JP2009094944A - Document reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document reader capable of improving operability when performing operations to a series of processing composed of a plurality of steps. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU executes a plurality of steps of processing composed of the steps in order when receiving an operation to start the processing composed of. Then the CPU displays icons 431, 432 and 433 of histories of the steps having been executed on a display 17 and also displays an input picture for inputting operations associated with the step executed on the display. When the icons 431, 432 or 433 displayed on the display 17 are selected, the CPU executes the step corresponding to the selected one of the icons 431, 432, and 433. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an original reading apparatus having a function of reading an original and acquiring an image, such as a copier, a scanner, or a facsimile machine.

  A document reading apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a scanner, or a digital multi-function peripheral generally includes a touch panel type operation panel. A menu screen for selecting functions and setting each function is displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the operation panel, and the user operates according to the displayed screen.

Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that displays a history of previous user operations on a liquid crystal screen. The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to preferentially display images such as buttons or icons representing operations that are used more frequently than operations that are used less frequently by the user on the liquid crystal screen. Accordingly, the user can easily select a desired operation, and the convenience for the user can be improved.
JP 2006-220940 A

  By the way, when the user operates on a series of processes consisting of a plurality of steps, the operation screen of a certain step is displayed on the liquid crystal screen, and after the operation by the user on the displayed operation screen is completed, the operation screen of the next step Is generally displayed. In such a case, when correcting the completed operation, it is necessary to cancel all the operations and start again from the first step.

  However, the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 does not have a function of correcting a completed operation, and Patent Document 1 cannot solve this problem. Therefore, in order to further improve the convenience for the user, there has been a demand for the appearance of a document reading apparatus having a function of easily re-executing completed steps and correcting operation contents.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an original reading apparatus capable of improving operability when performing an operation on a series of processes including a plurality of steps. There is to do.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a manuscript reading apparatus capable of improving operability by enabling correction of past operation contents during operation of a process being executed. is there.

  Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a document reading apparatus capable of performing an intuitive operation.

  A document reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a start receiving unit that receives a start of a process including a plurality of steps, and an execution unit that sequentially executes each step of the process when the start receiving unit receives the start of the process. A display unit that displays a history of steps executed by the execution unit, a selection reception unit that receives a selection of one step from the history displayed on the display unit, and a step related to the selection received by the reception unit And an execution control unit to be executed by the execution unit.

  Further, the document reading apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the display unit displays an input screen for inputting an operation related to a step being executed by the execution unit together with the history.

  Furthermore, the document reading apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the selection receiving unit is a touch panel that covers a display surface of the display unit.

  According to the present invention, since one step selected by the user from the step history displayed on the display unit is executed, the user can easily re-execute the step for which the operation input has already been completed. For example, in the series of processing from Step 1 to Step 5, when the processing up to Step 4 is completed, Step 2 is executed by selecting Step 2 from the history displayed on the display unit. That is, the user can perform the operation relating to Step 2 that has already been completed, and can correct the operation content. Thereby, the operativity at the time of performing operation with respect to the process which consists of several steps can be improved.

  According to the present invention, a history of steps displayed on the display unit and an input screen for inputting operations related to the step being executed are displayed. For this reason, even if the user is in the process of inputting an operation related to the process being executed, the user can execute past steps and correct the operation content.

  According to the present invention, the touch panel allows the user to perform an intuitive operation and improve operability.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a document reading apparatus according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, a digital multi-function peripheral will be described as an example of a document reading apparatus. The digital multi-function peripheral has a copy function for copying a document, a facsimile function for transmitting / receiving data via a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), reading an image such as a character or a figure from a document, and It has a plurality of functions such as a scanner function to be acquired and a printer function for printing image data given via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) on printing paper.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. The digital multi-function peripheral further includes a position acquisition unit 12, an image acquisition unit 14, an image forming unit 16, and an output unit 18, and each is connected to a CPU 100 and a RAM 102 described later via a data bus 21.

  The position acquisition unit 12 is connected to the touch panel 13, and detects the pressed position of the touch panel 13 when the user presses the touch panel 13 with a finger. The touch panel 13 is provided so as to cover a display 17 described later. The touch panel 13 is made of a transparent material, and the user can visually recognize an image displayed on the display 17 via the touch panel 13. The touch panel 13 has a material (for example, a film or glass) provided with a transparent conductive film, and is bonded in a direction in which the transparent conductive films face each other. And when a user presses with a finger | toe, a transparent conductive film contacts, and a signal is output. The position acquisition unit 12 detects which position on the touch panel 13 the user has pressed based on the signal output from the touch panel 13.

