JP2011093197A - Information processor, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor and a control method thereof which can alter a display language set at present into a predetermined language simply. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor defines a specific language among a plurality of kinds of languages enabling an input and editing as a standard language. The information processor includes a display means 5 for showing a predetermined message containing at least characters, a language switching means 14 which performs a language switching processing for switching the display language of message into any one language among a plurality of kinds of languages, and a language reset processing means which performs the language reset processing for returning the display language at the point of being switched by the language switching processing to the predetermined language defined beforehand. The predetermined language is a standard language. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of displaying in a plurality of types of languages and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, an information processing apparatus (electronic device) having a language switching function for switching a language (hereinafter referred to as “display language”) displayed on a setting screen for performing various settings of the apparatus is known (for example, patents). Reference 1). In this information processing apparatus, when the language is switched by the language switching function, the message on the setting screen is displayed in two languages, a language set by the language switching function and a preset language. For example, when the language set by the language switching function is Danish and the preset language is English, a message in English is displayed in addition to the Danish message on the setting screen.

JP 2006-293585 A

  However, as described above, even when a message is displayed in a plurality of languages at the same time on the setting screen, only a language that the user cannot read may be displayed. In this case, there is a problem that even if the user tries to change the setting contents, the display contents cannot be understood, and the subsequent operation cannot be performed.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of easily changing a currently set display language to a predetermined language and a control method thereof.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit for displaying a predetermined message including at least characters in an information processing apparatus in which a specific language among a plurality of types of languages that can be input and edited is a standard language. The language switching means for performing the language switching process for switching the message display language to any one of a plurality of languages, and the display language at the time of switching by the language switching process are determined in advance. Language restoration processing means for performing language restoration processing for returning to a predetermined language, and the predetermined language is a standard language.

  A control method for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit for displaying a predetermined message including at least characters, a language switching function for switching the display language of the message to a plurality of types of languages, and displaying the message on the display unit, A method for controlling an information processing apparatus comprising: a language restoration processing step for returning a display language at the time of switching by a language switching function to a predetermined language, wherein the predetermined language is a plurality of types of languages. A control method for an information processing apparatus, characterized in that any one of the specific languages is a standard language.

  According to these configurations, the current display language can be restored to the standard language (predetermined language). In general, the fact that the user is operating the device means that the language adopted as the standard language of the device can be understood. In other words, even if the current display language becomes a language that the user cannot read by switching the display language, it can be restored to the language that can be read by the user by returning to the standard language, and the display language cannot be read. Can alleviate the inconvenience of being troubled. The standard language includes, for example, “English” which is widely used as an official language and understandable by many people.

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention preferably further includes language setting means for setting any one of a plurality of types of languages as the predetermined language.

  According to this configuration, the user can freely set the language to be restored (predetermined language). For example, by setting the user's native language as the language to be restored, even if the current display language cannot be read and operation is difficult, the language can be reliably restored to the language that the user can understand. .

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the language return processing means includes return confirmation means for inquiring whether or not to return the display language at the time of switching to a predetermined language in the language return processing.

  According to this configuration, in the language restoration process, in order to inquire (confirm) whether or not to return the current display language to the preset language, for example, the language restoration process is erroneously performed in the middle of some operation, Troubles such as sudden switching to a language that the user does not intend can be prevented.

1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open state. It is a control block diagram of a tape printer. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence which returns the present display language to a basic language. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence which sets arbitrary languages as a basic language.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a tape printer that creates a label by printing on a tape-like member (tape-like medium) will be described as an example of the information processing apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 has an exterior formed by a device case 2, and a keyboard 3 having various input keys is disposed on the front upper surface of the device case 2. An opening / closing lid 4 is attached to the left part, and a display screen 5 (display means) is arranged on the right part thereof. A cartridge mounting portion 6 for mounting a tape cartridge C is recessed inside the opening / closing lid 4, and the tape cartridge C is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. The The open / close lid 4 is formed with a viewing window 7 for visually confirming mounting / non-mounting of the tape cartridge C in the closed state.

