JP2017151505A - Electronic apparatus, and presentation method of parameter in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present information for allowing setting of a target parameter of a user to be efficiently performed in an electronic apparatus in which setting of a plurality of types of parameters can be changed in a display mode by which the user easily and intuitively grasps the information.SOLUTION: A selection mode causing display means to display selection screens I1 thorough I3 presenting a plurality of types of selectable parameters and causing reception means to receive selection input of a parameter, and a setting mode causing the display means to display a setting screen I4 presenting setting situation of the parameter selected and causing the reception means to receive the selection input of the parameter are mutually shifted in response to operation input to the reception means. After transition from the selection mode to the setting mode by the selection input by the reception means, when setting of the parameter selected is not changed and shifted to the selection mode, visual information indicating the parameter not being changed is added to the selection screen I5 after the transition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to presentation of parameters in an electronic apparatus in which a plurality of types of parameters can be set and changed.

  Some types of electronic devices allow users to set parameters for their operation. In order to make this possible, a function for presenting the user with the types of parameters that can be set and the setting status of each parameter is required. However, due to the structure of the device, the size of the screen provided may not be sufficient to display all necessary information. In such a case, since information displayed on one screen is limited, a large amount of information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of images. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to find an item for setting a desired parameter from images sequentially displayed on a small screen and change the setting, and the operation tends to be complicated.

  Techniques for supporting such user operations have been proposed. For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when it is estimated that the user is at a loss while the setting screen is displayed, a help screen related to the setting screen is displayed. The criteria for determining that the user is at a loss include, for example, when the user has not performed any operation for a certain period of time, when the setting is canceled a predetermined number of times, when the setting screen is repeatedly displayed a predetermined number of times, etc. Yes.

JP 2009-206751 A

  The display of the help screen as described above is considered to be useful to some extent for the user. However, there are cases where the above-described technique does not help the user operation. For example, in an electronic device that employs a hierarchical menu structure in which selecting one of the configurable parameters presented on the screen causes a transition to the parameter setting screen, the user selects the target from among the presented parameters. If it is not possible to directly select the correct one, a setting screen different from the desired one may be displayed many times.

  As described above, it may be troublesome for the user who does not know the operation method but takes time to reach the target parameter setting screen to display the help screen explaining the operation method. Therefore, it is required to display information for enabling the user to efficiently set the target parameter in a display mode that allows the user to intuitively understand.

  Some embodiments according to the present invention have a configuration for solving at least a part of the above-described problems, and in an electronic apparatus in which a plurality of types of parameters can be changed, a user can set a target parameter. Information for enabling efficient setting is presented in a display form that is easy to grasp intuitively.

  One aspect of the present invention includes a display unit that displays an image, a reception unit that receives an operation input, and a control unit that changes an image displayed by the display unit according to the operation input received by the reception unit. The control means displays a selection screen for presenting a plurality of types of selectable parameters on the display means, and a selection mode in which the accepting means accepts a selection input of the parameter, and a setting status of the selected parameter. A setting mode to be presented is displayed on the display means, and the setting mode in which the accepting means accepts the setting input of the parameter is changed to each other according to an operation input to the accepting means, and the accepting means is changed from the selection mode to the accepting means. After transitioning to the setting mode by a selection input to, the setting of the selected parameter is not changed and the selection mode is not changed. When transitioning to de, in the selection screen after the transition, it adds visual information indicating that the parameter has not changed, which is an electronic device.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parameter presentation method in an electronic apparatus having a display unit and a reception unit and capable of setting and changing a plurality of types of parameters, wherein a selection screen for presenting the plurality of types of parameters is provided. The display means displays the selection mode in which the accepting means accepts the parameter selection input, and the setting screen presenting the setting status of the selected parameter is displayed on the display means. The setting mode for accepting the setting input is shifted to each other according to the operation input to the accepting means, and after the transition from the selection mode to the setting mode by the selection input to the accepting means, the selected parameter When transitioning to the selection mode without changing the setting, the parameter is displayed on the selection screen after transition. Visual information indicating that the terpolymer was not changed is added.

  In the invention configured as described above, when a parameter is selected and transitioned to the setting screen in the selection mode in which the selection screen is presented, the parameter is set when the parameter returns to the selection screen without being changed. The assumption that no change is necessary applies. If the selected parameter is desired by the user, it is considered that some change operation is performed on the setting screen. Thus, parameters that are selected but not changed are likely to be those that were not desired or did not need to be changed.

