JP3603834B2 - Communication terminal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication terminal device equipped with an operation device operated by a user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an LCD with a backlight has been used as a display means in an operation device. With conventional backlight-equipped LCDs, the display contents could not be referenced if the backlight was turned off. Recently, LCDs that can display the LCD display contents even when the backlight is turned off have been developed and used. Have been.
[0003]
On the other hand, power saving is being promoted in various devices, and the backlight of the LCD is also targeted for power saving, and various controls for power saving are being performed. As one of them, a control is generally performed such that the backlight is turned off if no operation is performed until a predetermined time has elapsed since the last operation by the user.
[0004]
However, some operations performed by the user do not require user operation after the operation. Conventionally, even in such a case, the backlight of the LCD remains lit until a predetermined time elapses, which wastes power.
[0005]
Further, when no user operation is required after a certain operation as described above, conventionally, there has been no means for informing the user of the fact. Therefore, even after a series of operations is completed, some users may try to perform further operations or actually operate and cause an error, resulting in poor operability.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a communication terminal device with further reduced power consumption and improved operability.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in a communication terminal device having at least a communication function with an external device, an operation unit for receiving an operation from a user, an LCD display unit with a backlight, and a user operation on the operation unit are unnecessary. At this point, if the backlight of the LCD display means is turned on, it is turned off to perform image transmission processing, and after the processing is completed, control means for controlling the backlight to be turned off until a key operation is performed. It is characterized by having.
[0008]
As described above, in the present invention, the backlight of the LCD is turned off when the user operation becomes unnecessary, so that the power consumption of the backlight which is turned on even after the operation becomes unnecessary as in the related art is reduced. It is possible to reduce. Further, by turning off the backlight of the LCD, it is possible to inform the user that the subsequent operation is unnecessary. Therefore, the user can know the end of a series of operations by turning off the backlight, and can improve the operability of the user.
[0009]
Note that when the user operation becomes unnecessary, for example, in the communication terminal device, the user operates the start key, for example, to return to the idle state from the time when the user instructs to start transmission or a call or from various setting functions. And so on.
[0010]
The control unit further includes a reading unit for reading the image and a recording unit for forming the image on the recording paper. When the operation unit detects that the start of the copy function or the scanner function is operated, the control unit controls the back of the LCD display unit. If the light is on, it can be controlled so that the light is turned off to perform the copy process or the scanner process, and the backlight is turned off even after the process is completed.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a communication terminal device of the present invention including one embodiment of an operating device of the present invention. In the drawing, 11 is a main control unit, 12 is a display unit, 13 is an LCD, 14 is a backlight, 15 is an operation unit, 16 is a reading unit, 17 is a recording unit, 18 is a PC interface, 19 is a communication unit, and 20 is a communication unit. NCU, 21 is a modem, 22 is an image memory, 23 is a RAM, 24 is a ROM, and 25 is a bus.
[0012]
The main control unit 11 controls the entire apparatus and operates each unit to realize an image transmission / reception function, a copy function, or a scanner function or a printer function. In addition, at the time of an image transmission function, a copy function, a scanner function, or at the time of various settings, processing according to the operation of the operation unit 15 by the user is performed, and the display unit 12 is controlled to provide various information to the user. provide. At this time, lighting of the backlight 14 of the LCD 13 provided in the display unit 12 is controlled. In particular, control is performed such that the backlight 14 is turned on during a period in which the user needs to operate the operation unit 15, and the backlight 14 is turned off when the operation from the operation unit 15 becomes unnecessary. For example, the backlight 14 is turned on when the user performs any operation on the operation unit 15, and the image transmission function starts transmission, the copy function starts copying, and the scanner function starts reading. In the case of other various settings, the backlight 14 is turned off when the setting is completed and the state returns to the idle state. After the start of transmission, the start of copying, the start of reading, the setting, and the return to the idle state, no user operation is required. Therefore, by turning off the backlight 14, it is possible to inform the user that no further operation is necessary. In addition, the power consumption can be further reduced by turning off the backlight 14 at an early stage. Note that the user does not need to perform any operation during the printer function or the image receiving function, so the backlight 14 is not turned on to execute these functions.
