JP2006309478A - Operation input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation input device, capable of attaining various kinds of short-cut processing without displaying a short-cut key while achieving short-cut processing through a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: This operation input device comprises a display part displaying a plurality of menu keys, a touch panel arranged on the display part and detecting an operation to each menu key, a display processing part updating and displaying menu screens hierarchically from the upper order to the lower order on the display part, and a short-cut processing part displaying a menu screen of a specified layer based on a predetermined operation. The short-cut processing part includes a figure registration part recognizing a figure drawn through the touch panel and registering it in association with a menu screen of a specified layer; a figure identification part identifying whether or not a drawn figure is the same as a figure registered in the figure registration part; and a short-cut display processing part displaying, when the drawn figure is identified to be the same figure by the figure identification part, the menu screen related to this figure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a display unit that displays a plurality of menu keys, a touch panel that is arranged on the display unit and detects an operation on each menu key, and the display unit has a hierarchy from upper to lower in accordance with the operation on the menu key. In particular, the present invention relates to an operation input device that includes a display processing unit that updates and displays a menu screen, and a shortcut processing unit that displays a menu screen of a specific hierarchy based on a predetermined operation.

  The above-described operation input device is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, for example, and includes an input processing unit that recognizes that a menu key corresponding to the operation position is selected when the touch panel is pressed. However, in recent years, with the enhancement of the functions of image forming apparatuses, a very large number of menu keys are arranged and displayed on the display unit, and the operation for selecting a desired menu has become very complicated. Therefore, it has a display processing unit that divides a plurality of menu keys into functional units and divides and displays a plurality of menu keys for setting each function from the upper to the lower display hierarchy according to the operation procedure, and sets complicated functions. Is configured to be easily performed.

Furthermore, in order to eliminate the hassle of repeating the operation following such a procedure each time the copying machine is used, a menu screen frequently selected is associated with a predetermined shortcut key in the storage unit provided in the operation input device. An operation input device including a shortcut processing unit that reads out a menu screen stored in the storage unit by pressing a shortcut key displayed on the display unit and immediately displays the corresponding menu screen is proposed. Yes.
JP 2004-290492 A

  However, in the above-described conventional operation input device, the number of shortcut keys increases corresponding to the increase of menus to be registered, and it is difficult to display many shortcut keys on a display unit with a limited area. There is a disadvantage that the menus that can be registered are also limited.

  Therefore, it may be possible to provide a dedicated display hierarchy for displaying shortcut keys and display a number of shortcut keys. In this case, however, it is necessary to display a menu key and to operate the menu key for transition to the dedicated display hierarchy. Not only will the number of operations increase, but it will be difficult to identify which menu screen corresponds to a number of shortcut keys that may be individually set and registered by multiple operators, making it difficult to use. There is also a problem.

  The same problem is not limited to the operation input device provided in the image forming apparatus, but is a problem common to operation input devices that need to select and operate a large number of menus.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an operation input device capable of realizing various types of shortcut processing without displaying shortcut keys while realizing shortcut processing with a simple operation in view of the above-described conventional drawbacks.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first characteristic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit for displaying a plurality of menu keys and a display unit as described in claim 1 of the document of the claims. A touch panel that is arranged above and detects an operation on each menu key, a display processing unit that updates and displays the menu screen hierarchically from upper to lower in accordance with the operation on the menu key, and specified based on a predetermined operation An operation input device configured to include a shortcut processing unit that displays a hierarchical menu screen. The shortcut processing unit recognizes a graphic drawn via a touch panel and registers it in association with a specific hierarchical menu screen. The graphic registration unit, the graphic identification unit that identifies the difference between the drawn graphic and the graphic registered in the graphic registration unit, and the graphic identification unit identify the same graphic. Lies in that is configured provided with a shortcut display processing unit for displaying a menu screen associated with that figure when.

  According to the above configuration, when the operator draws a figure via the touch panel, the figure identifying unit identifies the registered figure that matches the figure drawn from the figure registered in the figure registering unit, and the shortcut display processing unit As a result, a menu screen of a specific hierarchy associated with the figure is displayed, so that it is possible to realize a shortcut process capable of shifting to a desired menu screen without displaying a shortcut key on the display unit. Therefore, even for a display unit with a limited display area, the number of shortcut processes corresponding to the number of figures that can be registered in the figure registration unit is possible, and shortcut processing can be performed with a simple operation of drawing and inputting figures. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a user-friendly operation input device.

