JP2009186588A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of simultaneously providing information useful for users located in the front of a display part and positions other than the front face by adopting multi-view liquid crystal for the display part. <P>SOLUTION: Since the multi-view liquid crystal is adopted for the display part 30 of an MFP 100, different screens can be simultaneously displayed on the front and right and left directions of the display part. In the MFP 100, an operation screen is displayed in the front direction as a front screen, and checking screens are displayed at right and left screens. Thereby, an operator located on the front face of the display part 30 and users located on the right and left sides of the display part 30, who desire to check a job can simultaneously visually recognize the operating screen and the checking screens, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus provided with a multi-view display device.

An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) which is a complex machine thereof may be used in an environment connected to a network. In that case, the image forming apparatus can be used in various ways, such as a method of directly operating with an operation unit such as a touch panel provided or a method of transmitting an operation signal from a connected PC. In some cases, a plurality of users may issue jobs.
JP 2001-333233 A JP 2002-344683 A JP 2005-164681 A

  However, since the display unit of the image forming apparatus also serves as an operation unit such as a touch panel, when there is a user who is operating on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus or a user who is currently checking the display on the display unit, for example, There is a problem that a user other than the user, such as another user who wants to check the progress status of the previously issued job, cannot see the desired display.

  As a method for solving this problem, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-333233 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1), the display screen is divided into a plurality of areas, and a part of the display screen is issued first, for example. It is also possible to use a display unit such as displaying the progress of a job. However, the display unit is usually provided in front of the image forming apparatus, and the displayable area is limited. Therefore, if the display screen is divided into a plurality of regions as described above, the area of one screen is reduced, and there is a problem that it is difficult for each user to recognize the display contents.

  Further, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-344683 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2), a method of providing a plurality of display units in an image forming apparatus and switching the display of each display unit according to the progress status. Is also possible. However, in order to do this, it is necessary to provide a plurality of display units in the image forming apparatus, and there are problems such as complicated processing for controlling display and increased manufacturing costs.

  Further, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-164681 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 3), a method of switching the display direction on the display unit according to a user operation is also conceivable. However, a user other than the user who is operating is usually located at a position different from the user who is operating the display unit, such as the side. For this reason, if there is a user who is operating and another user who wants to check the progress of the job at the same time, depending on the positional relationship between these users, switching the display direction to a direction that is easy for one user to view can cause the other user to There is a problem that it may be difficult to see.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and employs a multi-view liquid crystal for a display unit, and is positioned other than the front without disturbing the visibility of the display for the user positioned in front of the display unit. An object is to provide a user-friendly image forming apparatus by providing useful information to a user at the same time.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a job, an image forming unit that performs an image forming process on the job, and an operation setting for the image forming process. First operating means for performing, and display means for displaying information relating to the first operating means and the image forming process. The display means includes a first angle that includes 90 degrees in a viewing angle that is an angle between the display means and the viewpoint. The first screen with respect to the direction and the second screen with respect to the second direction not including 90 degrees in the viewing angle are simultaneously displayed, and a screen including the first operation means is displayed as the first screen. Then, a screen including information relating to the image forming process is displayed as the second screen.

  Preferably, the information related to the image forming process includes a second operation unit for performing an operation on the job. The first operation unit displayed on the first screen and the second operation unit displayed on the second screen. Are displayed at different coordinate positions on the display means.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a display control unit that controls display of the second screen on the display unit, and a detection unit that detects a user existing in the second direction, and the display control unit includes the detection unit. When a user existing in the second direction is detected, a screen including information relating to the image forming process is displayed as the second screen.

  More preferably, the display control means displays the same screen as the first screen as the second screen when the detection means does not detect the user in the second direction.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a display control unit that controls display of the second screen on the display unit, and the display control unit displays the image as the second screen when a job to be processed by the image forming unit exists. Display a screen containing information about the formation process.

  More preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a reading unit that reads user identification information from a recording medium within a predetermined range from the image forming apparatus, and the display control unit is provided when there is a job to be processed by the image forming unit. When the job associated with the read identification information is present in the job, the second screen includes information relating to image forming processing relating to the job associated with the read identification information. Is displayed.

