JP2016168766A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of easily setting an input auxiliary tool to a screen without losing the input auxiliary tool.SOLUTION: A display device of the present invention comprises: a screen; a contact sensor which detects contact of an operation body to the screen; an input auxiliary tool which can slide between the use position on the screen and the stand-by position outside the screen; a slider which slides the input auxiliary tool between the use position and the stand-by position; and a control part which causes the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool to the use position when key display is performed at the position corresponding to the use position on the screen, and receives the input operation corresponding to the key display and then causes the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool to the stand-by position when the contact sensor detects contact of the operation body to the key display on the screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device.

  There is known a portable terminal configured to be able to operate a touch panel by attaching a removable cover part on the touch panel and pressing a key provided on the cover part (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-168869 A

However, there is a problem in that the cover part is easily lost when removed and the cover part cannot be easily attached to the touch panel.
An object of this invention is to provide the technique which can be easily set to a screen, without losing an input auxiliary tool.

  To achieve the object, the display device of the present invention includes a screen, a contact sensor that detects contact of the operating body with the screen, and an input auxiliary tool that can slide between a use position on the screen and a standby position outside the screen. And a slider that slides the input assist tool between the use position and the standby position, and when the key display is performed at the position corresponding to the use position on the screen, the input assist tool is slid to the use position on the slider. And a control unit that receives an input operation corresponding to the key display when the contact sensor detects contact of the operating body with respect to the key display, and then causes the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool to the standby position.

  In the above configuration, with the input assisting tool slid to the use position on the screen by the slider, the user makes the input corresponding to the key display by bringing the operating tool into contact with the position on the screen corresponding to the use position. The operation can be performed. On the other hand, when the input operation corresponding to the key display is not performed, the user can visually recognize the screen without being obstructed by the input assisting tool while the input assisting tool is slid to the standby position outside the screen by the slider. Since the input assisting tool slides with the slider, the input assisting tool can be easily set at the use position without being lost. Furthermore, since the input assist tool slides with the slider, the input assist tool can be accurately set at the use position. Here, sliding means that the input auxiliary tool moves in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the screen, and the movement is linear movement, rotational movement, or various curved movements in a plane parallel to the screen. May be. Note that the contact may include the fact that the operating body has approached the vicinity of the screen even if the contact is not strictly made.

  Further, the control unit causes the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool to the standby position in response to receiving a series of input operations. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the input operation from being disturbed by the input assisting tool sliding to the standby position while receiving a series of input operations.

  Further, the control unit may cause the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool to the standby position in response to causing the display different from the key display to be performed at a position corresponding to the use position on the screen. This makes it easier to visually recognize the screen in a state where a display different from the key display is performed and an input operation is not accepted, that is, in a state where the user does not use the input assisting tool.

  The slider has a motor provided at the standby position, a rail on which the input auxiliary tool slides when sliding, and a belt provided along the rail and transmitting the power of the motor to the input auxiliary tool. Also good. By disposing the motor at a standby position outside the screen, it is possible to prevent the motor from lowering the visibility of the screen and to prevent the noise generated by the motor from affecting the screen and the contact sensor.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the printer, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the printer. 2A is a perspective view of the operation unit, and FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the operation unit. It is a flowchart of input operation reception processing. It is a figure which shows a printing condition setting display. It is a perspective view of the printer of other embodiments.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the corresponding component in each figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
(1) Device configuration:
(2) Input operation acceptance processing:
(3) Other embodiments:

(1) Device configuration:
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a printer 1 including a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The printer 1 includes a main body housing 10, an operation unit 20, a paper feed tray 30, and a paper discharge tray 40 as an external configuration. The operation unit 20 is provided on the side surface (front surface) of the main body housing 10. The operation unit 20 may be provided on the upper surface of the main body housing 10 or may be connected to the main body housing 10 so as to be tiltable. The operation unit 20 includes a touch panel display 21, an input auxiliary tool 22, and rails 23a and 23b.