  In addition to the first feature configuration described above, the second feature configuration includes an operator recognition unit that recognizes an individual operator or department, and the graphic registration unit is recognized. The graphic is registered for each operator, and the graphic recognizing unit is for identifying the difference between the recognized operator and the graphic registered in the graphic registering unit.

  According to the above-described configuration, the graphic registration unit can perform graphic registration for each operator recognized by the operator recognition unit, thereby registering different menu screens for each operator in association with each other even for the same graphic. The number of shortcut processes can be increased corresponding to the number of operators. As a result, each operator can register his / her own shortcut menu without being conscious of other people's pre-registered drawing figures, and the convenience can be further improved.

  In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 3, in addition to the first or second feature configuration described above, a shortcut key display for displaying each graphic registered in the graphic registration unit as a shortcut key The shortcut display processing unit includes a processing unit, and displays a menu screen associated with the graphic based on the operation of the displayed shortcut key.

  According to the above-described configuration, each figure is displayed as a shortcut key by the shortcut key display processing unit, so that the operator can visually confirm the displayed shortcut key figure without confusing the desired shortcut key. The selection operation can be surely performed.

  In the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 4, in addition to any of the first to third feature configurations described above, the graphic registration unit and the graphic identification unit have a touch panel area in a grid of a predetermined size. Recognize the figure drawn based on the trajectory of the grid that was divided and pressed, and the figure identification unit is to identify the difference from the registered figure based on the geometric feature of the recognized figure .

  According to the above configuration, when the figure registration unit and the figure identification unit recognize the drawn figure, the figure registration unit recognizes the drawing figure based on the shape formed by the pressed grid in the grid of the touch panel divided into regions. Therefore, the geometric feature of the drawn figure can be extracted properly by setting the grid size appropriately, and the figure recognition unit registers it based on the recognized geometric feature of the figure. This makes it possible to easily identify differences from the figure that has been made.

  In addition to the fourth feature configuration described above, the fifth feature configuration includes a grid size setting unit that variably sets a grid size for region division, and includes a graphic registration unit and a graphic configuration. The discriminating unit is to recognize a drawing figure based on the set grid size.

  According to the above-described configuration, the accuracy of recognizing the drawing figure by the figure registration unit and the figure recognition unit is changed by changing the grid size that divides the touch panel into regions. Although the recognition accuracy is low and the number of figures that can be registered is reduced, the figure identification speed in the figure identification section is increased, and when the grid size is set small, the figure identification speed in the figure identification section is slow. However, the accuracy of recognizing a drawing figure increases and the number of figures that can be registered increases. Therefore, the degree of freedom that an appropriate lattice size can be selected according to the use environment is increased.

  In the sixth feature configuration, in addition to any one of the first to fifth feature configurations described above, the graphic display processing unit displays the trace of the drawn graphic on the display unit. It is in the point provided with.

  According to the above configuration, since the locus of the graphic drawn by the operator is displayed on the display unit, the operator can easily recognize the graphic drawn by the operator, and if there is an erroneous input But they will be able to deal with it appropriately.

  In addition to any of the first to sixth feature configurations described above, the seventh feature configuration is the same as described in claim 7, and for graphics drawn from any level of the menu screen, The graphic identification unit identifies the difference between the drawn graphic and the graphic registered in the graphic registration unit, and the shortcut display processing unit is associated with the graphic when the graphic identification unit identifies the same graphic. The menu screen is displayed.

  According to the above-described configuration, the operator can move to a desired shortcut menu without being aware of the display hierarchy regardless of which menu screen is displayed. It can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an operation input device capable of realizing various types of shortcut processing without displaying shortcut keys while realizing shortcut processing with a simple operation. It was.

  An embodiment in which the operation input device according to the present invention is applied to an operation unit of a digital copying machine will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a digital copying machine 1 includes an operation unit 2 on which a plurality of copy menu setting keys for setting various copy menus, a start key for starting a copy operation in the set copy menu, and the like, and a document An image reading unit 4 that sequentially reads a series of originals set on the loading unit 3 and converts them into electronic data, and forms a toner image on a sheet based on the image data converted into electronic data by the image reading unit 4. An electrophotographic image forming unit 5 that outputs the sheet, a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 6 (6a to 6d) each containing sheets of different sizes or types, and a manual sheet feeding port (not shown) provided on the left side of the machine. Z).