  Preferably, the display control means displays a screen different from the first screen as the second screen when a predetermined mode is selected.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a discharge unit that discharges the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit, and the second direction is a direction in which the sheet is discharged by the discharge unit with a viewing angle of 0 degree as a boundary. When the display control means acquires a job by the acquisition means, the paper is discharged by the discharge means in the third direction. A screen including information regarding the job is displayed, and a screen including information regarding the job for which the sheet has not yet been discharged by the discharging unit is displayed in the fourth direction.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that employs a multi-view liquid crystal as an operation and display panel, a user who is operating using the panel and is located in front of the panel simultaneously with a user other than the user Even for users located on the left and right of the panel, useful information can be obtained using the panel without reducing the screen for providing information to the user during the operation or limiting the display time. It can be provided with easy visibility.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of an overview of an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 100 according to an embodiment as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to an MFP, and the same applies to other apparatuses such as a printer and a copying machine.

  Referring to FIG. 1, MFP 100 generally includes a scanner unit 10 that reads a document and obtains image data, and a processing unit 20 that processes the image data. A display unit 30 including a display panel that also serves as a display panel is provided. Further, in the vicinity of the display unit 30 (the display unit 30 in FIG. 1), a speaker 314 that outputs a sound related to an operation such as a push sound and a push button 315 that is a means for receiving the operation are provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of MFP 100.
Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 100 includes a display unit 30, and includes an operation display unit 102 that accepts operations and settings and displays various types of information, and a scanner unit 10. An image reading unit 105 that reads a set original and generates image data converted into electronic data, an image processing unit 106 that performs various processes on the image data, and an image to be printed from the processed image data An image forming unit 107 that performs processing, a data storage unit 108 that stores various types of data such as processed image data, a communication unit 109 that transmits and receives data to and from other devices via the network 111, and a sensor described later. An identification unit 110 that identifies users located around the MFP 100, an image reading unit 105, an image processing unit 106, and an image forming unit 10. A status management unit 112 that manages the status of jobs in the system, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and includes a control unit 101 that controls the above-described units, a program executed by the control unit 101, and a control program It includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 which are storage devices that are used as work areas for processing in the unit 101 and processing in the image processing unit 106.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a display principle on the display unit 30. The display unit 30 employs multi-view liquid crystal that can display different screens depending on the viewing angle, that is, the angle (viewing angle) between the front position on the display unit 30 and the viewpoint position of the user. In the present embodiment, it is possible to display different screens depending on differences in viewing angles in the horizontal direction (left and right direction of the screen).

  Referring to FIG. 3, display unit 30 includes a backlight 313, a liquid crystal panel 300 that irradiates several types of images with different display contents (two types in FIG. 3) from MFP 100 toward the user side, and a vertical direction. The parallax barrier 301 provided with the slit and the touch panel 312 are arranged in this order.

  The liquid crystal panel 300 is connected to the control unit 101, and under the control of the control unit 101, display contents obtained by equally dividing the horizontal direction of the display screen are alternately arranged horizontally on the display screen. Is done. Here, in the case of the example of FIG. 3 in which the screen A and the screen B are displayed according to the viewing angle, the liquid crystal panel 300 includes the display content of the screen A divided in the horizontal direction according to the size of the display unit 30. The display contents of the screen B obtained by equally dividing the horizontal direction according to the size of the display unit 30 are alternately arranged in the horizontal direction.

  The parallax barrier 301 functions as a filter that separates the path of light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 300 in the left-right direction. In the example of FIG. 3, the parallax barrier 301 passes the irradiation from the position where the display content of the screen A on the liquid crystal panel 300 is disposed in the left direction and does not allow the irradiation in the right direction. Similarly, the irradiation from the position where the display content of the screen B is arranged passes in the right direction and does not pass in the left direction. The parallax barrier 301 may be provided in advance as a filter, or may be a liquid crystal panel that is connected to the control unit 101 and configured so that the slit is configured or not configured according to a control signal from the control unit 101. Also good.

