JP3296090B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc., and more particularly to a user interface screen for setting and displaying operating conditions, and operating buttons displayed on this screen. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a remote (remote) input function in which operating conditions can be set by being determined by remote operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a great change in product development of an image forming apparatus, such as a multi-functionalization of one model and a multi-model having only a specific function due to diversification of social needs. For example, in a copying machine, multifunction and networking are progressing by changing from an analog processing method to a digital processing method. For this reason, the user interface (hereinafter, referred to as UI) has become complicated, and improvements have been made by combining a CRT and a touch panel so that many functions can be processed more easily. In the UI environment, the number of devices that can be operated with a remote control device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control) or a mouse is remarkably increased, and its convenience is a well-known fact. Those devices, for example, JP-A-3-266888
As proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10-209, operating conditions are set by pointing and selecting options displayed on a screen with a cursor.

[0003]

When the operating conditions can be set from both the device main body and the remote controller, it is preferable that the selection signals on the device main body and the remote controller be the same. This is because there is no need to distinguish between the two signals when processing the received signal, so that the processing is not complicated and can be simplified. However, if one of the signals is not desired to be received, for example, if the user wants to eliminate the confirmation signal on the remote controller while the cursor is turned off, there is a disadvantage that the user cannot distinguish the signals. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve operability in a UI (hereinafter referred to as a remote UI) when using a remote controller as described above by requesting prohibition of transmission of a confirmation signal on a side that the user does not want to receive. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a remote control function. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a remote control function for preventing an erroneous operation by inhibiting acceptance of a confirmation signal sent from a remote side where a cursor is not displayed. is there.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, operating conditions can be set by directly touching operation buttons displayed on a screen, And an image forming apparatus capable of remotely operating operation buttons, wherein remote input means for remotely inputting the operation conditions and a cursor for instructing the operation buttons are displayed on a screen, and the cursor is displayed or not displayed. A cursor display control means for controlling based on a cursor display control signal, and when detecting a confirmation signal input from the remote input means while the cursor is not displayed, inhibits the output of the confirmation signal or outputs a different signal. When a signal other than the confirmation signal is input, the confirmation signal inhibiting means for outputting the signal is provided, and the signal is output based on the output signal from the confirmation signal inhibiting means. Performs processing necessary for the control of the body, is configured to include a control means for outputting a cursor display control signal to the cursor display control means. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the cursor display control means to delete a cursor display when there is no input signal within a predetermined time. A signal is output. On the other hand, when there is an input signal while the cursor is not displayed, a cursor display control signal for displaying a cursor is output.

[0005]

According to the configuration of the first aspect, the operating condition can be set by either directly touching the operation button on the screen or moving the cursor to the operation button with the remote controller to confirm the operation. Therefore, restrictions on functions when using the remote controller are eliminated, and selectivity of operation is increased. Further, while the cursor is not displayed, the confirmation signal prohibiting means prohibits the reception of the confirmation signal from the remote controller or outputs a different signal, thereby preventing erroneous operation of the remote controller. Claim 2
According to the configuration described in (1), by deleting the cursor from the screen when the remote controller is not used, the operation on the touch panel by the cursor does not become difficult, and the operability is improved.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a function realizing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a UI device including a main body UI unit, a console panel unit (hereinafter, referred to as a control panel unit) and a remote controller, and a main control unit 101 that controls an image recording operation according to image recording conditions set by the UI device.
And a driving unit 102 for appropriately driving each device for performing image recording based on a command from the main control unit 101 to perform image recording processing.

The main body UI unit includes a display unit 103, a display driving unit 104, a unit 113 for processing data input / output with the control panel unit and the main control unit 101, and a display driving unit 104 based on a signal from the input / output processing unit. And display control means 114 for controlling The control panel section includes a main body operation switch group 105 and a main body input detecting means 106.
And a signal generated based on the signals from the control panel control unit and the receiving unit 108 to the main unit UI unit.
And a UI interface unit for receiving a control signal from the I unit.

The control panel control section includes a state change signal generating means 1
07 and a decision signal prohibiting means 109. The remote input means 120 constituting the remote control includes a remote control operation switch group 121, a remote control input detection means 122, a transmission means 1
23. The display device 103 displays image recording condition setting information and input information, and displays images of operation buttons (hereinafter referred to as soft buttons) and a cursor displayed on the screen. The display control means 114 is the display driving means 1
The control unit 04 controls screen display and cursor movement of the display device 103, and controls on / off of cursor display based on a cursor erasure or display command. The main body operation switch group 105 is used to turn on / off an operation button (hereinafter referred to as a hard button) arranged on the control panel and to display the display device 1.
03 is comprised of soft buttons configured by a touch panel.

