JP2013216004A - Attachable/detachable operation unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make action due to erroneous operation hardly occur in a device, even if an input operation section is erroneously operated, during attachment/detachment of an operation unit whose input operation section is less-visible while it is attached to a body of the device.SOLUTION: If a detection state of an attachment/detachment sensor 7d changes from a mounting state to a mounting part 3a to a separation state during a period from pressing operation of a push-button switch 7b to releasing of the pressing operation, the pressing operation of the push-button switch 7b is disabled. If the detection state of the attachment/detachment sensor 7d changes from the separation state from the mounting part 3a to the mounting state during a period from pressing operation of the push-button switch 7b to releasing of the pressing operation, the pressing operation of the push-button switch 7b is disabled in the same way. On the other hand, if the detection state of the attachment/detachment sensor 7d is unchanged in the mounting state to the mounting part 3a or the separation state during the period from pressing operation of the push-button switch 7b to releasing of the pressing operation, the pressing operation of the push-button switch 7b is enabled.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation unit that performs input necessary for operation of an apparatus, and more particularly, to a detachable operation unit that is detachable from an apparatus body.

  In recent years, there has been a growing demand for universal design in various fields. As an example, there is a universal design of an operation unit for performing various inputs. For example, in the field of image forming apparatuses, in consideration of the operability of a user with a low eye line, a proposal for allowing the operation unit at the top of the case to swing up and down (for example, Patent Document 1), and the operation unit at the top of the case There is already a proposal (for example, Patent Document 2) that can be removed from the housing and replaced with the lower part of the housing.

  In particular, when the operation unit is configured as a unit so that it can be attached to and detached from the housing as in the latter case, it is necessary to devise measures to prevent erroneous operation of the operation unit during the attachment / detachment operation. Various techniques for preventing erroneous operations have been proposed in various fields.

  For example, regarding a car navigation apparatus, there is a proposal that a button operated when removing a portable device from the main body is arranged at a position farthest from an operation unit remaining on the main body side after the portable device is removed (for example, Patent Document 3). ). Further, there is a proposal to invalidate the operation of the touch panel when the cleaner used for cleaning the touch panel of the main body is removed from the main body so that the touch operation is not mistaken even if the touch panel is cleaned with the cleaner (for example, Patent Document 4).

JP 2011-203371 A JP 2007-316438 A JP 2008-162577 A JP 2008-102701 A

  However, it is difficult to apply either of the proposals regarding the above-described car navigation apparatus as they are when the operation unit of the image forming apparatus is made a detachable unit. Considering that there is a demand for universal design in various fields, there are more countermeasures to prevent misoperation when operating units that tend to be placed at high places like the image forming apparatus described above are made into detachable units. It is desirable that it be a general-purpose one that can be applied to these fields.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to attach an operation unit for performing input necessary for operation of the apparatus to the apparatus body when the operation section is detachable from the apparatus body. Provided a detachable operation unit that can prevent the operation of the input operation unit from being easily generated even if the input operation unit is mistakenly operated when the operation unit that is difficult to see the input operation unit is attached or removed. There is to do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the detachable operation unit of the present invention described in claim 1 includes:
A detachable operation unit having an input operation unit for performing input necessary for operation of the device and detachable from the main body of the device,
An attachment / detachment sensor for detecting an attachment / detachment state with respect to the main body;
Operation detecting means for detecting an operation of the input operation unit;
While the operation detection means detects the operation of the input operation unit, the operation detection means detects when the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor changes from one of the attachment state and the detachment state to the main body to the other. Operation invalidation means for invalidating the operation of the input operation unit,
The input operation unit by the operation detection unit when the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor maintains the mounting state or the detachment state with respect to the main body from the start to the end of the detection of the operation of the input operation unit by the operation detection unit. An operation enabling means for enabling the operation of the input operation unit with the end of detection of the operation;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the detachable operation unit of the present invention described in claim 1, even if the input operation unit is mistakenly operated when the operation unit is attached to or detached from the main body, the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit with respect to the main body is changed thereafter. At this point, the operation of the input operation unit is invalidated. On the other hand, when the input operation unit is operated while being attached to the main body or detached from the main body, the operation is validated when the operation is completed. When the operation of the input operation unit is validated, the input content corresponding to the operation is transmitted as a signal from the operation unit to the main body via an appropriate route (wireless or wired) according to the attachment / detachment state with respect to the main body.

  For this reason, even if the input operation unit is difficult to see when attached to the main body of the device, even if the input operation unit is mistakenly operated when the operation unit is attached or detached, the operation due to the erroneous operation is not likely to occur in the device. Can do.