  The touch panel 312 is, for example, an electrostatic type, and detects a change in capacitance due to the user's finger entering within a predetermined distance (or touching the touch panel 312). Alternatively, it may be detected that the user's finger has entered within a predetermined distance by other methods. The touch panel 312 is connected to the control unit 101 and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 101.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining how the display screen is seen in MFP 100 including display unit 30 employing the multi-view liquid crystal described above. In the present embodiment, display unit 30 includes a first screen corresponding to the viewing angle between the viewpoint (user) located on the left side of MFP 100 and the viewing unit 30 as a screen corresponding to the viewing angle, and a front surface. It is assumed that a second screen corresponding to the viewing angle between the viewpoint positioned on the display unit 30 and the viewing angle of the display unit 30 and a third screen corresponding to the viewing angle positioned on the right side and the viewing angle of the display unit 30 are displayed. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 4, the first screen is referred to as a “left screen”, the second screen as a “front screen”, and the third screen as a “right screen”. Here, “front” refers to a direction that includes 0 degree in the viewing angle, and “left side” and “right” refer to directions that do not include 0 degree in the viewing angle. In addition, the direction of the screen displayed from the display part which employ | adopted the multi view liquid crystal in this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned 3 directions, Four directions or more may be sufficient. Further, the display direction is not limited to displaying a screen that differs depending on the viewing angle in the horizontal direction, and may be a screen that displays different screens depending on the viewing angle in the vertical direction. However, preferably, in order to provide a user who is an operator with useful information such as an operation screen in an easy-to-view manner, at least the front screen, which is a screen including at least 0 degrees in the viewing angle, is displayed. Do. In the example of FIG. 4, for the sake of explanation, the left side is “left side” and the right side is “right side”.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a functional configuration for controlling display on display unit 30 in MFP 100. Each function shown in FIG. 5 is a function that is mainly formed in the control unit 101 when a CPU included in the control unit 101 of the MFP 100 reads out and executes a program stored in the ROM 103 or the like. The function formed by the configuration shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the functions of MFP 100 include a voice control unit 303 for controlling voice output from speaker 314, and a push button for detecting that push button 315 has been pushed and inputting a detection signal. 315, a push button control unit 304 for performing control related to the operation of 315, a left screen display unit 309 that is an area for arranging the above-mentioned left screen contents in the liquid crystal panel 300, and an area for arranging the contents of the front screen. A display control unit 305 that controls display on the right screen display unit 311 that is an area in which the content of the right screen is arranged, a display switching, and the like, and a memory 306 that stores image data to be displayed The touch panel control unit 307 that controls the touch panel 312 and the backlight control unit 308 that controls the backlight 313 are included. Further, the memory 306 includes a left screen memory 3061 that is an area for storing image data to be displayed on the left screen display unit 309 and a front surface that is an area for storing image data to be displayed on the front screen display unit 310. A screen memory 3062 and a right screen memory 3063 which is an area for storing image data to be displayed on the right screen display unit 311 are included.

  The display control unit 305 stores image data of a predetermined operation screen. Further, the status of each job is acquired from the status management unit 112, and image data for a confirmation screen corresponding to the status of each job is generated. The status management unit 112 manages, as the job status, that the job is being printed and is waiting for printing in the future. Further, the history of a job that has been printed for a predetermined time is also managed. The display control unit 305 can obtain the presence / absence of a job managed by the status management unit 112 and the status of each job from the information from the status management unit 112.

  The display control unit 305 stores these image data in the left screen memory 3061, the front screen memory 3062, and / or the right screen memory 3063 in accordance with regulations. Further, the display control unit 305 reads out the image data stored in the left screen memory 3061 of the memory 306 and displays it on the left screen display unit 309, and reads out the image data stored in the front screen memory 3062 to read out the front screen. Control is performed so that the image data displayed on the display unit 310 and stored in the right screen memory 3063 is read and displayed on the right screen display unit 311.

  Here, since the user located in front of the display unit 30 of the MFP 100 is a user who generally performs a setting operation such as copying, an operation screen may be displayed on the front screen display unit 310 as the front screen. preferable. The users located on the left and right of the display unit 30 are generally users who wait for the printed matter to be output after the printing is finished. Therefore, the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311 have job displays as left and right screens. It is preferable to display the status. Therefore, as defined above, the image data of the operation screen is stored in advance in the front screen memory 3062, and the image data of the confirmation screen is stored in the left screen memory 3061 and the right screen memory 3063. It shall be prescribed. As a result, the display control unit 305 stores the generated image data for the confirmation screen in the left screen memory 3061 and the right screen memory 3063, and stores the stored operation screen image data in the front screen memory 3062. The front screen and the left and right screens as shown in FIG. 6 are displayed. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the display control unit 305 displays an operation screen as a front screen and displays a confirmation screen as a left screen and a right screen. As a result, a user at each position with respect to MFP 100 can obtain necessary information from the display unit 30 at that position, thereby improving usability. In particular, for the users present on the left and right sides of the display unit 30, the operation screen that is being viewed by the user who is operating in front of the display unit 30 is divided or the display time is restricted. At the same time, useful information can be displayed. When the display control unit 305 does not extract job information from the information from the status management unit 112, such as when there is no job in the MFP 100, the display control unit 305 displays the image data for the left screen and the right screen. It is preferable not to generate image data. At this time, since image data is not stored in the left screen memory 3061 and the right screen memory 3063, the display control unit 305 displays image data to be displayed on the front screen display unit 310 stored in the front screen memory 3062. It is preferable to display the same display screen as the front screen display unit 310 on the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311. That is, in the first embodiment, the display control unit 305 displays a screen different from the front screen as the left screen and the right screen when job information is included in the information from the status management unit 112. To do. For this reason, when the confirmation screen is not displayed on the left and right screens, the same screen as the front screen is displayed in all directions, and the display can be easily seen by the user who performs the operation at any location.