[0013]
The display unit 12 can display various information such as a message to the user, a message indicating the state of the apparatus, and operation guidance. The display unit 12 includes an LCD 13, and various information is displayed by the LCD 13 under the control of the main control unit 11. The LCD 13 is constituted by, for example, a reflective LCD, and a user can refer to display contents regardless of the presence or absence of the backlight 14. The backlight 14 is provided on the rear surface of the LCD 13 or on the periphery of the rear surface, and the main control unit 11 performs lighting control. When the backlight 14 is turned on, the amount of light transmitted through the LCD 13 is increased, so that the display on the LCD 13 can be easily viewed.
[0014]
The operation unit 15 is used when the user performs various settings and instructions. For example, a selection key for selecting an image transmission function or a copy function, a start key for giving an instruction to execute the selected function, and the like are provided.
[0015]
The reading unit 16 reads an image on a document at the time of image transmission, a copy function, and a scanner function. The reading unit 16 can be composed of various image input devices such as an image scanner and a digital camera. The recording unit 17 stores an image received by the image receiving function, an image read by the reading unit 16 in the copy function, and an image such as recording information sent from an external device such as a computer via the PC interface 18 in the printer function. Formed on recording paper. As a recording method, for example, various methods such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, a heat-sensitive or thermal transfer method can be adopted.
[0016]
The PC interface 18 is connected to an external device such as a computer, and exchanges information. For example, at the time of the scanner function, the image read by the reading unit 16 is transferred to an external device under the control of the main control unit 11. In addition, during the printer function, under the control of the main control unit 11, information to be recorded by the recording unit 17 sent from an external device is received. In addition, it is also possible to receive information to be transmitted by the image transmission function or to transfer an image received by the image reception function to an external device. The standard of the interface is arbitrary, and various serial and parallel interfaces including wired, wireless, optical, infrared and the like can be used. Of course, a configuration in which an external device such as a computer is connected via a LAN by a LAN interface may be used.
[0017]
The communication unit 19 performs communication with an external device via, for example, a public line. The NCU 20 controls lines and the like. The modem 21 modulates and demodulates image data to be transmitted and received.
[0018]
The image memory 22 stores image data to be transmitted, received image data, image data read by the reading unit 16, image data to be recorded by the recording unit 17, image data being processed, and the like. The RAM 23 is used when it is necessary to store data in the processing of the main control unit 11 and other units. The ROM 24 stores a program that defines the operation of the main control unit 11, fixed data, and the like.
[0019]
The bus 25 includes a main control unit 11, a display unit 12 (LCD 13, backlight 14), an operation unit 15, a reading unit 16, a recording unit 17, a PC interface 18, a communication unit 19 (NCU 20, modem 21), an image memory 22, The RAM 23, the ROM 24, and the like are connected to each other to enable data transfer between them. Of course, in addition to these, various devices such as an external storage device and various other interfaces may be connected to the bus 25.
[0020]
In the configuration described above, the lighting control of the backlight 14 provided in the display unit 12 is performed by the main control unit 11. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a controller separately provided in the display unit 12 may be used. The lighting control of the backlight 14 may be performed.
[0021]
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are flowcharts showing an example of an operation at the time of a user's operation input in one embodiment of the communication terminal device of the present invention. As an initial state, the backlight 14 of the display unit 12 is turned off in S31. In S32, it is determined whether or not the user has performed any key operation on the operation unit 15, and if the user has performed any key operation, the backlight 14 is turned on in S33. Then, a process corresponding to the key operated for each function to be used is performed.