  The touch panel display 21 includes an LCD display as a screen and a touch sensor as a contact sensor. The touch sensor detects the contact position of the operating body with respect to the LCD display. For example, the tip of a finger or a touch pen constitutes the operating body. The printer 1 performs printing on the print medium set in the paper feed tray 30 and discharges the printed print medium to the paper discharge tray 40. Note that the display device of the present invention is not necessarily provided in the printer 1 and can be included in any device that accepts an input operation from a user on a screen.

  FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer 1. A control unit 11, a transport unit 12, and a printing unit 13 are incorporated in the main body housing 10 of the printer 1. The control unit 11 is a computer including a processor, a memory, and an input / output interface. The control unit 11 controls the transport unit 12, the printing unit 13, and the operation unit 20 by executing a printing program.

  The transport unit 12 is hardware for transporting a print medium from the paper feed tray 30 to the print unit 13, and further transports a printed print medium from the print unit 13 to the paper discharge tray 40, and is controlled by the control unit 11. Is done. Specifically, the transport unit 12 includes a transport roller such as a pickup roller, a drive motor for driving the transport roller, a control circuit for controlling the drive motor, and the like.

  The printing unit 13 is hardware for printing on a print medium, and is controlled by the control unit 11. Specifically, the control unit 11 includes a print head, a drive motor that drives the print head, a control circuit that controls the print head and the drive motor, and the like.

  FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the operation unit 20. As shown in the figure, the touch panel display 21 has a rectangular shape, and linear rails 23 a and 23 b are provided along the upper and lower sides of the touch panel display 21. The length H of the input auxiliary tool 22 in the vertical direction is longer than the length J in the vertical direction of the touch panel display 21, and the width W in the horizontal direction is shorter than the width V in the horizontal direction of the touch panel display 21.

  The input auxiliary tool 22 includes a lattice portion 22a and four connecting portions 22b1 to 22b4. The vertical length H of the input assisting tool 22 is longer than the vertical length J of the touch panel display 21. In the lattice portion 22a, rectangular openings O are formed so as to be arranged in a matrix (for example, 5 rows × 3 columns), and the lattice portion 22a has an orthogonal lattice shape. The connecting portions 22b1 to 22b4 are linear portions extending vertically from the four corners of the lattice portion 22a, and connect the lattice portion 22a and the rails 23a and 23b. The grid portion 22a is held at the same height as the touch panel display 21 by the connecting portions 22b1 to 22b4.

  The upper and lower rails 23a and 23b are parallel to each other and have the same length L. Of the rails 23a and 23b, the length L1 of the portion overlapping the touch panel display 21 in the horizontal direction is longer than the width W of the input auxiliary tool 22, and the length L2 of the portion not overlapping the touch panel display 21 in the horizontal direction is also input assistance. It is formed longer than the width W of the tool 22. The length H of the input auxiliary tool 22 in the vertical direction is equal to the interval between the rails 23a and 23b in the vertical direction.

  FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the operation unit 20. A groove Ra that opens downward is formed in the upper rail 23a and has a U-shaped cross section. The lower rail 23b is formed in a vertically symmetrical shape with the upper rail 23a, and a groove Rb that opens upward is formed. The upper ends of the two connecting portions 22b1 and 22b2 extending upward from the lattice portion 22a are inserted into the groove Ra formed in the upper rail 23a. On the other hand, the lower ends of the two connecting portions 22b3 and 22b4 extending downward from the lattice portion 22a are inserted into the groove Rb formed in the lower rail 23b. Grooves Ra and Rb are not formed at both ends of the rails 23a and 23b in the width direction. That is, the grooves Ra and Rb are not opened in the width direction.

  Here, the position of the input assisting tool 22 slid to the left end of the rails 23a and 23b is defined as a use position, and the position of the input assisting tool 22 slid to the right end of the rails 23a and 23b is defined as a standby position. The use position is a position where the entire grid portion 22 a of the input assisting tool 22 is on the touch panel display 21. On the other hand, the standby position is a position where the entire grid portion 22 a of the input assisting tool 22 is outside the touch panel display 21.