  Further, users located on the left and right of MFP 100 may also perform operations on jobs such as a scroll operation and a cancel operation on a job being printed or a standby job. Therefore, it is preferable that an operation button is displayed on the confirmation screen. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, since the front screen that is the operation screen and the left and right screens that are the confirmation screen are displayed on the display unit 30 at the same time, the display control unit 305 is shown in FIG. As shown, the display positions of the operation buttons provided on the operation screen that is the front screen (see FIG. 7B) and the display positions of the operation buttons provided on the confirmation screen that are the left and right screens (see FIG. 7 (A), (C)), that is, it is preferable to generate image data for the operation and confirmation screens at different coordinates on the display unit 30. In the following specific examples, it is preferable that the screen configuration is similarly set.

  In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the left screen and the right screen represent the same confirmation screen. However, the confirmation screen may be different from the left screen and the right screen. This is because one of the left side and the right side of the MFP 100 is a side on which printed paper is discharged, and the other side is often a side on which paper is supplied for printing. Therefore, there is a possibility that a user who has picked up printed paper is located on the paper discharge side, and a user waiting for printing is located on the paper feed side. Therefore, the display control unit 305 displays screen image data for confirming jobs being printed and after printing, and screens for confirming jobs being printed and waiting based on information from the status management unit 112. It is preferable that each of the image data is generated and stored in the memory on the corresponding side in accordance with the regulations.

  8 and 9 are flowcharts showing a specific example of the processing flow in the display control unit 305 in this case. Specifically, the flowchart of FIG. 8 shows the flow of processing for displaying the screen on the paper feed side (here, the right screen), and the flowchart of FIG. 9 is the screen on the paper discharge side (here, the left screen). This shows the flow of processing for displaying.

  First, referring to FIG. 8, the display control unit 305 causes the right screen display unit 311 corresponding to the initial display to be displayed in the same manner as the front screen display unit 310 (step S100).

  When the control unit 101 detects that a job such as a scanner operation at the scanner unit 10 or a print instruction from another apparatus has been received (Y in step S101), the display control unit 305 performs status management. Based on the information from the unit 112, image data of a screen for displaying a job list including a job being executed, that is, a job being printed, is generated and stored in the right screen memory 3063 to be displayed on the right screen display unit 311 ( Step S102). Here, the status of the job currently being printed (for example, the number of prints of the received job, the number of pages of the job being printed, etc.) and the waiting job are displayed. The process in step S102 is repeated while there is a standby job and the image forming unit 107 is performing the process.

  When the control unit 101 finishes the processing in the image forming unit 107 (Y in step S103) and detects that there is no job waiting based on the information from the status management unit 112 (N in step S104). The display control unit 305 generates screen image data for displaying the history of jobs that have been printed based on information from the status management unit 112, and stores the image data in the right screen memory 3063 to store the right screen display unit 311. Display a history screen (step S105). The display control unit 305 monitors the elapse of time from the display of the history screen in step S105, and detects the elapse of a predetermined time after receiving the above display without receiving a new job during that time (N in step S106). And, Y in S107), the right screen is returned from the history screen display to the initial display. If a new job is received before the predetermined time has elapsed (Y in step S106), the process returns to step S102, and the display control unit 305 again performs a process for displaying the job list being executed as the right screen. .

  Next, referring to FIG. 9, when the display control unit 305 displays the paper discharge side screen (here, the left screen), the control unit 101 receives the image forming unit 107 in step S <b> 101 in step S <b> 103. If it is detected that the processing of the completed job has been completed (Y in step S103), the processing in step S104 is not performed, and the display control unit 305 determines the job for which printing has ended based on the information from the status management unit 112. The image data of the screen for displaying the history is generated and stored in the left screen memory 3061 to display the history screen on the left screen display unit 309 (step S105). The display control unit 305 monitors the passage of time from the display of the history screen in step S105. When the screen on the paper discharge side is displayed, the display control unit 305 is a process for displaying the screen on the paper feed side even if a new job is received within a predetermined time (Y in step S106). When the history screen is displayed in the above step S105 without displaying the job being executed differently and the elapse of a predetermined time is detected (N in step S106 and Y in S107), the left screen is displayed on the history screen. Return to the initial display from the display.

