JP2006146511A - Processing device and image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming apparatus which can adequately display an image-forming function desired by a user. <P>SOLUTION: When a user presses, for example, a character input key 245 corresponding to the Japanese Hiragana character "Ke" (vertical bar and cross with a space in between), the Hiragana character "Ke" is displayed in an inputted-character item, and the names of image-forming functions whose first letters are the Japanese Hiragana character "Ke" are retrieved from stored names, and the image-forming functions associated with the corresponding names are displayed in a list form in a candidate list 249. In more detail, an image-forming function, which is called "combination (integration)", is displayed in the candidate list 249. That is, in this case, a "integration function" is displayed as an image-forming function, and the name "combination" is related to the "integration function". In other words, the "integration function" is displayed based on the name "combination" in the candidate list. By this, an image-forming function desired by a user is adequately displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus particularly relates to an image forming apparatus including an input operation unit.

Conventionally, digital devices having a character input function and an input prediction function have been widely used. For example, in a document creation device such as a word processor, a user performs a character input operation to create a desired document. Such an apparatus generally performs an input prediction process in order to improve the efficiency of the user's character input operation.
The input prediction process is a process for predicting a word or the like whose initial character is based on a character input by the user. For example, the input prediction process is provided in the apparatus and is based on dictionary data in which various words are registered. This is done by searching for a word or the like whose initial character is the input character and displaying the search result. As a result, the user only needs to input an initial letter such as a word to be input, and the word or the like is displayed, so that a complicated character input operation can be omitted. An apparatus having such a function is described in Patent Document 1.
JP 2000-29874 A

  By the way, it is conceivable to perform such input prediction processing in the image forming apparatus. Specifically, the image forming apparatus has various image forming functions. By using this image forming function, for example, various types of image formation such as “enlargement” and “reduction” can be performed. . The user must search and set a desired image forming function in order to perform such image formation, but the operation is complicated. Therefore, in the input operation unit for setting the image forming function, the user can input an initial of the desired image forming function, and then predict the image forming function based on the character and display it. Thus, the user can omit the operation of searching for the image forming function, and the workability can be improved.

  However, since the name of the image forming function in the image forming apparatus is not uniquely determined, for example, is different for each manufacturer, the name of the image forming function imagined by the user and the image forming apparatus to be set The name may not match. In such a case, the initial character input by the user does not match the initial character of the image forming function to be set, and thus there is a problem that the input prediction process cannot be performed correctly.

Although the image forming apparatus has been described here as an example, such inconvenience may occur not only in the image forming apparatus but also in a processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a mobile phone.
The present invention has been made based on such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a processing apparatus capable of accurately displaying a processing function desired by a user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately displaying an image forming function desired by a user.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a character input unit (241) for inputting characters, and a function registration unit (302) that associates and registers a plurality of names for one processing function. ) And at least one character is input from the character input unit, it is predicted which of the names registered by the function registration means is a name whose initial character is the input character. Furthermore, a prediction extraction means (301) for extracting a processing function associated with the predicted name, a display means (241) for displaying the processing function extracted by the prediction extraction means, and a display on the display means And a setting means (251, 252) for selectively setting the processed function.

The alphanumeric characters in parentheses indicate corresponding components in the embodiments described later. The same applies hereinafter.
According to this configuration, the name of the processing function is predicted by the prediction extraction unit based on the fact that at least one character has been input to the character input unit, and the processing function associated with the name is extracted and displayed. Is done. Thus, for example, if the name of the processing function imagined by the user is one of a plurality of names associated with a certain processing function, the processing function is displayed by inputting the initial of the name. The Therefore, the processing function desired by the user can be accurately displayed. In addition, the setting unit can set a desired processing function from the displayed processing function.