  A belt receiving groove Ya is formed along the rail 23a at a height above the upper side of the touch panel display 21 and below the upper rail 23a. Similarly, a belt receiving groove Yb is formed along the rail 23b at a height below the lower side of the touch panel display 21 and above the lower rail 23b. The belt housing grooves Ya and Yb are grooves for housing each of the two belts Ba and Bb.

  A recess Z for accommodating the motor M, the gear G, and the shaft S is formed at the standby position. The motor M is accommodated such that the drive shaft is in the vertical direction, and the driving force of the drive shaft is transmitted to the shaft S via the gear G. The shaft S is a rotary shaft whose axial direction is the vertical direction, and driving pulleys P1a and P1b for transmitting a driving force to the belts Ba and Bb at the right ends of the belts Ba and Bb at the upper and lower ends, respectively. Is provided. Two connecting portions 22b1 and 22b2 extending upward from the lattice portion 22a are joined to the surface side portion of the upper belt Ba, and extending downward from the lattice portion 22a to the surface side portion of the lower belt Bb. Two connecting portions 22b3 and 22b4 are joined. The driven pulleys P2a and P2b are in contact with the left ends of the belts Ba and Bb, and the driven pulleys P2a and P2b are rotatably attached to the wall surfaces of the belt housing grooves Ya and Yb.

  When the belts Ba and Bb are housed in the belt housing grooves Ya and Yb, only the portion of the belt Ba and Bb on the surface side of the operation unit 20 is exposed. Moreover, the motor M, the gear G, and the shaft S can be hidden by covering the concave portion Z with the lid portion Z1.

  With the above configuration, by driving the motor M, the input assisting tool 22 can be slid along the rails 23a and 23b, and the input assisting tool 22 is made to have a width within the range of the length L of the rails 23a and 23b. Can slide in the direction. That is, the input auxiliary tool 22 is configured to be able to slide between a use position on the touch panel display 21 and a standby position outside the touch panel display 21. The motor M provided at the standby position, the rails 23a and 23b on which the input auxiliary tool 22 slides when sliding, and the power of the motor M transmitted to the input auxiliary tool 22 provided along the rails 23a and 23b. The belts Ba and Bb constitute a slider. By disposing the motor M at a standby position outside the touch panel display 21, the motor M can be prevented from lowering the visibility of the touch panel display 21, and noise generated by the motor M can be prevented from affecting the touch panel display 21. it can.

(2) Input operation acceptance processing:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the input operation reception process. The input operation accepting process is a process executed by the control unit 11 in order for the printer 1 to accept various input operations. In the present embodiment, an example of accepting a series of input operations for setting printing conditions by an input operation accepting process will be described. First, the control unit 11 displays a print condition setting display on the touch panel display 21 (step S100). Specifically, the control unit 11 generates image data corresponding to the print condition setting display and outputs the image data to the touch panel display 21.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the printing condition setting display U. The print condition setting display U includes a key display unit U1 and a setting item display unit U2. The key display unit U <b> 1 is a key display representing a so-called numeric keypad, and is displayed so that an image corresponding to each key of the numeric keypad has the same size and arrangement as the opening O of the input auxiliary tool 22. The setting item display unit U2 includes an item part U2c for each setting item, and the item part U2c includes a name part U2c1 indicating the name of the setting item and a content part U2c2 indicating the current setting content. Further, the setting item display unit U2 includes a print start button U2d.

  When the above printing condition setting display U is displayed on the touch panel display 21, the control unit 11 slides the input assisting tool 22 to the use position on the slider (step S110). Specifically, the control unit 11 drives the motor M until the input auxiliary tool 22 hits the left ends of the rails 23a and 23b. Here, when the touch panel display 21 is viewed from the vertical direction, the position of the key display unit U1 displayed on the touch panel display 21 and the position of the grid portion 22a of the input assisting tool 22 slid to the use position coincide. Therefore, each key display of the key display unit U1 can be visually recognized from each opening O of the lattice unit 22a, and each key display on the touch panel display 21 can be displayed via an opening O of the lattice unit 22a. The displayed area can be contacted.