  When the display control unit 305 performs the above-described processing, when the left side is the paper discharge side and the right side is the paper supply side, printing on the left screen visually recognized from the paper discharge side is completed more than the job being printed. The job history is displayed with priority. Since there is a high possibility that the user who picks up the printed paper is located on the paper discharge side, information useful for such a user is displayed. On the other hand, on the right screen visually recognized from the paper supply side, the job being printed is displayed with priority over the history of jobs that have been printed. Since there is a high possibility that a user waiting for printing is located on the paper supply side, information useful for such a user is displayed. By doing in this way, the user who is especially located in the right and left can obtain more necessary information from the display unit 30 according to the position, and usability is further improved.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the display control unit 305 displays the left screen and the right screen at the timing when the left and right users of the display unit 30 are detected.

  In the second embodiment, MFP 100 includes a sensor 113 for detecting the presence or absence of an object using infrared rays or sound waves, and detects the presence or absence of left and right users on display unit 30.

  The position of the sensor is not specifically limited as long as the presence or absence of the left and right users on the display unit 30 is detected. For example, as shown in FIG. A sensor 113a for detecting presence / absence and a sensor 113b for detecting presence / absence of the right user are provided. The sensors 113 a and 113 b are connected to the control unit 101 and output detection signals to the control unit 101.

  A functional configuration for controlling display on the display unit 30 in the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 5, in addition to the configuration described above, a detection unit 317 including a sensor 113 and the like. In addition. The detection unit 317 inputs a detection signal to the display control unit 305 in accordance with detection by the sensor 113.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the flow of processing in the display control unit 305 according to the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 11, in the second embodiment, display control unit 305 monitors the input of a detection signal from detection unit 317, and a detection signal is input from at least one of sensor 113a and sensor 113b. Then (Y in step S300), screen display corresponding to the input side is performed. That is, when a detection signal is input from the sensor 113b (right in S301), the display control unit 305 displays a history of jobs being printed or jobs that have been printed based on information from the status management unit 112. The image data of the confirmation screen to be generated is generated and stored in the right screen memory 3063, and the confirmation screen is displayed on the right screen display unit 311 (step S302). When a detection signal is input from the sensor 113a (left in S301), the display control unit 305 generates image data for a confirmation screen based on information from the status management unit 112 and stores it in the left screen memory 3061. The confirmation screen is displayed on the left screen display unit 309 (step S303).

  When the display control unit 305 performs the above-described processing and detects the presence of the user on the left and right of the display unit 30, the screen can be displayed in a direction corresponding to the viewing angle. Furthermore, when the presence of the user is not detected on the left and right sides of the display unit 30, it is preferable that the display control unit 305 does not generate left screen image data and right screen image data as described above. In this way, when the user exists on the left and right of the display unit 30, the operation screen that is being viewed by the user who is operating in front of the display unit 30 is divided or the display time is restricted. Useful information is displayed simultaneously for users who are present on the left and right, and when there are no users on the left and right of the display unit 30, useful information that is easy to see for users operating in front of the display unit 30. Can be displayed.

[Third Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, the display control unit 305 displays the left screen and the right screen when it is detected that there is a job being printed or a job waiting.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the flow of processing in the display control unit 305 according to the third embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, in the third embodiment, display control unit 305 detects that there is a job being printed or a standby job based on information from status management unit 112 (step S <b> 12). Based on the information, the display control unit 305 generates image data for a confirmation screen for displaying the jobs and stores the image data in the left screen memory 3061 and the right screen memory 3063, and the left screen display unit 309 and The above screen is displayed on the right screen display unit 311 (step S513). If it is not detected that there is a job being printed or a standby job (No in step S501), the display control unit 305 leaves the display of the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311 unchanged. (Step S510).

  When the display control unit 305 performs the above-described processing, a confirmation screen can be displayed on the left and right screens when there is a job being printed or a job waiting. In this way, when the user exists on the left and right sides of the display unit 30 in order to check a job being printed or a standby job, the operating user located in front of the display unit 30 can visually recognize It is possible to display useful information at the same time for left and right users without dividing the operation screen being operated or limiting the display time. Note that the processing described above and the processing according to the second embodiment may be combined.

