JP2012047980A - Display device and image formation apparatus equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device capable of reducing power consumption as well as improving operability.SOLUTION: A display device represented by a control panel 30 comprises: an operation display unit 37 that displays a plurality of setting items 54a on a screen and accepts selection of the setting items 54a; a light source unit 38 comprising a plurality of light sources 38a that emit light toward the operation display unit 37 and capable of turning light on/off against each the light sources 38a at least in three stages including light emission at a first luminance, light emission at a second luminance having lower brightness than the first luminance and lights-out; a storage unit 40 that stores a selection history regarding each of the plurality of setting items 54a; and an operation control unit 39 that, based on the selection history of each of the plurality of setting items 54a stored in the storage unit 40, turns a light source 38a corresponding to a setting item 54a selected a predetermined certain number of times or more to emit light at the first luminance, and a light source 38a corresponding to a setting item 54a selected less than the predetermined certain number of times to emit light at the second luminance.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device having a touch panel function and capable of item selection and key input by operation thereof. The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with this display device.

  In recent years, many electrical appliances represented by portable information devices are equipped with a display device having a touch panel portion on the front surface. Similarly, some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, facsimile machines, and scanners have a display device in front of the apparatus. Such a display device is generally provided with a touch panel unit, and displays various setting items and input keys on a screen composed of a liquid crystal or the like, and the setting items and input keys directly by hand or a touch pen. By touching with the input assist tool, operations such as character input and command execution are accepted.

  Further, the display device includes a backlight composed of a fluorescent lamp, an LED, and the like. And since this backlight consumes a lot of electric power, various technologies related to the reduction in power consumption of the display device are proposed, and an example thereof can be seen in Patent Document 1. The liquid crystal display device described in Patent Document 1 has a function of allowing only a part of the screen to be in a display state and the remaining part to be in a non-display state. The uncomfortable feeling seen in the part is eliminated.

JP 11-311981 A

  However, the liquid crystal display device described in Patent Document 1 pays attention only to display area switching / non-display switching and brightness adjustment, and does not consider the usability of the user as a display apparatus. In other words, as a display device mounted on various devices, while reducing its power consumption, devise to display items that should be preferentially set and items that have already been set on the screen in an easy-to-understand manner. It is desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a display device in which operability is improved in addition to low power consumption. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with such a display device and having good usability.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a display device that displays a plurality of setting items on a screen and has an operation display unit having a touch panel unit that accepts selection of the setting items, and toward the operation display unit. It is composed of a plurality of light sources that irradiate light, and each of the light sources has light emission at a first luminance, light emission at a second luminance whose brightness is lower than the first luminance, and light extinction at least in three stages. A light source unit that can be turned on and off, a storage unit that stores a selection history of each of the plurality of setting items, and a display on the operation display unit based on the selection history of each of the plurality of setting items stored in the storage unit The light source corresponding to the setting item having a predetermined number of selections equal to or greater than a predetermined number of preset setting items is caused to emit light at the first luminance, and the setting of the selection number less than the predetermined number is performed. It said light sources corresponding to the eyes and be provided with a control unit that emit light at the second brightness.

  According to this configuration, among the many setting items displayed on the operation display unit, setting items with a relatively high use frequency are displayed relatively brightly, and setting items with a relatively low use frequency are displayed relatively darkly. Therefore, the power consumption of the light source unit is suppressed with respect to the setting items with relatively low use frequency, and the user can grasp at a glance important setting items to be set preferentially, thereby avoiding operational confusion.

  The “predetermined number of times” is a preset number of selections that serves as a reference for identifying setting items that are relatively low in use frequency, and is set to an arbitrary number of times, for example, five times, ten times, thirty times, etc. be able to. In the embodiment described later, the “predetermined number” is set to “10 times”, for example, but is not limited to this number.

  Further, in the display device having the above configuration, the control unit selects based on a selection history of each of the plurality of setting items stored in the storage unit among the setting items that cause the corresponding light source to emit light at the first luminance. Only the light source corresponding to the most frequently used setting item is caused to emit light at the first luminance, and the light source corresponding to the setting item other than the most frequently used selected setting item is caused to emit light at the second luminance.