  If such a process of screen transition is reflected on the selection screen, it is possible to prevent the same parameter from being selected again by mistake. In the above aspect, if a parameter is not changed when the displayed image returns from the setting screen to the selection screen, visual information indicating that the parameter has been selected but not changed is added. The Therefore, the user can intuitively distinguish parameters that have already been selected and need not be selected again from other parameters on the selection screen. Therefore, in selecting a new parameter, it is possible to exclude parameters that do not need to be set from the target. As a result, the user can efficiently set the target parameter.

  In the present invention, for example, a touch panel that functions as display means and reception means may be provided. In such a configuration, since it is possible to perform an operation input via a touch panel on which selectable parameters, setting values thereof, and the like are displayed, it is possible to perform parameter setting operations more intuitively.

  Further, for example, in the selection mode, the display unit displays a group selection screen that presents a plurality of groups in which a plurality of types of parameters are classified, and the reception unit receives a group selection input, and the one selected by the selection input is displayed. The display means displays an individual selection screen that presents individual parameters classified into groups, and the reception means accepts the selection input of the presented parameter, and the setting screen corresponding to the parameter selected by the selection input is displayed. May be configured to display.

  In such a configuration, a selection screen for selecting a parameter is hierarchically configured, and the user can narrow down the parameters classified into the group after selecting the group first. Therefore, even when there are many parameters that can be selected, the target parameter can be selected efficiently.

  Further, for example, when an operation of changing from the selection mode to the setting mode and changing to the selection mode again without changing the parameter is repeated a predetermined number of times, visual information may be added to the parameter. It can be said that there is a higher probability that the user has made a mistake in operation or is at a loss when such a transition without parameter change is repeated several times. In such a case, by adding visual information to the parameter, it is possible to reduce the probability that the same mistake will be repeated further.

  For example, the control means may be configured to cancel the addition of the visual information on the setting screen when the setting is changed for the parameter to which the visual information is added. If the selected parameters are changed, it can be assumed that the user's purpose has been achieved. In such a case, by stopping the addition of visual information, it is possible to avoid giving inappropriate information to the user in subsequent operations.

  Further, for example, a storage unit that stores an operation input to the reception unit may be further provided. In such a configuration, it is possible to provide visual information according to the operation status of the user by storing the history of operation input by the user in the storage unit.

  Further, for example, a printing unit that performs a printing operation may be further provided, and the operating conditions of the printing operation may be specified by a plurality of types of parameters. In an electronic device whose main purpose is printing, there may be a case where a large-sized display means cannot be provided due to restrictions such as installation space and apparatus cost. For this reason, even with a relatively small display means, it is possible to smoothly perform the user operation by presenting information for efficiently setting the target parameter by the user in an intuitive display mode.

  Note that not all of the plurality of constituent elements included in each aspect of the present invention described above are essential, in order to solve part or all of the above-described problems or a part of the effects described in the present specification. Or, in order to achieve all of them, it is possible to change, delete, replace with another new component, or partially delete the limited content of some components of a plurality of components as appropriate. . In order to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the effects described in this specification, technical features included in one embodiment of the present invention described above. A part or all of the technical features included in the other aspects of the present invention described above may be combined to form an independent form of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a print system including a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer. The flowchart which shows a parameter setting process. The figure which shows the example of a menu screen. The flowchart which shows the process after it is judged that the user is lost. The figure which shows the example of a scroll display screen. The figure which illustrates the other aspect of a menu display. The figure which shows the other example of a parameter setting screen.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a printing system including a printer which is an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the print system PS includes a printer 1, a computer 3 that controls the printer 1, and a user interface device 5 connected to the computer 3. The user interface device 5 includes a display 51 that displays to a user, and an input device 53 that includes a keyboard and a mouse and receives an input operation from the user. The printer 1 and the computer 3 are connected to be communicable with each other via an appropriate communication line 2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) line or an Internet line.

  In this print system PS, image data created by the computer 3 is transmitted via the communication line 2 and given to the printer 1. The printer 1 is a so-called inkjet printing apparatus that prints an image corresponding to image data on the recording medium RM by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording medium RM based on the received image data. As the recording medium RM, for example, a large single sheet such as JIS standard A1 size, paper such as roll paper having the same paper width as the single sheet, cloth, resin film, or the like may be used.

  The printer 1 includes a housing 10 formed by combining three types of box members, that is, an upper box member 10a, a lower box member 10b, and a small box member 10c, and a leg portion 11 that supports the housing 10. The upper box member 10a and the lower box member 10b are stacked in the vertical direction. An operation panel 12 is provided on the front right side of the upper box member 10a. Also, a cartridge holder 13 loaded with an ink cartridge C containing ink is provided on the left side of the front of the lower box member 10b.