[Fourth Embodiment]
As a premise of the fourth embodiment, an ID that is information for identifying the user is assigned to the user, and the user carries a recording medium such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) card in which the ID of the user is recorded. It shall be. The communication unit 109 performs wireless communication and reads an ID from the IC card within a communicable range. The communication unit 109 is connected to the control unit 101 and outputs the read ID to the control unit 101.

  As for the functional configuration for controlling display on the display unit 30 in the MFP 100 according to the fourth embodiment, referring to FIG. 5, in addition to the configuration described above, an ID acquisition unit configured by the communication unit 109 and the like 318 is further included. The ID acquisition unit 318 inputs the ID obtained by communication with the IC card in the communication unit 109 to the display control unit 305.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the flow of processing in the display control unit 305 according to the fourth embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, in the fourth embodiment, display control unit 305 monitors the input of ID read from ID acquisition unit 318 from an IC card carried by the user that exists near MFP 100, When the input of the ID is detected (Y in step S500), the presence / absence of a job currently being printed or a standby job is confirmed based on information from the status management unit 112 (step S501). As a result, when the corresponding job exists (Yes in step S501), the display control unit 305 further inputs the ID associated with the job by adding it to the job as attribute information, and the input in step S500. The obtained ID is compared (step S503).

  If the existing job does not include a job with a matching ID (“mismatch” in step S505), the display control unit 305 does not change the display on any screen. That is, the display on the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311 is the same screen display as that on the front screen display unit 310. On the other hand, when a job with a matching ID is included (“match” in step S505), the display control unit 305 generates image data of a screen that displays information regarding the job, and generates the left screen memory 3061 and the right screen. The information is stored in the screen memory 3063 and displayed on the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311 (step S513).

  When the display control unit 305 detects the presence of the user in the vicinity (left and right) of the display unit 30 by performing the above-described processing, the operation related to the job related to the user is positioned in front of the display unit 30. It is possible to display on the left and right screens at the same time without dividing the operation screen visually recognized by the user in the middle or restricting the display time. By doing in this way, when a user exists in the right and left of the display part 30, especially useful information can be displayed simultaneously with the display of the information with respect to the front user with respect to the user.

  Furthermore, the above-described processing may be combined with the processing in the second embodiment. That is, referring to FIG. 14, display control unit 305 performs the processing of steps S500 to S505 shown in FIG. 13, and is added as attribute information to the job included in the information from status management unit 112. When a job whose ID matches the ID input in step S500 is included (“match” in step S505), the display control unit 305 displays the ID input in step S500 on the right or left side of the display unit 30. It is determined whether or not it is read from an existing IC card, that is, whether or not the user exists on the left and right of the display unit 30 (step S507). In step S507, as described in the second embodiment, the MFP 100 includes the sensor 113a and the sensor 113b, and the display control unit 305 may make a determination based on detection signals from the sensor 113a or the communication unit 109. Includes a communication unit that communicates with the right side of the MFP 100 and a communication unit that communicates with the left side in the same manner as the sensor 113, and the display control unit 305 determines by comparing the communication strength between these communication units and the IC card. Good. Moreover, you may judge by another method. In step S507, it is determined whether the IC card from which the ID has been read is positioned on the left and right of the display unit 30 or on the front. If it is determined that the IC card is the former, it is present on the left side or on the right side. It shall be determined whether or not it exists.

  As a result, when the IC card from which the ID has been read is not positioned on the left or right of the display unit 30 (N in step S507), that is, on the front, the display control unit 305 is the same as the front display 310 on the left and right display units. The screen is displayed (step S517). When the IC card from which the ID has been read is present on the left side or the right side of the display unit 30 (Y in step S507), the display control unit 305 is further determined to match in step S505 based on information from the status management unit 112. The status of the job is confirmed (step S509). As a result, when all the corresponding jobs have been printed (Y in step S509), the display control unit 305 generates image data of a screen that displays the history of the corresponding jobs that have been printed, and the ID Is stored in the left screen memory 3061 or the right screen memory 3063 corresponding to the direction in which the IC card is read, and the screen for displaying the job history is displayed on the left screen display unit 309 or the right screen display unit 311 (step S515). ). If the corresponding job includes a job that is currently being printed or is waiting (N in step S509), the display control unit 305 displays a list indicating the status of these jobs and a history of jobs that have been printed. Is generated and stored in the left screen memory 3061 or the right screen memory 3063 corresponding to the direction in which the IC card from which the ID is read exists, and is stored in the left screen display unit 309 or the right screen display unit 311. The above screen is displayed (step S513 ′).