  Thereby, for example, when an image such as an icon or a button is displayed on the display 17 and the position where the user presses the touch panel 13 with a finger matches the image portion displayed on the display 17, processing corresponding to the image is performed. Can be executed. As a result, the user can perform an intuitive operation as if the user actually pressed a physical button.

  The image acquisition unit 14 is connected to a CCD image sensor 15 and acquires image data that is electronic data of an image printed on a document. The CCD image sensor 15 receives light reflected from the document when it is irradiated from a light source (not shown) onto the document set on the document table, and further converts it into an electrical signal. And the image acquisition part 14 acquires image data by further converting the converted electric signal into digital data.

  The digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment sets a plurality of pages of documents on an ADF (Automatic Document Feed) in addition to the user setting the documents one by one on the document table and reading the documents. By doing so, it is possible to automatically read a multi-page document.

  The image forming unit 16 is connected to a display 17 and forms an image to be displayed on the display 17 based on parameters set by the CPU 100. The display 17 is an image formed by the image forming unit 16, for example, a selection menu for the user to select a function of the digital multi-function peripheral, a setting menu for setting each function, and an operation guide or warning message. Information to be notified to the user is displayed.

  The output unit 18 is connected to the printing unit 19 and the communication unit 20 and outputs a signal suitable for each unit. The printing unit 19 includes a light source such as a semiconductor laser or an LED, a photoreceptor to which toner is attached, a fixing unit that transfers and fixes the toner to a printing medium with heat or pressure. The printing unit 19 selects the optimum size of printing paper of each size such as A3 portrait, B4 portrait, A4 portrait, B5 landscape, and A5 landscape, and prints the image data stored in the RAM 102. The communication unit 20 is connected to an external communication device via a network such as PSTN or LAN so as to be able to perform data communication, and enables transmission / reception of mail or fax communication.

  The digital multi-function peripheral includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 101, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 that control the above-described units and control the operation of the entire digital multi-function peripheral. Yes. The ROM 101 is a non-volatile memory that stores processing programs, data, and the like. The RAM 102 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores image data received by facsimile communication or image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 14. The CPU 100 reads out and executes a program and data stored in advance in the ROM 101, thereby controlling the operation of each unit of the digital multifunction peripheral. The CPU 100 implements software functions such as the start reception unit 110, the execution unit 120, the selection reception unit 130, the execution control unit 140, and the display control unit 150.

  The start reception unit 110 receives a process start operation performed by the user from the touch panel 13 based on the position of the touch panel 13 pressed by the user, which is detected by the position acquisition unit 12. The execution unit 120 executes the process based on the process start operation received by the start reception unit 110. The selection receiving unit 130 receives an operation corresponding to the process performed by the user from the touch panel 13. The execution control unit 140 causes the execution unit 120 to execute a process based on an operation corresponding to the process received by the selection receiving unit 130. The display control unit 150 causes the display 17 to display an image based on the processing executed by the execution unit 120 and the user operation received by the selection receiving unit 130.

  Next, contents displayed on the display 17 when the digital multi-function peripheral configured as described above is operated by the touch panel 13 will be described.

  2 to 5 are schematic diagrams for explaining the operation procedure of the digital multi-function peripheral, and schematically illustrate menus, icons, images, and the like displayed on the display 17. 2 to 5 are shown in time series.

  When the digital multi-function peripheral is in a standby state (a state in which processing such as copying or facsimile transmission / reception is not performed), a standby screen shown in FIG. In the standby screen, an icon 41 with a character “start operation” instructing the user to start operating the digital multi-function peripheral, and a character “detail setting” instructing the start of various settings are added. An icon 42 is displayed.

  Since the display 17 is provided with the touch panel 13, the user can select an image by pressing on a screen on which images such as icons and buttons are displayed.

