JP2022169314A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent execution of a job according to a touch operation on an operation unit even if the operation is performed by mistake.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an operation unit that has a display capable of displaying an image including a start key and a touch panel unit outputting a signal according to a touch operation; a touch position detection unit that detects a touch position representing a position on the touch panel unit at which the touch operation is performed; a touch area detection unit that detects the touch area representing the area of a part of the touch panel unit where the touch operation is performed; a storage unit that stores the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit; and a control unit that, when the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit is not the position of the start key, stores the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit in the storage unit, and when the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit is the position of the start key, controls execution of a job based on the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit and the touch area already stored in the storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a touch panel type operation unit.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, among image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals (MFPs), there are apparatuses equipped with a touch panel type operation unit as a user interface. A touch panel type operation unit has an input unit such as a touch pad layered on the screen of a display unit such as a liquid crystal, and detects an instruction to operate the image forming apparatus by pressing a display on the screen. can (enter)

However, when an object other than a finger accidentally touches the screen of the operation unit while operating the touch panel type operation unit, there is a possibility of erroneous detection. For example, if the input section of the operation section is of a capacitance type that utilizes a change in current generated by contact with a conductor, the conductor touching the screen of the operation section is detected. Therefore, when a liquid other than a finger or a conductor such as a metal accidentally adheres to or touches the screen of the operation unit, there is a possibility of erroneous detection.

Conventionally, Patent Documents 1 and 2 have been disclosed as techniques for preventing erroneous operation of a capacitive operation unit. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200001 discloses a technique for preventing erroneous operations by changing the threshold value of the touch area depending on the area and comparing the touch area and the threshold value. In addition, in Patent Document 2, the movement distance is calculated from the acquired coordinate data, the orientation of the terminal is determined by a tilt detection sensor, and from the movement distance and the orientation of the terminal, it is detected whether it is falling in the direction of gravity, and malfunction is prevented. Techniques are disclosed.

JP 2016-186824 A JP 2014-81666 A

However, even with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when something other than a finger accidentally touches the start key of the operation unit, if the touch area of the thing other than the finger satisfies the threshold value, the erroneous operation will occur. It will be valid and the job will be executed. Further, even with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, if the contact time is short and the movement distance cannot be calculated, the operation becomes invalid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing execution of a job due to an erroneous touch operation on an operation unit.

A typical configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is a display unit capable of displaying an image including a start key for determining job execution, and a display unit stacked on the display unit to receive a signal by a touch operation. a touch panel unit that outputs a touch panel unit; a touch position detection unit that detects a touch position indicating a position where a touch operation is performed on the touch panel unit based on a signal output from the touch panel unit; a touch area detection unit for detecting a touch area indicating an area of a portion where a touch operation is performed on the touch panel unit based on a signal output from the unit; and storing the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit. When the touch position detected by the storage unit and the touch position detection unit is not the position of the start key, the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit is stored in the storage unit and detected by the touch position detection unit. a control unit for controlling execution of the job based on the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit and the touch area already stored in the storage unit when the detected touch position is the position of the start key; , is provided.

According to the present invention, when a touch operation is performed on an operation unit by mistake, the erroneous operation can be detected and execution of a job due to the erroneous operation can be prevented.

Configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus Block diagram of an image forming apparatus (a), (b), (c), and (d) are diagrams showing operation examples of the operation unit. Flowchart showing the flow of control for detecting an erroneous operation of the operation unit

