JP5705823B2 - Image forming apparatus and method for generating confirmation sound in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus and a confirmation sound generation method in the image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, an idea has been proposed in which confirmation sounds to be output when operating a device are provided in a plurality of patterns to improve user cognition. For example, confirmation sounds of various variations such as input confirmation, input invalidation, preparation completion, and attention are stored in advance as confirmation sounds of user operations in the image forming apparatus, and the corresponding patterns are read and reproduced according to the operations.

JP 2006-215188 A

  However, in the above technique, there is no consideration about the relationship between the noise situation around the device and the confirmation sound, and the user cannot hear the confirmation sound or it is difficult to hear the confirmation sound, so that the user cannot operate the device smoothly. was there.

  In view of the above-described problems of the related art, an object of the present invention is to solve the problem of adjusting the volume of a confirmation sound in response to a user operation in accordance with a noise situation around the device.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an operation input unit, a speaker, an image forming unit, an operation status acquisition unit, a noise determination information table , a peripheral sound volume measurement unit, and a confirmation sound volume adjustment unit. The operation input unit receives an operation input from the user. The speaker outputs a confirmation sound for the operation input. The image forming unit executes an image forming process including charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing, and forms a desired image on a sheet. The operation status acquisition unit acquires an operation status in the image forming unit. The noise determination information table defines a relationship between an operation state , a plurality of noise levels obtained by classifying noise in the operation state in proportion to the magnitude, and an assumed sound volume assumed in advance for the noise level . The peripheral volume measuring unit measures the peripheral volume of the aircraft. The confirmation volume adjustment unit, when the assumed volume corresponding to the noise level acquired from the noise determination information table based on the operation status acquired by the operation status acquisition unit is lower than the peripheral volume measured by the peripheral volume measurement unit, The loudness of the confirmation sound output from the speaker is adjusted stepwise from the initial setting value based on the new noise level updated based on the volume .

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the specific example of the control panel shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming unit illustrated in FIG. 1. The block diagram which shows the function of the controller shown in FIG. The figure which shows the specific example of the data memorize | stored in the noise determination information table shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the specific example of the volume adjustment process in the controller shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a controller according to a second embodiment. The figure which shows the specific example of the data memorize | stored in the noise determination information table in Embodiment 2. The flowchart which shows the specific example of the volume adjustment process in the controller shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral). In addition to a copy function that scans and reads a document image at a specified resolution and paper size, the MFP has various functions such as an image receiving function by FAX, an image receiving function by e-mail, and a print image receiving function via the network 2. This is a digital multifunction device that can fully utilize the functions of office equipment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a communication device 14, a control panel 15, an image forming unit 16, and a speaker 17 in addition to a processor 11, a memory 12, and an auxiliary storage device 13 that constitute a controller 10. Yes.

  The processor 11 is a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in an integrated manner. The memory 12 is a read-only ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores basic programs and environment files for causing the computer to function, a program (executed by the processor 11), and a RAM (Random) that stores data necessary for the execution of each program. Access Memory). The auxiliary storage device 13 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores a control program, a data table, and the like that operate in the image forming apparatus 1.

  The communication device 14 exchanges information with a device (for example, a personal computer) connected via a network (not shown) such as the Internet or a LAN. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the control panel 15 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the control panel 15 is an operation input device having a display unit 15a for displaying an operation menu screen, a software key (touch panel) 15b for inputting set values, and a hardware key 15c. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the same confirmation sound (beep sound) sounds from the speaker 17 when the user presses the button regardless of the hardware key and the software key.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image forming unit 16 illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 16 includes a photoreceptor 16a, a charging device 16b, an exposure device 16c, a developing device 16d, a transfer device 16e, a peeling device 16f, a cleaner 16g, a conveying roller 16h, and a fixing device 16i. An image forming process including charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing is executed to form a desired image on a sheet.

  The photoconductor 16a rotates in the sub-scanning direction (the circumferential direction of the photoconductor 16a). The charging device 16b is disposed in the vicinity of the periphery of the photoreceptor 16a and uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 16a. The exposure device 16c emits light / extinguishes according to the image signal while scanning the semiconductor laser. The laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser becomes light that is scanned in the main scanning direction (the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive member 16a) by a polarizer such as a polygon mirror. Then, the laser beam is irradiated onto the photoconductor 16a by an optical system such as a lens. When the surface of the charged photoconductor 16a is irradiated with laser light, the potential of the irradiated portion is lowered and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device 16d forms a toner image on the photoreceptor 16a by applying a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 16a.