  On the keyboard 3, a character key group 3a and a function key group 3b for designating various operation modes are arranged. The character key group 3a has a full key configuration based on the JIS layout, and is similar to a general word processor or the like including a shift key for suppressing an increase in the number of keys to be operated. The function key group 3b includes a [print] key 11, a cursor key 12, a [select] key 13, a [language] key 14 (language switching means), an [environment setting] key 15, and the like. These key inputs may be individually provided for each key input as in a general keyboard, or may be input using a smaller number of keys in combination with a shift key or the like.

  [Print] key 11 is a key for instructing execution of printing. The cursor key 12 includes up / down / left / right keys ([↑], [↓], [←], [→]), and is a key for performing cursor movement and scroll operation. [Select] key 13 is a key for selecting and confirming selection candidates (options). The [Language] key 14 is a key for switching the display language of various information (messages) displayed on the display screen 5. The “environment setting” key 15 is a key for performing various environment settings of the tape printer 1.

  The display screen 5 is formed of a liquid crystal display. The display screen 5 is used when a user inputs desired text or an image using the keyboard 3 to create or edit print data such as text data or image data, or to visually check (confirm) the result. Used.

  A tape discharge port 21 is formed on the left side of the apparatus case 2 to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the outside. The tape discharge port 21 has a tape cutter 22 (full full) for cutting the printing tape T sent out. A cutter 52 and a half cutter 54 (see FIG. 2) are facing. Then, the printed printing tape T is fed out from the tape discharge port 21 by a predetermined length, and the printed printing tape T is cut by the tape cutter 22 in a state where the feeding is temporarily stopped. Create a label.

  On the other hand, the cartridge mounting unit 6 has a head unit 24 in which a thermal type print head 26 is built in a head cover 25, a platen drive shaft 27 facing the print head 26, and a winding for winding an ink ribbon R described later. A drive shaft 28 and a positioning projection 29 of a tape reel 32 described later are provided. In addition, a tape feed motor 30 (see FIG. 2) for rotating the platen drive shaft 27 and the take-up drive shaft 28 is incorporated below the cartridge mounting portion 6.

  The tape cartridge C has a tape reel 32 around which a printing tape T having a certain width (about 4 mm to 48 mm) is wound at an upper central portion inside the cartridge case 31, and a ribbon reel 33 around which an ink ribbon R is wound at the lower right. The printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are configured with the same width. A through hole 34 for inserting the head unit 24 is formed in the lower left portion of the tape reel 32. Further, in a state where the head unit 24 is inserted into the through-hole 34, the print head 26 built in the head unit 24 is opposed to the print head 26 across the overlapping portion of the print tape T and the ink ribbon R. A platen roller 35 that is fitted to the platen drive shaft 27 and is driven to rotate is disposed. On the other hand, a ribbon take-up reel 36 is arranged in the vicinity of the ribbon reel 33, and the ink ribbon R fed out from the ribbon reel 33 is arranged so as to go around the head cover 25 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 36. It is like that.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, the through hole 34 is formed in the head cover 25, the center hole of the tape reel 32 is formed in the positioning protrusion 29, and the center hole of the ribbon take-up reel 36 is formed in the winding drive shaft 28. Then, the print head 26 is brought into contact with the platen roller 35 with the print tape T and the ink ribbon R interposed therebetween, and printing is enabled. Thereafter, when the user inputs desired text or an image with the keyboard 3 while confirming the editing result of the display screen 5 and instructs printing, the tape printer 1 removes the print tape T from the tape cartridge C by the tape feed motor 30. The desired printing is performed on the printing tape T by feeding and selectively heating the heating elements of the print head 26. The printed portion of the printing tape T is sent to the outside from the tape discharge port 21 as needed, and when printing is completed, the tape feeding motor 30 feeds the printing tape T to the position of the tape length including the margin, The feeding is stopped (then, the process proceeds to the cutting process).

  On the other hand, the printing tape T is composed of a recording tape Ta having an adhesive layer formed on the back surface, and a release tape Tb attached to the recording tape Ta by the adhesive layer. The printing tape T is wound in a roll shape with the recording tape Ta on the outside and the release tape Tb on the inside, and is accommodated in the cartridge case 31. In addition, a plurality of types of printing tape T having different tape types (tape width, tape ground color, ground pattern, material (texture), etc.) are prepared, and each of the cartridge cases 31 has one type. The printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are accommodated. A plurality of holes (not shown) for specifying the type of the tape cartridge C are provided on the back surface of the cartridge case 31. In addition, a plurality of tape identification sensors (such as microswitches) 37 (see FIG. 2) for detecting these are provided in the cartridge mounting portion 6 corresponding to the plurality of holes. By detecting the state of the hole, the tape type can be determined.

