JP2006023838A - Display method for image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to save labor to open and confirm a setting edition dialog box each time in order to search out target setting items at the time of performing a setting operation. <P>SOLUTION: When a user focuses on one setting object from the list of setting objects displayed on a master dialog box 11, editable setting items A, B, ... included in the setting objects are displayed in a master dialog box 11. In a preferable embodiment, currently set parameters are displayed so as to be lined up side by side next to the editable setting items. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display method of an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to a user interface of the image processing apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus includes a camera, an image processing apparatus main body that processes captured images captured from the camera, and a monitor connected to the image processing apparatus main body. Various settings relating to image processing are displayed on the monitor. Generally, this is done by the setting edit screen.

  Since an image processing apparatus has many setting items related to image processing, a hierarchical structure is adopted as a user interface for performing settings. FIG. 1 shows an overview of a conventional hierarchical relationship regarding settings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a setting / editing menu. The setting / editing menu 1 displays a list of menu items. For example, when hierarchization is performed by dividing into categories, for example, a generic name classified as setting category 1 (for example, “image input” of a captured image) is displayed in editing menu 1, and setting category A generic name classified as 2 (for example, “registration” of an image) is displayed in a menu. For example, when the user focuses on category 2 and presses a confirmation button (not shown) such as the Enter key to determine (confirm), the parent dialog box 2 relating to category 2 is displayed. The parent dialog box 2 displays a list of setting targets included in category 1 such as camera 1 and camera 2 as setting targets included in category 1. For example, when the user wants to check the setting item of the camera 2 or edit the setting or confirm the current setting state, the user selects the camera 2 by focusing, and then presses a confirmation key (not shown) to determine the child dialog 3. You can see the current setting state by looking at the display of this child dialog box 3, and by opening the child dialog box 3 and the grandchild dialog box as necessary, a plurality of setting items related to the camera 2 can be displayed. Can be edited.

  As described above, the user interface related to the setting of the image processing apparatus is provided to the user by using the parent-child relationship of a plurality of dialog boxes, and the user focuses the desired setting target from the list of setting targets displayed in the parent dialog box 2. Thus, the child dialog box 3 can be opened for the first time so that the current setting status can be known and detailed setting work can be performed.

  In the conventional user interface, until the child dialog box 3 for setting, that is, the setting editing dialog box located in the lower layer is opened, the user can know what setting items are included in the setting editing dialog box. For this reason, in order to find the target setting item, it is necessary to open the setting edit dialog boxes that seem to be applicable one after another and search for the desired setting item.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a display method of an image processing apparatus that can confirm where a target setting item exists with a small operation when a user performs a setting operation.

  A further object of the present invention is to find a target setting item when the user performs setting work, and press the enter button many times to open the parent-child relation dialog one after another to reach the setting editing dialog box. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display method of an image processing apparatus that can save labor that must be done.

According to the present invention, the above technical problem is
A display method of an image processing apparatus in which a display related to a setting of an image processing apparatus that processes a captured image captured from a camera is configured in a hierarchical structure, and detailed settings can be performed in a setting edit dialog box located in a lower layer,
A list of setting targets is displayed in a parent dialog box at a higher level of the setting editing dialog box, and editable setting items included in the setting target focused by the user are displayed from the setting target list. This is achieved by providing a display method of an image processing apparatus characterized by the above.

  That is, referring to FIG. 2, according to the present invention, the user simply focuses on one setting object from the list of setting objects displayed in the parent dialog box 11 and is included in this setting object. Since the editable setting items A, B,... Are displayed, the editable setting items included in the focused setting object can be confirmed without opening the child dialog box 12 (setting edit dialog box). Can do. Therefore, it is possible to check where the target setting item exists with a few operations. That is, it is possible to save the trouble of focusing and confirming one setting object from the list of setting objects and opening the setting editing dialog box as in the prior art.

  In FIG. 2, in order to open the parent dialog box 11, it is illustrated that a desired category is focused and determined from the setting edit menu 10 in the higher hierarchy, but the parent dialog box 11 is not limited thereto. . The parent dialog box 11 may be opened only by focusing a desired category in the list displayed in the setting edit menu 10. According to this, the parent dialog box 11 is automatically opened only by focusing a desired category on the setting edit menu 10, and the desired setting object is focused on the parent dialog box 11 from the list of setting objects to be displayed. In other words, the editable setting items included in the focused setting object can be confirmed without pressing the confirm button.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the list of setting targets displayed in the parent dialog box and the editable setting items A, B,... The contents are displayed. According to this, not only the editable setting items included in the focused setting object can be confirmed without opening the child dialog box, but also the setting status of each setting item can be confirmed together.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 shows an outline of the configuration of the image processing system. The image processing system 5 includes a camera 6 for photographing an inspection object (work) W and an image processing apparatus main body for processing a captured image supplied from the color camera 6. 7 and a monitor 8 connected to the image processing apparatus main body 7, and a plurality of cameras 6 can be connected to the image processing apparatus main body 8. Various settings of the image processing system 5 can be performed by a user using a screen displayed on the monitor 8.

