JP2008065372A - Operation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation panel which can be used without exchanging a whole control panel even when the input of a part of the operation panel becomes invalid. <P>SOLUTION: A touch panel test mode is operated, and whether or not the successive input of a plurality of input areas 4 is feasible is checked. When sensing input from the input area 4, a detection means detects it as an input feasible area 4a, and when not sensing any input, it detects it as an input infeasible area 4b. After ending the detection of all the input areas 4, a specification means specifies the input feasible area 4a and the input infeasible area 4b, and stores the location of the specified input infeasible area 4b as a trouble history. A display control means checks whether or not the location of the stored input infeasible area 4b is overlapped with an input frame 5, and when the input infeasible area 4b is overlapped with the input frame 5, it sets the array so that the input frame 5 can be prevented from being overlapped with the input infeasible area 4b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation panel including a display device for inputting an operation instruction.

  An electrical panel such as a copy, printer, facsimile, scanner, or a combination machine combining these is provided with an operation panel having operation input keys such as a start button and a pause button. . As an operation input key, from the viewpoint of operability, an electrostatic touch panel that can input a user's operation to a device by touching the screen with a finger or a dedicated pen is often used.

  By the way, when a part of the operation panel breaks down, as shown in Patent Document 1, the repair cost is reduced by replacing only the broken part. However, when the touch panel fails, the touch panel is replaced.

On the other hand, the touch panel has a low frequency of troubles, so even the manufacturer often has a small stock as service parts, and there is a problem that the electrical equipment with the operation panel attached cannot be used until the parts are available. . Therefore, Patent Document 2 discloses an operation panel that stores a life set value of the operation panel in advance, changes the life set value from the use frequency of the operation panel, and notifies the user when the life is approaching.
JP-A-01-167925 JP 07-066885 A

  By the way, in patent document 2, although the replacement time is notified to the user, when the operation panel breaks down, it is necessary to replace the entire operation panel, and there is a problem that it cannot be used until it is replaced.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation panel that can be used without exchanging the entire operation panel even when a part of the operation panel cannot be input.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a display device having a display screen capable of input, a specifying means for specifying an input impossible area where input cannot be performed in the display screen, and a display avoiding the input impossible area are provided. Display control means for controlling the display device is provided so as to be performed.

  The display device includes a contact or non-contact type input mechanism, and receives an operation input from a user through a display screen. By the way, an input impossibility region occurs on the display screen due to product life or failure. The non-inputable area is an area where operation input cannot be performed from the display screen, or an area where a part of the display screen is not displayed and operation input cannot be performed.

  Therefore, the input impossible area is specified by the specifying means, and the operation input can be performed by changing the arrangement of the display screen so as to avoid the input impossible area specified by the display control means.

  Specifically, the operation panel is provided with detection means for detecting an input impossible area. The specifying unit specifies the input impossible area and the input enabled area based on the detection result. The display control means displays an input frame indicating the input position in a position avoiding the specified input-impossible area, that is, an input-capable area where input can be performed, and provides input guidance indicating the input contents in the input-impossible area. Display or prohibit display.

  With the above configuration, even when input from the display device is partially disabled, the input frame is arranged at a position where the operation input can be performed, so that the entire display device can be used without replacement.

  The display screen is divided into a plurality of input areas. The detecting means checks whether or not each section can be input in order. The detection means sets the input area where the input is detected as the input possible area, and sets the input area where the input is not detected as the input impossible area.

  Further, the detecting means operates in accordance with a command from an input device provided separately from the display screen. According to this configuration, even when a part of the display screen becomes an input impossible area, the detection unit can be operated by an operation input from the input device.

  In addition, when an input impossible area is detected, the display control means creates a trouble history related to the input impossible area. Here, the trouble history is information including an area where operation input cannot be performed from the display screen, or an area where operation input cannot be performed because a part of the display screen is not displayed, and a position where the operation has occurred. .

  The display device has an operation screen for displaying operation contents. The display control means displays the operation screen on which the input frame is arranged with reference to the trouble history. The trouble history is stored in the memory. Even after the device is restarted, the input frame can be arranged at a position that avoids the input impossible area.

  Further, the display control means determines whether or not the display device can be used based on the ratio between the input impossible area and the input enabled area. If there are too many input impossible areas to hinder input, the display device is disabled. When the input impossible area is small and it can be dealt with by changing the display, the display device can be used.

  For example, the display control means prohibits the use of the display device when the display screen is composed of an input area divided into a plurality of sections and the input impossible area continuously exists over the plurality of sections.