The main body input detecting means 106 detects switch operation information of the main body operation switch group 105. The state change signal generating means 107 generates a signal indicating a state change of the switch when any one of the operation switches on the main body side and the remote control side is operated, and a signal indicating a rise of the switch when the switch is pressed. Is generated by the signal generating means 110, and a signal indicating the fall of the switch when the switch is released is output by the signal generating means 111.
Generated by The receiving unit 108 receives switch operation information of the remote control operation switch group 121 transmitted from the remote control. The confirmation signal prohibiting unit 109 outputs the switch operation signal to the state change signal generation unit 107 when the confirmation signal under the cursor display or the switch operation signal of the operation switch group is input from the reception unit 108. If the operation signal is a decision signal, a decision signal detecting means 112 for detecting the decision signal is provided. If the display control means 113 is not displaying the cursor, only the decision signal is output to the state change signal generating means 107. Ban.

The remote control operation switch group 121 has hard buttons equivalent to the hard buttons of the main body operation switch group, and has a joystick and an enter button as means for operating the soft buttons of the main body operation switch group. The confirm button determines the function of the soft button where the cursor is located by performing a push / release operation corresponding to the push or release of the soft button. Information operated by the remote control operation switch group 121 is detected by the remote control input detection unit 122 and transmitted from the transmission unit 123 to the reception unit 108 of the control panel unit. For data communication between the remote control and the control panel unit, for example, an infrared light emitting element is provided in the transmitting means, the switch operation information is modulated, this modulated signal is converted into light and transmitted from the light emitting element, and this is transmitted to the infrared receiving element of the receiving means. To receive.

With the above configuration, when the buttons of the operation switches 105 and 121 on the main body or the remote controller are pressed,
The switch operation signal is input to the state change signal generating means 107, and a signal indicating the start of the button is generated by the start signal generating means.
Is input to The input / output processing unit 113 recognizes a corresponding button function based on a button signal indicating startup. In the case of a hard button, it is determined from the recognition result whether information to be displayed on the display device, for example, numerical data such as the number of copies and copy density, is displayed. At the same time, the operation information is generated and sent to the main control unit 101. The main control unit 101 appropriately drives the driving unit 102 based on the operation information to perform an image forming operation.

In the case of a soft button, a button press operation on the main body or a confirm button press operation on the remote control side causes
The start-up signal of the touch panel signal is input / output processing means 113
Is input to Coordinate data indicating the position where the touch panel is pressed is periodically sent to the input / output processing means by means not shown, and the input / output processing means recognizes the function of the soft button based on the coordinate data and displays the data. The display density of the button is changed via the driving unit 104 to simulate the pressed state. Subsequently, in response to a button release signal from the main unit or a release button release signal when the release button is released from the remote control side, a signal representing the fall of the button is generated by the fall signal generation means of the state change signal generation means. The output is output to the input / output processing means 113. The input / output processing means determines the corresponding button function based on the coordinate information and the button signal indicating the fall, instructs the display driving means 104 to switch the display screen, and And / or outputs operation information corresponding to the button to main control means 101.

As described above, in the input / output processing means, when the hard button is pressed, that is, the start signal is used to determine the button function, when the soft button is pressed, that is, the display is changed by the start signal, and when the button is released, that is, when the button is released, the start signal is changed. Since the button function is determined by the down signal, comfortable operation is possible. When the remote control is not operated for a certain period of time or when the all clear button is pressed, the cursor display is deleted from the screen. Even if the confirm button 12 is pressed during the cursor display erasure, the state change signal generating means 1
07 is not output. When the joystick 11 is operated in a state where the cursor is not displayed, the cursor 31 is displayed again. That is, the cursor is displayed only when necessary. In this way, by deleting the cursor from the screen, it is possible to prevent the cursor from being disturbed by the operation on the touch panel. Also, when there is no cursor display, the control means does not operate even if the confirm button is pressed due to an erroneous operation, so that an unintended screen operation or setting is prevented.

Next, a copying machine to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the copying machine. In this embodiment, an automatic document feeder 2, a UI device 3, and a sorter 5 are combined with a copying machine main body 1. The copier main body 1 is provided with a platen glass on which an original is set on an upper surface, an exposure optical system, a marking system including a photosensitive material belt, a paper tray 6 containing various sizes of paper, or a large-capacity paper feeder below the platen glass. A paper transport system for transporting the paper supplied from the apparatus, and various devices of a control system for controlling these mechanisms and controlling between the mechanisms and the additional devices using a microprocessor are provided. Further, in order to realize various copying operations (jobs), an inverter for reversing the sheet feeding direction, a tray for double-sided copying used for performing double-sided copying, and the like are provided.