For example, if a name that is easy for the user to remember is registered in association with the processing function, the processing function is displayed by inputting the initial of the name. Therefore, the processing function desired by the user can be accurately displayed.
The processing device is, for example, a personal computer or a mobile phone.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus (1) including an input operation unit (24) for setting an image forming function, for inputting characters provided in the input operation unit. The character input unit (241), the function registration unit (302) for registering a plurality of names in association with one image forming function, and the fact that at least one character is input from the character input unit, Prediction extraction means for predicting which of the names registered with the function registration means is a name whose initial character is the input character, and for extracting an image forming function associated with the predicted name (301) and display means (241) provided in the input operation unit and displaying the image forming function extracted by the prediction extraction means.

  According to this configuration, the name of the image forming function is predicted by the prediction extraction unit based on the fact that at least one character is input to the character input unit, and the image forming function associated with the name is extracted. Displayed. Thereby, for example, if the name of the image forming function imagined by the user is one of a plurality of names associated with a certain image forming function, the image forming function can be obtained by inputting the initial of the name. Is displayed. Therefore, the image forming function desired by the user can be accurately displayed.

For example, if a name that is easy for the user to remember is registered in association with the image forming function, the image forming function is displayed by inputting the initial of the name. Therefore, the image forming function desired by the user can be accurately displayed.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the input operation unit (24) includes setting means (251, 252) for selectively setting the image forming function displayed on the display means (241). The image forming apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus (1) is characterized in that

  According to this configuration, since the displayed image forming function can be selectively set, the user can set a desired image forming function from the image forming functions extracted by the prediction extraction unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by taking a copying machine as an example.
FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a digital copying machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The digital copying machine 1 is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 2 and a document feeder 3 provided on the main body 2. Further, in the main body 2, an image reading unit 21 that reads the contents of a document sent by the document feeder 3 as image data, and an image is formed (printed) on a sheet based on the image data read by the image reading unit 21. An image forming unit 22 and a sheet storage unit 23 that stores sheets of various sizes for forming an image are provided. Further, an operation display unit 24 for a user to perform a predetermined operation is provided on the upper front surface of the main body 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation display unit 24 in detail.
A liquid crystal display unit 241 is provided at the center of the operation display unit 24, a key input unit 242 is provided on the right side of the liquid crystal display unit 241, and an LED display unit is provided behind the liquid crystal display unit 241. 243 is provided. A setting unit 244 is provided on the left side of the liquid crystal display unit 241.

The key input unit 242 includes a numeric key 242a, a start key 242b, and the like. The setting unit 244 includes various setting keys, and includes an input prediction setting key 244a.
The user can perform a predetermined operation on the liquid crystal display unit 241, the key input unit 242, and the setting unit 244, and a signal corresponding to the operation is given to the control unit 20 described later. In addition, by controlling the display mode of the liquid crystal display unit 241 and the light emission mode of the LED display unit 243 based on the signal from the control unit 20, the driving status, the setting status, and the like are displayed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital copying machine 1.
The digital copying machine 1 includes the above-described image reading unit 21, image forming unit 22, and operation display unit 24, and further includes a control unit 20 that controls these and an HDD 40 that stores image data. Yes.
The image reading unit 21 has a well-known configuration, and includes a scanner 211 that emits light toward the original. The image data of the original is reflected from the light emitted from the scanner 211 toward the original as a CCD image. It is obtained by detecting with the sensor 212 and converting it into an electrical signal.

The control unit 20 includes, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, and an image processing unit 304 for performing predetermined processing on image data.
The control unit 20 includes an image reading unit 21, an image forming unit 22, an operation display unit 24, and an HDD 40, each of which receives signals and data from the control unit 20 via an I / F (interface) 305. Output is possible.

  Then, the document set on the document feeder 3 is sent to the image reading unit 21, and the image reading unit 21 reads the image data of the document. The image data is sent from the CCD image sensor 212 to the image processing unit 304 of the control unit 20. The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined processing in the image processing unit 304 is sent to the HDD 40 and stored in the HDD 40.