  The operation unit 2 is arranged on the front side of the image reading unit 4 and, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 2 is arranged in the center and is a display unit on which a plurality of menu keys are displayed, and the liquid crystal Arranged on the right side of the display unit 20, a basic control key group for copying operations such as a numeric input key 21, a start key 22, a stop / clear key 23 for setting the number of copies and the like, and an image read from the document are output on a sheet. A mode selection key for selecting whether to operate in a copy mode, a printer mode for printing output data from a computer or the like connected to a network on paper, and a scanner mode for reading document information and outputting to the network. A mode selection unit 24 for displaying the mode with LEDs and a special mode setting key 25 installed on the upper right side of the liquid crystal display unit 20 are provided. It is.

  The liquid crystal display unit 20 includes a message display area 201 for displaying the status of the digital copying machine 1 and operation messages at the top, and a menu setting key area 202 below the message display area 201. In the menu setting key area 202, a basic mode setting tab 204 for setting basic copy menus such as paper size, copy magnification, copy density, and sorting, and frequently used menus are individually set on the user side. A user function tab 205 that can be registered, a function list tab 206 that displays a plurality of menu keys for selecting a plurality of application functions prepared in the digital copying machine 1, and a shortcut to a specific menu screen And a program tab 207 for registering shortcut operations.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 2 includes an operation control unit 27 that detects pressing operations on various input keys and displays and outputs corresponding operations. The operation control unit 27 includes a CPU 271 that controls display of the liquid crystal display unit 20 and various LEDs based on a predetermined control program, a ROM 272 that stores the control program, a RAM 273 that is used in a working area, and the like. A VRAM 274 for expanding display data on the liquid crystal display unit 20, a liquid crystal driver 275 for driving the liquid crystal display unit 20 based on the display data of the VRAM 274, and a position for detecting the position of the liquid crystal display unit 20 pressed by the operator. The detection unit 276 includes an input buffer circuit 277 for inputting operation signals such as the start key 22 and the numerical value input key 21, and an input / output port 278 provided between the input buffer circuit 277 and the CPU 271. The CPU 271 communicates with the main body control unit 10 for controlling the copying operation via a communication line. It is connected Te.

  On the upper surface of the liquid crystal display unit 20, a touch panel made of a transparent electrode group for detecting an operation on each displayed menu key is provided. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the touch panel 26 has a plurality of lower transparent electrodes 262 installed on the upper surface of the glass plate 261 with the upper glass plate 261 of the liquid crystal display unit 20 as a base. And insulating dot spacers 263 that are installed on the upper surface of the lower transparent electrode 262 at regular intervals, and a plurality of upper transparent electrodes 264 that are installed orthogonally facing the lower transparent electrode 262 across the dot spacer 263. And an PET film 265 installed on the upper surface of the upper transparent electrode 264, and configured such that an electrode position that is brought into contact conduction by a pressing operation by an operator is detected as a pressing operation position by a position detection unit described later. ing.

  More specifically, when the operator presses the touch panel 26, the position information detected by the position detection unit 276 is input to the CPU 271 via the input / output port 278, and the display data developed in the VRAM 274 by the CPU 271. It is determined which menu key 203 has been selected based on the above. The CPU 271 is configured to update and display the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 20 by expanding a display screen corresponding to the pressed menu key in the VRAM 274 based on the control program.

  For example, when the menu key 203 (see FIG. 2) “A4 plain paper” is pressed by the operator, the menu key 203 area of “A4 plain paper” is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 by negative / positive reverse display. The processed menu is processed so that it can be visually confirmed. When the operator presses the “reduction / enlargement” menu key, although not shown, a plurality of menu keys for setting a magnification or a reduction magnification are displayed on the basic mode setting tab 204, and It is updated and displayed on the display screen of the lower hierarchy where an appropriate magnification can be selected.