  The operation panel 12 is provided with a touch panel 121 having a function of displaying an image on a screen and a function of accepting an operation input by a touch operation on the screen. As will be described in detail later, various operation menus and parameters related to the operation of the printer 1 are displayed on the touch panel 121 using appropriate image objects such as buttons or icons. When the user presses the touch panel 121, a function corresponding to the button displayed at the pressed position is executed. Thus, the provision of the touch panel 121 provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface) environment for operating the printer 1 for the user.

  Further, the operation panel 12 is provided with a hardware key 122 in which a function when pressed is preset. For operations with a relatively low execution frequency such as various operation settings, by using the touch panel 121 as described above, many operations can be realized even with the operation panel 12 having a small area. On the other hand, operations that are relatively frequently executed, such as printing start and stop, and operations that need to be promptly processed when necessary are assigned to the hardware key 122. As the hardware key 122, for example, a push button can be used.

  Although not shown, a spindle is horizontally provided at the rear part (the back side in FIG. 1) of the lower box member 10b, and a roll is attached to the spindle. A long recording medium RM before printing is wound around the roll, and the recording medium RM can be drawn from the roll between the upper box member 10a and the lower box member 10b. Then, the printer 1 discharges the ink supplied from the ink cartridge C toward the recording medium RM by the inkjet method while supporting the recording medium RM pulled out from the roll by the suction of the suction platen 14. As a result, an image is printed on the recording medium RM. The recording medium RM printed in this way is sent to the front of the printer 1 and hangs down by its own weight along the guide surface 15 provided on the front surface of the printer 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer. The printer 1 includes a CPU 101, a memory 102, a storage 103, a printer engine 104, an interface (IF) unit 105, and the like, and these are connected via an internal bus 100 so as to communicate with each other.

  The CPU 101 executes a printing operation by executing a predetermined control program and causing each unit of the apparatus to perform a predetermined operation. The memory 102 stores various data such as data necessary for processing and intermediate data generated by the CPU 101. The storage 103 has a larger storage capacity than the memory 102 and can store data for a long time, and stores various data such as a control program executed by the CPU 101 and image data given from the computer 3.

  The printer engine 104 has hardware for forming an image on the recording medium RM using the ink in the ink cartridge C attached to the cartridge holder 13 (FIG. 1) while conveying the recording medium RM. . Since such a hardware configuration can be applied, a detailed description is omitted.

  The IF unit 105 manages the exchange of information between the printer 1 and the user and an external device. Specifically, a touch panel 121, a hardware key (abbreviated as “HW key” in FIG. 2) 122, and a communication unit 106 are connected to the IF unit 105. The touch panel 121 includes a display unit 121a that displays an image, and an input reception unit 121b that receives a touch operation by outputting a signal corresponding to a pressed position on the display surface of the display unit 121a. The content of the image displayed on the display unit 121 a is determined by image data given from the CPU 101 via the IF unit 105. In addition, a signal related to the pressed position output from the input receiving unit 121 b is transmitted to the CPU 101 via the IF unit 105. A signal output from the hardware key 122 due to the pressing of the hardware key 122 is also transmitted to the CPU 101 via the IF unit 105. As a result, the CPU 101 can grasp the user's operation contents input via the operation panel 12.

  The communication unit 106 is connected to the communication line 2 and is responsible for communication with an external device such as the computer 3 via the communication line 2. Specifically, the communication unit 106 has a function of transmitting a print command, image data, and the like transmitted from the computer 3 to the CPU 101 and transmitting the progress of processing in the printer 1 to the computer 3.

  In the print system PS configured as described above, when a user creates image data using a suitable application program installed in the computer 3 and issues a print instruction, the image data and the print command are sent from the computer 3 to the printer 1. Given. Image data is stored in the storage 103. Upon receiving the print command, the CPU 101 executes the print processing program stored in the storage 103, controls each unit to execute the print operation, and forms an image corresponding to the image data on the recording medium RM. Since such a series of operations is publicly known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the printer 1, the user can set various parameters for specifying the operating conditions of each unit in the printing operation. Next, the operation of the printer 1 for supporting the parameter setting operation by the user will be described. The printer 1 displays various menu screens on the touch panel 121 so that the user can efficiently set various parameters, accepts touch operations performed by the user on the touch panel 121, and determines each parameter. go. This processing is realized by the CPU 101 executing a parameter setting processing program stored in advance in the storage 103.

