JP2008211559A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus capable of easily setting localization and customization. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes: a user interface part 10; a panel member 50 that can be attached and detached to/from the peripheral part of the user interface part 10; a radio tag 100 provided to the panel member 50, the tag 100 storing at least representation type designation information; a reader part 13 for reading the representation type designation information stored in the radio tag 100; a representation type information storing part 30 for storing representation type information about a plurality of representation types in the interface part 10; and a representation type information acquiring part 22 for acquiring from the representation type storing part 30 representation type information corresponding to the information read by the reader part 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, a facsimile, a copy, a multifunction device having these functions, and an electronic device such as a car navigation system that can easily change the display of a user interface unit such as a display panel.

  Electronic device products such as printers, facsimiles, copiers, car navigation systems, etc. need to be changed in accordance with the standards and standards of each country based on the same product. Among such specification changes, a particularly basic one is a specification change corresponding to the language for each country. It is also conceivable to install such electronic language products in advance in electronic device products.

  For example, an electronic device such as an image forming apparatus corresponding to the global market is configured to be able to display a message corresponding to each language on a display screen such as a touch panel in order to support multiple languages. In order to have a function that can be switched to multiple languages, all language data that may be used is prepared in advance. For example, in a European model, language data for a plurality of, for example, eight languages is always stored in ROM. Keep it aligned.

An example of such an image forming apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-328671) on a display screen for setting image forming conditions necessary for image formation based on predetermined language data. An image forming apparatus including a display unit configured to display a display mode according to a language, wherein the setting unit selects and sets a language displayed on the display screen from a plurality of languages, and corresponds to the plurality of languages First storage means for storing compressed language data obtained by compressing each language data, and second storage for storing selected compressed language data as decompressed language data based on a user's desired language selection setting operation And one of the selected compressed language data is decompressed and stored in the second storage means based on a selection setting operation at the setting means and the setting means, and based on the decompressed language data Image forming apparatus is disclosed which comprises a control means for controlling so as to display information of the display screen Te.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-328671

  According to what is described in the above-mentioned patent document 1, there is a problem that the user must instruct and set which language is to be supported one by one according to instructions such as a display panel and a manual. Since it is troublesome to make such settings one by one, some users may handle electronic devices while setting a language other than their native language. In addition to language settings, some users have a need to use electronic devices in their own specifications, or to perform so-called customization. However, conventionally, no electronic device that can easily perform such localization and customization has been provided.

  In order to cope with each of the problems as described above, the present invention provides an electronic device according to the present invention, provided with a user interface unit, a panel member that can be attached to and detached from the periphery of the user interface unit, and the panel member. A storage medium for storing expression type designation information, a storage medium information reading unit for reading expression type designation information stored in the storage medium, and an expression type information for storing expression type information related to a plurality of expression types in the interface unit It comprises a storage unit and an expression type information acquisition unit that acquires expression type information corresponding to the information read by the information reading unit from the expression type storage unit.

  The electronic device of the present invention is characterized in that the display type is a display type related to a language.

  Further, the electronic device of the present invention is characterized in that the display type is a display type related to the size of display characters.

  The electronic device of the present invention is characterized in that the display type is a display type related to a used character of the display character.

  Further, the electronic device of the present invention is characterized in that the display type is a display type related to display arrangement.

  Further, the electronic device of the present invention is characterized in that the expression type information is information related to a sound type of the user interface unit.

  The electronic device according to the present invention is characterized in that the electronic device is any one of a multifunction machine, a printer, a facsimile, a copy, and a car navigation system.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device capable of easily performing localization such as language change, customization to user-preferred specifications, and the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, 1 is an electronic device, 10 is a user interface unit, 11 is a display panel, 12 is a speaker, 13 is a reader unit, 15 is an input key, 20 is a control unit, 21 is a reader control unit, and 22 is Expression type information acquisition unit, 23 is a display panel / speaker control unit, 30 is an expression type information storage unit, 31 is Japanese display information, 32 is Japanese voice guidance information, 33 is Japanese enlarged character display information, 34 is Japanese hiragana display information, 35 is Japanese irregular layout display information,
Reference numeral 36 is English display information, 37 is English voice guidance information, 50 is a panel member, and 100 is a wireless tag.

  As an example of the electronic device 1, in the present embodiment, a copy will be described as an example. Is also applicable.

  The electronic device 1 includes a user interface unit 10 that allows a user to input to the electronic device 1 or output an operation instruction to the user. In this example, the user interface unit 10 includes the display panel 11, the speaker 12, and the input key 15. However, other similar ones may be provided.