  The image processing system 5 employs a hierarchical user interface in the same manner as in the past for various settings performed by the user. 4 to 9 show specific examples. Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the outline of the hierarchical user interface will be described. First, FIG. 4 shows a main menu titled “Edit settings” on the left corner of the monitor 8 regarding setting editing. Indicates the state. The main menu illustrated in FIG. 4 includes menu items “image input”, “image registration”, “window”... “Update” from the top.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which a second-level dialog box is displayed on the right side of the main menu. The dialog box of the second hierarchy illustrated in FIG. 5 relates to the main menu item “window”. In the second hierarchy dialog box, a list of programs related to “window” is displayed in the right window. In the left window, the registered name of the corresponding program is displayed together with the ID number “W001 to 8”. Various program names on the right side, that is, “pattern search”, “area”, and the like are names that classify categories set on the manufacturer side, that is, setting targets, and the registered names that are arranged side by side can be arbitrarily registered by the user. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, “name” is displayed in IDW001 and the like, but this merely means that the user is not registered.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the right window of the second hierarchy dialog box in FIG. 5 is switched to another second display mode. That is, the first display mode for category classification display in the right window of the second hierarchy dialog box described with reference to FIG. 5 can be switched from the first display mode to the second display mode of FIG. In the second display mode, the setting item and the current setting state are displayed on the right side thereof.

  FIG. 7 shows a third-level dialog box, which is a setting edit dialog box.

  Next, an operation for changing the monitor display from FIG. 4 to FIG. 5 and FIG. 5 to FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 4 shows a state where none of the menu items displayed on the main menu is focused. That is, FIG. 4 shows a state immediately after the main menu is displayed. The user can select a desired menu item from the display menu by pressing the Enter key (not shown), and the focus appears on the main menu for the first time. It is arbitrary which menu item is focused in the initial stage of the focus display, but generally “image input” at the top. The focus can be moved up and down by operating an up / down key (not shown).

  FIG. 5 shows the display state when the user operates the up and down keys (not shown) to focus on the third menu item “window” from the top of the main menu. The item “window” is displayed on the right side of the monitor 8. The second level dialog box for is displayed. As can be understood from this, when any menu item is focused in the main menu of FIG. 4, a second-level dialog box corresponding to the focused menu item is displayed on the right side of the main menu. . Therefore, when the user raises or lowers the focus of the main menu, the second-level dialog boxes related to the focused menu item can be sequentially displayed.

  Referring back to FIG. 5, in the second hierarchy dialog box displayed on the right side of the monitor, as described above, various programs are displayed in the right window as categories to be set, and in the left window, registered names registered by the user are displayed. It is displayed in association with the side. The user can know an outline of what setting objects are included in the menu item “window” by looking at the display of the second hierarchy dialog box.

  When the user wants to know more details, the user can move from the main menu to the second hierarchy dialog box by pressing the Enter key. It is arbitrary which registration name is focused when the focus is moved to the second hierarchy dialog box in the initial stage, but in general, it is a user registration name with the top ID “W001” appended thereto. In synchronization with the movement of the focus from the main menu to the second dialog box, the display mode of the right window of the second dialog box is switched to the second display mode. In the second display mode, the display content corresponds to the registered name focused in the second dialog box. FIG. 6 shows the second display mode when the top “W001” is focused.

  The focus of the second dialog box is moved up and down by the user operating the up and down keys, and the setting items and the like are displayed in the right window corresponding to each registered name focused. That is, when any of the various registered names displayed in the left window of the second dialog box is focused, a setting item corresponding to the focused registered name is displayed.

  In the second display mode, various setting items included in each registered name named by the user are displayed, and an outline of setting items related to the setting items is displayed. More specifically, FIG. 6 shows a display example in which the registered name of the top ID “W001”, that is, the “pattern search” program is focused, in the right window of the second dialog box. The various setting items included in the “pattern search” program and the current setting status corresponding to the setting items are displayed side by side, that is, in a state of being associated with each other.

  As a result, the user can confirm all the setting items related to the registered name “W001” and the current setting status of each item. Of course, when the user moves the focus of the second dialog box by operating the up and down keys (not shown), various setting items corresponding to the registered name focused and the current setting status corresponding thereto are displayed. It is possible to check various setting items of setting targets related to a plurality of registered names and current setting states corresponding to the setting items simply by operating the up and down keys. Note that the second display mode of the right window of the second dialog box can be returned to the second display mode by, for example, pressing a Return key (not shown).

  Returning to FIG. 6, the user sees the setting items displayed in the second-level dialog box and the current setting state corresponding to the setting items, and presses the Enter key outside the figure if editing is necessary. Thus, the third-level dialog box can be displayed (FIG. 7).

  FIG. 7 is a third hierarchy dialog box displayed when “W005” (that is, “pattern search”) is focused in the second hierarchy dialog box and is determined by pressing the Enter key (not shown). That is, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the setting edit dialog box related to “pattern search” is displayed. The display mode of the setting edit dialog box is preferably substantially the same as the display mode of the second display mode in the second hierarchy in FIG. 6, so that the second display mode from the second hierarchy in the second display mode is displayed. When the display shifts to the display of the third hierarchy, the user can see the display of the third hierarchy dialog box without a sense of incongruity.