  Although this process may be completed as described above, preferably, the subsequent processes are further executed. That is, after the screen is displayed on the left screen display unit 309 or the right screen display unit 311 in step S515 or S513 ′, the display control unit 305 continues the IC that has read the ID in the same manner as in step S507. It is determined whether or not a card is present on the left side or right side of the display unit 30 (step S514 or S516). As a result, when it is detected that the IC card from which the ID is read does not exist on the left or right side of the display unit 30 and a predetermined time has elapsed (N in step S514 or N in S516), the display control unit 305 The left and right display units display the same screen as the front display unit 310 (step S517).

  In step S500, an input of an ID may be detected, and an authentication process may be performed using the ID by an authentication unit (not shown). Then, only when the authentication is successful, the display control unit 305 may execute the processing of step S501 and subsequent steps.

  When the display control unit 305 detects the presence of the user in the vicinity (left and right) of the display unit 30 by performing the above-described processing, the operation related to the job related to the user is positioned in front of the display unit 30. It is possible to display on the screen in the direction in which the user exists at the same time without dividing the operation screen that is being visually recognized by the user and limiting the display time. Further, when the user no longer exists in the vicinity of MFP 100, the left screen and the right screen can be made the same as the front screen. By doing in this way, when a user exists in the right and left of the display part 30, especially useful information can be displayed with respect to the user.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the fifth embodiment, when a predetermined operation is performed, the display control unit 305 causes the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311 to display a screen different from the front screen display unit 310. Examples of the predetermined operation include a user authentication operation and an operation in which a user (hereinafter referred to as a serviceman) who performs maintenance performs various settings. This corresponds to an operation that the user wants to avoid being visually recognized.

  At this time, the display control unit 305 stores a corresponding operation in advance. In other words, the display control unit 305 stores in advance the timing and operation of displaying a screen that is desired to be prevented from being viewed by the third party. The mode switched according to the timing and operation is referred to herein as a predetermined mode. The predetermined mode may be able to be newly registered or changed by performing a predetermined operation.

  In the fifth embodiment, the display control unit 305 is connected to the push button control unit 304 and the touch panel control unit 307, and receives input of an operation signal accompanying the operation from these. Then, the display control unit 305 determines whether or not the predetermined mode is selected based on the operation signal. Further, the display control unit 305 may determine whether or not the predetermined mode is selected by detecting that the ID input from the ID acquisition unit 318 is an ID stored in advance.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a processing flow in the display control unit 305 according to the fifth embodiment. Referring to FIG. 15, display control unit 305 determines whether or not a predetermined mode is selected based on an operation signal from push button control unit 304 and touch panel control unit 307 or an ID input from ID acquisition unit 318. Is determined (step S700). As a result, if it is not determined that the predetermined mode has been selected (N in step S700), the display control unit 305 leaves the display on any screen display unit unchanged. If it is determined that the predetermined mode has been selected (Y in step S700), the display control unit 305 causes the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311 to display a screen different from the front screen display unit 310. (Step S701). Here, the purpose is to prevent the screen displayed on the front screen display unit 310 from being viewed by users other than the operator, who are present on the left and right, so the left and right screens are different from the front screen. Any screen may be used. For example, image data for screen display such as a logo of the seller of MFP 100 is stored in advance in the left screen memory 3061 and the right screen memory 3063, and the display control unit 305. The image data may be read out and displayed.

  Thereafter, the display control unit 305 further monitors the operation signal from the push button control unit 304 and the touch panel control unit 307 and the ID input from the ID acquisition unit 318, and based on these, the predetermined mode selected in step S700 is selected. It is determined whether or not a selection to end or cancel has been made (step S703). Here, for example, it may be determined by detecting whether or not an instruction for termination or cancellation has been given based on an operation signal, or that no operation has been performed for a predetermined time, or input of an ID indicating a predetermined user may be performed. It may be determined by detecting the presence or absence. When it is determined that the selection to end or cancel the predetermined mode selected in step S700 is made (Y in step S703), the display control unit 305 displays the image data of the front screen stored in the front screen memory 3062. The data is read and stored in the left screen memory 3061 and the right screen memory 3063, and the left screen display unit 309 and the right screen display unit 311 display the same screen as the front screen display unit 310 (step S704).

  When the table control unit 305 performs the above processing, for example, when a serviceman performs an operation, as shown in FIG. 16, the timing when the serviceman ID is acquired by the ID acquisition unit 318, or the touch panel control unit At the timing when an operation signal according to a predetermined operation for the serviceman to perform an operation from 307 is input, the front screen is switched to the screen for that purpose, and a screen different from the front screen is displayed on the left and right screen display units. it can. By doing in this way, it can prevent effectively that the screen displayed on the front screen display part 310 is visually recognized from the third party who exists in right and left other than an operator.