  According to this configuration, the setting item with the largest number of selections, that is, the setting item with the highest use frequency is displayed brighter than the other setting items. Therefore, the operability and low power consumption of the display device can be further improved.

  Further, in the display device having the above-described configuration, the control unit may perform the setting for the setting item on condition that the setting item corresponding to the light source that emits light with the first luminance is selected in one display job. Based on the selection history stored in the storage unit, the light source corresponding to the setting item having the next largest number of selections is caused to emit light at the first luminance.

  According to this configuration, the setting items to be set according to the selection of the setting item are displayed relatively bright one after another, so that the user can use the display device smoothly without being confused by the operation of the display device.

  In the display device having the above configuration, the control unit causes the light source corresponding to the setting item selected on the condition that the setting item is selected in one display job to emit light at the second luminance. At the same time, the color of the selected setting item is changed from that before selection.

  According to this configuration, the setting items that have been selected and set can be displayed in a relatively dark color so that they have a different color from the others, and the setting items that have been set can be easily understood. Therefore, the operability and low power consumption of the display device can be further improved.

  In the present invention, the display device having the above configuration is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

  According to this configuration, the power consumption of the display device is suppressed in the image forming apparatus, and the user can grasp at a glance the items to be preferentially set, thereby avoiding confusion in the operation of the display device.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to provide a display device in which operability is improved in addition to low power consumption. In addition, an image forming apparatus equipped with such a display device and having good usability can be provided.

1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation panel (display device) of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows arrangement | positioning of the light source of the operation display part of the operation panel of FIG. It is a front view of the operation display part of the operation panel shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. 5 and shows a state in which only setting items are displayed. FIG. 6 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. 6, and shows a state where the first luminance target setting item is selected and changed in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. 7, and shows a state where the first luminance target setting item is further selected and changed in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. 8, and shows a state where the first luminance target setting item is further selected and changed in FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. 6 and shows a state in which setting items other than the first luminance target setting item are selected in FIG. 6. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on the display of the operation display part at the time of copying.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, an image output operation of an image forming apparatus equipped with a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described while explaining the outline of the structure with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feed cassette 3 below the main body 2. The paper feed cassette 3 stores and accommodates paper P such as cut paper before printing. The sheets P are separated and sent one by one toward the upper left of the sheet feeding cassette 3 in FIG. The paper feed cassette 3 can be pulled out horizontally from the front side of the main body 2.

  A first paper transport unit 4 is provided in the main body 2 and on the left side of the paper feed cassette 3. The first paper transport unit 4 is formed substantially vertically along the left side surface of the main body 2. The first paper transport unit 4 receives the paper P sent from the paper feed cassette 3 and transports it to the secondary transfer unit 5 vertically upward along the left side surface of the main body 2.

  A manual paper feed unit 6 is provided above the paper feed cassette 3 and on the right side, which is the side opposite to the left side of the main body 2 where the first paper transport unit 4 is formed. In the manual paper feed unit 6, paper of a size that is not in the paper feed cassette 3, or paper that is to be manually fed, such as thick paper and OHP sheets, is placed.

  A second paper transport unit 7 is provided on the left side of the manual paper feed unit 6. The second paper transport unit 7 is located immediately above the paper feed cassette 3, extends substantially horizontally from the manual paper feed unit 6 to the first paper transport unit 4, and joins the first paper transport unit 4. The second paper transport unit 7 receives the paper fed from the manual paper feed unit 6 and transports the paper to the first paper transport unit 4 substantially horizontally.

  On the other hand, a document conveying device 8 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, and an image reading unit 9 is provided in the main body 2 below the main body 2. When a user copies an original, an original on which images such as characters, figures, and patterns are drawn is loaded on the original conveying device 8 or placed on a contact glass (not shown) on the upper surface of the image reading unit 9. Or In the document conveying device 8, one or a plurality of documents are separated and sent one by one, and the image reading unit 9 reads the image. With respect to the document on the contact glass, an image is read by scanning light in the image reading unit 9.