The UI device 3 includes a main body UI unit 4, a control panel unit, and a remote controller 10. A display unit incorporating a touch panel (not shown) for displaying various messages on an LCD as a display means or pressing a soft button displayed on the LCD is provided on the main body UI unit 4 and the control panel unit. 7, a hard button 8 for instructing a copying operation and setting a job, and a light receiving means 9 necessary for remote control operation by optical communication with a control panel are provided. The remote controller 10 includes means for operating soft buttons on the display unit and operation switches (hard buttons) equivalent to the hard buttons of the main body side operation switches as means for enabling the same operation as the control panel. Is transmitted to the control panel unit by optical communication.

With such a configuration, the mechanism of the copying machine is operated in accordance with the copying operation conditions set and instructed by the main body UI unit or the remote controller, and based on the image information read from the original sent by the original feeding device. After the image recording is performed on the sheet of the designated size supplied from the sheet tray, the sheet is discharged, and the sheet after the image formation is sorted by the sorter, for example. Next, the UI device will be described in more detail. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the soft button display screen. This operation screen includes a basic button (Basic) 21.
Is a basic screen 20 that is opened when is pressed. The operation screen also includes an application screen that opens when the application button (More) 22 is pressed and a special screen that opens when the special button (Special) is pressed. Since the operation of the soft buttons displayed on each screen is the same, only the soft buttons on the basic screen will be described here.

The basic button (Basic) 21 is a button for selecting a function required for basic copying. When the basic button 21 is pressed, a basic screen 20 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. In this example, a plurality of designation buttons are arranged in a row for each function as soft buttons displayed on the basic screen 20 in order to select various functions. That is, a paper designation button 24 for paper size selection (Paper Supply), a magnification designation button 25 for selecting reduction (Reduce) / enlargement (Enlarge) of image recording for a read document image, and a duplex copy designation for selecting double-sided copy A button 26, a copy quality designation button 27 for selecting a copy density adjustment (Copy Quality) in accordance with a copy density adjustment or a document image quality, and a copy output designation for selecting a paper (output paper) process (Copy Output) after image formation. A button 28 is provided.

Further, a pop-up menu for setting the selected function in detail by pressing the designation button is provided. This pop-up menu is opened by pressing a soft button in which the outline 29 of the pop-up screen is drawn on the upper right of the soft button shown in the figure. Reference numeral 30 denotes a message display unit for displaying a message,
Reference numeral 31 denotes a cursor for selecting and instructing a soft button by a remote control operation described later. Upon detecting that the touch panel has been pressed, the touch panel outputs the coordinate value of the pressed portion to a control panel control unit by a position detection unit (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the hard buttons on the control panel. The hard button 8 is used for instructing or setting a copying operation, and inputs a change in a switch state when the button is pressed. In this example, information button 4
1, meter check buttons 41 and 42, setting check button 43, password button 44, all clear button 45, interrupt button 46, start button 47, stop button 4
8, consisting of a numeric keypad 49. Further, a count / set display section 40 for displaying the count value of output paper after image formation and the set number of copies is provided.

The information button 41 displays a screen explaining the setting method of each function. The meter confirmation button will bring up a screen displaying the total number of copies. The password button brings up a screen for entering a password for limiting who can use the copier. Numeric key P
The button is a button for registering and calling for setting the next operation condition during the copy operation. The setting confirmation is a function for displaying the contents of the setting up to that time.
When the setting confirmation button 43 is pressed, functions such as copy density, sorter, and double-sided copy are simultaneously displayed on the LCD.

All clear is a function of canceling all the settings and returning the copying machine to the standby (initial) state. When the all clear button 45 is pressed, the all is cleared at that point and the initial screen is displayed. . What is an interrupt?
This function saves the currently executed job conditions and results, temporarily suspends the job, and enables execution of a new job. When the interrupt button 46 is pressed, the interrupting lamp (LE
D) is turned on to enable setting and execution of an interrupt job. The start button 40 is used to start or continue copying. The stop button 41 is used when the copying operation is stopped halfway.

The remote controller 10 comprises an operation section and a transmission module 13 for transmitting operation information to a control panel section of the main body.
The operation unit of the remote control 10 includes the same hard buttons 141 to 149 as the control panel and the LC
A joystick 11 for operating a cursor 31 displayed on D and an enter button 12 for finalizing the operation of the joystick 11 are provided. The switch state of the enter button 12 is changed by pressing the joystick 11 from above, and this signal is sent to the control panel. The functions of the hard buttons 141 to 149 on the remote control side are exactly the same as those of the hard buttons 41 to 49 on the control panel. Information operated on the remote control side is
It is sent to the light receiving section 9 of the I device. The remote UI of the copier using the remote controller will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The receiving module 14 is connected to the UI interface 52 of the control panel by the connector 15. Information sent from the transmission module 13 configured as the remote control 10 is transmitted to the light receiving unit 9.
And is input to the receiving module 14 by serial communication. This remote UI can be selectively connected to the control panel according to the configuration of the copying machine.