  Next, the control configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG. The tape printing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 41, a detection unit 42, a printing unit 43, a cutting unit 44, a driving unit 45, and a control unit 40 that is connected to these units and controls the entire tape printing apparatus 1. .

  The operation unit 41 functions as a user interface for inputting / editing and setting information from the character key group 3a and the function key group 3b on the keyboard 3 and displaying the various information on the display screen 5.

  The detection unit 42 includes the tape identification sensor 37 described above, and detects the type of the printing tape T (tape cartridge C). The printing unit 43 includes the print head 26 and the tape feed motor 30, and performs printing based on the generated print data on the print tape T while conveying the print tape T and the ink ribbon R.

  The cutting unit 44 includes a full cutter 52 that cuts both the recording tape Ta and the peeling tape Tb of the printing tape T, a full cutter motor 51 that drives the full cutter 52, a half cutter 54 that cuts only the recording tape Ta of the printing tape T, and And a half cutter motor 53 for driving the same. The full cutter 52 and the half cutter 54 cut the printing tape T that has been printed by the printing unit 43 so as to have a predetermined length, thereby creating a label. The drive unit 45 includes a display driver 55, a head driver 56, a tape feed motor driver 57, and a cutter motor driver 58, and drives each unit.

  The control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 62, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 63, and an input / output control device (hereinafter referred to as “IOC: Input Output Controller”) 64. These are connected to each other by an internal bus 65. The RAM 63 is used as a work area for the CPU 61 to execute various processes.

  The ROM 62 stores a control program and control data for the CPU 61 to perform various controls. Specifically, the control program includes a program for executing language switching processing for switching the current display language to another language. This language switching process is executed by pressing the [Language] key 14. The language switching rule in the language switching process may be a method of switching the language cyclically in accordance with a predetermined order each time the [Language] key 14 is pressed, or may be switched by pressing the [Language] key 14. A list of possible languages may be displayed as a menu, and the language selected from the list may be switched.

  With the above configuration, the CPU 61 inputs various signals and data from each unit in the tape printer 1 via the IOC 64 in accordance with various control programs in the ROM 62. Further, various processes in the RAM 63 are processed based on the various signals / data input, and various signals / data are output to each part of the tape printer 1 via the IOC 64, thereby controlling various processes.

  By the way, when the display language is switched by the language switching process described above, the contents of the display screen 5 are displayed in a language that the user cannot read (cannot understand), and further operations cannot be performed. There is a problem. In order to solve this problem, the tape printer 1 of the present invention has a function (hereinafter referred to as a “language restoration function (language)” which returns the current display language to a preset language (hereinafter referred to as “basic language”). Return processing means) ”). As the default language, a language (here, English) adopted as the standard language of the tape printer 1 is set as the default language. Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the language restoration processing procedure for returning the current display language of the tape printer 1 to the basic language by the language restoration function. This language restoration process is executed when the user simultaneously presses the shift key and the [language] key 14. Hereinafter, it demonstrates according to a flowchart.

  First, when the text input screen is displayed on the display screen 5 (S01) and the user simultaneously presses the shift key and the [Language] key 14 (S02), the CPU 61 (tape printer 1) A return confirmation screen is displayed (S03, return confirmation means). On this language return confirmation screen, a confirmation message for inquiring whether or not the current display language may be changed to the reference language (English) is expressed in the reference language itself (hereinafter referred to as “local name notation”). Is displayed. That is, since the reference language is set to English here, a confirmation message in English notation (local name notation) is displayed, for example, “Switch to English?”.

  Next, when the user performs a key operation (pressing the [Select] key 13) to change the display language in the state of S03 (S04; Yes), the CPU 61 sets the current display language to the basic language. (S05), the name of the switched basic language (that is, the name of the current display language) is displayed on the display screen 5 in English notation and local name notation (S06). That is, here, since the basic language is English, “English (English notation)” and “English (local name notation)” are displayed. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the state of S06, the CPU 61 transitions to the original text input screen (S01), and ends a series of language restoration processing.