  Reading of a document image, that is, the start of image formation is instructed using an operation panel 30 which is a display device provided at the upper part of the main body 2 and on the front side of the image reading unit 9. The operation panel 30 accepts printing condition settings such as the type and size of paper used for printing by the user, enlargement / reduction, and presence / absence of double-sided printing. The detailed configuration of the operation panel 30 will be described later.

  Information on the image data of the document is subjected to image processing via a main body control unit 20 and the like which will be described later, and then the exposure unit 10 disposed above the second paper transport unit 7 and in the center of the main body 2. Sent to. The exposure unit 10 irradiates the image forming unit 11 with laser light L controlled based on the image data.

  A total of four image forming units 11 are provided above the exposure unit 10, and an intermediate transfer belt 12 using an intermediate transfer member in the form of an endless belt is provided above each image forming unit 11. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is supported by being wound around a plurality of rollers, and is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 by a driving device (not shown).

  The four image forming units 11 are of a so-called tandem type arranged in a line from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotational direction along the rotational direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 as shown in FIG. The four image forming units 11 are an image forming unit 11Y for yellow, an image forming unit 11M for magenta, an image forming unit 11C for cyan, and an image forming unit 11B for black in order from the upstream side. These image forming units 11 are replenished with a developer (toner) by a developer supply container and a conveying unit (not shown) corresponding to each color. In the following description, the identification symbols “Y”, “M”, “C”, and “B” of the image forming unit 11 are omitted unless particularly limited.

  In each image forming unit 11, an electrostatic latent image of a document image is formed by the laser light L emitted from the exposure unit 10, and a toner image is developed from the electrostatic latent image. The toner image is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the primary transfer unit 13 provided above each image forming unit 11. Then, the toner image of each image forming unit 11 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 12 at a predetermined timing as the intermediate transfer belt 12 rotates, so that four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. A color toner image is formed by superimposing the toner images.

  The secondary transfer unit 5 is disposed at a position where the intermediate transfer belt 12 is suspended on the sheet conveyance path. The color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is transferred to the paper P sent in synchronization by the first paper transport unit 4 at the secondary transfer nip portion formed in the secondary transfer unit 5.

  After the secondary transfer, deposits such as toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 are the cleaning unit for the intermediate transfer belt 12 provided on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the image forming unit 11Y for yellow with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 12. 14 is cleaned and collected.

  A fixing unit 15 is provided above the secondary transfer unit 5. The sheet P carrying the unfixed toner image in the secondary transfer unit 5 is sent to the fixing unit 15 where the toner image is heated and pressed by a heat roller and a pressure roller to be fixed.

  A sheet guide unit 16 is provided above the fixing unit 15. When the double-sided printing is not performed, the paper P discharged from the fixing unit 15 is discharged from the paper guide unit 16 to the in-body paper discharge unit 17 provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The discharge port portion from which the paper P is discharged from the paper guide portion 16 toward the in-body paper discharge portion 17 functions as a switchback portion 18. When performing duplex printing, the switchback unit 18 switches the transport direction of the paper P discharged from the fixing unit 15. Then, the paper P passes through the paper guide unit 16 and is sent downward through a double-sided printing paper conveyance path 19 provided on the left side of the fixing unit 15 and on the left side of the secondary transfer unit 5, and again the first paper. It is sent to the secondary transfer unit 5 through the transport unit 4.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body control unit 20 constituted by a CPU 21 and other electronic parts (not shown) in the main body 2 as shown in FIG. The main body control unit 20 uses the CPU 21 as a central processing unit, and the image reading unit 9, the image forming unit 11, the intermediate transfer belt 12, the fixing unit 15, and the like based on programs and data stored and input in the storage unit 22. A series of image forming operations is realized by controlling the components. The main body control unit 20 receives condition settings related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 by the user from the operation panel 30.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the operation panel 30 serving as a display device will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 in addition to FIG. 3 is a front view of the operation panel 30 of the image forming apparatus 1, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the arrangement of the light sources of the operation display unit of the operation panel 30, FIG. 5 is a front view of the operation display unit, and FIG. A front view of the same operation display section shows a state in which only setting items are displayed.