When an image is formed (printed) on a sheet, the image data stored in the HDD 40 is read out and sent to the image processing unit 304, subjected to signal processing for printing, and performed in the image forming unit 22. It is sent to an LSU (laser operation unit) 221.
Here, as will be described later, the digital copying machine 1 has various image forming functions. By operating the operation display unit 24 and selecting and setting a desired image forming function, image processing is performed. Part 304 performs predetermined processing on the image data. Specifically, the ROM 302 stores programs for various image forming functions. When the image forming function is set in the operation display unit 24, the CPU 301 reads out the programs from the ROM 302, thereby converting the image data into image data. Predetermined processing is performed. The ROM 302 also stores the name of the image forming apparatus associated with the image forming function program.

  The image forming unit 22 has a well-known configuration and forms an image on a sheet by a so-called electrophotographic method. For example, a photosensitive drum (not shown) is uniformly charged, and the LSU 221 applies the photosensitive drum to the photosensitive drum. By applying light based on the image data, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image, the toner image is transferred to the paper sent from the paper storage unit 23, and the transferred toner image is fixed, thereby forming an image on the paper. The digital copying machine 1 is, for example, a composite copying machine, and can transmit image data processed by the image processing unit 304 to an external device (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the types of image forming functions stored in the ROM 302.
As shown in FIG. 4, there are a wide variety of image forming functions stored as programs in the ROM 302. Specifically, the ROM 302 stores 217 types of image forming functions (in FIG. 4, 217 types of image forming functions are stored). Some of the image forming functions are omitted). Although not shown in FIG. 4, the image forming functions stored in the ROM 302 are associated with a plurality of names, and the names are also stored in the ROM 302.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of names of image forming functions stored in the ROM 302.
The ROM 302 stores a plurality of names associated with one image forming function. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, for the image forming function “aggregation function”, “aggregation”, “Nup”, “2in1”, “4in1”, “8in1”, “Nin1”, “to one sheet” Names such as “combine”, “combine”, “2”, “4”, “8”, “N”, “combine several”, “join” are stored in association with each other. As described above, the image forming function stored in the ROM 302, that is, the image forming function shown in FIG. 4 is associated with a plurality of names.

6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating specific display modes of the liquid crystal display unit 241. FIG. A specific operation procedure for setting the image forming function in the digital copying machine 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
The user sets a document on the document feeder 3 and then operates the operation display unit 24 to set a desired image forming function and form an image on a sheet. At this time, the user can quickly search and set a desired image forming function with a simple operation.

Specifically, when the user presses the input prediction setting key 244a of the setting unit 244, the liquid crystal display unit 241 has a character input key 245, an alphabet / number switching key 246, and a delete key 247 as shown in FIG. Is displayed.
The character input key 245 is composed of a plurality of characters, and by pressing these, the characters can be input. The character input key 245 is initially composed of a plurality of hiragana characters.

  The alphabet / number switching key 246 is a key for switching characters displayed as the character input key 245 from hiragana characters to alphabets and numbers. When the alphabet / number switching key 246 is pressed, the character input key 245 Alphabets and numbers are displayed. When alphabets and numbers are displayed as the character input key 245, a hiragana switching key (not shown) is also displayed. When the hiragana switching key is pressed, the hiragana character is again displayed as the character input key 245. Is displayed.

The delete key 247 is a key for deleting an input character. For example, when the user inputs an incorrect character, the character can be corrected by pressing the delete key 247 and thereafter New correct characters can be entered.
Then, when the initial character of the desired image forming function is input by the user using the character input key 245, a new input character field 248, candidate list 249, A selection key 251 and a setting key 252 are displayed.

The input character column 248 is a column for displaying characters input by the user.
The candidate list 249 is a column for displaying a list of image forming functions predicted to be an image forming function desired by the user.
The selection key 251 can select up and down. When the selection key 251 is operated, a cursor 253 described later moves up and down.