  In addition, an input frame indicating the input position and an input guidance indicating the input content are displayed on the operation screen, and a plurality of input frames are displayed on the display screen. Display to limit. In this case, the functions that can be operated are reduced, but the basic functions can be used. That is, the minimum function can be exhibited in the image processing apparatus provided with the operation panel.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the operation panel can be used in the same manner as in a normal case even when a part of the display screen becomes an input impossible area. If replacement parts are ordered during this period, they can only be used at the time of replacement, and the time during which they cannot be used can be shortened.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus A including an operation panel 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus A according to the present invention is a multifunction machine that executes a copy mode, a print mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode, and includes a scanner unit 20 that reads a document and inputs image data; An image data processing unit 30 that processes image data and an information processing unit 40 that processes input information such as authentication information are provided.

  The image data processing unit 30 includes an image processing unit 50 that edits, stores, and outputs input image data, a network communication unit 70 that performs data communication via a network, and a print that prints and outputs image data. A management unit 9 that stores control information and setting information for the entire device, and a device control unit 10 that controls the entire device.

  The image processing unit 50 includes a hard disk device for storing image data and a memory.

  The information processing unit 40 includes an input device 3 for input operation, a display device 2 that displays an operation screen, an interface unit 13 that communicates with a mobile terminal device such as a USB device or an IC card, and input authentication information. It includes an authentication unit 14 that performs authentication, a memory 15 that stores information such as authentication information, and a control unit 16 that processes input operation information and authentication information. Communication by the interface unit 13 is not limited to wired communication but may be wireless. The control unit 16 controls the display device 2 to display an operation screen corresponding to the process.

  The input device 3 and the display device 2 are provided on the operation panel 1 as shown in FIG. The input device 3 includes an input key 7 for performing input by various depressions.

  A plurality of image processing apparatuses A are connected to a network such as a LAN or a WAN. A plurality of external devices are connected to the network. The external device is a personal computer or a server. The server is a management server that manages the entire system, an authentication server that authenticates a user, or the like. Further, the network is connected from the router to the Internet through a communication line such as a telephone line or an optical fiber. The image processing apparatus A has a modem device (not shown) and can perform data communication with the facsimile apparatus through a telephone line.

  The image processing apparatus A can communicate with an external apparatus through a network using a predetermined communication protocol. The image processing apparatuses A can also communicate with each other. Communication within the network may be wired or wireless.

  The image data is transmitted from the external device to the image processing device A through the network. The network communication unit 7 of the image processing apparatus A receives and inputs image data. In the case of facsimile communication, the modem device inputs image data. Image data is also input from the scanner unit 20.

  When there is input of image data, the device control unit 10 determines whether the print mode, copy mode, scanner mode, or facsimile mode is based on input information from the input device 3 or processing conditions included in the header information of the input image data. Execute one of the processes. In the print mode and the copy mode, the image processing unit 50 performs image processing on the image data, and then the printing unit 8 prints an image on a recording sheet. In the scanner mode, the image data is stored in the hard disk device, and the image data is transmitted to the external device through the network communication unit 7 when called from the external device. In the facsimile mode, image data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus through the modem apparatus.

  Next, the display device 2 includes an electrostatic touch panel and a liquid crystal display as shown in FIG. The touch panel is an input device that receives an operation input by touching the panel surface with a finger or a dedicated pen. The touch panel includes an input area 4 divided into a plurality of sections. The touch panel is formed from a dedicated transparent screen and is attached so as to cover the upper surface of the liquid crystal display.

  Here, the input area 4 is arranged in a matrix, and an input is sensed by an operation such as touching the area. Position information for the input area 4 is output to the control unit 16. When the input area 4 fails due to long-term use or severe environmental changes, the input area 4 becomes an input impossible area 4b where input is impossible. The other input-capable area is an input-capable area 4a where input is possible.

  The liquid crystal display is driven and controlled by the control unit 16 so as to display an input frame 5 indicating an input position in accordance with the input area 4 and an input guide 6 indicating the input content of the input frame 5 on the screen. The input frame 5 is a display of input keys for selecting functions such as paper designation, copy enlargement / reduction, and print density. The input guide 6 is a display showing information such as an operation status such as an operation mode or an error message, or a function description of the input frame 5. Further, the liquid crystal display has a display-dedicated area 6a having no input area. This display-only area 6a displays an input guide 6 for notifying the operation status of the image processing apparatus status A or the availability of the display device 2.

  The operation panel 1 is controlled by the device control unit 10. The device control unit 10 instructs the control unit 16 to display an operation screen in accordance with the operation status on the liquid crystal display based on the operation command input from the touch panel. Based on an instruction from the device control unit 10, the control unit 16 arranges the input frame 5 and the input guide 6 in accordance with the input area 4 and displays them on the liquid crystal display.

  Next, a means for displaying the input frame 5 so as to avoid the non-inputable area 4b will be described. The control unit 16 detects whether or not input from each input area 4 is possible, and from the input possible area 4a and the input area 4 that can be input from the input area 4 based on the detection result of the detection means. Specifying means for specifying the input impossible area 4b incapable of input, and display control means for controlling the display device 3 to display the input frame 5 while avoiding the specified input impossible area 4b.