  Further, when the function list tab 206 is selected, a plurality of menu keys for selecting a plurality of applied functions are displayed as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the “aggregate” menu is pressed. As shown in FIG. 6A, the “no setting” state selected as the default value, “2 in 1” in which two originals are reduced and copied, and one original of four originals. The screen shifts to a selection screen of three types of keys “4 in 1” to be reduced and copied. Here, the currently set mode (“no setting” state) is displayed in negative / positive inversion, and when the “2 in 1” key is selected, as shown in FIG. The screen shifts to a screen for setting the output form in detail, and the layout, page break, and document set direction can be selected. When the setting according to the user's intention is completed, the setting is completed when the “Register” key is operated, and the screen of FIG. 5 is returned when the “Close” key is operated. When the “4 in 1” key is operated, the screen transitions to the screen shown in FIG. 6C and the detailed output form setting screen, as described above.

  As described above, the operation unit 2 updates and displays the menu screen hierarchically from upper to lower on the liquid crystal display unit 20 in accordance with the operation on each menu key, so that complicated menu key setting operations are easily performed. In order to eliminate the complexity of having to select menu keys in order from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy, even on a frequently selected menu screen, it is based on a predetermined operation. A shortcut processing unit that immediately displays a menu screen of a specific hierarchy is provided. The shortcut processing unit will be described in detail below.

  When the main functions embodied by the CPU 271 of the operation control unit 27 are shown by functional blocks, as shown in FIG. 7, display processing for updating and displaying the menu screen hierarchically from the upper level to the lower level on the liquid crystal display unit 20 A unit 28, a shortcut processing unit 29 that displays a menu screen of a specific level based on a predetermined operation, an operator recognition unit 30 that is allowed to be used only by an authenticated individual or department, and the like. .

  The operator recognizing unit 30 includes an authentication data storage unit that stores an ID and password of an individual operator or a department to which the operator belongs, which is input in advance through the numeric input key 21, the touch panel 26, and the like. A collation unit for collating whether or not the ID and password thus obtained match the authentication data stored in the authentication data storage unit, and the operation of the operation unit 2 when the collation unit determines that the authentication data matches the authentication data It is configured to include an authentication unit that allows the use of a third party that is not authenticated.

  The shortcut processing unit 29 is recognized by the graphic display processing unit 295 for displaying the locus of the graphic drawn via the touch panel 26 on the liquid crystal display unit 20 and the operator recognition unit 30 for the drawn graphic. A graphic registration unit 291 for registering in association with a menu screen of a specific hierarchy for each operator, and a graphic identification unit for identifying for each operator recognized the difference between the drawn graphic and the graphic registered in the graphic registration unit 291 292, a shortcut display processing unit 293 that displays a menu screen associated with the graphic when the graphic identifying unit 292 identifies the same graphic, the lower transparent electrode 262 detected by the position detecting unit, and the upper transparent A reference grid point that is an opposite portion of the electrode 264 is partitioned by a grid point group including the reference grid point and a plurality of reference grid points adjacent thereto. And a grid size setting unit 294 segmenting the area as a grid size.

  The graphic registration unit 291 and the graphic identification unit 292 recognize the grid set by the grid size setting unit 294 as a unit pixel of the drawn graphic, and the graphic drawn based on the locus of the pressed grid Is configured to recognize. Here, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the grid size setting unit 294 is configured so that the grid size can be switched between two levels, large and small. Although the accuracy of recognition decreases and the number of figures that can be registered decreases, the figure identification speed in the figure identification unit 292 increases, and when the lattice size is set to a small size, the figure identification in the figure identification unit 292 is performed. Although the identification speed is slow, the accuracy of recognizing a drawn figure is increased and the number of figures that can be registered is set to be large.

  For example, when the operator inputs “Δ” as a drawing figure, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a hypotenuse is drawn from the upper center to the lower left of the touch panel 26, and from that point. The bottom is drawn to the right, and the remaining hypotenuse is drawn toward the top of the center. The graphic registration unit 291 recognizes the locus of the graphic drawn by the pressing operation in units of the set grid based on the time history of the pressing operation on each grid. The figure to be drawn is preferably a geometric figure drawn by a single action such as one-stroke drawing, but may be a figure having a plurality of strokes such as “x”. Here, the figure registering unit 291 and the figure recognizing unit 292 determine that the figure has been drawn only when the drawn figure has a predetermined input restriction condition, and draw the figure when it does not have the input restriction condition. It is configured not to judge that it has been made. As the input restriction condition, a figure that does not pass through a plurality of grid points, a figure that does not pass through a predetermined number of grid points, a filled figure, a figure in which a plurality of spaced apart grids are pressed simultaneously are set, etc. Can also be set.