  The transfer device 16e transfers the toner image to the supplied paper. The peeling device 16f peels the sheet from the photoconductor 16a. The cleaner 16g is provided in contact with the photoconductor 16a, and removes residual toner on the photoconductor 16a after the transfer of the toner image to the paper is completed. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 16i by the conveyance roller 16h. The fixing device 16i fixes the toner image on the paper. A halogen lamp or induction heating coil is provided as a heat source inside the fixing device 16i, and the heating temperature rises as the amount of power supplied from the power source increases. Then, the photoconductor 16a returns to the initial state and is in a standby state until the start of the next image forming process. By repeating the above image forming process, the image data is continuously printed.

  In addition, the controller 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 has a function of generating a confirmation sound (buzzing sound) that informs the user that an input operation has been accepted, and is configured so that the volume of the confirmation sound can be adjusted step by step. Has been. Here, it is possible to adjust in two stages, a normal level (initial setting value) and a noise level with a volume larger than the normal level.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functions of the controller 10 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the controller 10 includes an operation status acquisition unit 10A, a noise determination information table 10B, a confirmation volume adjustment unit 10C, a user operation detection unit 10D, and a confirmation sound generation unit 10E.

  The operation status acquisition unit 10A always monitors the operation status of the image forming unit 16 during the period when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on, and stores the operation status ID acquired at the time of monitoring in the memory 12. It is a program. The operation status acquisition cycle can be arbitrarily changed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of data stored in the noise determination information table 16B shown in FIG. The noise determination information table 16B is a definition table that manages the relationship between the operation status of the image forming unit 10 and the noise determination information for determining the presence or absence of noise using IDs. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the confirmation sound becomes difficult to hear due to noise generated from the own apparatus during the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. In this table, in order for the controller 10 to determine the presence or absence of noise, the relationship between the operation status ID and the noise level specific to the operation status of the image forming unit 16 of the image forming apparatus 1 is defined.

  The confirmation volume adjustment unit 10C acquires noise determination information with reference to the noise determination information table 10B based on the operation status ID output from the monitoring status monitoring unit 10A, and determines the presence or absence of noise. Specifically, when it is determined that there is no noise based on the noise determination information in the noise determination information table 10B, the confirmation volume adjustment unit 10C performs control to maintain the volume of the speaker 17 in a normal (initial setting value) state. Information is output to the confirmation sound generator 10E. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is noise based on the noise determination information, the confirmation volume adjustment unit 10C generates control information for adjusting the volume of the speaker 17 to a higher level than normal (noise level). To the unit 10E.

  The user operation detection unit 10D is a control program that detects a user operation input on the control panel 15 and outputs operation input detection information to the confirmation sound volume adjustment unit 10C and the confirmation sound generation unit 10E.

  The confirmation sound generation unit 10E is a control program that outputs a confirmation sound for a user operation from the speaker 17 at a volume set in the confirmation volume adjustment unit 10C when user operation detection information is input from the user operation detection unit 10D. .

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the volume adjustment processing in the controller 10 shown in FIG.

  First, when the operation status acquisition unit 10A acquires the operation status in the image forming unit 16 (S601), the operation status ID corresponding to the acquired operation status is temporarily stored in the memory 12 (S602).

  Next, the confirmation volume adjusting unit 10C refers to the noise determination information table 10B that defines the relationship between the operation status and the noise determination information based on the operation status ID stored in the memory 12, and the current volume of the own device is determined. Noise determination information corresponding to the operating situation is acquired (S603).

  Next, the confirmation volume adjusting unit 10C determines whether or not the noise determination information acquired in S603 includes noise (S604). If it is determined that there is noise (S604: Yes), control information for adjusting the loudness of the confirmation sound output from the speaker 17 to be larger than the initial setting value is output to the confirmation sound generator 10E (S605). , Return to S601. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no noise (S604: No), control information that keeps the magnitude of the confirmation sound output from the speaker 17 as the initial setting value is output to the confirmation sound generator 10E (S606). Return to S601.

  The above processing is repeatedly performed at a timing when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on at a predetermined cycle and operation timing. Therefore, when an operation input from the user is received, adjustment is performed according to the operation status at that time. A confirmation sound of the set volume is generated from the speaker.