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in the following examples should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. They are not intended to limit the scope of the invention only to them.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of a multi-function machine showing an example of an image forming apparatus. The multi-function device 100 includes an operation unit 200, a document reading unit 102 for reading an image of a document, an image forming unit 210 for forming an image on paper as a recording medium, and an image transmitting/receiving unit 220 for transmitting/receiving an image (see FIG. 2). ) and The multi-function device 100 also has a scan function, a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile function. The scanning function is a function of reading an image of a document by the document reading unit 102 and converting the read image into electronic data. The copy function is a function of printing an image of a document read by the document reading unit 102 on a sheet by the image forming unit 210 . The print function is a function of printing an image received from a terminal connected via a network on paper using the image forming unit 210 . The facsimile function is a function of transmitting and receiving image data to and from a terminal connected via a public line.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus. The document reading section 102 includes an automatic document feeding section 102a (see FIG. 1). The automatic document feeder 102 a feeds the document placed on the document tray 101 (see FIG. 1) to the reading position in the document reader 102 . The document reading unit 102 reads an image of the fed document by a reading unit (not shown) stopped at a reading position. A document whose image has been read is discharged to a discharge section (not shown) below the document tray 101 . The document reading unit 102, together with the automatic document feeding unit 102a, is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the multifunction machine 100, and the document can be set on a document glass table (not shown) which is the scanning area of the reading unit. It is possible. The document reading unit 102 can also read an image of a document set on the document glass platen by a reading unit that scans along the document glass platen. The reading unit has an imaging device such as a CMOS or CCD, reads an image of a document as data such as RGB, converts the data into digital image data, and transfers the digital image data to the main control unit 600 .

The image forming unit 210 includes an electrophotographic mechanism (not shown) including a photoreceptor and process means such as charging means, developing means, and exposure means acting on the photoreceptor. In the image forming section 210, the paper set in the paper cassette 103 (see FIG. 1) is fed to the electrophotographic mechanism by a paper feeding section (not shown). In the electrophotographic mechanism, the photosensitive member charged by the charging device is irradiated with a laser beam by the exposure device, and a toner image corresponding to the digital image data transferred from the main control unit 600 is formed on the photosensitive member. . The image formed on the photoreceptor is transferred to the paper fed to the transfer position, fixed by the fixing unit, and output to the paper discharge tray 104 (see FIG. 1).

The operation unit 200 includes a touch panel 201 , a liquid crystal 202 as a display unit, a capacitance value detection unit 203 , a UI control unit 204 and a storage unit 205 .

The operation unit 200 is a touch panel type operation unit that can be operated by touch input according to information displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal 202 . For example, when the user makes copies, the operation unit 200 selects and sets the paper size, density, number of sheets, and the like, and then operates job determination. An example of this operation will be described later with reference to FIG.

The liquid crystal 202 displays the display image data transferred from the main control unit 600 on the screen. Display image data transferred from the main control unit 600 includes display image data including the start key 21 for determining job execution, as shown in FIGS. 3(b) to 3(d). The liquid crystal 202 is a display unit capable of displaying display image data including the start key 21 .

The touch panel 201 is laminated on the screen of the liquid crystal 202 . The touch panel 201 has an operation surface that is pressed by an operation object such as a user's finger or a dedicated pen, and outputs a signal upon contact with the operation object. A touch panel 201 is a touch panel unit that outputs a signal by a touch operation. Here, touching the touch panel 201 with a user's finger, a dedicated pen, or the like is defined as a touch operation. A touch operation is also defined as a case where the user accidentally touches the touch panel 201 without intending to perform any operation on the image forming apparatus. For example, in an office, an employee may hang his or her identification card or the like from the neck. When such an employee tries to operate the image forming apparatus, the identification card may accidentally touch the touch panel 201 . Such a case can also be considered as an example of the “touch operation”.

The touch panel 201 is of a capacitive type. In the capacitance method, a weak current generated by touching the touch panel 201 with a finger, that is, a change in capacitance (charge) is output as the signal. There are two types of the capacitive touch panel 201, a surface type and a projection type, and the internal structures are different.

A surface-type capacitive touch panel has a structure in which a transparent electrode film (conductive layer) is laid on a glass substrate and a protective cover is placed on the surface. For example, detection electrodes are arranged at the four corners of the glass substrate. A voltage is applied to the electrodes arranged at the four corners of the glass substrate to generate a uniform low-voltage electric field over the entire panel, and the change in capacitance when a finger touches the panel surface is arranged at the four corners. Then, the coordinates of the finger are specified and output as the signal.