  There are various parameters to be set. On the other hand, the touch panel 121 for displaying them is small and cannot be displayed on one screen. Therefore, all configurable parameters are grouped into several groups. If necessary, a subgroup including several parameters is provided in one group. One subgroup may further include a plurality of subgroups. The user can finally reach the parameter to be set by sequentially selecting the hierarchized groups in this order from the higher level to the lower level.

  As a rule of grouping, for example, parameters that have similar functions or have the same effect on the final printed product (for example, related to quality of image quality) should be classified into the same group. Can do. Further, for example, for each functional block constituting the printer 1, the parameters related to the operation of the functional block may be classified into one group. One parameter may be included in a plurality of groups. In addition, the rules for grouping are arbitrary, and as will be described later, grouping may not be performed if there is no particular problem in presenting as a menu.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the parameter setting process. FIG. 4 shows an example of a menu screen. First, a main menu screen created in advance and stored in the storage 103 is displayed on the display unit 121a of the touch panel 121 (step S101). The image I1 illustrated in the upper left of FIG. 4 is an image corresponding to the main menu screen. On the main menu screen, the group name of the highest group into which the parameters are classified is listed as a large item. In this example, five items of “media setting”, “printer setting”, “maintenance”, “ink remaining amount display”, and “printing history” are listed. In addition, the menu screen includes an “OK” button for the user to confirm the operation input, a “return” button for returning to the previous screen from the current screen, and the like.

  Note that the various parameters exemplified here are generally used in the operation of the printer, and the meaning of each parameter is not directly related to the operation of the parameter setting process, so the description is omitted. Also, the types of parameters exemplified here are merely used for explaining the operation, and the types of parameters and the rules for grouping are not limited to those shown here but are arbitrary.

  In the touch panel 121, a frame surrounding a group name has a function as a button for selecting a group. That is, when an area within a frame surrounding one group name on the display screen is pressed by the user, the CPU 101 determines that the user's selection operation has been performed on the group indicated in the frame. Information indicating which of the items displayed on the screen is pressed by the user is stored in the memory 102 for each operation. Therefore, the CPU 101 can grasp the history of operation input by the user from the information stored in the memory 102.

  When a selection operation is performed on any of the groups and the OK button is pressed (step S102), the screen display changes to a submenu screen corresponding to the group (step S103). The image I2 in FIG. 4 corresponds to the submenu screen when the “media management” button is pressed on the menu screen. At this time, a button with the name of each subgroup of “Media remaining amount management”, “Media selection” and “Media setting change” as subgroups classified into “Media management” group and current setting contents are printed out A “print setting contents” button is arranged on the screen as a submenu. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the main menu screen and the submenu screen, a “menu screen” may be used as a generic term for these.

  In this state, it waits for an operation input by the user. When an operation for pressing the “return” button (hereinafter referred to as “return operation”) is performed (YES in step S104), the screen returns to the main menu screen which is one level higher. On the other hand, when a selection operation is performed on any button displayed as a submenu (YES in step S105), the screen display is changed to a screen corresponding to the selected subgroup.

  If the selected subgroup includes a plurality of subgroups, steps S103 to S105 are repeated. That is, a submenu screen on which buttons corresponding to those subgroups are arranged is displayed (step S103), and a standby state is entered until a return operation (step S104) or a selection operation (step S105) is performed by the user. By repeating this, finally, each parameter belonging to one subgroup reaches a submenu screen displayed as a button.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the parameters belonging to the selected “Media remaining amount management” subgroup are “Remaining amount management setting”, “Media length setting”, “Media remaining amount warning”, and “Media remaining amount printing”. A button corresponding to the parameter is displayed on the submenu image I3.

  When the user selects, for example, the “remaining amount management setting” parameter from the parameters displayed in this manner, the screen display changes to the setting screen for the selected parameter (step S106). As illustrated as an image I4 in FIG. 4, the parameter setting screen displays a current setting status and a button indicating a settable value for the selected parameter. In this example, only two types of values “ON” and “OFF” are shown as settable values, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, multi-level settings such as “high”, “medium”, and “low” may be possible, and parameter values may be specified by continuous or discrete numerical values. In the case of setting by a numerical value, a selectable numerical value may be displayed as a button, or a mode in which the current setting value is indicated by a gauge display or the like and the increase / decrease is accepted as an operation input may be employed.

  As described above, in the parameter setting process of this embodiment, the GUI screen realized on the touch panel 121 for accepting a user operation is a multi-layer having the main menu screen as the highest layer and the parameter setting screen as the lowest layer. It has a hierarchical structure. The example of FIG. 4 is a first layer that is a main menu screen that presents a group to which the parameter belongs, a second layer that presents a subgroup in the selected group, and a third layer that presents the parameter in the selected subgroup. It has a four-layer structure of layers and a fourth layer that is a setting screen for the selected parameter.