  2 and 3, the operation panel 30 includes a numeric keypad 31, a start key 32, a stop key 33, a reset key 34, an enter key 35, a clear key 36, an operation display unit 37, a light source unit 38, an operation control unit ( (Control part) 39 and the memory | storage part 40 are provided.

  The numeric keypad 31, the start key 32, the stop key 33, the reset key 34, the enter key 35, and the clear key 36 are arranged in an area on the right side of the operation panel 30 as shown in FIG. The numeric keypad 31 is a key for accepting numeric input, and numbers from 0 to 9 and “*” and “#” are described. The start key 32 is a key for receiving start instructions for various operations. The stop key 33 is a key for accepting stop instructions for various operations. The reset key 34 is a key for receiving reset instructions for various settings. The enter key 35 has the same function as a so-called “OK” instruction that permits various settings. The clear key 36 is a key for erasing input numbers, characters and symbols.

  The operation display unit 37 is arranged at the center of the operation panel 30 as shown in FIG. The operation display unit 37 includes a liquid crystal display unit 37a, a touch panel unit 37b, and a light source unit 38 as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display unit 37a displays a plurality of items such as settings, inputs, and instructions, keys, and information using liquid crystal. The touch panel unit 37b is arranged above the liquid crystal display unit 37a, and accepts selection of setting items and key inputs displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37a when the user touches with a finger or the like.

  The light source unit 38 is a backlight that emits light toward the liquid crystal display unit 37 a of the operation display unit 37. As shown in FIG. 4, the light source unit 38 includes a plurality of, for example, 25 point LEDs 38 a. Each LED 38a irradiates light to a certain divided area (surface) of the liquid crystal display unit 37a. The operation control unit 39 can individually control each LED 38a to light it. For example, each LED 38a emits light at the first luminance having a brightness at which the setting items and input keys to be displayed on the liquid crystal display portion 37a can be seen relatively clearly, and the second has a lower brightness than the first luminance. It is possible to turn on and off in at least three stages of light emission at luminance and light off. A plurality of lamps may be used in place of the LED 38a.

  The operation control unit 39 is configured by electronic parts such as an IC (not shown), and is a control device that controls the operation panel 30 based on control by the main body control unit 20. The operation control unit 39 is operated by setting a setting item, a type of input key, and a layout to be displayed based on a program and data stored in the storage unit 22 or the storage unit 40 in accordance with a control command from the main body control unit 20. Display control of the display unit 37 is performed. Further, the operation control unit 39 identifies input keys operated by the user based on information from the keys such as the numeric keypad 31 and the start key 32 and information from the touch panel unit 37b, and accepts them as user operation instructions. To the main body control unit 20.

  Here, the operation panel 30 can display the copy setting screen 50 shown in FIG. On the copy setting screen 50, a message display unit 51, a copy number display unit 52, a preview unit 53, a setting display unit 54, and a tab unit 55 are arranged.

  The message display unit 51 is provided on the left side of the upper end portion of the copy setting screen 50. The message display unit 51 displays a message to the user such as whether copying is currently possible, copying is in progress, or an error has occurred.

  The copy number display unit 52 is provided on the right side of the upper end portion of the copy setting screen 50. The number of copies display section 52 displays the number of copies to be printed. The number of copies can be changed with the numeric keypad 31.

  The preview unit 53 is provided on the left side of the central portion of the copy setting screen 50 in the vertical direction. The preview unit 53 displays a preview of the image data of the document read by the image reading unit 9 and the size and orientation of the selected printing paper P.

  The setting display section 54 is provided at the substantially central portion of the copy setting screen 50, and the tab section 55 is provided at the lower portion of the copy setting screen 50. The setting display section 54 displays various setting items 54a relating to copying, such as the size, enlargement / reduction, and density of the selected printing paper, and its setting item selection key 54b. Setting items 54 a displayed on the setting display unit 54 can be switched by selecting various tabs 55 a of the tab unit 55. For example, the setting display section 54 shown in FIG. 5 displays the setting item 54a of the “easy setting” tab 55a. For example, five tabs 55a are arranged in the horizontal direction.

