data, as shown in FIG. A plurality of input button groups 26 are displayed. In addition, the setting screen 20 has a work stop button (first end button) 21 displayed in the upper right area of the screen. The work cancel button 21 is a button for canceling the setting work on the setting screen 20, and when the work stop button 21 is pressed, the CPU deletes the setting items held in the RAM and closes the setting screen 20. The input operation unit 7 is controlled. Then, the CPU controls the operation of the input operation unit 7 so as not to accept an external input operation to the work stop button 21 for a predetermined time after the close button 23 is pressed. The length of the predetermined time here is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 second or more and less than 2 seconds here.

  The selection screen 24 is an operation screen that opens on the setting screen 20 when the transmission size selection button 22 on the setting screen 20 is pressed. On the selection screen 24, a plurality of transmission size buttons 25 are displayed, and a close button (second end button) 23 is displayed in the upper right portion of the screen. The close button 23 is a button for closing the selection screen 24 and is displayed at the same position as the area on the setting screen 20 where the work stop button 21 is displayed. The CPU turns on the flag when the close button 23 is pressed to start counting the predetermined time, and turns off the flag after the predetermined time has elapsed.

  In addition to functioning as a work area for the CPU, the RAM has an area for holding contents input by the input operation unit 7 and contents of image data sent from the PC. In addition, when the setting screen 20 is displayed, the RAM can hold the contents of the input operation performed until the work stop button 21 is pressed.

The ROM stores a program related to control performed by the CPU, a program related to the operation of the image forming unit 5 and the like, a program related to the operation screens 20 and 24, and the like.
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Here, first, an input operation is performed on the display panel of the input operation unit 7 to select a PC to which image data created by the control unit 13 is sent (S1). Then, it is confirmed that the flag is turned off (S2), and the setting screen 20 is displayed on the display panel (S3), and the operator can perform a necessary input operation. Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the flag is on. At this point, since the flag is off, the transmission size selection button 22 on the setting screen 20 is pressed (S6). ), The selection screen 24 is opened (S7). If the close button 23 is pressed after the transmission size is selected on the selection screen 24 (S8), the flag is turned on (S9), and the setting screen 20 is displayed again (S3).

  Since it is determined that the flag is on (S4), the operation stop button 21 is not accepted for a predetermined time (S5). Note that the operation of the other input buttons on the setting screen 20 can be performed for a predetermined time (S6).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S4 that the flag is off, when the input button is not pressed as in the case where the necessary input operation has already been completed, the work stop button 21 is pressed (S10). ), The operation on the setting screen 20 is stopped (S11), and the setting screen 20 is closed. Further, when the work stop button 21 is not pressed (S10), when the destination key is designated and the start key is pressed (S12), image data is transmitted (S13).

  In the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above, when the selection screen 24 is closed, even if the close button 23 is further pressed within a predetermined time, an input operation to the work stop button 21 on the setting screen 20 is not accepted. For this reason, according to this apparatus 1, it can avoid closing the setting screen 20 accidentally.

  In particular, in this apparatus 1, it is possible to avoid returning the content already input to the setting screen 20 to the initial state by operating so that the input operation to the work stop button 21 is not accepted for a predetermined time. Is freed from the hassle of having to perform a similar input operation again.

[Other Embodiments]
(A) The display device of the present invention may be used not only for an image forming apparatus but also for a PC (including a monitor, a mouse, etc.) in which a printer driver is installed. In this case, specifically, the first and second operation screens are configured to be displayed on the PC monitor, and the second end button is displayed on the displayed operation screen by a PC mouse and keyboard for a predetermined time. When the user clicks twice or more in succession, the input operation to the first end button is not accepted.

  (B) The first and second operation screens are not limited to the button arrangement and configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, the second operation screen may be configured to be displayed by pressing an input button other than the transmission size selection button 22.

(C) The area where the second end button is displayed need not coincide with the area where the first end button is displayed, and may be displayed so as to overlap at least partially.
(D) The first end button may be a button having a function of closing the screen, like the second end button.

  (E) The image forming apparatus 1 may not be connected to another PC or the like via a LAN and the Internet.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a setting screen displayed on a display panel of the image forming apparatus. The top view which shows the selection screen displayed on the said display panel. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 20 Setting screen 21 Work stop button 23 Close button 24 Selection screen

Claims (4)

A display device capable of displaying an operation screen for accepting an input operation from outside,
A display unit;
A first display control unit capable of displaying on the display unit a first operation screen having a first end button for ending acceptance of a subsequent input operation by an external input operation;
The second operation screen can be displayed on the display unit by overlaying the second operation screen on the first operation screen by a predetermined input operation performed on the first operation screen. A second display control unit, which is disposed in a surface direction area overlapping with the end button and has a second end button for closing the second operation screen by an input operation from the outside,
The first display control unit stops accepting an input operation to the first end button for a predetermined time after the second end button is pressed;
Display device.   While the first operation screen is displayed, the first display control unit can hold the contents of the input operation performed on the first operation screen, and the first end button is pressed. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the content of the input operation that has been performed on the first operation screen is deleted. An original reading unit for reading information recorded on the original;
An image forming unit that forms an image based on information read by the document reading unit;
An input operation unit capable of inputting information including conditions relating to image formation and having the display device according to claim 1 or 2,
An image forming apparatus. A display device according to claim 1 or 2,
An input device for performing an input operation on an operation screen displayed on the display unit of the display device;
An input reception device comprising:

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