  The user can finally reach the parameter setting screen by selecting the displayed menu items sequentially from the upper layer to the lower layer, and can change the parameter setting. The number of layers on the GUI screen up to the parameter setting screen is not limited to the above, and the number of layers may be different for each selected item.

  In the parameter setting image I4 of FIG. 4, the item “ON” is checked, indicating that the current setting value is “ON”. The user can change the set value by pressing an “ON” or “OFF” button. When the “OK” button is pressed (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as “decision operation”), the setting is determined by the setting value at that time. On the other hand, when the “return” button is pressed, the change is canceled and the original set value is maintained.

  While the parameter setting screen is displayed, it waits for any of the determination operation, return operation, and change operation by the user (steps S107 and S108). When the change operation is performed (YES in step S108), the setting value of the parameter is updated on the screen display (step S109). The parameter can be changed at any time until a decision or return operation is performed.

  When the determination operation or the return operation is performed (YES in step S107), it is determined whether or not the parameter setting value has been substantially changed (step S110). In the case of the return operation, the parameter is obviously not changed, but even in the case of the determination operation, the setting value at the time of the determination operation is the same as the setting value at the time of transition from the submenu image I3 for selecting the parameter to the parameter setting image I4 If so, no change can be made.

  When a decision operation or a return operation is performed, the screen display returns to the menu screen one level above, but if there is no change in the parameter setting value selected at this time (NO in step S110), the return destination image The button corresponding to the selected parameter is grayed out (step S111). On the other hand, if the parameter setting value has been changed (YES in step S110), the gray-out display is canceled (step S112).

  An image I5 in FIG. 4 shows an example of a display image when the parameter setting screen is changed to the submenu screen without changing the parameter setting value by, for example, a return operation. Compared with the image I3 of the same layer, the frame of the image object corresponding to the “remaining amount management setting” parameter that has not been changed is filled with a gray pattern, and the visibility of the characters indicating the parameter name is reduced and is difficult to read It has become. In this way, after transitioning to the setting screen of the selected parameter, when transitioning to the submenu screen again without changing the parameter, the submenu screen after transition corresponds to the selected parameter. The button is grayed out. When the parameter is changed, a menu screen with the grayout canceled is displayed as shown in an image I3.

  The reason for this is as follows. In this example, there are many parameters to be set, and in an electronic device having a menu configuration that requires passing through several levels of menu screens to reach the parameter setting screen on the screen, Users may get lost in the process. In other words, if you do not know the name of the parameter and which group it is classified in, or you select the wrong item when following the menu hierarchy, you can not reach the setting screen of the target parameter. Alternatively, there may be a problem that a wasteful operation occurs until the display is made.

  The case where the parameter setting screen is reached, but the value is not changed and the screen transits to a higher-level submenu screen occurs when the selected parameter is not what the user desires. And since the user does not necessarily grasp the operation history so far, the user may repeat the same mistake many times.

  Therefore, if a button corresponding to such a parameter is presented in a display form that indicates that it is a parameter that has been selected but not changed, the user will be able to set the parameter to the object that he / she intends to set. It is possible to easily grasp that it is not. This prevents the user from accidentally selecting the same parameter that is not the setting target many times. Note that here, if there is even one transition from the parameter setting screen to the menu screen without any parameter change, the parameter is grayed out. More generally, the number of times such a transition is set in advance. Alternatively, grayout display may be performed when it is repeated only.

  The information visually indicating that the parameter is “selected but not changed” is not limited to the gray-out display described above, and various information can be used. For example, a specific color or symbol may be attached to the button corresponding to the parameter, or the button may be blinked. However, it is preferable that the visual information to be added is such that the user can more intuitively grasp that the parameter should not be selected. A display mode that does not motivate the user to actively select the parameter, such as the above grayout display, adding a strikethrough to the parameter name, or making the text color lighter, is preferable. .

  A method of making it impossible to select a parameter to which such visual information is added is considered. However, if this is done, the convenience of the user may be impaired. For example, if the user returns to the menu screen without changing the parameter due to a simple operation error, an extra operation will occur to select the same parameter again. It is possible to avoid such a problem by allowing re-selection while clearly indicating that “selected but not changed” in the display.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a specific parameter can be changed by the user sequentially selecting menus that are hierarchized in multiple stages. It is expected that a user having a certain level of expertise can easily perform a setting operation using such a hierarchical menu from the understanding of regularity in parameter grouping. However, for other users, a hierarchical menu may not always be easy to use. For example, a user who does not have prior knowledge about what kind of hierarchical structure has to repeat the transition between layers many times when trying to check each parameter setting screen in order to find the target parameter. It will be necessary.