  Next, the control part 11 receives the input operation with respect to the key display part U1 (step S130). Specifically, when the contact position of the operating tool is detected in the area where the item part U2c of the setting item display part U2 is displayed, the control unit 11 specifies the setting content indicated by the content part U2c2 of the item part U2c To accept an input operation. That is, the control unit 11 receives an input operation corresponding to the key display when the contact position of the operation body such as a finger detected by the contact sensor is within the area where the key display unit U1 is displayed. This input operation may be an operation of inputting a number corresponding to each key display constituting the key display unit U1. For example, it may be configured such that a desired number of copies can be designated by inputting a number corresponding to each key display constituting the key display unit U1. Further, the input operation may be an operation of inputting the up / down / left / right cursor movement directions assigned to the No. 8, 2, 4 and 6 key displays constituting the key display unit U1. For example, a desired print resolution or the like may be designated by moving the cursor from a list of print resolutions or the like prepared in advance by moving the cursor up / down / left / right.

  Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a print start instruction has been issued (step S140). Specifically, when the contact position of the operating tool is detected in the area where the print start button U2d is displayed, the control unit 11 determines that a print start instruction has been issued. If it is not determined that a print start instruction has been issued (step S140: N), the control unit 11 continues to accept input operations on the key display unit U1.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that a print start instruction has been issued (step S140: Y), the control unit 11 causes the touch panel display 21 to display a print status display (step S150). That is, the control unit 11 deletes the print condition setting display U including the key display unit U1 from the touch panel display 21 and causes the touch panel display 21 to display a print status display. The control unit 11 causes the area where the key display unit U1 is displayed on the touch panel display 21 to display different from the key display (part of the print status display). Further, when it is determined that a print start instruction has been issued, it can be considered that the reception of a series of input operations for setting printing conditions has been completed.

  Next, the control unit 11 slides the input assisting tool 22 to the standby position on the slider (step S160). That is, the control unit 11 accepts a series of input operations for setting printing conditions, and causes the display corresponding to the use position on the touch panel display 21 to perform a display different from the key display. The input auxiliary tool 22 is slid to the standby position. Specifically, the control unit 11 drives the motor M until the input auxiliary tool 22 hits the right ends of the rails 23a and 23b.

  In the above-described configuration, in a state where the input assisting tool 22 is slid to the use position on the touch panel display 21 by the slider, the user touches the operating body at the position on the touch panel display 21 corresponding to the use position, thereby An input operation corresponding to the display can be performed. On the other hand, when the input operation corresponding to the key display is not performed, the user can touch the touch panel display without being disturbed by the input assisting tool 22 while the input assisting tool 22 is slid to the standby position outside the touch panel display 21 by the slider. 21 is visible. Since the input auxiliary tool 22 slides with the slider, the input auxiliary tool 22 can be easily set at the use position. Furthermore, since the input auxiliary tool 22 slides by the slider, the input auxiliary tool 22 can be accurately set at the use position.

  Further, in response to receiving a series of input operations, the input assisting tool 22 is slid to the standby position while receiving a series of input operations by sliding the input assisting tool 22 to the standby position on the slider. Thus, the input operation can be prevented from being hindered. Furthermore, the control unit 11 causes the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool 22 to the standby position in response to causing the display different from the key display to be performed at a position corresponding to the use position on the touch panel display 21. This makes it easier to visually recognize the touch panel display 21 in a state where a display different from the key display is performed and an input operation is not accepted, that is, in a state where the user does not use the input assisting tool 22.

  Further, by arranging the motor M at a standby position outside the touch panel display 21, it is possible to prevent the motor M from lowering the visibility of the touch panel display 21, and noise generated by the motor M affects the touch panel display 21 and the touch sensor. Can be prevented.

(3) Other embodiments:
It should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, including the combination of the above-described embodiments. It is. Of course, the display device of the present invention may be incorporated in a device other than the printer 1. The input assisting tool 22 may not correspond to the numeric keypad display and may not correspond to a plurality of key displays. For example, it may correspond to each direction key of the cross key, or may be a component for operating a single key display. Further, the input assisting tool 22 may not be a part for pressing down the key display, but may be a part for guiding an operation of flicking the key display in a specific direction.