The cursor 31 displays the four images (A) to (D) shown in FIG. 7 by appropriately switching them so that the cursor can be pointed at any position on the screen. Cursor 31
Is defined as a sensing area 17 designated by the cursor within a range (or a point) corresponding to the tip (arrow) of the cursor 31 within the range of the cursor image 16 for displaying. The setting of the sensing area 17 and the cursor image 16 is performed in the input / output processing unit 61 of the main body UI unit. A cursor sensing area 1 is provided in the UI interface.
There are provided two counters (not shown) each representing (X, Y) coordinates on the display screen on which the position 7 is located. While the joystick is being pressed, the corresponding counters correspond to the direction in which the joystick is being pressed. Addition or subtraction is performed at predetermined intervals. The values of both counters are determined by the joystick signal.
Since the coordinate value data of the cursor is taken into the input / output processing unit of the main body UI unit and displayed by the object display determining unit 63 and the display control unit 64, the display position of the cursor is displayed on the display screen according to the operation of the joystick. And can be moved freely.

Accordingly, the direction of the cursor is changed by switching the cursor, and at the same time, the sensing area 17 also changes to the upper left, upper right, lower right, and lower left in the cursor image 16 as shown in the figure. The tip of the cursor corresponds to the tip of the index finger of the hand-shaped cursor displayed as a transparent (skeleton) type cursor in FIG. Switching of the cursor image is performed when the cursor moves to the outer edge of the LCD screen as shown in FIG. This cursor switching is performed by the object display determination unit 63 of the main body UI unit.
This is the time when the value of the cursor coordinates reaches a predetermined value, that is, when the side of the cursor image 16 reaches the effective range of the display device. FIG.
Indicates switching of the cursor, for example, the currently displayed cursor (C) moves upward on the LCD screen,
When the sensing area 17 reaches a position at a predetermined distance from the upper limit of the effective range of the cursor, that is, when the outer edge of the cursor image area hits the upper side of the LCD screen, the direction of the cursor is reversed and the cursor is switched to the cursor (B). . By changing the cursor in this way, the cursor's sensing range can be changed to LC
It can be extended to every corner of the D screen, increasing the degree of freedom in designing soft buttons.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a button press / release detection operation. If at least one of the buttons on the control panel and the remote control is not pressed at the same time, as shown in the figure, for example, when the A button on the control panel is pressed first, the UI interface 52 Detects the press of the A button ((1) in the figure), generates a start signal of the A button, and sends the signal to the main body UI unit. If another button is already being operated when a new button is operated, the two buttons are compared, and if a button with the same function is being operated, generation of a start / fall signal is prohibited. This allows an operation of simultaneously pressing a plurality of different buttons to shift to the maintenance mode. Therefore, even if the A button on the control panel is repeatedly released / pressed while the A button on the remote controller is pressed as shown in the figure, the release of the A button is not detected. Since the A button on the control panel is not pressed when the A button on the remote control is released, the release of the A button is detected ((2) in the figure), a fall signal is generated, and sent to the main unit UI. . That is, when both A buttons are released, release detection is performed.

As described above, the UI interface unit 52
Transmits the same detection data to the main body UI unit by pressing / releasing the same button on the control panel or the remote control, so that the input / output processing unit 61 of the main body UI unit is a hard button on the remote control There is no need to be aware of whether the button is a hard button, and processing can be performed by the same input / output processing unit. Although the signal for detecting that the touch panel is pressed and the confirmation signal from the remote controller are different, the UI interface unit 52 also outputs the signal as a touch panel signal. UI interface unit 52
Then, based on these signals, a center coordinate detecting means (not shown) calculates a coordinate value substantially at the center from a rectangular area including both the coordinates indicating the pressed portion of the touch panel and the coordinates of the cursor, based on the coordinate values indicating the pressed portion of the touch panel. Then, the function of the soft button is identified based on the calculated coordinate value.