  Therefore, while the printer 1 of this embodiment uses the parameter setting method based on the hierarchical menu as described above as a standard, when it is determined that the user is unsure about the operation using this method, the menu display mode is changed. It is configured so that it can be switched to. Specifically, it is determined whether the user is at a loss from the screen transition status in the parameter setting process described above. If it is determined that the user is at a loss, the process described later is executed by the interrupt process, and a setting process with a different menu display is possible.

  There are various possible criteria for determining “being lost”. For example, if the display screen transitions sequentially from the main menu screen to the lower menu and reaches the parameter setting screen, the user returns to the main menu screen without changing the parameters. Seems to be lost in operation. Further, it may be determined that the user is at a loss when such a transition is repeated a predetermined number of times. Alternatively, it may be determined that the user is at a loss when the screen transitions without parameter changes are repeated a predetermined number of times. In addition, for example, the criterion described in Patent Document 1 may be applied.

  By using any one of these determination criteria or a combination of a plurality of determination criteria, the CPU 101 can determine from the operation history by the user whether or not the user is at a loss. While the parameter setting process shown in FIG. 3 is being executed, the CPU 101 monitors the user's operation history. If the CPU 101 determines that the user is at a loss, the process being executed is interrupted by an interrupt, and the process described below is executed. .

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing after it is determined that the user is at a loss. If it is determined that the user is at a loss, the processing of FIG. 5 is started by interruption, and a display switching button for changing the menu display mode is displayed on the menu screen at that time (step S201). In the example of FIG. 4, after the transition from the image I1 corresponding to the main menu screen to the image I4 corresponding to the parameter setting screen, the transition is made to the main menu screen again through the upper layer images I5 and I6 without changing the parameters. Is determined to be “lost”. The image I7 corresponding to the main menu screen at this time is obtained by additionally displaying a “display switch” button on the image I1 of the same layer.

  When the display switching button is pressed by the user (YES in step S202), the screen is switched to the following scroll display screen (step S203). If any other button is operated, the process returns to step S102 in FIG. 3 and normal parameter setting processing is executed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a scroll display screen. In the scroll display screen, all parameters that can be set are grouped for each group and subgroup and are listed in one image I8 as a “menu list”. Since all items cannot be displayed on one screen, a part of the image I8 is displayed on the display unit 121a. By scrolling the screen according to the scroll operation on the touch panel 121, all items can finally appear on the display screen.

  In such a screen display mode, it is easier for the user to grasp the hierarchical structure of the entire menu than in the image example of FIG. In addition, parameters that can be set can be listed on the screen, making it easier to find the target parameter. For this reason, even for a user who is confused in the process of transition between layers, it is easy to reach the parameter setting screen to be set, and the ambiguity is resolved.

  The scroll display screen is provided with a “display switching” button, and when this button is selected by pressing, the screen is switched to a normal main menu screen (step S204). A user who understands the hierarchical structure of the menu may find the target parameter more quickly by the transition between the layers of the menu screen thus hierarchized than when the search is performed by scrolling the screen every time. By making it possible to switch between the two types of menu screens, it is possible to meet any needs.

  When one of the buttons corresponding to the parameter displayed on the screen is selected by pressing (step S205), the screen display changes to the setting screen corresponding to the parameter (step S206). The parameter setting screen at this time may be the same as the parameter setting screen shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, as the parameter setting screen corresponding to the selected “remaining amount management setting” parameter, the same one as the image I4 of FIG. 4 is shown.

  The operation after transition to the parameter setting screen is basically the same as the processing shown in FIG. Specifically, the processing in steps S207 to S212 in FIG. 5 is the same as the processing in steps S107 to S112 in FIG. However, the screen that transitions from the parameter setting screen in steps S211 and S212 is the scroll display screen shown in FIG. Also at this time, if the parameter has not been changed after the transition to the parameter setting screen, it is preferable to add visual information (for example, gray-out display) indicating that the parameter has not been changed. This prevents the user from selecting the same parameter again by mistake.

  Even with such processing, the user can select a desired parameter from all the parameters that can be set and perform the setting operation efficiently. In this case, the number of layers of the menu screen is 2 regardless of the number of parameters. Therefore, the user's operation for searching for the target parameter is only a transition between the menu list screen and the parameter setting screen, and the user's confusion due to a complicated hierarchical structure is avoided.