A projected capacitive touch panel has a large number of transparent electrode layers arranged in a specific pattern on a substrate layer on which an arithmetic processing IC is mounted. ) is stacked. By bringing a finger close to the surface of the panel, the capacitance between the electrodes changes simultaneously. By measuring the ratio of these current amounts, the position (coordinates) of the finger is specified and output as the signal.

A capacitance value detection unit 203 detects a change in capacitance output from the touch panel 201 as a capacitance value.

The UI control unit 204 includes a touch position detection unit 206 , a touch area detection unit 207 , a touch area comparison unit 208 and a detection result output unit 209 and controls the operation unit 200 .

The touch position detection unit 206 detects a touch position representing the position where the touch operation on the touch panel 201 is performed based on the signal output from the touch panel 201 .

Based on the signal output from the touch panel 201 , the touch area detection unit 207 detects the touch area representing the area of the touch operation on the touch panel 201 . That is, the touch area detection unit 207 detects the touch area from the capacitance value detected by the capacitance value detection unit 203 .

As described above, the touch panel 201 included in the operation unit 200 is of the capacitive type. Therefore, based on the signal output from the touch panel 201, the touch area detection unit 207 detects the touch area indicating the area of the touch operation on the touch panel 201 as follows. That is, the touch area detection unit 207 detects, as the touch area, the maximum value of the capacitance values from when the finger, which is the operation object, touches the touch panel until it leaves the touch panel. In other words, the touch area detection unit 207 detects the maximum value of the capacitance value from when the capacitance value detected by the touch panel 201 starts to change until it returns to the capacitance value before the change. Detect as area. Here, the capacitance value detected as the touch area is not limited to the maximum value, and after the capacitance value detected by the touch panel 201 starts to change, the capacitance value returns to the value before the change. A predetermined value between up to can be set as appropriate.

The touch position detection unit 206 and the touch area detection unit 207 monitor the capacitance value output from the capacitance value detection unit 203, compare the capacitance value with a determination threshold, It is determined whether or not the capacitance value has been detected. That is, the touch position detection unit 206 and the touch area detection unit 207 detect an operation input (touch operation) on the touch panel 201 when the capacitance value output from the capacitance value detection unit 203 is equal to or greater than the determination threshold. I judge.

A storage unit 205 stores the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 .

The touch area comparison unit 208 compares the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 and the touch area already stored in the storage unit 205 . Then, the touch area comparison unit 208 determines execution of the job when the difference in the compared touch areas is within a predetermined range, and displays the liquid crystal 202 to execute the job when the difference is out of the predetermined range. View the image to confirm.

Note that, as described above, the configuration is not limited to calculating the difference between the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 and the touch area already stored in the storage unit 205 . For example, the value of the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 and the value of the touch area already stored in the storage unit 205 are compared with a predetermined threshold, and the magnitude relationship between the two is calculated from the difference value. I do not care. That is, the embodiment is not limited to the method of directly comparing the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 and the touch area already stored in the storage unit 205 .

If the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is not the position of the start key 21 , the UI control unit 204 stores the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 206 in the storage unit 205 . Further, when the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is the position of the start key 21, the UI control unit 204 compares the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 208 with the touch area already stored in the storage unit 205. to control job execution based on Control of this job will be described later.

If the difference in the touch areas thus compared is outside a predetermined range, the touch area comparison unit 208 included in the UI control unit 204 displays an image for confirming the execution of the job on the liquid crystal 202. An image including a selection key for selecting whether or not is displayed. Here, when the job execution is selected, the job is executed, and when the job is not executed is selected, the image before the job is determined is displayed.

The detection result output unit 209 transmits the result of comparison by the touch area comparison unit 208 to the main control unit 600 .