In the control panel control section 51, the touch panel is scanned periodically, and each of the X,
The maximum and minimum values of the Y coordinate, that is, the coordinate values (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) (X ₂ , Y ₂ ) of _two diagonal points of the minimum rectangular area including the pressed portion are generated. These coordinate values are written and updated in a coordinate point register of the touch panel provided in the UI interface unit 52 every time the touch panel is scanned. Also, UI to the interface unit, is provided a counter for updating the X ₃ and / or Y ₃ performs counting operation in response to the joystick of the operation represents the coordinates of the cursor remote control, the value of the counter by decision button signal Are stored in the register as cursor fixed coordinates (X ₃ , Y ₃ ).

The center coordinate detecting means obtains the maximum / minimum value for each of the X and Y coordinates in synchronization with the scanning of the touch panel, that is, the minimum rectangular area including these three coordinate points. It is output to the input processing unit 61 of the main body UI unit as coordinate point information. If the touch panel is not pressed, control panel controller outputs _{(X 1, Y 1) (} X 2, Y 2) a specific value, for example, as (0,0) (0,0), whereas, the object display When the determination unit determines that the touch button is not pressed or that the cursor is not displayed, and inputs a cursor non-display instruction from the output processing unit 62, the cursor coordinate values (X ₃ , Y ₃ ) are similarly specified. The value is set to, for example, (0, 0). It is desirable that these specific values be coordinate values outside the display area.

The center coordinate detecting means determines whether each coordinate value is a predetermined specific value (for example, a position inside or outside the display area), and if the specific value is a specific value, ignores the coordinate value. Accordingly, even when the touch panel is not pressed or the cursor is not displayed, the position of the designated soft button can be correctly recognized. Also, when the enter button on the touch panel and the remote control are pressed at the same time, both instructions are enabled, so there is no need to set switching means and priorities, and multiple people can operate in the same way. Can be used for In addition, since the software button is recognized using a coordinate point substantially at the center of an area formed by both coordinate points without giving priority to either one, for example, a copy zoom magnification or a copy density on a touch panel is used. If you press and hold the soft button and increase or decrease the magnification or density in analog fashion, even if a different cursor position is erroneously entered with the enter button on the remote control and the instruction of the soft button changes temporarily, At the time when the decision button on the remote control is released, the operation can be returned to the soft button designated on the original touch panel, so that the operation is not interrupted.

The remote controller 10 receives an operation switch group, a joystick, and an enter button that have been pressed alone, transmits a signal indicating the button function when the button is pressed, and operates while the button is pressed. A continuation signal is transmitted at a predetermined cycle. Therefore, if the remote control is moved from the inside of the infrared detection range to the outside of the infrared detection range while the hard button on the remote control is pressed, it is determined that the hard button has been released because a continuation signal cannot be received. If the hard button on the remote control is pressed and enters the range from outside the infrared detection range, the signal indicating the first button function is not received, so that it is not depressed.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a touch panel press detection operation. When the area of the touch panel on the control panel and the area of the touch panel where the cursor is positioned by the remote control (the state of pressing the confirm button) is set as an OR condition, different center coordinates, that is, the area information is different when these areas are detected or those areas are changed. It is sent to the input / output processing unit 61 of the UI unit. As shown in the figure, for example, when an area (A) on the touch panel on the control panel is pressed, the UI interface detects the coordinates of the area (A) and sends the center coordinates to the main body UI. When the enter button on the remote controller is pressed in the area (B) while the touch panel is kept pressed, the center coordinates of the area (A) + (B) are sent at this time, but when the enter button is released, the area (A) is released. Send the center coordinates of. Similarly, when the enter button is pressed in the area (C), the center coordinates of the area (A) + (C) are sent. After that, when the touch panel on the control panel is released while pressing the enter button, the center coordinates of the area (C) on the remote controller become valid and are sent. That is, if the other is pressed when one is released, the soft button in the pressed area is detected.

Here, when the coordinate position is moved while the touch panel is being pressed, the input / output processing unit periodically takes in the coordinate position while the touch panel signal continues, and recognizes the soft button at each cycle. In this case, the state in which the corresponding soft button is depressed is displayed in a simulated manner, and the depressed soft button that is no longer applicable is restored. For this reason, a target soft button can be selected while moving the finger while sliding it, and even a small soft button can be selected without error, so that operability is good. Note that the remote controller itself cannot transmit two or more signals at the same time, so even if you move the joystick while pressing the confirm button, you cannot move the currently detected area with the remote controller. Can be provided if the transmission channels are separately provided separately.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a touch panel release detecting operation. When touch panel detection is performed by at least one of the control panel and the remote control, release detection is performed when there is no touch panel detection area on the control panel and no touch panel detection area on the remote control, that is, when the enter button is released. Then, a touch panel release detection signal is sent to the main body UI unit.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the operation of prohibiting / permitting reception of the touch panel. The object display determination unit of the main body UI unit receives the initial state setting signal from the main control device and determines whether the input processing unit 61 has the UI interface unit 5.
If no operation signal is input for a predetermined period from 2, the main unit UI
A cursor control signal is output to the control unit, and the display control unit of the main body UI unit issues a request to the control panel control unit to prohibit cursor detection by the remote control (prohibition of detection of a fixed signal), and causes the cursor to be initialized and the cursor to be initialized. Is set to a predetermined value. When the input processing unit 61 of the main body UI unit receives the cursor operation signal, the object display determination unit sends a cursor detection permission signal from the output processing unit 62 to the UI interface unit 52, and the display control unit displays the cursor and the remote control. The input of the confirmation signal from is permitted. By tilting the joystick in either direction, the joystick signal is received and the movement of the cursor is controlled.