  When the icon 41 is selected on the standby screen of FIG. 2, the operation screens shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 are sequentially displayed on the display 17. When the icon 42 is selected, a setting screen (not shown) for setting the digital multi-function peripheral, for example, setting the resolution of the display 17, the resolution for reading the original, and the paper size of the original to be read is displayed on the display 17. Is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the process executed when the icon 41 is selected includes a plurality of steps. The operation screen shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is a screen for inputting an operation corresponding to each step. In these operation screens, a history display area 43 for displaying icons representing steps that have been executed and steps that have already been executed, and an operation input area 44 for inputting an operation corresponding to the step that is being executed are formed.

  First, the contents displayed in the operation input area 44 of the operation screen shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the operation input area 44, first, a plurality of icons 451 with user names registered in advance are displayed in a selectable manner. The selected icon 451 (in FIG. 3, the icon with the user name “BBB”) is highlighted. In FIG. 3, four icons 451 are displayed, and triangular marks are displayed above and below the four icons 451. Then, when the user presses the triangle mark, an icon with another user name not displayed on the display 17 is displayed.

  The operation input area 44 includes a plurality of keys 452 with numbers and symbols “0” to “9” and “C (Clear)”, and a rectangle that displays numerical values input from the keys 452. A text box 453 is displayed. In the operation input area 44, icons 454 and 455 for instructing confirmation and cancellation of parameters input from the icon 451 and the plurality of keys 452 are displayed in a selectable manner.

  The icon 454 has a “confirm” character, and the icon 455 has a “cancel” character. Then, when the user selects the icon 454, the next step is executed. When the icon 455 is selected, the selection of the icon 451 is canceled and the display in the text box 453 is cleared. Thereby, the user can select a user again and can input a personal identification number.

  When the icon 454 is selected by the user, in the operation input area 44, as shown in FIG. 4, an icon 461 for instructing reading of one side of the document and an icon 462 for instructing reading of both sides of the document can be selected. Is displayed. The icon 461 is marked with “single-sided reading”, and the icon 462 is marked with “double-sided reading”. When any one of the icons is selected, the selected icon (icon 461 in FIG. 4) is highlighted.

  In the operation input area 44, icons 463 and 464 with characters “confirm” and “cancel”, respectively, for instructing confirmation and cancellation of the selection of the icons 461 and 462 are displayed. Then, when the user selects the icon 463, the next step is executed. Further, when the icon 464 is selected, the selection of the icon 461 and the icon 462 is canceled. Thereby, the user can reselect the icon 461 and the icon 462.

  When the icon 463 is selected by the user, icons 471 to 475 for instructing functions of the digital multifunction peripheral to be used are displayed in the operation input area 44 as shown in FIG. The icons 471 to 475 are respectively labeled with “copy”, “fax”, “mail”, “printer”, and “save”. The user operates one of the icons to execute one of a copy function, a facsimile function, a mail function, a printer function, and a storage function. In this case, a screen for executing each function may be further displayed on the display 17.

  3 to 5, when the icons 455, 464, and 476 with the characters “Cancel” are selected, the processing may return to the previous step. For example, when the icon 476 shown in FIG. 5 is selected by the user, the screen shown in FIG. Thereby, the user can perform the reading setting of the document again.

  Next, the contents displayed in the history display area 43 of the operation screen shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described.

  In the history display area 43, icons indicating the steps being executed and the steps that have been executed are displayed. For example, in FIG. 3, the icon 431 to which “user” is attached is highlighted. In FIG. 4, an icon 431 to which “user” is attached and an icon 432 to which “read” is attached are displayed. Then, the icon 432 to which “read” is added is displayed in reverse video. Further, in FIG. 5, an icon 431 to which “user” is attached, an icon 432 to which “read” is attached, and an icon 432 to which “mode” is attached are displayed. Then, the icon 433 to which “mode” is attached is displayed in reverse video.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the icon indicating the step being executed is highlighted. Thereby, the user can grasp the step currently being executed and the step that has been completed first. In addition, the user can grasp which step is currently completed in a series of operations.

  The icons 431, 432, and 433 displayed in the history display area 43 are displayed so as to be selectable. When an icon is selected, a step corresponding to the selected icon is executed. For example, in FIG. 5, when the icon 431 with the letters “user” is selected, a step for setting the user is executed, and the screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 17. Accordingly, the user can re-execute the completed step and correct the input content.

  In addition, on the operation screens of FIGS. 3 to 5, an icon 421 to which “Detailed setting” is attached is displayed so as to be selectable. The icon 421 is the same as the icon 42 described with reference to FIG.