  The setting items and input keys to be displayed on the operation display unit 37 may be displayed in a limited manner as shown in FIG. 6 in addition to the method of displaying the entire copy setting screen 50 shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, as the limited display contents, for example, various setting items 54a and setting item selection keys 54b thereof are displayed. The setting item 54a limitedly displayed in this way is determined in advance and stored in the storage unit 22, the storage unit 40, or the like. When the setting display 54a is displayed in a limited manner on the operation display unit 37, the operation control unit 39 turns on the LED 38a only at a portion of the light source unit 38 corresponding to the setting item 54a.

  In addition, the timing and switching method for switching between the entire copy setting screen 50 display shown in FIG. 5 and the limited display shown in FIG. 6 are determined in advance and stored in the storage unit 22 or the storage unit 40. After switching from the entire copy setting screen 50 display to the limited display at a predetermined timing, the entire copy setting screen 50 is pressed by pressing a portion other than the setting item 54a and the setting item selection key 54b of the operation display unit 37. You may decide to return to the display.

  Further, the operation control unit 39 stores the number of times each of the plurality of setting items 54a is selected by the user in the storage unit 40 as a selection history. In addition, the storage unit 40 has a predetermined number of selection times and a maximum number of selection times setting item as a criterion for determining whether the LED 38a corresponding to each of the plurality of setting items 54a emits light with the first luminance or the second luminance. Is remembered. The predetermined number related to the number of selections is also a reference for identifying the setting item 54a having a relatively low use frequency, and is set in advance to 10 times, for example. The predetermined number of times can be set as appropriate on the operation panel 30 in consideration of the accumulated operation time of the image forming apparatus 1 and the like. The most frequently selected setting item is updated each time the setting item 54a is selected by the user.

  Next, operations related to the display of the operation display unit 37 during copying will be described along the flow shown in FIG. 11 using FIGS. 7 to 11 in addition to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. 6 and shows a state where the first luminance target setting item is selected and changed in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is an operation display unit similar to FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which the first luminance target setting item is further selected and changed in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view of the operation display unit similar to FIG. 6, and a setting item other than the first luminance target setting item is selected in FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation related to the display of the operation display unit 37 at the time of copying.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 is activated and copying is possible, the operation display unit 37 of the operation panel 30 displays setting items, input keys, other information, etc. on the entire screen as shown in FIG. Yes. When the image forming apparatus 1 is brought into a state where such copying is possible (start of FIG. 11), the operation control unit 39 stores the plurality of setting items 54a displayed on the operation display unit 37 in the storage unit 40. With reference to the selection history, the setting item whose number of selections is a predetermined number of 10 times or more and the setting item with the highest number of selections among the plurality of setting items 54a are confirmed (step # 101). Here, for example, the most frequently selected setting item for which the number of selections is a predetermined number or more is “paper selection”.

  When the main body control unit 20 detects that a document is placed on the document conveying device 8 or the like, based on the command, the operation control unit 39 displays various setting items 54a and the like on the operation display unit 37 as shown in FIG. The setting item selection key 54b is limited and displayed. Further, the operation control unit 39 causes the LED 38a corresponding to “paper selection”, which is the setting item with the highest selection count, to emit light at the first luminance, and causes the LED 38a corresponding to setting items 54a other than “paper selection” to emit light at the second luminance. (Step # 102). In this way, the operation control unit 39 starts one display job in the operation display unit 37 during copying. As a result, among the many setting items 54a displayed on the operation display unit 37, the setting item with the largest number of selections, that is, “paper selection” having a relatively high use frequency is displayed brighter than the other setting items 54a. Accordingly, the power consumption of the light source unit 38 is suppressed with respect to these other setting items 54a, and the user can grasp at first glance the “paper selection” to be preferentially set, thereby avoiding operational confusion.