FIG. 13 shows a hardware configuration of a control system of the remote UI. The control system of the remote UI includes a remote control transmission module 13, a control panel unit 50, and a main body UI unit 60.
Consists of The main body UI section 60 is a main control section (SYS) of the copier main body (M / C) 1 according to the setting of the copy operation condition.
And an input processing unit 61 for receiving a control signal relating to display at the time of a warning (warning) at the time of a trouble (fault) or failure and at the time of copying operation (M / C running) from the SYS. Have. Here, the configuration of the control system of the remote UI will be described.

The remote control transmission module 13 is built in the remote control 10 and optically modulates the operation signals of the hard buttons and the joystick on the remote control side, and transmits the modulated signals by infrared light emitting elements. The control panel unit 50 receives the optical modulation signal transmitted from the remote control transmission module 13 by a light receiving element, scans the remote control reception module 14 for demodulation, the state of the hard buttons and the soft buttons of the control panel, and converts the signal of the corresponding button function. A 7-segment LED of a set number and a count number as data between the remote controller 10, the control panel control unit 51, and the main body UI unit 60 for outputting and also performing processing for displaying count / set information on the control panel. In addition to the exchange of the display information and the LED display information such as the interrupt, the signal from the remote control and the control panel is received, and the rise / fall of the signal of the button function is performed.
It comprises a UI interface 52 for performing a process of prohibiting falling information and a decision signal. Here, the UI interface 52 generates a function of converting the control information demodulated by the receiving module 14 into data that can be processed by the main body UI unit and coordinate information of the cursor, and also calculates a center coordinate value with an area designated by the touch panel. It also has the function of generating

The main body UI unit 60 comprises an input processing unit 61, an output processing unit 62, an object display determining unit 63, and a display control unit 64. The input processing unit 61 analyzes information from the control panel unit and converts it into internal information, identifies the function of the soft button based on the central coordinate data, and outputs it to the object display determination unit and the main control device. Also, U
This is detected when no signal is input from the I interface for a predetermined period. The output processing unit 62 converts the internal information into data to be transmitted to the control panel unit and transmits the data. The object display determination unit 63 determines whether or not to display a cursor or another picture or character on the screen based on information from the input processing unit. The display control unit 64 uses a graphic controller to generate a signal for displaying pictures and characters on the LCD screen, and controls a display driving unit.

Next, the processing of the control system of the remote UI will be described. FIG. 14 shows the flow of processing of the remote control transmission module. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the control information from the remote controller to the main body UI is sent every 108 ms. The timer count operation is started (S100), and it is determined whether the timer count value has passed 108 ms (S10).
1). Here, the operation switch group of the remote controller 10 every 108 ms (hard button, confirm button, hereinafter referred to as key)
And transmits the code information (control information) to the remote control receiving module. That is, when the timer count value has elapsed for 108 ms (S101),
It is determined whether a new key has been pressed (S102), and if it has been pressed, a key code is transmitted to the remote control receiving module (S103). If the key has not been pressed, it is determined whether the previously detected key has been pressed (S104). If the key has been pressed, a "continue to hold" code is transmitted to the remote control receiving module (S105). On the other hand, if it is not pressed, the process returns to step 100 for the next key operation.

FIG. 15 shows a processing flow of the remote control receiving module. It is determined whether there is received data from the remote control transmission module (S110). Step 1 in FIG.
In step S111, it is determined whether the received data is a key code, that is, a key code is received.
The monitoring timer is started (S112), and the "pressed" information is transmitted to the control panel controller (S113). In step 110, if there is no received data, it is determined whether the "hold down" monitoring timer has timed out (S114).
If not, the process returns to step 110. If the time-out occurs, the information of "released" is transmitted to the control panel controller (S115). If there is received data, if the data is not a key code, that is, if a key code is received, the "press and hold" monitoring timer is restarted (S116) and the process returns to step 110. Here, restart means restarting the monitoring timer (timer stop →
Timer start). If the restart of the monitoring timer is not performed, the timer times out, and the released process is executed despite being pressed.

