JP4713374B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine having both functions.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a network communication system including a network multi-function peripheral that is connected to a network, can apply various communication protocols, and can communicate various data with other terminal devices has been constructed.
In such a network communication system, various application services centered on a network multifunction peripheral are provided. For example, a "scan-to-email" service that sends scanned original images to specified email addresses using email, email that records and outputs received email text information, attached file images, etc. There are a printout service, an e-mail fax transfer service that transmits received e-mail text information, an attached file image, and the like to a designated facsimile apparatus.
Such network multifunction devices need to authenticate users from various security viewpoints, such as limiting the users who can use them and limiting the functions available to each user.
Examples of means for authenticating an individual include input of an authentication number, use of an authentication card distributed to the individual, fingerprint authentication for specifying the individual, and biometric authentication such as face authentication using a CCD camera.
On the other hand, in the above-described network multifunction peripherals, more and more functions are advanced, and the display of the operation panel, which is a part that the user directly touches, becomes complicated, resulting in difficulty in use. In order to solve this problem, a technique for presenting an operation panel display corresponding to each user using the above-described personal authentication means is common.
As a prior document, there is Patent Document 1 or the like.
JP-A-9-179502

In addition, a technique is generally used in which the angle of the operation panel of the device can be changed (a so-called tilt function), and the user adjusts the operation panel to an easily viewable position according to his / her height.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving usability when changing the position of an operation panel on the premise of mounting an operation panel whose angle can be changed.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided with an operation input device and a display device, an operation panel capable of changing an angle , and an image of a user and provided at the back side of the operation panel. An image forming apparatus including an imaging device in which a person image within an imaging range moves within the imaging range by changing the angle of the operation panel, and an operation panel position movable unit that changes the angle of the operation panel, and the operation panel by controlling the position the movable portion and an operation panel position control unit for controlling the position of the operation panel by changing the angle of the operation panel, the image pickup from the operation panel position control unit information from the imaging device in which the position of the person image in the position imaging range to determine the figures in the imaging range of the device to change the angle of the operation panel so as to be adjusted to a predetermined position within the imaging
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a control position correction unit that corrects the movement amount of the operation panel position is provided, and the movement position of the operation panel is corrected.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the control position correction unit is individually provided for each movement direction of the operation panel.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the amount of movement of the operation panel position is corrected by the control position correction unit, and the operation panel position is determined according to information from the imaging device. After the movement, an operation position correction unit for correcting the operation panel position is further provided.

The present invention has an operation input device and a display device, an operation panel capable of changing an angle, and a person who takes an image of a user and is provided on the back side of the operation panel and within the imaging range by changing the angle of the operation panel An image forming apparatus including an imaging device in which an image moves within an imaging range, an operation panel position movable unit that changes an angle of the operation panel, and an angle of the operation panel that controls the operation panel position movable unit and an operation panel position control unit for controlling the position of the operation panel by changing a position of the person image in the imaging range of the operation panel position control unit the imaging device from the information from the imaging device since the position of the person image in the judgment to imaging range to change the angle of the operation panel so as to be adjusted to a predetermined position within the imaging, easily and accurately carried out that the movement of the operation panel It can be.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system in which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.
In the present embodiment, a server computer 3 and a plurality of client computers 4 that are information processing apparatuses that execute various types of information processing are connected to the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 2 that is a communication network. Assumed system.
The server computer 3 supports, for example, FTP and HTTP protocols, and realizes functions of a Web server and a DNS (domain name server). That is, in this system, there is an environment in which image processing functions such as an image input function (scanner function), an image output function (print function) and an image storage function provided in the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 can be shared on the LAN 2. It has been built.
Such a system is connected to the Internet network 6 via the communication control unit 5 and is constructed so as to be able to communicate data with an external environment via the Internet network 6. The communication control unit 5 is generally a router, an exchange, a modem, a DSL modem, or the like, but it is sufficient that TCP / IP communication is possible at the minimum. The LAN 2 is not limited to wired communication, but may be wireless communication (infrared rays, radio waves, etc.). Further, an optical fiber may be used.

Next, the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view schematically showing the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram according to the first embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 has a configuration in which an image reading device 8 that reads an image from a document is disposed above a printing device 7 that is an image forming device that forms an image on a medium such as transfer paper. It has become.
An operation panel P that allows various inputs such as display for the user and function setting from the user is provided on the outer surface of the image reading device 8. Further, under the operation panel P, program codes and image data stored in a storage medium M (see FIG. 3) such as an optical disk and a flexible disk are read, or program codes and images are read from the storage medium M. An external media input / output device 9, which is a device for writing data or the like, is provided with an insertion port that allows insertion of the storage medium M exposed to the outside. An imaging unit 50 is provided on the back side of the operation panel P.
As shown in FIG. 3, the structure of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 is roughly divided into an image processing unit A and an information processing unit B, and the printing device 7 and the image reading device 8 are image processing units. The operation panel P and the external media input / output device 9 belong to the information processing unit B.