  The detection means detects the input impossible area 4b. Specifically, the control unit 16 includes a touch panel test mode for detecting whether or not input from each input area 4 is possible as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The detection means starts an operation in the touch panel test mode in response to an input from the input key 7. In the input area 4, as shown in FIG. 3, addresses A1, A2, A3, A4,. Each input area 4 displayed on the display screen is displayed as an input guide 6 so that the user touches in order.

  When detecting the input from the input area 4, the detecting means changes the color of the section of the detected input area 4 and displays it as shown in FIG. 4. When no input from the input area 4 is detected, a different display such as “x” is displayed in the section. If there is an input area 4 that does not sense input, the input means 4 cannot detect the input by pressing a preset input key 7 (“0” in the present embodiment). Recognize as Alternatively, when there is no input for a certain period of time after the display for input, the input area 4 may be recognized as an input that cannot be detected.

  The specifying means specifies the input enabled area 4a and the input impossible area 4b based on the detection result of the detecting means. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, when the touch panel test mode ends, the specifying unit stores B5 and D5 which are the input impossible area 4b and the input possible area 4a other than the input impossible area 4b. 15 stores.

  The display control means creates a trouble history including the specified input impossible area 4 b and stores it in the memory 15. Here, the trouble history refers to the date and time of occurrence, occurrence location, status, etc. relating to the specified input impossible area 4b, paper jams of recording paper or originals, troubles during conveyance such as double feeding of recording papers or originals, etc. Information.

  Further, the display control means determines the display position and display contents of the input frame 5 and the input guide 6 displayed on the display screen. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the display control means arranges and displays the input frame 5 in accordance with the input enabled area 4a and displays the input guide 6 in the input impossible area 4b. To do. Or nothing is displayed in the input impossible area 4b. The input frame 5 is displayed so as to enter the input possible area 4a. For example, the input frame 5 is displayed so as to fall within one input enabled area 4a. Alternatively, the input frame 5 is displayed over a plurality of input possible areas 4a.

  For example, in the copy mode, an operation screen as shown in FIG. 7A is usually displayed on the liquid crystal display. Then, when the input impossible area 4b is specified by the specifying means, the display control means checks whether the input impossible area 4b and the input frame 5 are not overlapped. When the input frame 5 overlaps the input impossible area 4b, the display position for switching the copy density, which is the input frame 5, is shifted from the input impossible area 4b and displayed as shown in FIG. In the case of the copy magnification conversion operation screen as shown in FIG. 7B, the display position of the designated magnification as the input frame 5 is shifted and displayed as shown in FIG. 8B. In the case of the operation screen for selecting a special function as shown in FIG. 7C, the function selection display position as the input frame 5 is shifted and displayed as shown in FIG. 8C. In addition, in the case of the double-sided copy selection screen as shown in FIG. 7D, the display position of the designated magnification which is the input frame 5 is shifted and displayed as shown in FIG. 8D.

  Further, the display control means determines whether or not the display device 2 can be used based on the ratio between the input enabled area 4a and the input impossible area 4b. Specifically, the display control unit prohibits the use of the display device 2 when all of a plurality of sections, for example, a column or a row when the touch panel is partitioned, is specified as the input impossible area 4b. .

  In addition, when it is determined that there are more sections of the input impossible area 4b specified by the specifying means than the sections of the input enabled area 4a, or a predetermined value or more with respect to the displayable area of the touch panel, for example, the displayable area of the touch panel On the other hand, when 40% or more is detected as the input impossible area 4b, the display control means prohibits the use of the display device 2.

  When the use of the display device 2 is prohibited, the display control means displays in the display-dedicated area 6a that the use of the display device 2 is prohibited in order to notify the user to that effect.

  Next, the flow from the detection of the input impossible area 4b to the arrangement setting of the input frame 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The key input in the figure is an input from the divided input area 4.

  First, the touch panel test mode is activated by an input from the input key 7 (S1). As shown in FIG. 3, the display control means displays a screen divided into a plurality of input areas 4. The detection means displays the input area 4 on the display screen so as to be input to the user in order (S2).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the user sequentially pushes the input area 4 (S3), and the detection means confirms whether an input from the input area 4 is sensed (S4). When the detecting means detects that the input from the input area 4 has been sensed, the detecting means changes the color of the section of the input area 4 sensed by the display control means and displays it (S5). When no input is sensed and the user detects an input from the input key 7, the display control means stores the detected position of the input impossible area 4b (S8) and changes the display of the input area 4 (S8). S9).

