JP2007136850A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of clearly informing any users of operational contents in an operation screen. <P>SOLUTION: A display window 15a for displaying a plurality of the operation screens while switching them and a direction operation key 15f are provided at a display operation part 15 in the image forming device 1. Each of the operation screens is provided with a display control means 10, which is for displaying setting items 15d selected corresponding to the operation of the direction operation key 15f, and guide icons 15e that respectively show a command direction for selecting and operating each setting item. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming apparatus provided with a display window for switching and displaying a plurality of operation screens and a direction operation key.

  As an example of the image forming apparatus, in Patent Document 1 below, a display changeover switch (direction operation key) is arranged to perform display switching with respect to the display unit, and other functions are also provided in the size / reduction ratio display unit. It is described that items displayed on the display unit can be arbitrarily set according to control information set in the control device provided in the control unit of the apparatus main body.

In such an image forming apparatus, for example, a magnification setting screen is displayed on the display unit when the copy function is executed. In this magnification setting screen, the current magnification value and an operation guide such as “Please enter with the numeric keypad or direction operation key” are displayed. The values that have been changed are also changed.
JP 2002-140955 A

  However, in the above operation guide, the operation method is indicated by the character information. Therefore, an unfamiliar user cannot understand how to use the direction operation keys, and misoperates or intentionally checks the manual. There was a problem.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that has been proposed to solve such a problem, and that enables any user to reliably understand the operation method of the direction operation keys for each operation screen. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, in claim 1 of the present invention, a setting item selected by operating a direction operation key and a guide icon indicating an instruction direction for selecting and operating the operation screen are provided on each operation screen. Display control means for displaying is provided. This setting item includes one for selecting one of a plurality of items (paper size, double-sided and single-sided printing, etc.), and a continuously changing set value (enlargement rate, print density, etc.).

  In the second aspect, the display control means blinks the guide icon.

  According to the first aspect, since the guide icon indicating the instruction direction of the direction operation key is displayed on the operation screen, any user can use the effective instruction direction (up / down / left / right, up / down, left / right) on the operation screen. Can be understood at a glance. According to the second aspect, since the guide icon is displayed blinking, the user's attention can be drawn to the guide icon.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  1, 2, and 3 show an appearance example of the image forming apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied, a top view of the operation panel 15 that is a display operation unit, and a display example of the display window 15 a of the operation panel 15. Yes. The operation panel 15 is provided on the upper front of the apparatus, and includes a display window 15a, direction operation keys 15f, speed dial keys 15g, program keys 15h, start keys 15i, numeric keys 15j, and the like. Three keys adjacent to the lower side of the display window 15a are display-linked operation keys 15k for receiving a corresponding operation display on the display window 15a.

  The display example of FIG. 3 introduces a copy magnification setting screen. This setting screen returns to the previous operation screen when the display interlocking operation key 15k corresponding to the “return” display is operated, and when the display interlocking operation key 15k corresponding to the “set” display is operated. The magnification currently displayed is fixed and the operation screen is advanced to the next. Note that 15d is a setting item, which is a value of copy magnification in this example, but the value changes depending on the operation of the numeric keypad 15j or the direction operation key 15f.

  Reference numeral 15e denotes a guide icon indicating the indication direction of the direction operation key 15f, and the type (up / down / left / right, up / down, left / right, etc.) of the icon 15 corresponds to the indication direction of the direction operation key 15f effective on the setting screen. . Here, an up / down direction guide icon 15e is displayed, and if the direction operation key 15f is operated in the up / down direction, the displayed value also changes up / down accordingly. The settable range is 25% to 400%. When the value reaches the lower limit, the display is switched from the vertical guide icon 15e to the upper guide icon 15e, and when the value reaches the upper limit, the lower guide The display may be switched to the icon 15e.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main part of the image forming apparatus 1. This facsimile multi-function peripheral constitutes a display control means, and an MPU 10 that controls the following units and an NCU 11 that controls connection of a telephone line L A modem 12 for modulating / demodulating a facsimile communication signal, a scanner 13 for reading an original and generating image data, a codec 14 for encoding and decoding image data, an operation panel 15 shown in FIG. 2, and an MPU 10 A ROM 16 that stores various control programs to be executed, a RAM 17 that registers speed dials and setting information, an image memory 18 that stores image data, and a printer 19 that prints out image data are provided.

  Some of the direction operation keys 15f of the operation panel 15 are constituted by four separated keys, and the four keys are connected to one body.

  The image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above includes a copy function for printing out image data of a read document, a printer function for printing out image data transmitted from a personal computer, and the image data of the read document. Is sent to a personal computer or the like, and a facsimile function that prints out image data received by facsimile while printing the image data of the read original document by facsimile.

  The ROM 16 stores a plurality of pieces of operation screen information corresponding to various setting items for controlling the above functions as part of control program data. Among them, there are those that allow the user to select a setting item by operating the direction operation key 15f. In the ROM 16, for each operation screen on which setting items can be selected with the direction operation key 15f, the type of the guide icon 15e indicating the effective instruction direction on the operation screen is registered.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a correspondence table showing the correspondence between the operation screen registered in the ROM 16 and the type of the guide icon 15e. According to this table, the up / down direction guide icon 15e corresponds to the magnification setting screen, the up / down / left / right direction guide icon 15e corresponds to the destination selection screen, and the left / right direction guide icon 15e corresponds to the paper selection screen. is doing. Note that the correspondence between the operation screen and the type of the guide icon 15e is not limited to this example.

  Next, basic processing of the display control means (MPU 10) for displaying such an operation screen will be described.

  When a function to be executed is selected by operating the operation panel 15, the display control means (MPU 10) reads operation screen information corresponding to a necessary setting item from the ROM 16, and displays the operation screen on the display window 15a. .

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the basic processing of such display control means (MPU 10).

  According to this flow chat, when the operation screen is displayed, the type of guide icon 15e corresponding to the operation screen is determined by referring to the correspondence table shown in FIG. indicate. At this time, if the guide icon 15e is blinked, the user's attention can be more alerted (steps 100 to 104).

  When the user operates the direction operation key 15f according to the direction indicated by the guide icon 15e, processing according to the operation is performed. That is, in the example of the copy magnification setting screen, when the direction operation key 15f is operated in the vertical direction, the value of the magnification displayed in correspondence is changed up and down. When the confirmation operation is performed, the displayed value is set as the copy magnification (steps 105 to 107).

  When the displayed magnification value reaches the upper limit or the lower limit, the display is switched from the vertical guide icon 15e to the downward guide icon 15e or the upward guide icon 15e.

  FIG. 7 introduces a partner selection screen as another example of the operation screen. In this screen, a plurality of destinations registered in advance and an up / down / left / right direction guide icon 15e are displayed, and the selected destination is changed corresponding to the up / down / left / right direction operation of the direction operation key 15f. To go.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The top view of the operation panel which is a display operation part. Example of operation screen display. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The example of the table | surface which shows the correspondence of operation screen information and a guide icon. The flowchart explaining the basic operation | movement of a display control means. Another display example of the operation screen.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device (facsimile multifunction device)
10 Display control means (MPU)
15 Display operation unit (operation panel)
15a Display window 15d Setting item 15e Guide icon 15f Direction operation key

Claims (2)

In an image forming apparatus provided with a display operation unit and a display window for switching and displaying a plurality of operation screens and a direction operation key.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display control unit configured to display a setting item selected by operating the direction operation key and a guide icon indicating an instruction direction for performing the selection operation on each of the operation screens. In claim 1,
The display control means is an image forming apparatus that causes the guide icon to blink.

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