First, the image processing unit A will be described. The image processing unit A including the printing device 7 and the image reading device 8 includes an image processing control unit 10 that performs overall control of image processing in the image processing unit A. The image processing control unit 10 includes a printing unit. A print control unit 11 that controls the apparatus 7 and an image reading control unit 12 that controls the image reading apparatus 8 are connected.
The print control unit 11 outputs a print instruction including image data to the printing apparatus 7 under the control of the image processing control unit 10, and causes the printing apparatus 7 to form and output an image on a medium such as transfer paper. The printing device 7 is capable of full-color printing. In addition to the electrophotographic method, the printing method can be selected from various methods such as an inkjet method, a sublimation type thermal transfer method, a silver salt photography method, a direct thermal recording method, and a melt type thermal transfer method. Can be used.
The image reading control unit 12 drives the image reading device 8 under the control of the image processing control unit 10, and reflects the reflected light of the lamp irradiation on the surface of the document to a light receiving element (for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)) using a mirror and a lens. Condensed and read, and A / D converted to generate 8-bit RGB digital image data.
Such an image processing control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13 which is a main processor and a memory device which temporarily stores the image data read from the image reading device 8 so as to be imaged by the printing device 7 ( For example, SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 14, ROM (Read Only Memory) 15 storing a control program, and system log / system setting / log information etc. are recorded even when the power is turned off. The microcomputer has a configuration in which NVRAM 16 that can be held is connected by bus.

Further, the image processing control unit 10 includes an image processing unit via an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 17 serving as a storage device for storing a large amount of image data and job history, and a HUB 19 as a concentrator provided in the device. A LAN control unit 18 for connecting the part A to the LAN 2 and a FAX control unit 20 for performing FAX control are connected. The FAX control unit 20 is connected to a private branch exchange (PBX) 22 that communicates with a public telephone network 21, so that the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 can communicate with a remote facsimile.
Further, the image processing unit A analyzes the print data which is image information from the outside (server computer 3, client computer 4, facsimile, etc.) and a command for instructing printing, and is ready to print the print data as output image data. Bitmap expansion is performed, and the print mode is analyzed from the command to determine the operation. The print data and command are received and operated through the LAN control unit 18 or the FAX control unit 20.
Further, the image processing unit A externally outputs print data, document read data, output image data obtained by processing these data for output, and compressed data obtained by compressing these data (server computer 3, Client computer 4, facsimile, etc.).
Further, the image processing unit A transfers the read image data of the image reading device 8 to the image processing control unit 10, corrects signal deterioration due to quantization to the optical system and digital signals, and stores the image data in the SDRAM 14. Write. The image data stored in the SDRAM 14 in this way is converted into output image data by the print control unit 11 and output to the printing apparatus 7.

Next, the information processing unit part B will be described. The information processing unit section B has a microcomputer configuration controlled by a general-purpose OS (Operating System) used in an information processing apparatus generally called a personal computer.
The information processing unit section B has a CPU 31 that is a main processor, and the CPU 31 includes a memory unit that includes a ROM that is a read-only memory that stores a RAM that is a work area of the CPU 31, a startup program, and the like. 32 and a storage device control unit 35 that controls input / output of data to / from a storage device 34 such as an HDD that stores the OS and application programs are connected by a bus.
The CPU 31 is connected to a LAN control unit 33 for connecting the information processing unit unit B to the LAN 2 via the HUB 19. The IP address that is the network address assigned to the LAN control unit 33 is different from the IP address assigned to the LAN control unit 18 of the image processing unit A and the LAN control unit 53 of the operation device unit C described above.
That is, three IP addresses are assigned to the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 of the present embodiment. That is, the image processing unit part A and the information processing unit part B are connected to the LAN 2 and can exchange data between the image processing unit A and the information processing unit part B. Yes.
Since the digital multi-function peripheral 1 meets the HUB 19 and is connected to the LAN 2, it appears that only one IP address is assigned. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate handling such as connection without deteriorating the beauty.