  Next, the procedure of the operation reception process in the digital multi-function peripheral configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation reception processing in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the user setting process of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the reading setting process of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the function selection process of FIG.

  The CPU 100 of the digital multi-function peripheral starts the processing shown in FIG. 6 by executing a program stored in the ROM 101. The CPU 100 displays the standby screen shown in FIG. 2 on the display 17 (S1). When the display 17 displays an image, the display 17 is controlled by the display control unit 150 of the CPU 100 and displays an image. This is the same in the following description, and the description is omitted.

  Next, the CPU 100 determines whether the start reception unit 110 has accepted the start of an operation by the user (S2). Specifically, the position acquisition unit 12 acquires a contact position on the touch panel 13 by the user, and the CPU 100 determines whether the contact position acquired by the position acquisition unit 12 matches the position of the icon 41 displayed on the display 17. Determine whether or not. If the positions match each other, the CPU 100 determines that the user's contact with the touch panel 13 is a contact with the icon 41.

  When the start of the operation by the user is not received (S2: NO), the CPU 100 repeats S2. In this case, when the icon 42 is selected by the user, the CPU 100 displays a setting screen on the display 17. When the start of the operation by the user is received (S2: YES), the CPU 100 executes a user setting process shown in FIG. 7 (S3). The processing of S3 to S5 described below is executed by the execution unit 120 of the CPU 100.

  In the user setting process, the CPU 100 displays images such as various icons or characters shown in FIG. 3 on the display 17 (S11). Next, the CPU 100 determines whether or not a confirmation operation by the user has been received by the selection receiving unit 130 (S12). Specifically, in the screen shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 100 selects the icon 451 with the user name selected by the user, and enters the PIN number from the plurality of keys 452, and the character “OK” is displayed. It is determined whether the attached icon 454 has been selected.

  When the confirmation operation by the user is not received (S12: NO), the CPU 100 repeats S12. In this case, the CPU 100 executes processing corresponding to the other selected icon. For example, when the icon 421 to which “detailed setting” is added is selected, the CPU 100 displays a setting screen on the display 17. When the confirmation operation by the user is received (S12: YES), the CPU 100 determines whether or not the passwords input from the plurality of keys 452 match the passwords registered in advance (S13).

  When the input personal identification number does not match the personal identification number registered in advance (13: NO), the CPU 100 displays an error message on the display 17 (S15). Thereafter, the CPU 100 returns the process to S11. On the other hand, when the input code number matches the pre-registered code number (S13: YES), the CPU 100 stores the input content in the RAM 102 (S14). Here, the input contents are the selected user name and the personal identification number input from the key 452. Thereafter, the CPU 100 ends the user setting process and moves the process to S4 in FIG.

  After completing the user setting process, the CPU 100 executes the reading setting process shown in FIG. 8 (S4). In the reading setting process, the CPU 100 displays images such as various icons or characters shown in FIG. 4 on the display 17 (S21). Next, the CPU 100 determines whether or not a confirmation operation by the user has been received by the selection receiving unit 130 (S22). Specifically, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the icon 463 to which “confirm” is attached is selected in a state where any of the icons 461 and 462 is selected on the screen shown in FIG.

  When the confirmation operation by the user has not been received (S22: NO), the CPU 100 has received selection of the icon 431 with the “user” character displayed in the history display area 43 by the selection receiving unit 130. Is determined (S23). When the selection of the icon 431 has not been accepted (S23: NO), the CPU 100 returns the process to S22. When the selection of the icon 431 is accepted (S23: YES), the CPU 100 ends the reading setting process and executes the user setting process of S3 shown in FIG. In this case, the execution control unit 140 of the CPU 100 controls the execution unit 120 and returns the process to the user setting process of S3.

  On the other hand, when a confirmation operation by the user is accepted in S22 (S22: YES), the CPU 100 stores the selected parameter in the RAM 102 (S24). Then, the CPU 100 ends the reading setting process, and moves the process to S5 in FIG.

  After completing the reading setting process, the CPU 100 executes a function selection process shown in FIG. 9 (S5). In the function selection process, the CPU 100 displays images such as various icons or characters shown in FIG. 5 on the display 17 (S31). Next, the CPU 100 determines whether or not a confirmation operation by the user has been received by the selection receiving unit 130 (S32). Specifically, the CPU 100 determines whether a function such as a copy function or a facsimile function is selected by selecting any of the icons 471 to 475 on the screen shown in FIG.