  The dialog box of the third hierarchy is divided into left and right screens, a list of setting items is displayed in the left window, and setting contents corresponding to the setting items are displayed side by side in the right window. The display form of the right window is the first display mode when nothing is focused on the third hierarchy, as will be understood from the following description. That is, the focus does not appear in the initially displayed third hierarchy dialog box, and the focus appears by pressing the Enter key, for example. The setting item to be focused at the initial stage of the focus display is arbitrary, but is generally the top item “camera selection”. The focus can be moved up and down by operating an up / down key (not shown).

  FIG. 9 shows a display when the item “detail setting” displayed in the list in the left window of the third hierarchy dialog box is focused. As can be understood from FIG. 9, the right window of the third hierarchy dialog box switches to the second display mode, and becomes an individual setting screen relating to “detailed setting”. FIG. 9 is a diagram in which this individual setting screen is extracted. In addition, it can return to the 1st display mode mentioned above by pressing the Return key outside a figure from this 2nd display mode.

  Incidentally, when the parameter displayed at the top, that is, the setting content “search sensitivity” is focused on the detailed setting screen illustrated in FIG. 9, a high sensitivity, a normal sensitivity, and a low sensitivity are selected as a “search sensitivity” using a pull-down display. be able to. Similarly, the “search accuracy” can be set by focusing the display parameter, that is, “search accuracy” below. When the display of the third hierarchy dialog box is switched to the second mode, the focus shifts to the right window. The setting contents to be focused in the initial stage of the focus shift are arbitrary, but generally the “search sensitivity” at the top. The focus can be moved up and down by operating an up / down key (not shown). After completing the setting and editing of the various parameters in “Detailed settings”, it is only necessary to focus on “Input complete” at the bottom. As a result, the focus shifts to the left window, and by focusing another setting item from the list in the left window, the individual setting screen for the setting item can be displayed in the right window, and the individual setting item displayed in the right window can be displayed. Parameter settings can be edited using the setting screen.

  FIG. 10 shows a shortcut menu addition dialog box for adding a shortcut menu of a frequently used dialog box to the main menu (FIG. 4). This shortcut menu addition dialog box can be displayed on the monitor 4 by, for example, pressing a registration button included in a tool button (not shown). When “Yes” displayed in this addition dialog box is selected (confirmed), the dialog launcher box shown in FIG. 11 is opened. In this dialog launcher box, the ID of the dialog box to be registered, for example, the aforementioned ID “W005” (FIG. 8). ) To associate the shortcut menu with the registered dialog box. The sequence of this series of operations is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  As a result, a shortcut menu item is additionally displayed in the setting editing main menu (FIG. 4), and the user selects (confirms) this shortcut menu item and associates it with this shortcut menu according to the procedure shown in FIG. Dialog box can be opened immediately.

It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship of the hierarchical dialog box for various settings in an image processing apparatus, and the conventional operation procedure for opening a setting edit dialog box. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship of the hierarchical dialog box for various settings in the image processing apparatus according to this invention, and the operation procedure for opening a setting edit dialog box. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which the main menu for setting edit opened as a specific example. It is a figure which shows the state which the 2nd hierarchy dialog box opened by focusing the menu item of a main menu. It is a figure which shows the 2nd display mode of a 2nd hierarchy. It is a figure which shows the state which opened the 3rd hierarchy dialog box. It is a figure which shows the 2nd display mode of a 3rd hierarchy dialog box, and parameter setting edit can be performed in this 2nd display mode. It is the figure which extracted the setting edit screen displayed in the 2nd display mode of a 3rd hierarchy dialog box (setting edit dialog box). It is a figure which shows the addition dialog box for adding a shortcut menu item to a setting edit main menu in order to open the setting edit dialog box with high use frequency with a shortcut. It is a figure which shows the dialog launcher displayed in order to link the shortcut menu item registered into a main menu, and a desired setting edit dialog box. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure for adding a shortcut menu to a setting edit main menu. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of opening a specific setting edit dialog box using the shortcut added to the setting edit menu.

Explanation of symbols

5 Image Processing System 8 Monitor 10 Settings Edit Menu 11 Parent Dialog Box 12 Child Dialog Box (Setting Edit Dialog Box)

Claims (4)

A display method of an image processing apparatus in which a display related to a setting of an image processing apparatus that processes a captured image captured from a camera is configured in a hierarchical structure, and detailed settings can be performed in a setting edit dialog box located in a lower layer,
A list of setting targets is displayed in a parent dialog box at a higher level of the setting editing dialog box, and editable setting items included in the setting target focused by the user are displayed from the setting target list. A display method for an image processing apparatus. The parent dialog box is divided into a first part for displaying a list of setting targets and a second part for displaying the setting items.
The display method of the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part are arranged side by side in the left-right or vertical direction. The display method of image processing according to claim 2, wherein the setting content of each setting item is displayed in the second portion in addition to the setting item. The setting edit dialog box for the setting target opens when the user focuses and confirms the desired setting target from the setting targets displayed in a list in the parent dialog box. Display method of image processing apparatus.

Images