  In addition, the graphic registration unit 291 and the graphic recognition unit 292 may define a clear graphic when a part of the drawn graphic includes a boundary portion of the lattice and the recognized graphic becomes unclear as a whole. After confirming that the recognized figure is translated, it is confirmed. As a translation condition, for example, a translation is applied so that the number of grid points occupied by a drawn figure is minimized. For example, as shown in FIG. 9C, when the character “N” is drawn, it can be recognized as a cleaner figure by moving in parallel as shown in FIG. 9D. .

  The graphic identification unit 292 identifies whether the graphic drawn by the operator is the same as the graphic registered in the graphic registration unit 291 based on the geometric feature of the recognized graphic. For example, a characteristic part included in both figures, such as whether it is a closed figure or an open figure, where a corner is located, whether it is a straight line or a curved line, is extracted and compared. Furthermore, the figure may be enlarged or reduced to make a determination based on whether the lattice arrangements of both figures match or whether the difference between the lattice arrangements is within a preset error range. Furthermore, it may be configured to determine whether or not the topological features of a plurality of lattices constituting the figure match.

  Hereinafter, a registration process for registering the figure drawn by the operator and the menu screen of the specific hierarchy in association with each other will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  If the program tab 207 is selected and operated while the menu screen of a predetermined hierarchy is displayed by the display processing unit 28 by the selection operation of the menu key by the operator (S1), as shown in FIG. A registration screen is displayed (S2). In accordance with a message (not shown) of “Please set the grid size” displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20, “Lattice size is large” for selecting the grid size set by the grid size setting unit 294. The grid size is set by selecting one of the two grid size selection menu keys "" and "small grid size", and the set grid is displayed (S3).

  When the operator starts drawing using the pointing tool such as a finger or a writing tool on the touch panel 26 in accordance with the message “Please input a registered figure” displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20, the drawn figure Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 by the graphic display processing unit 33 (S4). When drawing is finished and the registration key is pressed, it is determined by the graphic registration unit 291 whether or not the predetermined input restriction condition is satisfied (S5), and when the input restriction condition is not satisfied. A message requesting re-input is displayed and re-input is prompted (S6), and when the input restriction condition is satisfied, the drawn figure is the same as the figure already registered in the figure registration unit 291. (S7), and if they are the same, a message requesting re-entry is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 as "A figure already registered. Please enter a registered figure again." When an input is prompted (S8) and it is determined that the drawn figure is different from the registered figure, the menu screen of the predetermined hierarchy, the operator ID, the drawn figure, and the grid size at that time are related. It is registered attached (S9). Thereafter, when the “end” key is pressed, the display is switched to the above-described menu screen of the predetermined hierarchy.

  Next, a shortcut display process for displaying the menu screen registered by the above-described registration process on the liquid crystal display unit 20 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The figure recognizing unit 292 stands by in a state where a figure drawn by an operator can be recognized regardless of which menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20. When a graphic is drawn on the touch panel 26 by the operator, the graphic recognition unit 292 determines that the graphic is drawn by continuously pressing a plurality of adjacent grids. The figure recognition mode is entered (S11). Therefore, at this time, the display processing unit 28 is configured to determine that the menu key selection operation is not recognized even if the menu key area is pressed. The lattice locus pressed by the graphic display processing unit 33 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 (S12), and when the graphic recognition unit 292 recognizes the graphic (S13), the drawn graphic and the graphic registration are displayed. Differences from the plurality of figures registered in the part 291 are identified (S14). At this time, it is first collated with a registered figure in which the grid size is set to a large size, and then collated with a registered figure in which the grid size is set to be small. When it is determined that the drawn figure is different from any figure registered in advance, a message for requesting re-input is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 to prompt the user to input again (S16). When a graphic drawn by the graphic recognition unit 292 and any graphic registered in advance are identified as the same graphic, a menu screen of a predetermined hierarchy associated with the registered graphic is displayed. (S15).

  Another embodiment will be described below. In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the operator recognizing unit 30 recognizes the individual of the operator or the department to which the operator belongs by using the ID and the password input by the operator. Alternatively, a configuration using a biometric authentication device that recognizes an individual using a retina or the like may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, description has been given of the case where the grid size is set when the graphic registration unit 291 registers a graphic. However, the grid size is set in advance on another menu screen by an administrator or the like. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, the figure registered by the figure registration unit 291 and the operator recognized by the operator recognition unit 30 are described in association with each other, but the operator recognition unit 30 is not provided. In this case, the figure can be configured to be registered regardless of the operator.