[0022]
If the key operation has not been performed, an incoming call to the communication unit 19 is detected in S61 to execute the image receiving function, or a print function request from an external device via the PC interface 18 or reading by the scanner function is performed. It is determined whether there is a request to take out an image. If these requests or incoming calls are received, in step S62, execution of the process of extracting the read image by the image receiving function, the printing function, or the scanner function is started. At this time, if the backlight 14 is off, the process is executed as it is. Further, when the backlight 14 is turned on while the user is operating, the backlight 14 is turned on as it is, and is not turned off. After the start of image retrieval by the image receiving function, the print function, or the scanner function, the process returns to S32 to continue monitoring key operations.
[0023]
Further, if there is no key operation and there is no request for the image receiving function and print function due to an incoming call, in this example, it is determined whether or not the backlight 14 is turned on in S63. Then, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the backlight 14 was turned on. If a predetermined period of time has elapsed without any operation since the backlight 14 was turned on, the user may have left during the operation, for example. 14 is turned off. If the user does not perform an operation even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the operation may be reset at the same timing as when the backlight 14 is turned off or at another timing. When it is determined in S63 that the backlight is turned off, when it is determined in S64 that it is within the predetermined time, and after the backlight 14 is turned off in S65, the process returns to S32 to continue monitoring key operations.
[0024]
After the key operation is performed and the backlight 14 is turned on in S33, it is determined whether the function to be used is the image transmission function in S34, the copy function in S39, or the scanner function in S44 to use. It is determined whether the function is an image transmission function, a copy function, a scanner function, or another registration setting. Then, a process corresponding to the key operated for each function to be used is performed. Of course, the same determination is made when other functions are installed. The order of the determination is arbitrary, and any processing may be performed as long as it can be assigned to each function.
[0025]
If it is determined in S34 that the image transmission function has been selected, it is determined in S35 whether the operated key is a start key. If it is not the start key, various settings in the image transmission function, such as an instruction of a destination to be transmitted (for example, input of a telephone number, designation of a destination by one-touch key or abbreviated key, etc.), designation of image quality (resolution), It is considered that the specification of the density and the specification of the application transmission are performed. Therefore, in S36, processing for a key input other than the start key is performed, and the process returns to S32 to wait for the next key operation.
[0026]
If it is detected in S35 that the start key has been operated, no further user operation is required thereafter. Therefore, the backlight 14 is turned off in S37, and the user is informed that no operation is required. Then, an image transmission process is performed in S38. That is, the image is read by the reading unit 16 and the image is transmitted from the communication unit 19 to the other party. During communication, the display of the destination name (destination number) and the transmission page sent from the destination are performed on the LCD 13, but as described above, the LCD 13 can display the display contents even if the backlight 14 is not turned on. The user can refer to the information and can present various information during communication to the user.
[0027]
It should be noted that, after waiting for the end of the image transmission by the image transmission processing of S38 or immediately after starting the image transmission processing, the process returns to S32 in order to accept the next key operation by the user.
[0028]
Similarly to the image transmission function, when it is determined in S39 that the copy function is selected, it is determined in S40 whether the operated key is the start key. If the key is not the start key, it is considered that various settings in the copy function, for example, designation of paper size, density, number of copies, magnification, various applied copies, and the like are performed. Therefore, in S41, processing for a key input other than the start key is performed, and the process returns to S32 to wait for the next key operation.
[0029]
If it is detected in S40 that the start key has been operated, no further user operation is required thereafter. Therefore, in step S42, the backlight 14 is turned off and the user is notified that no operation is required. Then, a copy process is performed in S43. That is, the reading unit 16 reads an image, and the recording unit 17 records the image on a sheet of a designated size. During copying, the number of copied copies is displayed, but as described above, the user can refer to the display contents on the LCD 13 even when the backlight 14 is not turned on. After waiting for the end of the copy process in S43 or immediately after the start of the copy process, the process returns to S32 in order to accept the next key operation by the user.