  Further, the detachable operation unit of the present invention described in claim 2 is a pair of detachable operation units of the present invention described in claim 1, which is gripped with both hands when the input operation unit is attached to and detached from the main body. The attachment / detachment sensor has changed in state from one of a state in which at least one of the two grips is not gripped and a state in which both the grips are gripped together to the other. Sometimes, it is detected that the state has changed from one of the mounting state and the detaching state to the main body to the other.

  According to the detachable operation unit of the present invention described in claim 2, in the detachable operation unit of the present invention described in claim 1, when both of the pair of grip portions are gripped, both hands are gripped by the grip portion. It is estimated that the operation unit is attached to and detached from the main body. On the other hand, if at least one gripping part is not gripped, the operation unit is gripped with one hand to operate the input operation part, or it is notified that it is attached to the main body or detached from the main body. It is estimated that it is in either state.

  For this reason, if the state changes between the state where both gripping portions are gripped and the state where at least one of the gripping portions is not gripped, the attached operation unit is detached from the main body, or the detached operation unit is removed from the main body. It can be recognized that it is attached to. Therefore, even if the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit with respect to the main body is not directly detected, it is detected that the state of the operation unit with respect to the main body has changed from one of the attachment state and the detached state to the other due to the change in the gripping state of both gripping portions. be able to.

  According to the present invention, even if the input operation unit is difficult to see when attached to the main body of the apparatus and the input operation unit is mistakenly operated when the operation unit is attached or detached, the operation due to the erroneous operation is unlikely to occur in the apparatus. Can be.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows schematic structure of an apparatus provided with the detachable operation unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the operation unit of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical schematic structure of the operation unit of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the operation input reception process which the controller of FIG. 3 performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where operation of the input operation part of an operation unit is invalidated by the process of the flowchart of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where operation of the input operation part of an operation unit is validated by the process of the flowchart of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows schematic structure of an apparatus provided with the detachable operation unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the operation unit of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical schematic structure of the operation unit of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the detachable operation unit of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of an apparatus including a detachable operation unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  An apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus having a function of, for example, a copying machine or a printer, and is used to input the number of copies, start of copying, switching of operation modes, etc. on the upper front side of the main body 3. An operation unit 5 is provided. The operation unit 5 is configured to be detachable from the main body 3 as the operation unit 7, and functions as the operation unit 5 in a state where the operation unit 7 is mounted on the mounting unit 3 a on the upper front side of the main body 3. The input operation unit 7 a of the operation unit 7 in which the input switches are arranged is arranged on the upper surface side of the main body 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the input operation unit 7 a of the operation unit 7 includes, for example, a push button switch 7 b and a touch panel 7 c, and the operation unit 7 is connected to the mounting unit 3 a of the main body 3 on the back surface of the operation unit 7. An attachment / detachment sensor 7d for detecting whether or not is attached is provided.

  The attachment / detachment sensor 7d may be, for example, a mechanical switch such as a micro switch whose mechanical position is changed by attachment / detachment to / from the main body 3, and reflects light reflected at a specific portion of the attachment portion 3a when attached to the main body 3. It may be a type of optical sensor. Alternatively, it may be a photo interrupter in which the optical path is blocked when mounted on the main body 3 and the optical path is secured in a state of being detached from the main body 3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 7 includes a controller 10. The controller 10 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (all not shown), and the CPU executes a program stored in the ROM, thereby transmitting and receiving necessary signals to and from the main body 3. The operation unit 7 is caused to function as the operation unit 5 of the apparatus 1.

  In addition to the push button switch 7b and the touch panel 7c of the input operation unit 7a, the detachable sensor 7d and the transmission / reception unit 7e that transmits and receives signals to and from the apparatus 1 are connected to the controller 10. When the push button switch 7b or the touch panel 7c is operated, the controller 10 causes the transmission / reception unit 7e to transmit a signal corresponding to the operation content to the device 1 depending on the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor 7d. Moreover, when the transmission / reception part 7e receives the signal from the apparatus 1, the controller 10 will perform the display according to the content of the signal on the display of the touch panel 7c.

  In addition, transmission / reception of the signal by the transmission / reception part 7e in the state which detached the operation unit 7 from the mounting part 3a can be performed by infrared rays etc. wirelessly. Of course, the operation unit 7 and the main body 3 may be connected by a wired cable, and the transmission / reception unit 7e may transmit and receive signals by wire. Further, transmission / reception of a signal by the transmission / reception unit 7e in a state where the operation unit 7 is mounted on the mounting unit 3a may be performed by wire through a contact point (not shown) between the operation unit 7 and the main body 3 that are in contact with each other. Or you may carry out by radio | wireless by infrared rays etc. similarly to the time of the detachment | leave state from the mounting part 3a.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, an outline of the operation input reception process of the input operation unit 7 a performed by the controller 10 will be described. First, the controller 10 checks whether or not the push button switch 7b or the touch panel 7c has changed from the non-operating state to the operating state (step S1). If not changed (NO in step S1), the controller 10 continues to change. Step S1 is repeated.