  The parameter grouping rules may be different between the hierarchical display and the scroll display. When grouped according to the same rule, there is an advantage that a user who understands the hierarchical structure with the scrolled menu can use the hierarchical menu from the next time.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in order to enable the user to efficiently set various parameters that can be set in the printer 1 using the menu screen displayed in the limited display space. In addition, the following configuration is adopted. That is, a plurality of parameters that have similar functions or are related to each other are grouped and hierarchized so that a setting target can be easily selected from a wide variety of parameters. The user can select a target parameter by sequentially operating the hierarchical menu screen.

  After transitioning to the setting screen for the parameter selected on the menu screen, if the parameter is returned to the menu screen without being changed, it is visually confirmed that the parameter has not been changed on the menu screen after the transition. Visual information that can be added is added. In the above example, the button corresponding to the parameter is grayed out. In this way, the user is informed that the parameter is not intended for setting. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the same parameter from being selected again by mistake, and to improve the efficiency of the setting work by the user.

  In addition, when it is estimated that the user is at a loss of operation, such as when transitions between menu screens are repeated without changing parameter settings, settings can be made instead of hierarchical menu screens. It is possible to switch to a menu screen that lists various parameters. In the above example, since all parameters cannot be stored on one screen, all parameters are presented by scroll display. In such a menu screen, even a user who does not understand the hierarchical structure of the menu can easily find the target parameter.

  For users who are accustomed to the operation, it may be troublesome to select a target parameter by a scroll operation. Therefore, the hierarchical menu is set as a standard display mode, and is switched to scroll display when it is estimated that the user is at a loss. This makes it possible to provide a user interface that is easy to use for various users.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the printer 1 corresponds to the “electronic device” of the present invention, of which the display unit 121a and the input receiving unit 121b are the “display unit” and the “receiving unit” of the present invention, respectively. ”And both function as a“ touch panel ”of the present invention. Further, the CPU 101 and the printer engine 104 function as “control means” and “printing means” of the present invention, respectively. Further, the memory 102 functions as a “storage unit” of the present invention.

  Also, the operations in steps S101 to S105 in the processing of FIG. 3 and the operations in steps S203 to S205 in the processing in FIG. 5 all correspond to the “selection mode” of the present invention. On the other hand, the operations in steps S106 to S112 in the processing of FIG. 3 and the operations in steps S206 to S212 in the processing in FIG. 5 all correspond to the “setting mode” of the present invention. Further, the menu screen shown by the images I1, I2, I3, etc. corresponds to the “selection screen” of the present invention. More specifically, the menu screen shown by the images I1, I2 is the “group selection screen” of the present invention. The menu screen shown by the image I3 corresponds to the “individual selection screen” of the present invention. Further, the parameter setting screen shown by the image I4 corresponds to the “setting screen” of the present invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the above-described one without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, a parameter that has been selected but not changed is displayed in a grayed-out manner in the menu screen after the transition, thereby indicating that the parameter is not intended by the user. In addition to this, in a configuration having a menu in which a plurality of parameters are grouped, for example, the following display may be performed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another mode of menu display. As described above, parameters that have been selected but not changed are grayed out on the menu screen after the transition. In the process of searching for the target parameter by the user, there may be a plurality of types of parameters grayed out in this way. For example, as in an image I9 shown in FIG. 9, all the parameters included in one group (or subgroup) may be grayed out. In such a case, the “media remaining amount management” group including these parameters does not include the parameter intended by the user, and the group itself may be excluded from the search target.

  In order to clarify this, as shown in FIG. 7, when all the parameters in the group transition from the image I9 displayed in gray out to the image I10 in the upper layer, the button indicating the group is displayed in gray out. May be. In this way, it is clearly stated that the group does not contain the parameters intended by the user. For this reason, a user's useless selection operation can be suppressed and work efficiency can be improved more.

  Further, for example, on the menu screen of the above-described embodiment, the parameters that can be set are classified into several groups and presented. However, even when parameters are presented without such grouping, the technical idea of “adding visual information peculiar to selected but not changed” works effectively. For example, the type of parameters that can be set is simply listed on the scroll display screen as shown in FIG. 6 without being grouped. In particular, if there are relatively few types of parameters that can be set, such a display mode has sufficient practicality. Even in this case, when a parameter is selected from the menu screen and transitioned to the parameter setting screen, when returning to the menu screen without changing the parameter, visual information indicating that the parameter has not been changed is added. Good. By doing so, the menu screen indicates that the parameter is not intended by the user, so that the setting work by the user can be made more efficient.