[0030]
Next, the scanner function is described. In the scanner function, a process of reading an image on a document by the reading unit 16 and storing the image in the image memory 22 is performed according to an instruction from the operation unit 15 of the user. A two-step process of receiving a take-out request via the PC interface 18 and transferring the read image stored in the image memory 22 to an external device is performed. The processing in S44 to S48 is processing in which the image is read by the reading unit 16 and stored in the image memory 22.
[0031]
If it is determined in S44 that the scanner function has been selected, it is determined in S45 whether the operated key is a start key. If the key is not the start key, it is considered that various settings in the scanner function, for example, setting of a magnification and setting of a memory box number indicating a storage area in the image memory 22 are performed. Therefore, in S46, processing for a key input other than the start key is performed, and the process returns to S32 to wait for the next key operation.
[0032]
If it is detected in S45 that the start key has been operated, no further user operation is required thereafter. Therefore, in step S47, the backlight 14 is turned off to inform the user that no operation is required. Then, an image reading / accumulating process is performed in S48. That is, the image is read by the reading unit 16 and the read image is stored in the designated memory box in the image memory 22. While the scan reading is performed, the number of documents to be read is displayed. As described above, the user can refer to the display contents on the LCD 13 even when the backlight 14 is not turned on. After waiting for the end of the reading process in S48 or immediately after starting the reading process, the process returns to S32 in order to accept the next key operation by the user. The read image read and stored in the image memory 22 is requested to be taken out from the external device via the PC interface 18, and the read image is transferred in S62 described above.
[0033]
Here, operations other than the image transmission function, the copy function, and the scanner function are performed for various registration settings. Here, as an example, after performing various setting operations, the set key is operated to register the settings, and the stop key is operated to cancel and return. In S49, it is determined whether or not the set key has been operated, and if not, it is further determined in S50 whether or not the stop key has been operated. If none of the keys have been operated, it is determined that various settings are being made, and processing is performed when other keys have been operated in S51 to wait for the next key operation. It returns to S32. When the set key is operated, the current setting is registered, and the registration setting ends. When the stop key is operated, the current setting is discarded, and the registration setting ends.
[0034]
At the end of the registration setting, the display returns to the menu of the previous setting item depending on the setting item, or returns to the idle screen which is a standby image. In S54, it is determined whether or not the screen has returned to the idle screen. If the screen has not returned to the idle screen, it is assumed that the registration setting operation has been continued, and the process returns to S32 to wait for the next key operation. If the screen returns to the idle screen, it indicates that the registration setting operation has been completed, and the subsequent operation by the user is unnecessary. Therefore, in step S55, the backlight 14 is turned off to inform the user that no operation is required. Then, the process returns to S32 to wait for the next key operation.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a display mode on the display unit. How the display screen on the display unit 12 changes by an example of the above-described operation will be described using a specific example. In FIG. 4, when the backlight 14 is off, hatching is applied to the entire screen, and when the backlight 14 is on, hatching is not applied. Further, the following specific example shows a case where ten copies are taken.
[0036]
FIG. 4A shows an idle screen during the image transmission function. In an initial state, the backlight 14 is off. However, the display contents can be sufficiently understood by the operator. The user operates the copy / communication switching key to make a copy and switches to the copy function. When this operation is detected, the backlight 14 is turned on as shown in FIG. 4B, and the idle screen of the copy function is displayed.
[0037]
The user inputs “1” and “0” using the numeric keypad to set the number of copies. Since this key operation is not a start key, processing corresponding to each key operation is performed. In this case, 10 is set as the number of copies. As a result, the screen shown in FIG. Since the key operation by the user is continued and further user operation is required, the backlight 14 remains lit.