  When the non-operation state changes to the operation state (YES in step S1), whether or not the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor 7d has changed between the attachment state to the attachment portion 3a and the separation state (non-attachment state). (Step S3). If the state has changed (YES in step S3), the operation of the push button switch 7b or the touch panel 7c changed to the operation state in step S1 is invalidated (step S5). After that, when the push button switch 7b and the touch panel 7c that are in the operation state are changed to the non-operation state again (YES in Step S7), the invalidation of the operation of the push button switch 7b and the touch panel 7c is canceled (Step S9). A series of processing ends. Thereafter, the processing from step S1 is repeated.

  On the other hand, if the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor 7d does not change between the attachment state to the attachment portion 3a and the detached state (non-attachment state) in step S3 (NO in step S3), the operation state is set. It is confirmed whether or not the push button switch 7b and the touch panel 7c are changed to the non-operation state again (step S11). If the state has not changed to the non-operation state (NO in step S11), the process returns to step S3. If the state has changed to the non-operation state (YES in step S11), the push button switch 7b or the touch panel changed to the non-operation state. The operation of 7c is validated (step S13). By this validation, the controller 10 causes the transmission / reception unit 7e to transmit a signal corresponding to the input content by operating the push button switch 7b or the touch panel 7c to the device 1. Then, after completing a series of processing, the processing from step S1 is repeatedly executed.

  As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, step S1 and step S11 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are processing corresponding to the operation detection means in the claims. Moreover, in this embodiment, step S5 in FIG. 4 is a process corresponding to the operation invalidation means in the claims. Furthermore, in this embodiment, step S13 in FIG. 4 is a process corresponding to the operation enabling means in the claims.

  When the controller 10 executes the above-described processing, in the operation unit 7 according to the present embodiment, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a time from when the push button switch 7 b is pressed until the pressing operation is released. When the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor 7d changes from the attachment state to the attachment portion 3a to the separation state, the pressing operation of the push button switch 7b is invalidated. Therefore, a signal corresponding to the function assigned to the push button switch 7b is not output to the device 1 from the transmission / reception unit 7e. Similarly, when the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor 7d is changed from the detached state from the mounting portion 3a to the mounted state between the time when the push button switch 7b is pressed and the time when the pressing operation is released, the push button is similarly changed. The pressing operation of the switch 7b is invalidated.

  On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, during the period from when the push button switch 7b is pressed until the pressing operation is released, the detection state of the detachable sensor 7d is either the mounting state to the mounting portion 3a or the detached state. If it does not change, the pressing operation of the push button switch 7b is validated. Therefore, a signal corresponding to the function assigned to the push button switch 7b is output from the transmission / reception unit 7e to the device 1.

  For this reason, according to the operation unit 7 of the present embodiment, the push button switch 7b or the touch panel 7c of the input operation unit 7a is erroneously touched while the operation unit 7 is being attached to or detached from the attachment part 3a of the main body 3 of the apparatus 1. Even if it is operated, the operation is invalidated, so that the operation of the apparatus 1 due to an erroneous operation of the operation unit 7 can be made difficult to occur.

  Subsequently, a schematic configuration of an apparatus including the detachable operation unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  An apparatus 1 ′ illustrated in FIG. 7 is an image forming apparatus having functions such as a copying machine and a printer, and includes a main body 3 and an operation unit 5 similar to the apparatus 1 of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. Yes. An operation unit 7 ′ that functions as the operation unit 5 is attached to and detached from the mounting portion 3 a on the upper front side of the main body 3.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the operation unit 7 ′ of the present embodiment has an input operation unit 7 a including a push button switch 7 b and a touch panel 7 c, similarly to the operation unit 7 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Yes. The input operation unit 7a is disposed on the upper surface side of the main body 3 with the operation unit 7 mounted on the mounting unit 3a.

  Further, the operation unit 7 ′ of the present embodiment has grips 7f and 7g (corresponding to a pair of gripping portions) at both the left and right ends of the input operation portion 7a. The operation unit 7 ′ can be attached to and detached from the attachment portion 3 a of the main body 3 by holding the grips 7 f and 7 g with both hands and performing the attachment / detachment operation.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 7 ′ of the present embodiment incorporates a controller 10 and a transmission / reception unit 7 e in the same manner as the operation unit 7 of FIG. 2. Further, the operation unit 7 ′ of the present embodiment incorporates grip sensors 7 h and 7 i instead of the attachment / detachment sensor 7 d that the operation unit 7 of FIG. 2 has. The grip sensors 7h and 7i detect that the grips 7f and 7g are gripped by the user's hand, respectively.