  The detection means confirms whether all of the input area 4 has been completed (S6). If not completed, the user is notified by displaying on the display screen to input the input area 4 to be checked next (S2), and the process is performed until all the input areas 4 are confirmed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the confirmation of all the input areas 4 is completed, the result is stored in the memory. When there is no input impossible area 4b (S7), the touch panel test mode is terminated as it is, and the normal operation mode is completed. Migrate to When there is the input impossible area 4b (S7), the display control means reads the position of the input impossible area 4b from the memory (S10) and displays it as shown in FIG.

  The display control means confirms whether the position of the specified input impossible area 4 b overlaps with the input frame 5. When the input impossible area 4b overlaps with the input frame 5, the arrangement of the input frame 5 is set (S11). When the setting of the arrangement of the input frames 5 is finished, the touch panel test mode is finished. As shown in FIG. 8, the operation screen set by the control unit 10 is displayed on the liquid crystal display, and the operation mode is shifted to the normal operation mode.

  When the input impossible area 4b does not overlap the input frame 5, the touch panel test mode is terminated without changing the arrangement of the input frame 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 10 displays a normal operation screen and shifts to a normal operation mode.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. Further, the operation panel of the present invention can be used not only for an image processing apparatus but also for all electrical devices that require an operation panel such as a rice cooker, a washing machine, and an electric air heater.

  Moreover, although the input impossible area | region has demonstrated the input area which cannot input from a display screen, it is not this limitation in particular. For example, when a part of the liquid crystal display can no longer be displayed, the input frame may be rearranged so that the input frame is not placed in the part that cannot be displayed.

  The operation device is an electrostatic touch panel, but may be a contact type display device that detects an input by pressure sensing. Further, a non-contact display device that senses input by light or a camera may be used.

  The touch panel test mode is started based on an input from an input key. However, the test mode is automatically started according to a predetermined time or the number of times of use in order to periodically check whether the display device can be input. Also good.

  Furthermore, when there are many input impossible areas, the operation screen may be displayed with the input frame reduced. In this case, since the functions that can be operated are reduced, an input frame for basic functions is displayed. The input frame for special input operation is not displayed.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the image processing apparatus of this invention Diagram showing the operation panel The figure which is a display screen of the touch panel test mode and which divides the input area The figure which is a display screen of the touch panel test mode, and displays a mark in the input enabled area and the input disabled area Diagram showing the end of touch pan test mode Diagram showing the specified input enabled area and the input disabled area It is a figure which shows the input frame and input guidance arrangement | positioning screen which are normally used, Comprising: (a) is a screen which selects a copy density, (b) is a screen which selects a copy magnification, (c) selects a special function. Screen, (d) is a screen for selecting duplex copying, (e) is a screen for selecting copy density It is a figure which shows the screen which changed the arrangement | positioning of an input frame and an input guidance, Comprising: (a) is a screen which selects copy density, (b) is a screen which selects copy magnification, (c) is a screen which selects a special function , (D) is a screen for selecting duplex copying Flowchart from detection of a non-inputtable area to placement of an input frame

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 2 Display apparatus 3 Input apparatus 4 Input area 4a Input possible area 4b Input impossible area 5 Input frame 6 Input guidance 6a Display exclusive area 7 Input key 8 Print part 9 Management part 10 Equipment control part 13 Interface part 14 Authentication part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Memory 16 Control part 20 Scanner part 30 Image data processing part 40 Information processing part 50 Image processing part 70 Network communication part A Image processing apparatus

Claims (11)

Provided with a display device having a display screen capable of input,
An operation panel provided with a specifying means for specifying an input impossible area where input cannot be performed in a display screen, and a display control means for controlling the display device so as to perform display while avoiding the input impossible area . A detection means for detecting an input impossible area is provided,
The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies an input impossible area and an input enabled area based on a detection result. The operation panel according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit operates in response to a command from an input device provided separately from the display screen. The display device has an operation screen for displaying operation details,
On the operation screen, an input frame indicating the input position and an input guide indicating the content of the input are displayed.
3. The operation panel according to claim 2, wherein the display control means displays the input frame in an input enabled area and displays the input guidance in an input disabled area or prohibits display. 4. 5. The operation panel according to claim 4, wherein the display control means determines whether or not the display device can be used based on a ratio between the input impossible area and the input enabled area. The display screen consists of an input area divided into multiple areas.
6. The operation panel according to claim 5, wherein the display control means prohibits the use of the display device when the input impossibility region continuously spans a plurality of sections. 6. The operation panel according to claim 5, wherein the display control means limits an input by reducing an input frame to be displayed when there is an input impossible area. The operation panel according to claim 4, wherein the display screen is a touch panel. The operation panel according to claim 2, wherein when an input impossible area is detected, the display control means creates a trouble history related to the input impossible area. An electric device comprising the operation panel according to claim 1. 11. The electric device according to claim 10, wherein the electric device is a copy, a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, or a composite device in which two or more of these are combined.

Images