The setting key 252 is a key for setting a desired image forming function from the image forming functions displayed in the candidate list 249.
For example, when the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 241 and the user presses and inputs “K” of the character input key 245, as shown in FIG. Is displayed as “Ke”. In the candidate list 249, the names of the image forming functions having “ke” as an initial letter are searched from the names stored in the ROM 302, and the image forming functions associated with the corresponding names are displayed in a list. The

  More specifically, in FIG. 7, an image forming function “join (aggregate)” is displayed in the candidate column 249. That is, in this case, the “aggregation function” is displayed as the image forming function. The image forming function “aggregation function” is associated with the name “join” as shown in FIG. That is, the “aggregation function” is displayed in the candidate list based on the name “combined” with “ke” as an initial letter. Further, more specifically, for example, when “shi”, “N”, “2”, “4”, “8”, etc. are input from the character input key 245 by the user, Since names such as “aggregation”, “Nup”, “2 in 1”, “4 in 1”, “8 in 1”, and the like are associated with each other, “aggregation function” is similarly displayed in the candidate list 249.

Initially, the cursor 253 is set to one of the image forming functions displayed in a list. In this embodiment, the cursor 253 is set to “join (aggregate)”.
When the user operates the selection key 251, the cursor 253 is variously adjusted to the image forming function displayed in the candidate list 249. When the setting key 252 is pressed, the image forming function with the cursor 253 is set. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the cursor 253 is placed on “combination (aggregation)” displayed in the candidate list 249 and the setting key 252 is pressed, the liquid crystal display unit 241 is used for detailed setting of the aggregation function. A screen is displayed (not shown).

Thereafter, when the image forming function is set and the start key 242b of the operation display unit 24 is pressed, an image based on the set content is formed on the sheet.
In the above description, it is also possible to input the second and subsequent characters after the character input key 245 is pressed and input. In this case, an image forming function using a plurality of inputted characters as initials is displayed in the candidate list 249. For example, if “K” is input as the first character and “T” is input as the second character, the candidate list 249 displays a list of image forming functions that start with “Ketsu” (“Yu”). The Thereby, the image forming function desired by the user is displayed more accurately.

Moreover, the structure which can newly register the name linked | related with the image formation function by operation of the operation display part 24 may be sufficient. In this way, a name that is easy for the user to remember can be registered in association with the image forming function. Therefore, the image forming function desired by the user can be displayed more accurately.
As described above, in this embodiment, the name of the image forming function is predicted based on the character input key 245 being pressed, and the image forming function associated with the name is extracted and displayed. The Thus, for example, if the name of the image forming function imagined by the user is one of a plurality of names associated with a certain image forming function, the initial character of the name is pressed and input. An image forming function is displayed. Therefore, the image forming function desired by the user can be accurately displayed.

In addition, since the image forming function displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 241 can be selectively set using the selection key 251 and the setting key 252, the user can use the image forming function displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 241. The desired image forming function can be set.
In this embodiment, the digital copying machine 1 has been described as an example, but the above-described processing can also be performed in a processing device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone. In this case, a processing function desired by the user can be accurately displayed on a personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of an operation display part in detail. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a digital copying machine. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing types of image forming functions stored in a ROM. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of names of image forming functions stored in a ROM. FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific display mode of the liquid crystal display part before a character input key is operated. It is a figure which shows the specific display mode of the liquid crystal display part after the character input key was operated.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Copier 24 Operation Display Unit 241 Liquid Crystal Display Unit 251 Selection Key 252 Setting Key 301 CPU
302 ROM

Claims (3)

A character input part for inputting characters,
Function registration means for associating and registering a plurality of names for one processing function;
Based on the fact that at least one character has been input from the character input unit, predicting which of the names registered by the function registration means is a name having the input character as an initial character; A prediction extraction means for extracting a processing function associated with the predicted name;
Display means for displaying the processing functions extracted by the prediction extraction means;
And a setting means for selectively setting the processing function displayed on the display means. An image forming apparatus including an input operation unit for setting an image forming function,
A character input unit for inputting characters provided in the input operation unit;
Function registration means for registering a plurality of names in association with one image forming function;
Based on the fact that at least one character has been input from the character input unit, predicting which of the names registered by the function registration means is a name having the input character as an initial character; Prediction extraction means for extracting an image forming function associated with the predicted name;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display unit that is provided in the input operation unit and displays an image forming function extracted by the prediction extraction unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input operation unit includes setting means for selectively setting an image forming function displayed on the display means.

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