  The display panel 11 is generally configured by, for example, an LCD display unit composed of an LCD that performs display related to an operation, and a touch panel unit that allows input by pressing with a finger or the like. The LCD display unit and the touch panel unit are configured to overlap each other so that the user can perform various settings of the electronic device 1 by operating the touch panel unit with a finger while referring to the display on the display unit. It has become. The speaker 12 outputs an operation instruction or the like to the user, or emits a beep sound when the user performs an erroneous operation. The input key 15 is used to perform various settings of the electronic device 1 by a pressing operation by the user.

  The reader unit 13 is configured to supply power to the wireless tag 100 with a built-in panel member 50 configured to be detachable from the electronic device 1 and read information stored in the wireless tag 100 by a non-contact wireless method. . As described above, in the present invention, information is exchanged between the electronic device 1 main body side and the panel member 50 side by the wireless tag 100 of the non-contact wireless system. This has the following advantages over information exchange using electrical contacts.

  When the panel member 50 is mounted, it is not necessary to mount the panel member 50 and the electronic device 1 main body so that the electrical contacts are accurately aligned. Moreover, it becomes possible to manufacture the accuracy of the attachment positions of the electrical contacts on the panel member 50 side and the electronic device 1 main body side without paying any nerves. Moreover, since there is no wear like an electrical contact, there is no deterioration over time. Further, since there is no need to use electrical contacts with positional restrictions, the degree of freedom in design and structure on the panel member 50 side and the electronic device 1 main body side is increased.

  The wireless tag 100 built in the panel member 50 stores at least expression type designation information for designating the expression type of the user interface unit 10 of the electronic device 1, and is stored in the wireless tag 100 on the main body side of the electronic device 1. By reading the expression type designation information, the expression type in the user interface unit 10 is determined.

  The control unit 20 mainly includes a reader control unit 21, an expression type information acquisition unit 22, and a display panel / speaker control unit 23. The reader control unit 21 controls the reader 13, reads at least the expression type designation information from the storage unit of the wireless tag 100 built in the panel member 50, and transmits this information to the control unit 20. The expression type information acquisition unit 22 refers to the acquired expression type designation information and acquires information related to the expression type corresponding to the expression type designation information from the expression type information storage unit 30. The expression type information acquired by the expression type information acquisition unit 22 is expressed by the display panel 11 and the speaker 12 by the display panel / speaker control unit 23, and constitutes the user interface unit 10.

  The expression type information storage unit 30 is a storage unit 30 that stores information related to the expression type corresponding to the expression type designation information stored in the wireless tag 100. The expression type information storage unit 30 is illustrated as being on the electronic device 1 main body side, but the expression type information storage unit 30 may be provided on the wireless tag 100 side. .

  In the expression type information storage unit 30, the Japanese display information 31 is expression type information related to Japanese display on the display panel 11, and the Japanese voice guidance information 32 is an expression related to Japanese voice guidance on the speaker 12. This is type information, Japanese expanded character display information 33 is representation type information related to Japanese expanded character display on the display panel 11, and Japanese hiragana display information 34 is displayed in Japanese hiragana display on the display panel 11. The Japanese irregular layout display information 35 is the expression type information related to the irregular layout display on the display panel 11, and the English display information 36 is the expression type information related to the English display on the display panel 11. The English voice guidance information 37 is expression type information relating to the English voice guidance in the speaker 12.

  Thus, in the electronic device 1 of the present invention, the expression type designation information is read from the storage unit of the wireless tag 100 built in the panel member 50, and information related to the expression type corresponding to the expression type designation information is stored in the expression type information storage. It is configured to be acquired from the unit 30 and expressed by the user interface unit 10, so that localization such as language change and customization to user-preferred specifications can be easily performed.

  Next, a wireless tag used in the electronic device according to the embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a wireless tag used in the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, 100 is a wireless tag, 102 is a card ID data storage unit, 103 to 105 are other data storage units, 111 is an antenna unit, 112 is a power generation unit, 113 is a communication control unit, and 114 is an I / O unit. 115 denotes a CPU, and 116 denotes a memory.

  The wireless tag 100 is a non-contact wireless tag that has a wireless communication function and can send and receive information to and from other information devices. That is, the wireless tag 100 includes an antenna unit 111, a communication control unit 113 for communicating (communication) with the reader unit 13 of the main body of the electronic device 1, and the communication control unit 113 and the I / O unit 114. A power wave from the connected CPU 115, memory 116 storing predetermined card data in addition to system program data, and the electronic device 1 main body is received via the antenna unit 111, and the driving power of the wireless tag 100 is received. And a power generation unit 112 for generating.