FIG. 16 shows the flow of the decision key receiving process and the touch panel detecting process of the UI interface unit.
It is determined that the enter key press information has been received (S120). If the enter key press information has not been received, the process proceeds to the touch panel (soft button) detection described below. When the confirmation key information is received, it is determined whether or not the confirmation key is in the permission mode, that is, whether or not the confirmation key can be output (S12).
2). When the cursor is not displayed, the processing of the confirm button on the remote controller is not performed.

On the other hand, when the enter key is in the permission mode, a state where the touch panel at the current cursor coordinate position is pressed is created in a simulated manner (S122). Then, it is determined whether or not the actual touch panel is touched (S123). If the touch panel is touched, both areas are set as one area, and the main body UI is set.
Unit as touch panel detection data (S12
4). If the touch panel is not touched, only the touch panel information at the cursor coordinate position is transmitted to the main body UI unit as touch panel detection data (S125). By this processing, troubles due to simultaneous pressing can be prevented.

If it is determined in step S120 that the confirmation key has not been received, it is determined that the touch panel has been detected (S12).
6). If there is no detection on the touch panel, go to joystick detection. If the touch panel is detected, it is determined whether or not the enter key is kept pressed (S127). If the enter key is pressed, both areas are set as one area and transmitted to the main body UI unit as touch panel detection data (S128). . When the enter key is released, the detected touch panel information is transmitted to the main body UI unit as touch panel detection data (S129). By this processing, when the pressing of the enter key is operated before touching the touch panel, the enter key information is validated.

FIG. 17 shows the flow of the joystick detection process. In the process shown in FIG. 16, when there is no touch panel detection, the joystick operation is determined. That is,
It is determined whether a joystick signal has been received (S13).
0) If it is received, a new cursor coordinate position is calculated based on the joystick signal and the current cursor coordinate position (S131), and cursor coordinate position data is transmitted to the main body UI unit (S132). After that, the processing moves to the processing in FIG.

If no joystick signal has been received, it is determined whether a hard key has been received on the remote controller or a press of a hard key on the control panel has been detected (S133, S13).
9). If the hard key on the remote control is operated, it is determined whether the hard key is pressed or released (S134). When the hard key press is detected, it is determined whether or not the same button on the control panel is pressed (S135). When the same button is pressed, the process proceeds to the processing in FIG. When the button is not pressed, the button detection data of the corresponding button is transmitted to the main body UI unit (S
138), and then proceed to the processing in FIG. In step 134, when the release of the hard key on the remote controller side is detected, it is determined whether the same button on the control panel is pressed (S13).
7) If it is pressed, the process proceeds to the process of FIG. If the same button on the control panel is not pressed, release detection data of the corresponding button is transmitted to the main body UI unit (S138), and the process proceeds to the processing in FIG.

In step 133, if there is no reception of the hard key on the remote controller side, it is determined whether the hard key on the control panel is pressed or released (S139, S142). When a hard key press on the control panel is detected, it is determined whether or not the same button on the remote controller has been pressed (S140). If the same button has been pressed, the process proceeds to the process in FIG. If the button has not been pressed, the button detection data of the corresponding button is transmitted to the main body UI unit (S141), and the routine proceeds to the processing in FIG. Step 142
When there is no hard key release detection on the control panel side, release detection of the enter key (S145) and release detection of the touch panel (S147) are performed, and when these release are detected, the release detection data of the touch panel is transmitted to the main body UI unit. (S146, 148). In step 147,
When there is no detection of separation of the touch panel, that is, when no operation is performed on either the remote controller side or the control panel side, the processing shifts to the processing in FIG. 16, but this processing is repeated unless the next operation is performed. In step 142, when the release of the hard key on the control panel side is detected, it is determined whether or not the same button on the remote controller is pressed (S143). If the same button is pressed, the process proceeds to the processing in FIG. If the same button on the remote controller has not been pressed, the release detection data of the corresponding button is transmitted to the main body UI unit (S144), and the routine proceeds to the processing in FIG.

FIG. 18 shows a processing flow of the main body UI unit.
In the main body UI unit, processes such as cursor display control, setting of a copy operation based on touch panel data and hard button data, and prohibition of accepting a decision key when deleting the cursor are performed based on the information transmitted by the above-described processes. First, it is determined whether cursor coordinate reception, touch panel data reception, and hard button data reception are performed (S150, S153, S15).
6). When the cursor coordinates are received, the cursor is displayed on the screen (S151), and a confirmation key acceptance permission request is transmitted to the control panel unit (S152). Upon receiving the touch panel data, it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding soft button (S15).
4) If not, return to step 150. If there is a corresponding soft button, a copy operation condition corresponding to the button is set (S155).