The main control unit 600 includes a CPU, RAM, and ROM (not shown), and controls the MFP 100 in an integrated manner. In particular, the main control unit 600 performs necessary image processing and compression/decompression processing on image data transferred from the document reading unit 102 and the image transmission/reception unit 220 . Further, the image data processed in this manner is transferred to the image forming unit 210 to issue a print instruction, or transferred to the image transmission/reception unit 220 to issue a facsimile transmission instruction. do. Execution of such processing is triggered by an input from the operation unit 200 or facsimile reception from the image transmission/reception unit 220 .

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the UI control unit 204 included in the operation unit 200 includes a touch position detection unit 206, a touch area detection unit 207, a touch area comparison unit 208, and a detection result output unit 209. The configuration is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The operation unit 200 may include the above-described touch position detection unit 206, touch area detection unit 207, touch area comparison unit 208, and detection result output unit 209, respectively.

Alternatively, the control described later (see FIG. 4) may be performed not by the UI control unit 204 of the operation unit 200 but by the main control unit 600 that controls the MFP 100 as a whole.

As described above, the operation unit 200 can be operated by touch input according to information displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal 202 . Here, the operation by the operation unit 200 will be described by exemplifying the operation when the user makes a copy.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are explanatory diagrams showing an operation example of the operation unit when executing a copy job. FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams showing the operation screen of the operation unit when executing a copy job and the contact area of the operation object on each screen. In the contact area near the operation object on each screen shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(d), black squares indicate the contact portion of the operation object with respect to the touch panel, and white squares indicate the non-contact portion. Although 6×6 grids are shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(d), this is only an example, and the grids may have any roughness.

The images shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D show the display image data transferred from the main control unit 600 to the operation unit 200 and displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal 202 of the operation unit 200. It is.

FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing when a mode is selected from the main menu. Here, a display example of an image including a key 22 for selecting copy mode, a key 23 for selecting facsimile mode, a key 24 for selecting scan mode, and the like is shown. FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which the copy mode is selected by the user's finger, which is an operation object.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing when setting the printing surface of the document. Here, an image including a key 25 for setting the orientation of the document, a key 26 for setting the printing side of the document (double-sided printing, single-sided printing), a key 27 for setting the print density, a key 28 for setting the type of the document, etc. is displayed. shows an example of display. FIG. 3B shows a state in which double-sided printing is selected by pressing the key 26 for setting the printing side of the document with the user's finger, which is an operation object.

FIG. 3(c) is a diagram for setting the number of sheets. FIG. 3(c) shows a state in which "1" of the numeric keypad 29 is selected by the user's finger, which is an operation object.

The operations on the screens shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C are performed by touching the touch panel with the user's finger (operation object). Therefore, the contact area (touch area) of the operation object on each screen shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C is 7 to 8 black squares. Here, the screen shown in FIG. 3A is an image that does not include the start key 21 for determining job execution, and the screens shown in FIGS. It is an image containing a key 21 . However, the operation of each screen shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c) is not the operation of the job determination position. That is, in each screen shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the position where the user's finger, which is the operation object, touches the touch panel 201 (the position where the touch operation is performed) is not the position of the start key 21. FIG. Therefore, in each screen shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the area (touch area) of the position where the user's finger, which is the operation object, touches the touch panel 201 is stored in the storage unit 205 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 3D is a diagram showing a case where the start key 21 for determining execution of a job is accidentally touched by the pen being dropped. On the screen shown in FIG. 3D, the touch panel 201 is operated with a pen tip that is thinner than the user's finger as an operation object. Therefore, the contact area (touch area) of the operation object on the screen shown in FIG. 3D is equivalent to three black squares.

In this way, by changing the operation article, a difference occurs in the contact area (the number of black squares) of the operation article on each screen. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, the contact area of the operation object shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C already stored in the storage unit 205 and the The touch area comparison unit 208 compares the contact areas of the operation objects shown in d). Then, if the difference between the compared areas is out of a predetermined range, for example, the copy job is stopped.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of control for detecting an erroneous operation at the time of job determination in the operation unit. The control shown in FIG. 4 is performed by the UI control unit 204 (see FIG. 2) included in the operation unit 200. FIG.