Further, a display control unit 36 and an operation input control unit 37 that control the operation panel P are connected to the CPU 31. Here, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation panel P. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel P includes a display device 40 that is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an operation input device 41.
The operation input device 41 includes an ultrasonic acoustic wave type touch panel 41a stacked on the surface of the display device 40 and a keyboard 41b having a plurality of keys. The keyboard 41b is provided with a start key for declaring the start of image reading, a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values, a reading condition setting key for setting the transmission destination of the read image data, a clear key, and the like.
That is, the display control unit 36 outputs an image display control signal to the display device 40 via the control panel I / F 38 and causes the display device 40 to display predetermined items corresponding to the image display control signal. On the other hand, the operation input control unit 37 receives, via the control panel I / F 38, an input control signal corresponding to the function setting or input operation by the user in the operation input device 41.

The operation panel P includes an imaging unit 50 that is controlled by the imaging control unit 51. The imaging unit 50 is an optical sensor realized by a CCD, CMOS sensor, or the like, and an image input to the imaging unit is processed by the video signal processing unit 52 and stored in the memory unit 32 or the storage device 34.
The imaging control unit 51 and the video signal processing unit 52 are connected to the information processing unit unit B. USB, Ethernet (registered trademark), IEEE 1394, SCSI, Bluetooth, UWB (Ultra Wide Band), original serial communication / parallel communication can be considered as the connection form, but USB is desirable from the balance of cost and ease of connection. Ethernet (registered trademark) is desirable in order to realize various connections such as many-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many connections.
In addition, a control panel communication unit 39 connected to the control panel I / F 25 of the image processing unit A via the communication cable 26 is connected to the CPU 31. The control panel communication unit 39 receives the image display control signal output from the image processing unit unit A, and receives the input control signal according to the function setting or input operation by the user from the operation panel P. Forward to.
The image display control signal from the image processing unit A received by the control panel communication unit 39 is subjected to data conversion processing for the display device 40 of the operation panel P and then output to the display control unit 36. The input control signal corresponding to the function setting or input operation by the user is input to the control panel communication unit 39 after being subjected to data conversion processing in a format according to the specifications in the image processing unit A.

As described above, the storage device 34 stores the OS and application programs executed by the CPU 31. In this sense, the storage device 34 functions as a storage medium that stores application programs. In the digital color multifunction peripheral 1, when the user turns on the power, the CPU 31 activates the activation program in the memory unit 32, reads the OS from the storage device 34 into the RAM in the memory unit 32, and activates the OS.
Such an OS activates a program, reads information, and stores information in response to a user operation. As a representative OS, Windows (registered trademark) and the like are known. These operation programs running on the OS are called application programs. The OS of the information processing unit section B is the same OS as the information processing apparatus (server computer 3, client computer 4, etc.), that is, a general-purpose OS (for example, Windows (registered trademark), etc.).