  In the above embodiment, the menu screen (image I3), which is a “selection screen” for selecting parameters, and the parameter setting screen (image I4), which is a “setting screen” corresponding to the selected parameter, are completely different. It has image content. However, as illustrated below, the “setting screen” may be related to the “selection screen” in the image content.

  FIG. 8 shows another example of the parameter setting screen. When transitioning from the third layer menu screen (image I3) in FIG. 3 to the fourth layer parameter setting screen, the parameter is displayed near the button corresponding to the selected parameter, as in the image I11 shown in FIG. A button for changing the set value may be temporarily displayed. When a decision operation or a return operation is performed by operating these buttons, the menu screen is displayed again. If there is no change in the parameters at this time, the selected parameter as in the image I12 is grayed out.

  In the above-described embodiment, the hierarchical display and scroll display of the operation menu can be switched to each other. However, the effect of the present invention described above is effective even in an apparatus having only one of these display modes. .

  In the printer 1 of the above embodiment, the touch panel 121 having both a display function and an input reception function is used as a user interface. However, the user interface is not limited to a touch panel. That is, the display function and the input reception function may be configured by independent devices. For example, a display panel having no input reception function and a hardware key are arranged adjacent to each other, and an operation input to a hardware key arranged in the vicinity of a menu item displayed on the display panel is a selection operation on the menu item. It may be determined that there is. Further, the configuration may be such that all the setting operations are performed by a touch panel without providing the hardware key.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment is provided with the printer 1 as an "electronic device" of this invention, the electronic device which is an application object of this invention is not limited to a printer. For example, the present invention can be suitably applied to various electronic devices including a display unit and a reception unit, such as a tablet terminal, a portable measuring device and a game device, a stationary measuring device, an industrial machine, and an electronic musical instrument. Is possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer (electronic device) 101 ... CPU (control means) 102 ... Memory (memory | storage means) 104 ... Printer engine (printing means) 121 ... Touch panel 121a ... Display part (display means) 121b ... Input reception Part (reception means), I1, I2, I6, I7 ... menu screen (selection screen, group selection screen), I3, I5 ... menu screen (selection screen, individual selection screen), I4 ... parameter setting screen (setting screen), S101-S105, S203-S205 ... selection mode, S106-S112, S206-S212 ... setting mode

Claims (8)

Display means for displaying an image;
Accepting means for accepting operation input;
Control means for changing an image displayed by the display means in response to an operation input received by the receiving means,
The control means includes
A selection mode for displaying a selection screen for presenting a plurality of selectable parameters on the display means and the reception means for receiving a selection input of the parameter, and a setting screen for presenting a setting status of the selected parameter. The setting mode in which the receiving unit displays the parameter and the parameter setting input is displayed on the display unit, and the mutual transition is made according to the operation input to the receiving unit.
After transition from the selection mode to the setting mode by a selection input to the accepting unit, when transitioning to the selection mode without changing the setting of the selected parameter, the parameter is displayed on the selection screen after the transition. An electronic device that adds visual information to indicate that has not been changed.   The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a touch panel that functions as the display unit and the reception unit.   In the selection mode, the display unit displays a group selection screen that presents a plurality of groups in which a plurality of types of the parameters are classified, and the reception unit receives a selection input of the group, and is selected by the selection input. The display means displays an individual selection screen presenting each of the parameters classified into one group, and the accepting means accepts a selection input of the parameter presented to the parameter selected by the selection input. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the corresponding setting screen.   4. The visual information is added to the parameter when an operation of changing from the selection mode to the setting mode and changing to the selection mode again without changing the parameter is repeated a predetermined number of times. The electronic device in any one.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the setting is changed for the parameter to which the visual information is added, the control unit cancels the addition of the visual information on the setting screen.   6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores an operation input to the reception unit. Comprising printing means for performing a printing operation;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein operating conditions of the printing operation are specified by the plurality of types of parameters. A method for presenting a parameter in an electronic device having a display unit and a reception unit and capable of setting and changing a plurality of types of parameters,
A selection mode for displaying the selection screen for presenting the plurality of types of parameters on the display means and the reception means for accepting a selection input of the parameter, and a setting screen for presenting the setting status of the selected parameter. And a setting mode in which the accepting unit accepts a setting input of the parameter is displayed and is shifted to each other according to an operation input to the accepting unit,
After transition from the selection mode to the setting mode by a selection input to the accepting unit, when transitioning to the selection mode without changing the setting of the selected parameter, the parameter is displayed on the selection screen after the transition. A method for presenting a parameter in an electronic device, to which visual information indicating that has not been changed is added.

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