  Furthermore, it is possible to provide a program that causes a computer to execute the processing in the table control unit 305 described above. Such a program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a memory card. And can be provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network.

  The program according to the present invention is a program module that is provided as a part of a computer operating system (OS) and calls necessary modules in a predetermined arrangement at a predetermined timing to execute processing. Also good. In that case, the program itself does not include the module, and the process is executed in cooperation with the OS. A program that does not include such a module can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The program according to the present invention may be provided by being incorporated in a part of another program. Even in this case, the program itself does not include the module included in the other program, and the process is executed in cooperation with the other program. Such a program incorporated in another program can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

Each of the disclosed embodiments may be appropriately combined with two or more.
The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an overview of an MFP according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a display principle on a display unit of the MFP according to the embodiment; FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining how a display screen is seen in an MFP including a display unit that employs a multi-view liquid crystal. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration for controlling display on a display unit in the MFP according to the embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a flow of processing in the display control unit 305. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a flow of processing in the display control unit 305. It is a figure explaining the sensor provided in the right and left of a display part. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a processing flow in the display control unit 305 according to the second embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a flow of processing in the display control unit 305 according to the third embodiment. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a processing flow in the display control unit 305 according to the fourth embodiment. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a processing flow in the display control unit 305 according to the fourth embodiment. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a processing flow in the display control unit 305 according to the fifth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen.

Explanation of symbols

  10 scanner unit, 20 processing unit, 30 display unit, 100 MFP, 101 control unit, 102 operation display unit, 103 ROM, 104 RAM, 105 image reading unit, 106 image processing unit, 107 image forming unit, 108 data storage unit, 109 communication unit, 110 identification unit, 111 network, 112 status management unit, 113, 113a, 113b sensor, 300 liquid crystal panel, 301 parallax barrier, 303 audio control unit, 304 push button control unit, 305 display control unit, 306 memory, 307 touch panel control unit, 308 backlight control unit, 309 left screen display unit, 310 front screen display unit, 311 right screen display unit, 312 touch panel, 313 backlight, 314 speaker, 315 button, 317 detection unit, 318 ID acquisition unit , 061 left side of the screen memory, 3062 front screen memory, 3063 right screen memory.

Claims (8)

An acquisition means for acquiring a job;
Image forming means for performing image forming processing on the job;
First operation means for performing operation settings for the image forming process;
Display means for displaying the first operation means and information relating to the image forming process;
The display means has a first screen with respect to a first direction that includes 0 degrees as a viewing angle that is an angle between the display means and a viewpoint, and a second direction that does not include 0 degrees as a viewing angle. The second screen is simultaneously displayed, the screen including the first operation unit is displayed as the first screen, and the screen including information regarding the image forming process is displayed as the second screen. apparatus. The information relating to the image forming process includes a second operation means for performing an operation on the job,
The first operation means displayed on the first screen and the second operation means displayed on the second screen are displayed at different coordinate positions on the display means. Image forming apparatus. Display control means for controlling display of the second screen in the display means;
Detecting means for detecting a user existing in the second direction;
2. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the detection unit detects a user existing in the second direction, the display control unit displays a screen including information on the image forming process as the second screen. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit displays the same screen as the first screen as the second screen when a user is not detected in the second direction by the detection unit. . Further comprising display control means for controlling the display of the second screen in the display means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there is a job to be processed by the image forming unit, the display control unit displays a screen including information on the image forming process as the second screen. Further comprising reading means for reading the user identification information from a recording medium within a predetermined range from the image forming apparatus,
When the job to be processed by the image forming unit exists and the job associated with the identification information exists in the job, the display control unit displays the second screen as the second screen. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a screen including information relating to the image forming process relating to a job associated with identification information is displayed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays a screen different from the first screen as the second screen when a predetermined mode is selected. A discharge unit that discharges the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit;
The second direction includes a third direction including a direction in which the sheet is discharged by the discharging unit with a viewing angle of 0 degree as a boundary, and a fourth direction not including the discharge direction,
When the acquisition unit acquires a job, the display control unit displays a screen including information on the job in which the sheet is discharged by the discharge unit in the third direction, and the discharge direction in the fourth direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus displays a screen including information regarding a job for which the sheet has not yet been discharged by the means.

Images