Note that, as described above, the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 of the present embodiment includes the storage medium M that stores various program codes (control programs) such as the OS, device drivers, and various application programs, and image data, that is, Flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD + R, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO), semiconductor media A flexible disk drive device, an optical disk drive device, an MO drive device, which is a device that reads program code, image data, etc. stored in a storage medium M such as Media dry External media input-output device 9, such as a device is mounted. Such an external media input / output device 9 is controlled by an input / output device control unit 42 connected to the CPU 31 by a bus.
Therefore, the application program stored in the storage device 34 may be one in which the application program recorded in the storage medium M is installed. Therefore, the storage medium M can also be a storage medium that stores application programs. Furthermore, the application program may be imported from the outside via, for example, the Internet network 6 and the LAN 2 and installed in the storage device 34.
Various interfaces 43 such as USB, IEEE 1394, SCSI, Bluetooth, UWB, and infrared are connected to the input / output device control unit 42, and various devices can be connected via the various interfaces 43.
As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel P includes an operation panel position movable unit 61 that can freely move the display device 40 to a position where the operation user can easily see the display device 40. As a movable method, a known tilt mechanism (reference: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-189514) using the vicinity of the lower end of the operation panel P as a support shaft can be considered. Of course, it can be moved up and down.
Based on the image input unit 50 and the image signal processing unit 52 for processing the input signal from the image pickup unit 50 and the information input to the image processing unit B by the image pickup control unit 51, the image processing unit B is provided on the operation panel P. The position of the operation panel P is controlled by the operation panel position control unit 60 provided in the unit B.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an operation flow, and FIG. 6 is an operation image.
As described in the upper part of FIG. 6, when it is determined by the input information from the imaging unit 50 that the person image shown in the imaging range is below (FIG. 5: S101), the image processing unit B is provided. The operation panel position control unit 60 instructs to move the operation panel P downward (FIG. 5: S102), and the operation panel position movable unit 61 provided in the operation panel P moves in that way. As a result, the image shown in the right end of FIG. 6 is displayed in the imaging range of the imaging unit 50.
Also, if the person image that is captured in the imaging range by the input information from the imaging unit 50 is up, the operation opposite to that described above, that is, the operation panel P moves upward (FIG. 5: S103, S104). At this time, the image displayed in the imaging range of the imaging unit 50 after the upward movement of the operation panel P is not different from the case where the operation panel P is moved downward (image shown at the right end in FIG. 6).
Here, a technique for making a determination based on an input image of the imaging unit 50 is human authentication such as face authentication (reference: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-78094), a monitoring system / monitoring camera that locks and tracks a projected person ( (Reference: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-324720) and the like.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram according to the second embodiment of the digital color MFP 1 shown in FIG. In addition to the configuration in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the image processing unit B is provided with a control position correction unit 62. The control position correction unit 62 is connected to the control panel position control unit 60 and corrects the position control amount of the operation panel P.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. The difference in operation from the first embodiment is that the correction value is added to the movement amount of the operation panel P when there is a preset correction value in the control position correction unit 62 after the operation panel P is moved. (FIG. 8: S201, S202). At that time, the image displayed in the imaging range of the imaging unit 50 is adjusted upward or downward as shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram according to the third embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. The control position correction unit 62 in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 has two configurations of an upper control position correction unit 63 and a lower control position correction unit 64 in the third embodiment. It is possible to set the correction amount separately.
Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. As shown in the first embodiment, when it is determined that the position of the operation panel P moves downward (S102), a downward correction amount set in advance in the downward control position correction unit 64 is added. The amount of movement of the operation panel P is determined (S302). If nothing is set in the downward control position correction unit 64, the correction is not performed and only the default movement amount is moved (S301: No).
On the contrary, when it is determined that the position of the operation panel P moves upward (S104), the amount of movement of the operation panel P is calculated by adding the upward correction amount set in advance in the upward control position correction unit 63. Is determined (S304). If nothing is set in the upward control position correction unit 63, the correction is not performed and only the default movement amount is moved (S303: No).
FIG. 12 is a block diagram according to the fourth embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the operation input device 41 of the operation panel P includes an operation position correction unit 65 for the user to correct the operation panel P.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. In the third embodiment, the position of the operation panel P determined via the upward control position correction unit 63 and the downward control position correction unit 64 is borrowed as a determined position (S401).
When the operation position is corrected by the user operation (S402: YES), the correction amount is added and the operation panel P moves upward or downward (S403). When the operation position is not corrected (S403: NO), the operation panel P remains in the temporarily determined position. Here, the presence / absence of user position correction is detected by a soft timer or polling.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram according to the fifth embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. In the fifth embodiment, in addition to the configuration in the fourth embodiment, the operation input device 41 of the operation panel P includes a position control start key 66.
Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. The input condition of the position control start key 66 is added to the operation start conditions shown in the first to fourth embodiments. That is, the movement of the operation panel P is started with the input of the position control start key 66 as a trigger (S501: YES). If there is no input of the position control start key 66 (S501: NO), the operation panel P does not move in the default state.

1 is a configuration diagram of a network system in which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view schematically showing the digital color multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram according to the first embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. 1. The top view which shows the structure of an operation panel. The operation | movement flowchart of 1st Embodiment. The operation | movement image figure of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram according to a second embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1. The operation | movement flowchart of 2nd Embodiment. The operation | movement image figure of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram according to a third embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1. The operation | movement flowchart of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram according to a fourth embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1. The operation | movement flowchart of 4th Embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram according to a fifth embodiment of the digital color multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1. The operation | movement flowchart of 5th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

P operation panel, 41 operation input device, 50 imaging unit (imaging device), 60 operation panel position control unit, 61 operation panel position movable unit, 62 control position correction unit, 62 operation position correction unit, 66 position control start key

Claims (4)

An operation panel having an operation input device and a display device, the angle of which can be changed, and an image of a person within the imaging range by imaging the user and changing the angle of the operation panel. An image forming apparatus including an imaging device that moves within, an operation panel position movable unit that changes an angle of the operation panel, and an angle of the operation panel that is controlled by controlling the operation panel position movable unit in an operation panel position control unit for controlling the position of the operation panel, the operation panel position control unit to determine the position of the person image in the imaging range of the imaging apparatus from the information from the imaging device the An image forming apparatus, wherein an angle of the operation panel is changed so that a position of a person image within an imaging range is adjusted to a predetermined position within the imaging range .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control position correction unit that corrects a movement amount of the operation panel position, and correcting the movement position of the operation panel.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control position correction unit is individually provided for each moving direction of the operation panel.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation position is further moved after the movement amount of the operation panel position is corrected by the control position correction unit and the operation panel position is moved according to information from the imaging apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising an operation position correcting unit for correcting a panel position.

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