In this embodiment, the UI control unit 204 (see FIG. 2) included in the operation unit 200 detects an erroneous operation during job determination, but the present invention is not limited to this. The control unit of the image forming apparatus, that is, the main control unit 600 of the MFP may be configured to detect an erroneous operation when determining a job as described below. Alternatively, both the UI control unit 204 of the operation unit 200 and the main control unit 600 of the MFP 100 may be configured to detect an erroneous operation at the time of job determination, which will be described below.

After the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on, when a touch-on signal (touched) is detected by the operation unit 200 (S401), it is determined whether the detected position is the job determination position (S402). That is, the UI control unit 204 detects whether the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is the position of the start key 21 (see FIG. 3B) that determines execution of the job, which is the job determination position. . Here, if the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is the job determination position, the job is executed as it is (S408). On the other hand, if the position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is not the job determination position, the UI control unit 204 stores the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 in the storage unit 205 (S403).

After the touch area is stored in the storage unit 205, detection of the touch-on signal is prepared again (S404). When the touch-on signal is detected again within B seconds after the touch area is stored after the touch-on signal is detected in S401, it is determined whether the position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is the job determination position (S405). ). Here, if the position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is not the job determination position, the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 is stored again in the storage unit 205 (S403).

If no touch-on signal is detected again after B seconds have passed since the touch-on signal was detected in S401 after the touch area was stored, it is assumed that the operation was interrupted, and the storage unit 205 The stored memory data is erased (S409), and the process ends. That is, if the next touch operation is not performed even after a predetermined time B seconds have elapsed since the touch operation was performed on the touch panel 201, the touch area already stored in the storage unit 205 is deleted. After that, if the image forming apparatus is powered on, it prepares for touch-on detection again.

When the touch-on signal is detected again within B seconds after the contact area is stored (S405), if the position detected by the touch position detection unit 206 is the job determination position, the process proceeds to S406. That is, the touch area comparison unit 208 compares the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit 207 and the touch area already stored in the storage unit 205 (S406).

Then, if the difference in the compared areas is ±C% or less (S407), that is, if it is within a predetermined range, the touch area comparison unit 208 determines execution of the job (S408).

At this time, the result of this comparison is sent from the UI control section 204 of the operation section 200 to the main control section 600 . Then, the main control unit 600 selectively controls the image forming unit 210, the document reading unit 102, and the image transmitting/receiving unit 220 according to the sent result, and executes the job.

On the other hand, if the difference between the compared areas exceeds ±C% (S407), the touch area comparison unit 208 may display an image for confirming the execution of the job on the liquid crystal 202 of the operation unit 200 because there is a possibility of an erroneous operation. is popped up (S410). That is, if the difference in the compared areas is outside the predetermined range, the touch area comparison unit 208 pops up an image for confirming execution of the job on the liquid crystal 202 of the operation unit 200 .

Specifically, touch area comparison unit 208 displays an image including a selection key for selecting whether to execute the job on liquid crystal 202 of operation unit 200 as an image for confirming execution of the job. When the user selects to execute the job on the operation unit 200 (S411), the job is executed (S408). On the other hand, when the operation unit 200 selects not to execute the job (S411), it returns to the image before the job is determined (S412), and shifts to the detection of the touch-on signal (S404).

After executing the job (S408), the touch area data already stored in the storage unit 205 is erased (S409), and the process ends. After that, if the image forming apparatus is powered on, it prepares for touch-on detection again.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the contact area detected by the touch position detection unit 206 and the contact area stored in the storage unit 205 are compared in the MFP 100 including the operation unit 200 having the touch panel 201, An erroneous operation is detected from the difference between the compared areas. As a result, when an object other than an operation object accidentally touches the start key 21 of the operation unit 200, the difference between the compared areas is out of the predetermined range, so that the operation error is detected and the job execution due to the operation error is prevented. can be prevented.