  Next, the operation control unit 39 determines whether or not the user has pressed the start key 32 (step # 103). When the start key 32 is pressed (Yes in step # 103), the information is sent from the operation control unit 39 to the main body control unit 20, and copying is executed (step # 104). Then, one display job in the operation display unit 37 at the time of copying ends (END in FIG. 11).

  On the other hand, when the start key 32 is not pressed in step # 103 (No in step # 103), the operation control unit 39 determines whether or not the user has selected the setting item 54a by touching the setting item selection key 54b ( Step # 105). The operation control unit 39 waits until the start key 32 is pressed or one of the setting items 54a is selected (No in step # 105).

  When any one of the setting items 54a is selected (Yes in Step # 105), the operation control unit 39 receives a setting input from the input key on the operation display unit 37 or other operation panel 30 (Step # 106). Then, the operation control unit 39 is selected at step # 105, and the setting item 54a set at step # 106 is the setting item with the largest number of selections, that is, the first luminance target setting item that causes the corresponding LED 38a to emit light at the first luminance. It is determined whether or not there is (step # 107).

  When the selected and set setting item 54a is “paper selection”, that is, the first brightness target setting item (Yes in step # 107), the operation control unit 39 sets “paper” based on the selection history stored in the storage unit 40. The first luminance target setting item candidate having the largest number of selections after “select” is confirmed (step # 108). Then, the operation control unit 39 determines whether or not there is a next candidate for the setting item 54a that is the first luminance target setting item (step # 109). At this time, the operation control unit 39 determines whether the number of selections of the setting item 54a that can be the next candidate for the first luminance target setting item is larger or smaller than the predetermined number of 10 times.

  When there is a next candidate for the first brightness target setting item (Yes in Step # 109), the operation control unit 39, as shown in FIG. 7, the previous first brightness target setting item selected in Step # 105, In other words, the LED 38a corresponding to “paper selection” is caused to emit light at the second luminance, and the color of “paper selection” is changed to that before selection (step # 110). As a result, “paper selection”, which is the setting item 54a that has been selected and set, can be displayed in a relatively dark color so that it has a different color from the others, and the set installation item 54a can be easily understood. Therefore, the operability and low power consumption of the operation panel 30 are further enhanced.

  Then, the operation control unit 39 causes the LED 38a corresponding to “density” to emit light at the first luminance as shown in FIG. 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, and the light emission state of the LED 38a corresponding to the other setting items 54a. Maintain the status quo. Thereby, since the setting items 54a to be set according to the selection of the setting item 54a are displayed relatively bright one after another, the user can use the operation panel 30 smoothly without hesitation. For example, when the first brightness target setting item is “page aggregation” following “paper selection” and “density”, the operation control unit 39 corresponds to the “page aggregation” setting item 54a as shown in FIG. LED 38a to emit light with the first luminance. In the setting items 54a of “paper selection” and “density”, the corresponding LED 38a emits light at the second luminance, and the color is also changed to that before selection.

  Each time the setting item 54a is selected and the display is changed, the process returns to step # 103 to determine whether or not the start key 32 has been pressed.

  Next, when there is no next candidate for the first brightness target setting item in step # 109, that is, when the number of selections of the setting item 54a having the next largest selection count is less than the predetermined count of 10 (No in step # 109), the operation The control unit 39 causes the LED 38a corresponding to the previous first luminance target setting item to emit light at the second luminance to change the color to that before selection, and maintains the current emission state of the LED 38a corresponding to the other setting items 54a ( Step # 111). For example, when the first luminance target setting item does not exist after “page aggregation” which is the first luminance target setting item shown in FIG. 8, the LEDs 38a corresponding to all the setting items 54a are second as shown in FIG. Emits light with brightness. In this way, since the frequency of use is relatively low and all the unimportant setting items 54a are displayed in a relatively dark state, the operability and low power consumption of the operation panel 30 are further enhanced.

  In FIG. 9, the setting items 54a for “enlarge / reduce”, “double-sided / divided”, and “original image quality” are set to “color selection”, “density”, and “page aggregation” as the colors before selection. The item 54a has the color after selection.