[0038]
After inputting the number of copies and setting the original on the reading unit 16, the user operates a start key to instruct the start of copying. In the copy function, after the start key is operated, no user operation is required. Therefore, the backlight 14 is turned off in accordance with the operation of the start key by the user, the document is read, the read image is recorded and output, and the copy function is executed. On the display screen, as shown in FIG. 4D, with the backlight 14 turned off, a message such as "Copying" indicating that copying is being performed, the number of copies already made, the number of copies set, and the like are displayed. .
[0039]
Since the backlight 14 is turned off by operating the start key in this manner, the user can reliably recognize that no further operation is necessary, and operability can be improved. In this case, the display content itself can be confirmed even when the backlight 14 is turned off, so that convenience is not impaired. Further, since the backlight 14 can be turned off early, power consumption can be reduced.
[0040]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the user performs the switching operation to the copy function and then leaves the apparatus without using the apparatus, a predetermined time elapses, and then the state shown in FIG. As shown in (1), the backlight 14 is turned off to reduce power consumption. At this point or after the backlight 14 is turned off, the display itself of the LCD 13 may be turned off to further reduce the power consumption. Alternatively, in addition to the above-described backlight on / off control, in the case where control is performed such that the power of the display unit 12 itself is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed, the backlight 14 is turned off by time. Instead, the light may be turned off substantially by controlling the power of the display unit.
[0041]
Although the case where the copy function is used is shown in FIG. 4, the same applies to the case where other functions are used. For example, the backlight 14 is turned off together with the operation of the start key also during the image transmission function and the scanner function. In addition, at the time of various registration settings, the backlight 14 is turned off when returning to the idle screen of each function as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, for example.
[0042]
The control of turning on / off the backlight 14 described above is an example, and various modifications are possible. For example, whether or not to control the turning on / off of the backlight 14 as described above can be switched by setting, or if the surrounding brightness is detected so that it is dark, control is performed so that the light is not turned off during operation of each function. It is also possible. Also, the backlight 14 may be controlled so that the backlight 14 is turned on when it is detected that the user is near the apparatus by, for example, a human body sensor. In addition, when an error occurs, the backlight 14 can be turned on or blinked regardless of the operation to notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormality. In this case, it is preferable to control so that the backlight 14 is turned off together with the operation for terminating the error cancellation or the error cancellation.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the backlight of the LCD display means is turned off when the user does not need to perform any operation on the operation means. It is possible to reliably notify that it is unnecessary, and it is possible to improve operability. In addition, since the backlight is turned off early, there is an effect that power consumption can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a communication terminal device of the present invention including one embodiment of an operating device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation at the time of a user's operation input in the embodiment of the communication terminal device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart (continuation) illustrating an example of an operation at the time of a user's operation input in the embodiment of the communication terminal device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a display mode on a display unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 main control unit, 12 display unit, 13 LCD, 14 backlight, 15 operation unit, 16 reading unit, 17 recording unit, 18 PC interface, 19 communication unit, 20 NCU, 21 ... Modem, 22 ... Image memory, 23 ... RAM, 24 ... ROM, 25 ... Bus.

Claims (4)

In a communication terminal device having at least a function of communicating with an external device, an operation unit for receiving an operation from a user, an LCD display unit with a backlight, and the operation unit when the user operation on the operation unit becomes unnecessary. If the backlight of the LCD display means is turned on, it is turned off to perform image transmission processing, and after the processing is completed, there is provided control means for controlling the backlight to be turned off until a key operation is performed. Communication terminal device. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the point in time at which the user does not need to operate the operation means is a point in time at which the user instructs the start of transmission or a call. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the point in time at which the user operation on the operation unit becomes unnecessary is a point in time when the user returns to the idle state from various setting functions. The control unit further includes a reading unit that reads an image and a recording unit that forms an image on a recording paper, and the control unit displays the LCD display when it is detected that the operation unit starts the copy function or the scanner function. 4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein if the backlight of the means is turned on, the backlight is turned off, a copy process or a scanner process is performed, and the backlight is turned off even after the process is completed. The communication terminal device according to claim 1.

Images