  The memory 116 includes a storage unit that stores and holds identification information of the wireless tag 100 itself, and other data storage units 102 that store and hold other information.

  At least expression type designation information is stored in a part of the data storage unit 102 of the wireless tag 100, and this expression type designation information is read by the reader unit 13 on the electronic device 1 main body side.

  Next, a specific example of the expression type of the electronic device 1 of the present invention configured as described above will be described. 4 is a view showing the surface of the panel member used in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view showing the back surface of the panel member used in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the wireless tag 100 is provided on the back surface of the panel member 50. The storage unit of the wireless tag 100 stores expression type designation information for designating an expression type to be expressed by the display panel 11 and the speaker 12 of the user interface unit 10. In this example, the wireless tag 100 stores expression type designation information for designating Japanese display and expression type designation information for designating Japanese voice guidance. As shown in FIG. 4, Japanese is used for the notation of the names and the like of input keys on the surface of the panel member 50.

  Next, a specific example of another panel member 50 will be described. 6 is a view showing the surface of the panel member used in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the back surface of the panel member used in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the wireless tag 100 is provided on the back surface of the panel member 50. The storage unit of the wireless tag 100 stores expression type designation information for designating an expression type to be expressed by the display panel 11 and the speaker 12 of the user interface unit 10. In this example, the wireless tag 100 stores expression type designation information for designating English display and expression type designation information for designating English voice guidance. As shown in FIG. 4, the names of the input keys on the surface of the panel member 50 are in English so as to correspond to these.

  As described above, in the electronic device 1 of the present invention, the expression type designation information of the storage unit of the wireless tag 100 with the built-in panel member 50 and the notation such as the name of the input key on the surface of the panel member 50 correspond to each other. Changes can be easily localized.

  Next, the case where the panel member 50 configured as described above is mounted on the electronic apparatus 1 will be described. 8 and 9 are views showing a state in which the panel member used in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the electronic apparatus.

  FIG. 8 shows a state of the display panel 11 of the user interface unit 10 when the panel member 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is attached. The wireless tag 100 of the panel member 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 stores expression type designation information for designating Japanese display and expression type designation information for designating Japanese voice guidance. The control unit 20 of the electronic device 1 reads the expression type designation information from the reader 13 from the wireless tag 100, and the expression type information acquisition unit 22 refers to the acquired expression type designation information to refer to the expression type designation information. Japanese display information 31 and Japanese voice guidance information 32 corresponding to the above are acquired. Then, the control unit 20 controls the display panel 11 and the speaker 12 of the user interface unit 10 based on the acquired expression type information.

  FIG. 9 shows a state of the display panel 11 of the user interface unit 10 when the panel member 50 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is attached. In this case, the control unit 20 of the electronic device 1 uses the English display information 36 and the English voice guidance information 37 corresponding to the expression type designation information stored in the wireless tag 100 to display the display panel 11 and the speaker of the user interface unit 10. Twelve controls are performed.

  Next, customization of an electronic device using the present invention will be described. 10 and 11 are views showing a state in which a panel member used in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the electronic apparatus. The wireless tag 100 of the panel member 50 shown in FIG. 10 stores expression type designation information for designating Japanese display and expression type designation information for designating Japanese voice guidance. On the other hand, the wireless tag 100 of the panel member 50 shown in FIG. 11 stores expression type designation information for designating Japanese enlarged character display and expression type designation information for designating Japanese voice guidance. The display panel 11 of the user interface unit 10 shown in FIG. 10 displays Japanese characters having a normal size.

  When the panel member 50 shown in FIG. 11 is attached to the electronic device 1, the control unit 20 acquires Japanese enlarged character display information 33 corresponding to the expression type designation information stored in the wireless tag 100, The display panel 11 and the speaker 12 of the user interface unit 10 are controlled. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the display panel 11 of the user interface unit 10 displays Japanese using enlarged characters. The electronic device 1 customized in this way is good for people with poor vision. At this time, it is preferable that the characters used for notation of the names of the input keys on the surface of the panel member 50 are also enlarged. In addition, as another example of customization, a panel member 50 in which Braille is written may be considered as a blind person. At this time, the expression on the speaker 12 of the user interface unit 10 may be made more substantial than the normal one.