  When the confirmation operation by the user has not been received (S32: NO), the CPU 100 determines whether or not the selection reception unit 130 has received selection of the icon 431 with the letters “user” shown in FIG. (S33). When the selection of the icon 431 is accepted (S33: YES), the CPU 100 ends the function selection process and executes the user setting process of S3 shown in FIG. In this case, as described above, the execution control unit 140 of the CPU 100 controls the execution unit 120 and returns the process to the user setting process.

  On the other hand, when the selection of the icon 431 has not been received (S33: NO), the CPU 100 determines whether or not the selection of the icon 432 to which “read” has been added has been received (S34). When the selection of the icon 432 is not accepted (S34: NO), the CPU 100 returns the process to S32. When the selection of the icon 432 is accepted (S34: YES), the CPU 100 ends the function selection process and executes the reading setting process of S4 shown in FIG. Even in this case, the execution control unit 140 of the CPU 100 controls the execution unit 120 and returns the process to the reading setting process.

  On the other hand, when a confirmation operation by the user is accepted in S32 (S32: YES), the CPU 100 stores the input parameters in the RAM 102 (S35). And CPU100 complete | finishes a function selection process, and moves a process to S6 of FIG.

  CPU100 performs a process according to the parameter memorize | stored in RAM102 by each process of S3-S5 after completion | finish of a function selection process (S6). For example, when setting is made to read one side of the document in the process of S4 and the copy function is selected in the process of S5, the CPU 100 reads one side of the document set in the ADF, and copies the document. Thereafter, the CPU 100 ends the process of FIG.

  As described above, the digital multi-function peripheral of the present embodiment displays on the display 17 icons 431, 432, and 433 indicating the steps constituting a series of processes in a selectable manner. Then, when any icon is selected by the user, a step corresponding to the selected icon is executed. Thereby, the user can easily re-execute the step in which the input of the operation has already been completed. And the user can correct the content of the operation regarding the re-executed step. That is, it is possible to improve operability when performing an operation on a process including a plurality of steps.

  In the present embodiment, the process is re-executed from the step corresponding to the selected icon displayed in the history display area 43, but only the step for the selected icon may be executed. For example, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the CPU 100 returns from the function selection process to the user setting process, the CPU 100 may not execute the reading setting process and return the process to the function selection process after the user setting process is completed. .

  Further, the operation procedure is not limited to the screens shown in FIGS. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another operation procedure. In the operation screens of FIGS. 3 to 5, each step is indicated by icons 431, 432, and 433, but may be displayed in a tab format as shown in FIG. 10. For example, in FIG. 10, tabs 50, 51, 52 corresponding to the icons 431, 432, 433 in FIGS. 3 to 5 and an operation input area 53 corresponding to the operation input area 44 are displayed. 10 corresponds to the operation screen for selecting a function shown in FIG. In this state, when the tab 50 with the characters “user” is selected, the contents of the operation input area 44 shown in FIG. 3 are displayed in the operation input area 53.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described above, but each configuration, operation, and the like can be changed as appropriate, and are not limited to the above-described embodiment.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation procedure of a digital multifunctional device. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation procedure of a digital multifunctional device. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation procedure of a digital multifunctional device. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation procedure of a digital multifunctional device. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation reception process in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the user setting process of FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a reading setting process in FIG. 6. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the function selection process of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation procedure of another example.

Explanation of symbols

13 Touch Panel 17 Display 43 History Display Area 44 Operation Input Area 431, 432, 433, 471, 472, 473 Icon

Claims (3)

A start acceptance unit for accepting the start of a process composed of a plurality of steps;
An execution unit that sequentially executes each step of the process by the start reception unit receiving the start of the process;
A display unit for displaying a history of steps executed by the execution unit;
A selection receiving unit that receives a selection of one step from the history displayed on the display unit;
An original reading apparatus, comprising: an execution control unit that causes the execution unit to execute a step related to the selection received by the reception unit. The display unit
The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an input screen for inputting an operation related to a step being executed by the execution unit is displayed together with the history.   The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection receiving unit is a touch panel that covers a display surface of the display unit.

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