  When the setting item 54a selected and set in step # 107 is “paper selection”, that is, is not the first luminance target setting item, for example, “enlarge / reduce” (No in step # 107), the operation control unit No. 39 causes the LED 38a corresponding to “enlarge / reduce”, which is the setting item 54a selected and set, to emit light at the second luminance to change the color from before selection, and changes the light emission state of the LED 38a corresponding to the other setting items 54a. The current state is maintained (step # 112). That is, the LED 38a corresponding to the setting item 54a of “paper selection” emits light with the first luminance.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to provide the operation panel 30 which is a display device in which operability is improved in addition to low power consumption. In addition, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus 1 equipped with such an operation panel 30 and having good usability.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment of the present invention, the operation panel 30 (display device) mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as an example. However, the device to which the invention is applied is not limited to the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, the display device of the present invention may be mounted on other electronic devices such as a mobile phone and a PDA other than the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 equipped with the operation panel 30 is an image forming apparatus for color printing that transfers a toner image onto a sheet using an intermediate transfer belt. However, an image forming apparatus to which the invention is applied is such an image forming apparatus. The type is not limited, and an image forming apparatus that does not use an intermediate transfer belt or an image forming apparatus for monochrome printing may be used.

  In the above embodiment, various setting items 54a and the setting item selection key 54b are limitedly displayed on the operation display unit 37 based on the document placed on the document conveying device 8 or the like. The timing at which only 54a or its setting item selection key 54b is displayed on the operation display unit 37 is not limited to this, and it may be displayed at another timing. For example, only the constant setting item 54a and its setting item selection key 54b may be basically displayed on the operation display unit 37.

  In the description of the operation related to the display of the operation display unit 37 at the time of copying along the flow shown in FIG. 11, the setting item 54a in which the LED 38a is first emitted with the first luminance is set to the setting item with the largest number of selections (for example, “ The number of selected items other than the setting item with the highest selection count setting item 54a may be made to emit the LED 38a with the first luminance.

  The present invention can be used in a display device having a touch panel function and capable of selecting items and inputting keys by operating the touch panel function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 20 Main body control part 22 Memory | storage part 30 Operation panel (display apparatus)
31 Numeric keypad 32 Start key 37 Operation display section 37a Liquid crystal display section 37b Touch panel section 38 Light source section 38a Light source 39 Operation control section (control section)
40 Storage Unit 50 Copy Setting Screen 54 Setting Display Unit 54a Setting Item 54b Setting Item Selection Key

Claims (5)

An operation display unit that displays a plurality of setting items on a screen and has a touch panel unit that accepts selection of the setting items;
A plurality of light sources that irradiate light toward the operation display unit; light emission at a first luminance for each of the light sources; light emission at a second luminance that is lower in brightness than the first luminance; and A light source that can be turned on and off in at least three stages of turning off;
A storage unit for storing a selection history of each of the plurality of setting items;
Corresponds to the setting items that are selected a predetermined number of times or more that are set in advance among the plurality of setting items displayed on the operation display unit based on the selection history of each of the plurality of setting items stored in the storage unit A control unit that causes the light source to emit light at the first luminance, and causes the light source corresponding to the setting item having a selected number of times less than the predetermined number of times to emit light at the second luminance;
A display device comprising:   The control unit is configured to cause the corresponding light source to emit light at the first luminance. The light source corresponding to the setting item having the largest number of selections based on a selection history of each of the plurality of setting items stored in the storage unit. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein only the light source emits light at the first luminance, and the light source corresponding to the setting item other than the setting item with the highest selection count is emitted at the second luminance.   The control unit selects a setting history stored in the storage unit for the setting item on condition that the setting item corresponding to the light source that has emitted light at the first luminance is selected in one display job. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the light source corresponding to the setting item having the next highest number of selections is caused to emit light at the first luminance.   The control unit causes the light source corresponding to the setting item selected on the condition that the setting item is selected in one display job to emit light at the second luminance, and the selected setting item The display device according to claim 1, wherein the color is changed from that before selection.   An image forming apparatus comprising the display device according to claim 1.

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