  The standby position is not necessarily provided on the right side of the touch panel display 21, and the standby position may be provided on the left side, upper side, or lower side of the touch panel display 21. Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration other than that a finger or the like as an operating body comes into contact with the touch panel display 21 through the opening O formed in the input auxiliary tool 22. For example, the input assisting tool 22 may be configured such that a projection as an operating body is provided for each key display on the touch panel display 21 side of the input assisting tool 22 so that the projection can be pressed to the touch panel display 21 side. For example, a hardware key such as a numeric keypad may be provided on the input assisting tool 22, and a projection corresponding to the hardware key may be brought into contact with the touch panel display 21 side by pressing the key top of the hardware key. .

  FIG. 5 shows an input auxiliary tool 22 according to another embodiment. As shown in the figure, the input assisting tool 122 can slide between the use position and the standby position by rotating around the rotation axis Q perpendicular to the touch panel display 21. The input assisting tool 22 may be slid by providing a motor (not shown) for driving the rotation axis Q. Further, the input assisting tool 22 does not necessarily have a plate shape at the standby position. For example, the input auxiliary tool 22 may be wound and stored at the standby position, or may be folded and stored.

  In the embodiment described above, the rotational power of the motor M is slid in the straight direction by converting the rotational power of the motor M into the belts Ba and Bb. However, the rotational power of the motor M is changed to a rack and pinion or a ball screw. Alternatively, the straight direction may be changed by a chain. Of course, instead of the motor M, an actuator such as a cylinder that can be driven linearly may be employed.

  In the embodiment, the control unit 11 slides the input assisting tool 22 in conjunction with the display content of the touch panel display 21. However, when the operation on the operation button displayed on the touch panel display 21 is received, the input assisting tool 22 is displayed. You may slide it. Thereby, the user can also select to operate the key display unit U1 without using the input assisting tool 22.

Further, a cover that hides the input assisting tool 22 at the standby position may be provided.
The touch panel can employ various systems such as a resistive film system and a surface acoustic wave system. A method such as a capacitance method or an infrared method may be used in which it is determined that a pointing tool such as a finger has touched the screen when it has come close to the screen without actually touching the screen.
The display device is not limited to a printer, and may be various devices such as a scanner, a mobile phone, and an ATM machine (automatic teller machine).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 10 ... Main body housing | casing, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Conveyance part, 13 ... Printing part, 20 ... Operation part, 21 ... Touch panel display, 22 ... Input auxiliary tool, 22a ... Grid part, 22b1-22b4 ... Connecting part, 23a, 23b ... rail, 30 ... paper feed tray, 40 ... paper discharge tray, Ba, Bb ... belt, G ... gear, M ... motor, O ... opening, P1a, P1b ... drive pulley, P2a, P2b ... Drive pulley, Q ... rotating shaft, Ra, Rb ... groove, S ... shaft, U ... printing condition setting display, U1 ... key display portion, U2 ... setting item display portion, U2c ... item portion, U2c1 ... name portion, U2c2 ... Contents part, U2d ... Start printing button, Ya, Yb ... Belt receiving groove, Z ... Recess, Z1 ... Lid

Claims (4)

Screen,
A contact sensor that detects contact of the operating body with respect to the screen;
An input aid that can slide between a use position on the screen and a standby position outside the screen;
A slider that slides the input aid between the use position and the standby position;
When the key display is performed at a position corresponding to the use position on the screen, the input assisting tool is slid to the use position on the slider,
When the contact sensor detects contact of the operating body with respect to the key display on the screen, control for accepting an input operation corresponding to the key display and then sliding the input auxiliary tool to the standby position on the slider And
A display device comprising: In response to receiving a series of the input operations, the control unit causes the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool to the standby position.
The display device according to claim 1. The control unit causes the slider to slide the input auxiliary tool to the standby position in response to causing the display different from the key display at a position corresponding to the use position on the screen.
The display device according to claim 1. The slider includes a motor provided at the standby position, a rail on which the input assisting tool slides when sliding, and a belt provided along the rail and transmitting the power of the motor to the input assisting tool. Have
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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