  As the grip sensors 7h and 7i, conventionally known contact sensors (capacitance type, resistance film type, etc.) that react when the human body touches the handles 7f and 7g can be used.

  When the operation unit 7 'of this embodiment is attached to and detached from the mounting portion 3a, it is necessary to hold the two handles 7f and 7g with both hands. Therefore, when the grip sensors 7h and 7i detect the contact of the human body with the two grips 7f and 7g, the controller 10 assumes that the grips 7f and 7g are gripped with both hands and attaches / detaches the operation unit 7 'to / from the main body 3. It can be estimated that the state is being performed.

  On the other hand, in the state where the operation unit 7 'is mounted on the mounting portion 3a, it is not necessary to grip the handles 7f and 7g. In addition, when the operation unit 7 'is detached from the mounting portion 3a, the input operation portion 7a is operated for input, so that only one of the handles 7f (or the handle 7g) can be gripped with a free hand. .

  Therefore, if the grip sensors 7h and 7i do not detect the contact of the human body with one or both of the two grips 7f and 7g, the controller 10 assumes that the grips 7f and 7g are not gripped with both hands. It can be estimated that the operation unit 7 ′ is not attached to or detached from.

  Therefore, in the operation unit 7 ′ of the present embodiment, the grip sensors 7 h and 7 i are used as attachment / detachment sensors for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit 7 ′ with respect to the attachment portion 3 a of the main body 3.

  Then, the controller 10 indicates that the attachment sensor 3h is in a state of being attached to the attachment portion 3a because the gripping sensors 7h and 7i have not detected human contact with one or both of the handles 7f and 7g. Or it is detected that there is no change in the detached state (non-mounted state) from the mounting portion 3a.

  In addition, the controller 10 has changed from the state in which the grip sensors 7h and 7i have not detected the human body contact to one or both of the grips 7f and 7g to the state in which the human body contact to both has been detected. It is detected that the detection state has changed from the mounting state to the mounting portion 3a to the detached state (non-mounted state).

  On the contrary, the controller 10 is attached / detached when the grip sensors 7h and 7i change from the state in which the human body contact to both the grips 7f and 7g is detected to the state in which the human body contact to one or both is not detected. It detects that the detection state of the sensor has changed from the detached state (non-mounted state) from the mounting portion 3a to the mounted state.

  Therefore, the same operation and effect as the operation unit 7 of the first embodiment can be obtained also by the operation unit 7 ′ of the present embodiment.

  When the layout is such that it is difficult to operate the input operation unit 7a at the same time with both the handles 7f and 7g held by both hands, the grip sensor 7h is used regardless of whether or not the input operation unit 7a is operated. , 7i may invalidate the operation of the push button switch 7b and the touch panel 7c while detecting the human body contact with both the handles 7f and 7g.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus, and an operation unit that performs input necessary for operating the apparatus is provided. The present invention can be widely applied to a case where the apparatus is detachable from the main body of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus 3 Main body 3a Mounting part 5 Operation part 7 Operation unit 7a Input operation part 7b Push button switch 7c Touch panel 7d Detachment sensor 7e Transmission / reception part 7f, 7g Handle 7h, 7i Gripping sensor 10 Controller

Claims (2)

A detachable operation unit having an input operation unit for performing input necessary for operation of the device and detachable from the main body of the device,
An attachment / detachment sensor for detecting an attachment / detachment state with respect to the main body;
Operation detecting means for detecting an operation of the input operation unit;
While the operation detection means detects the operation of the input operation unit, the operation detection means detects when the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor changes from one of the attachment state and the detachment state to the main body to the other. Operation invalidation means for invalidating the operation of the input operation unit,
The input operation unit by the operation detection unit when the detection state of the attachment / detachment sensor maintains the mounting state or the detachment state with respect to the main body from the start to the end of the detection of the operation of the input operation unit by the operation detection unit. An operation enabling means for enabling the operation of the input operation unit with the end of detection of the operation;
A detachable operation unit comprising:   The input operation unit further includes a pair of gripping units gripped with both hands when the input operation unit is attached to and detached from the main body, and the attachment / detachment sensor includes a state where at least one of the gripping units is not gripped and the both grips. 2. When the state changes from one to the other in a state where the parts are held together, it is detected that the state has changed from one of the attached state and the detached state to the other. Detachable operation unit as described.

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