In the above-described embodiment, the touch panel 201 is of a capacitive type and exemplifies a configuration in which a signal is output when an operation object is touched. It may be configured to output.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the touch panel 201 is of the capacitive type was exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. The touch panel 201 may be of a resistive film type. In this resistive film method, the position of the screen pressed with a finger or pen is detected by measuring the voltage change, and a signal is output. The internal structure of the resistive touch panel 201 is a structure in which a glass surface and a film surface on which transparent electrode films (conductive layers) are arranged are adhered with a small gap therebetween. When the surface of the film is pressed, the electrodes on the film side and the glass side come into contact with each other and electricity flows, and the variation in the voltage is detected as the position of the contact, that is, the position pressed with a finger or pen, and a signal is output.

Also, in the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus is a multi-function machine having a scanning function, a copying function, a printing function, and a facsimile function. That is, the image forming apparatus has an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium, a document reading section that reads an image of a document, and an image transmitting/receiving section that transmits/receives an image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus may include the image forming section, or an image forming apparatus including a document reading section or an image transmitting/receiving section in addition to the image forming section.

21 ... Start key 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 ... Key 29 ... Numeric keypad 100 ... MFP (image forming apparatus)
102 ... document reading unit 200 ... operation unit 201 ... touch panel 202 ... liquid crystal (display unit)
203 ... capacitance value detection unit 204 ... UI control unit 205 ... storage unit 206 ... touch position detection unit 207 ... touch area detection unit 208 ... touch area comparison unit 209 ... detection result output unit 210 ... image formation unit 220 ... image transmission/reception Part 600 ... main control part

Claims (7)

an operation unit having a display unit capable of displaying an image including a start key for determining execution of a job;
a touch position detection unit that detects a touch position indicating a position where a touch operation is performed on the touch panel unit based on a signal output from the touch panel unit;
a touch area detection unit that detects a touch area representing an area of a portion where a touch operation is performed on the touch panel unit, based on a signal output from the touch panel unit;
a storage unit that stores the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit;
When the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit is not the position of the start key, the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit is stored in the storage unit, and the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit is stored in the storage unit. is the position of the start key, a control unit that controls execution of the job based on the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit and the touch area already stored in the storage unit,
An image forming apparatus characterized by: The control unit comprises a touch area comparison unit that compares the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit and the touch area already stored in the storage unit,
When the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit is the position of the start key, the touch area comparison unit compares the touch area detected by the touch area detection unit and the touch area already stored in the storage unit. If the difference is within a predetermined range, execution of the job is determined, and if the difference is outside the predetermined range, an image for confirming execution of the job is displayed on the display unit.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: After the job is executed, or if the next touch operation is not performed within a predetermined time after the touch operation is performed on the touch panel, the image forming apparatus stores the touch area already stored in the storage unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is erased. When the difference in the compared touch areas is out of a predetermined range, the touch area comparison unit displays a selection key for selecting whether or not to execute the job as an image for confirming execution of the job on the display unit. and displaying an image containing the job, executing the job when a selection is made to execute the job, and returning to the image before the job is determined when a selection is made not to execute the job. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to item 2. an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium, a document reading unit for reading an image of a document, and an image transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting/receiving an image,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus executes the job by controlling the image forming unit, the document reading unit, or the image transmitting/receiving unit according to the determined job. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3. 6. A touch panel unit of said operation unit is of a capacitive type, and outputs as a signal a change in capacitance that occurs when a touch operation is performed on the touch panel unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of . When the touch position detection unit detects a touch position indicating a position where a touch operation is performed on the touch panel unit based on a signal output from the touch panel unit, the capacitance value detected by the touch panel unit 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the value is the maximum value of the capacitance value from when the change starts until the capacitance value returns to the value before the change.

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