  On the other hand, when the user performs a key operation (pressing a key other than the [Select] key 13) indicating that the display language is not changed by the user (S04; No), the CPU 61 displays the name of the current display language. Is displayed in local name notation and English notation (S06). For example, if the current display language is “Japanese”, “Japan (English notation)” and “Japanese (local name notation)” are displayed. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the state of S06, the CPU 61 transitions to the original text input screen (S01), and ends a series of language restoration processing.

  Next, FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of basic language setting processing (language setting means) for setting an arbitrary language as a basic language. This basic language setting process is realized by “basic language setting” in an environment setting menu (a menu displayed when the [environment setting] key 15 is pressed). Hereinafter, it demonstrates according to a flowchart.

  First, when “basic language setting” is selected from the environment setting menu by the user (S11), the CPU 61 displays a menu of language selection candidates that can be set as the basic language on the display screen 5 (S12). In this menu display, each selection candidate is displayed in local name notation. That is, if the settable languages are “English”, “Danish”, “Japanese”,..., “English”, “Dansk”, “Japanese”,. .

  Subsequently, when a desired language is selected from the selection candidate list by the user's key operation (operation of the cursor key 12 and the [selection] key 13) (S13), the CPU 61 displays a language setting confirmation screen. (S14). On this language setting confirmation screen, a confirmation message for inquiring whether or not the selected language may be set as the basic language is displayed in the notation (local name notation) of the selected language itself.

  When the user performs a key operation (pressing the [Select] key 13) to set the selected language as the basic language in the state of S14 (S15; Yes), the CPU 61 selects the language selected by the user. Is set as a basic language (S16), and a series of language setting processes is completed. On the other hand, when the user performs a key operation (pressing a key other than the [Select] key 13) to cancel the selected language in the state of S14 (S15; No), the CPU 61 selects the language again. A candidate list is displayed (S12).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the current display language can be restored to a preset basic language (standard language (English)). In general, the fact that the user operates the tape printing apparatus 1 means that the language adopted as the standard language of the apparatus 1 can be understood. In other words, even if the current display language becomes a language that the user cannot read by switching the display language, by returning to the standard language (English) set as the basic language, you can reliably return to the language that the user can read, The inconvenience that the display language cannot be read and the operation is troublesome can be alleviated.

  In addition, since the user can freely set the basic language as in this embodiment, for example, by setting the user's native language as the basic language, the current display language cannot be read. Even if it is difficult to operate, it is possible to return to a language that the user can understand.

  In the language restoration process, the language restoration confirmation screen is displayed and an inquiry (confirmation) is made as to whether or not the current display language is to be returned to the basic language. For example, the language restoration process is erroneously performed during some operation. It is possible to prevent troubles such as sudden switching to a language that the user does not intend.

  In the present embodiment, the language restoration process is executed using the simultaneous pressing of the shift key and the [language] key 14 as a trigger, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a dedicated key for executing language restoration processing may be provided, or language restoration processing may be executed when any of the currently installed keys is pressed with a different pressing method. May be.

  In addition, the configuration and processing steps of the tape printer 1 can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention, regardless of the above-described embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 3 ... Keyboard 5 ... Display screen 14 ... Language key 15 ... Environment setting key 40 ... Control part

Claims (4)

In an information processing apparatus in which a specific language among a plurality of types of languages that can be input / edited is a standard language,
Display means for displaying a predetermined message including at least characters;
Language switching means for performing a language switching process for switching the display language of the message to any one of the plurality of types of languages;
Language return processing means for performing language return processing for returning the display language at the time of switching by the language switching processing to a predetermined language,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the predetermined language is the standard language. As the predetermined language,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising language setting means for setting any one of the plurality of types of languages. The language return processing means includes
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a return confirmation unit that inquires whether or not to return the display language at the time of the switching to the predetermined language in the language return process. A control method for an information processing apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying a predetermined message including at least characters; and a language switching function for switching a display language of the message to a plurality of types of languages and displaying the message on the display unit There,
A language return processing step of returning the display language at the time of switching by the language switching function to a predetermined language,
The control method for an information processing apparatus, wherein the predetermined language is a specific language using any one of the plurality of types of languages as a standard language.

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