  As another example of customization, there may be an expression using Japanese hiragana display information 34 or Japanese irregular layout display information 35. Although not shown, when the former display information is used, the display panel 11 displays only hiragana characters. Further, when the latter display information is used, the display panel 11 performs an irregular layout display different from a normal one. Such customization by changing the display layout will be described below using a car navigation system as an example.

  12 and 13 are diagrams showing a panel member of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 14 and 15 are panel members used in an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state with which the electronic device was mounted | worn. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15, the electronic device 1 will be described using a car navigation system.

  As customization of the electronic device 1 in the present embodiment, the right handle panel member 50 and the left handle panel member 50 are prepared, and the key input operation and the display are switched by simply replacing the panel member 50. To do. The panel member 50 shown in FIG. 12 is a left handle panel member 50, and the panel member 50 shown in FIG. 13 is a right handle panel member 50. The panel member 50 is also provided with a wireless tag 100 (not shown), and expression type designation information is stored in the storage unit of the wireless tag 100.

  Here, the user interface unit of the car navigation system (electronic device 1) includes an input key in addition to the display panel and the speaker. Accordingly, the expression type information storage unit according to the present embodiment includes right handle input information, left handle input information, and the like as the input key expression type information. In the present embodiment, it is possible to change the assignment of the input key according to each input information.

The car navigation system is often operated by a driver, and the video is often operated and viewed by a passenger seat. Therefore, if the input key on the driver's seat operates the navigation and the input key on the passenger's seat operates the AV function, it is convenient. However, the positions on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side differ depending on the difference between the left-hand drive vehicle and the right-hand drive vehicle.
For this reason, the customization according to the present embodiment can cope with both by changing the meaning of the input key by changing the panel member 50. When two contents are displayed on one screen, the navigation display should be on the driver side and the AV display should be on the passenger seat side. Such a layout change between the navigation display and the AV display is the same as the “Japanese irregular layout display information 35” shown in the previous embodiment.

  As described above, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device can be easily customized as described above.

  Note that what is stored in the storage unit of the wireless tag 100 is not limited to the expression type designation information, but may be other designation information related to the operation of the electronic device 1. For example, designation information that invalidates a predetermined operation of the electronic device 1 can be written in the storage unit of the wireless tag 100. An example of customization using this function is that the color copy function is displayed on the display panel when a panel member 50 that hides the color start key is attached to the vendor when there is a request to invalidate the color copy in the color multifunction peripheral. It is conceivable to make a setting so that the color copy function is disabled and the color copy function is disabled.

It is a figure which shows the mode of the external appearance of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the block configuration of the wireless tag used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the surface of the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the back surface of the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the surface of the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the back surface of the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state with which the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the electronic device. It is a figure which shows the state with which the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the electronic device. It is a figure which shows the state with which the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the electronic device. It is a figure which shows the state with which the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the electronic device. It is a figure which shows the panel member of the electronic device which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the panel member of the electronic device which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state with which the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on other embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the electronic device. It is a figure which shows the state with which the panel member used for the electronic device which concerns on other embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic device, 10 ... User interface part, 11 ... Display panel, 12 ... Speaker, 13 ... Reader part, 15 ... Input key, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Reader control unit, 22... Expression type information acquisition unit, 23... Display panel / speaker control unit, 30... Expression type information storage unit, 31. ..Information for Japanese voice guidance, 33... Japanese expanded character display information, 34... Japanese hiragana display information, 35... Japanese irregular layout display information, 36. 37, English voice guidance information, 50 ... Panel member, 100 ... Wireless tag, 102 ... Card ID data storage unit, 103 to 105 ... Other data storage unit, 111 ... Antenna part, 11 ... power generation section, 113 ... communication control unit, 114 ... I / O unit, 115 ... CPU, 116 ... memory

Claims (8)

A user interface section;
A panel member detachably attached to the periphery of the user interface unit;
A storage medium provided on the panel member and storing at least expression type designation information;
A storage medium information reading unit for reading the expression type designation information stored in the storage medium;
An expression type information storage unit for storing expression type information related to a plurality of expression types in the interface unit;
An expression type information acquisition unit for acquiring expression type information corresponding to the information read by the information reading unit from the expression type storage unit;
An electronic device comprising: The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the expression type information is information related to a display type of the user interface unit. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the display type is a display type related to a language. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the display type is a display type related to the size of display characters. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the display type is a display type related to a used character of the display character. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the display type is a display type related to display arrangement. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the expression type information is information related to a sound type of the user interface unit. 8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is any one of a multifunction machine, a printer, a facsimile, a copy, and a car navigation system.

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