  In addition to the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the operation panel unit 2 includes a sheet cut key display processing unit that displays each graphic registered in the graphic registration unit 291 as a shortcut key 310, and includes a shortcut display process. The unit 293 may be configured to display a menu screen associated with the figure based on the operation of the displayed shortcut key 310.

  Note that the above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the specific configuration of each block can be changed and designed as appropriate within the scope of the effects of the present invention.

1 is an external view of a digital copying machine according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The external view of an operation part. Sectional drawing of a touch panel. The circuit diagram of an operation control part. The external view of the liquid crystal display part on which a function list is displayed. (A) Appearance of the liquid crystal display when the “Aggregate” menu is pressed, (b) Appearance of the liquid crystal display when the “2 in 1” key is selected, (c) “4 in” FIG. 3 is an external view of a liquid crystal display unit when a “1” key is pressed. The functional block diagram of an operation control part. (A) is a display screen diagram of a liquid crystal display unit showing a grid when a small grid size is selected, and (b) is a display screen diagram of a liquid crystal display unit showing a grid when a large grid size is selected. (A) External view of the liquid crystal display unit when “Δ” is input when the lattice size is set to a small size, (b) “Δ” is input when the lattice size is set to a large size. (C) External view of the liquid crystal display unit when “N” is input when the grid size is set to a large size, (d) The drawn “N” is translated Explanatory drawing which shows being done. The flowchart which shows a registration process. The external view of the operation part in which a figure registration screen is displayed. The flowchart which shows a shortcut display process. The external view of the operation part of other embodiment with which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

2: Operation panel (operation input device)
20: Liquid crystal display (display)
26: Touch panel 28: Display processing unit 29: Shortcut processing unit 30: Operator recognition unit 32: Grid size setting unit 33: Graphic display processing unit 203: Menu key 291: Graphic registration unit 292: Graphic recognition unit 293: Shortcut display processing Part 310: Shortcut key

Claims (7)

A display unit that displays a plurality of menu keys, a touch panel that is arranged on the display unit and detects an operation on each menu key, and a menu screen hierarchically from upper to lower on the display unit in accordance with the operation on the menu key An operation input device configured to include a display processing unit that updates and displays a shortcut processing unit that displays a menu screen of a specific hierarchy based on a predetermined operation,
The shortcut processing unit includes a graphic registration unit that recognizes a graphic drawn through the touch panel and registers the graphic in association with a menu screen of a specific hierarchy, and the drawn graphic and the graphic registered in the graphic registration unit. An operation input device comprising a graphic identification unit for identifying the difference, and a shortcut display processing unit for displaying a menu screen associated with the graphic when the graphic identification unit identifies the same graphic.   An operator recognizing unit for recognizing an individual operator or a department to which the operator belongs is registered, the graphic registering unit registers a graphic for each recognized operator, and the graphic recognizing unit registers in the graphic registering unit for each recognized operator. The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input device identifies a difference from a displayed figure.   A shortcut key display processing unit that displays each graphic registered in the graphic registration unit as a shortcut key, and the shortcut display processing unit displays a menu screen associated with the graphic based on the operation of the displayed shortcut key. The operation input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation input device is displayed.   The graphic registration unit and the graphic identification unit recognize a graphic drawn based on a locus of a grid that is pressed by dividing the touch panel into a grid of a predetermined size, and the graphic identification unit recognizes the recognized graphic. The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input device identifies a difference from a registered figure based on a geometric feature.   The operation input device according to claim 4, further comprising a grid size setting unit that variably sets a grid size to be divided into regions, wherein the graphic registration unit and the graphic identification unit recognize a drawn graphic based on the set grid size.   The operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising a graphic display processing unit that displays a trace of the drawn graphic on the display unit.   For any graphic drawn from the menu screen of any hierarchy, the graphic identification unit identifies the difference between the drawn graphic and the graphic registered in the graphic registration unit, and the shortcut display processing unit The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein a menu screen associated with the graphic is displayed when the identification unit identifies the same graphic.