When the hard button data is received, a copy operation condition corresponding to the button is set (S157). Then, the operation of the all clear button is determined (S15).
8) If not pressed, return to step 150. When the all clear button is pressed, the cursor display is deleted (S159), the cursor coordinate position is initialized (S160), and a confirmation key acceptance prohibition request is transmitted to the control panel unit (S161). When all the receiving processes are completed, the cursor display and related processes are executed. That is, when a certain time has elapsed since the last copy operation condition setting (S
162), the cursor display is deleted (S163), the cursor coordinate position is initialized (S164), and a confirmation key acceptance prohibition request is transmitted to the control panel unit (S165).

FIG. 19 shows the flow of processing for each request for prohibition of acceptance of the decision key, permission of the decision key, and LED control sent to the control panel unit. The control panel unit determines whether any of the requests for prohibition of acceptance of the decision key, permission of the decision key, and LED control has been received (S170, 172, 174), and executes processing for each of the requests. That is, if there is a confirmation key acceptance prohibition request, the confirmation key acceptance prohibition mode is set (S
171). If there is a confirmation key prohibition request, the confirmation key acceptance permission mode is set (S172). If there is an LED control request, the LED is controlled (S175). As described above, the cursor is erased from the LCD screen when the next operation is not performed within a predetermined time after the all clear button is pressed or set. The redisplay of the cursor is performed by touching the joystick on the condition of the received joystick signal. Also, while the cursor is being deleted, the acceptance of the enter key is prohibited.
The processing of the I section is not performed.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the cursor from being fixedly selected while the cursor is not displayed, thereby improving the operability by eliminating user operation errors. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a function realizing unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a screen configuration of a display unit of a main body UI.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a hard button.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a remote control operation unit.

FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram of a remote UI of the copying machine.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a cursor image display.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of switching of cursor image display on the LCD screen.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a press / release detection operation of a hard button.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a touch detection operation of the touch panel.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a separation detection operation of the touch panel.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a reception prohibition / permission operation of the touch panel.

FIG. 13 is a hardware configuration diagram of a remote UI.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a remote control transmission module.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a remote control receiving module.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a UI interface unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a joystick detection processing flow.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of a main body UI unit.

FIG. 19: Confirmation key acceptance prohibited, Confirmation key permitted, LED
It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the control part part with respect to each request of control.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine main body, 2 ... Automatic original feeder, 3 ... UI apparatus, 4 ... Main body UI part, 5 ... Sorter, 6 ... Paper tray, 7
... Display unit, 8 ... Hard button on the control panel, 9 ... Light receiving means, 10 ... Remote control, 11 ... Joy tech, 12 ... Confirm button, 13 ... Transmission module, 14 ... Reception module, 20 ... Display screen, 21-28 ... Software Button, 31
… Cursors, 41-49… Hard buttons on the control panel, 5
0: control panel section, 51: control panel control section, 52: UI interface section, 60: main body UI section, 61: input processing section, 62: output processing section, 63: object display determination section, 64: display control section, 100: Image forming apparatus 101
... Control means, 102 ... Drive means, 103 ... Display device, 1
04: display driving means, 105: body operation switch group, 1
06 ... body input detecting means, 107 ... state change signal generating means, 108 ... receiving means, 109 ... fixed signal inhibiting means, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Start signal generation means, 111 ... Fall signal generation means, 112 ... Confirmation signal detection means, 113 ... Input / output processing part, 114 ... Display control means, 120 ... Remote input means, 121 ... Remote control operation switch group, 122 ... Remote control input detection means, 123 ... Transmission means, 141-149 ...
Hard button on remote control

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which operating conditions can be set by directly touching operation buttons displayed on a screen, and remote operation of the operation buttons is enabled. Remote input means, a cursor for instructing the operation button is displayed on a screen, and cursor display control means for controlling display or non-display of the cursor based on a cursor display control signal; A detection signal prohibiting unit that prohibits the output of the confirmation signal or outputs a different signal when a confirmation signal input from the remote input unit is detected, and outputs a signal when a signal other than the confirmation signal is input. Performing processing necessary for controlling the apparatus main body based on the output signal from the confirmation signal prohibiting means, and changing the cursor display control signal to the An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for outputting the Sol display control means. 2. The control means outputs to the cursor display control means a cursor display control signal for erasing a cursor display when there is no input signal within a predetermined time, while receiving an input signal while the cursor is not displayed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cursor display control signal for displaying a cursor is output when the image is displayed.