  For example, when the user A performs a scanning operation when the image forming unit 16 of the image forming apparatus 1 is in a standby state, the operation state ID is “status_1” because the image forming unit 16 is in a stopped state. As a result of referring to the noise determination information table 10B, the confirmation volume adjusting unit 10C determines that there is no noise. Since the determination result is that there is no noise, the confirmation sound volume adjustment unit 10C normally maintains the sound volume of the confirmation sound. When the user A operates the operation device (control panel) 15, the confirmation sound is output from the speaker 17 at the normal sound volume. Output.

  Next, a case where the user A performs a scanning operation when the image forming apparatus 1 is performing a printing operation will be described. In this case, before the user A performs the scanning operation, the user B gives a print instruction, and the image forming unit 16 is in a printing operation. Since the image forming unit 16 is printing, the operation status ID is “status — 4”, and the confirmation volume adjusting unit 10C determines that there is noise as a result of referring to the noise determination information table 10B based on the operation status ID, and the speaker. The volume of the confirmation sound output from 17 is adjusted to be higher than normal. When the user A operates the operation device (control panel) 15, the confirmation sound generator 10 </ b> E outputs a confirmation sound from the speaker 17 in a state larger than normal.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the image forming unit 16 is in an operation state in which noise is generated, the confirmation sound for the user operation during that time can be increased. As a result, it is possible to reduce an operation error such as pressing the button twice because the user cannot hear the confirmation sound, and the user can smoothly operate the device.

<Embodiment 2>
Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. Note that the same reference numerals as those in the drawings of the first embodiment indicate the same object, and the description thereof will be omitted. Differences from the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the controller 10 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of data stored in the noise determination information table 10B in the present embodiment.

  The noise determination information table 10B in the present embodiment defines the noise determination information by classifying it into a plurality of noise levels proportional to the noise level, and each noise level is associated with an assumed volume based on an actual measurement value. ing. Further, the confirmation sound volume adjustment unit 10C provides control information for adjusting the loudness of the confirmation sound output from the speaker 17 in a stepwise manner larger than the normal level (initial setting value) according to the noise level. Output to 10E. For example, in the case of FIG. 8, since the noise level during printing is the highest, the confirmation sound is set to the highest level.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 further includes a peripheral sound volume measurement unit 10F that is connected to the microphone 18 and measures the peripheral sound volume level of the airframe. When the sound level assumed by the noise level acquired from the noise determination information table 10B based on the operation state is lower than the surrounding sound volume, the confirmation sound volume adjusting unit 10C determines the speaker 17 based on the new noise level updated based on the surrounding sound volume. Control information for adjusting the magnitude of the confirmation sound to be output to be larger than the initial setting value is output to the confirmation sound generator 10E. That is, in the first embodiment, the confirmation sound is adjusted with reference to the noise determination information that predefines the presence / absence of noise output to the surroundings according to the operation state of the aircraft. Further, the peripheral sound volume is measured, the assumed sound volume of the noise level assumed in advance is compared with the actually measured peripheral sound volume, and the confirmation sound is adjusted based on the larger sound volume as a reference.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the volume adjustment processing in the controller 10 shown in FIG.

  First, when the operation status acquisition unit 10A acquires the operation status in the image forming unit 16 (S901), the operation status ID corresponding to the acquired operation status is temporarily stored in the memory 12 (S902).

  Next, the confirmation volume adjusting unit 10C refers to the noise determination information table 10B that defines the relationship between the operation status and the noise determination information based on the operation status ID stored in the memory 12, and the current volume of the own device is determined. Noise determination information (noise level and assumed sound volume) corresponding to the operating situation is acquired (S903).

  Next, the peripheral sound volume measuring unit 10F measures the peripheral sound volume of the aircraft input from the microphone 18 and outputs the measured sound volume to the confirmation sound volume adjusting unit 10C (S904).

  Next, the confirmation volume adjusting unit 10C determines whether or not the surrounding volume measured in S904 exceeds the assumed volume of the noise level acquired in S903 (S905). If it is determined that the surrounding sound volume exceeds the assumed sound volume of the noise level (S905: Yes), the noise level is updated based on the surrounding sound volume (S906), and the process proceeds to S907. On the other hand, when it is determined that the surrounding sound volume does not exceed the assumed sound volume of the noise level (S905: No), the process proceeds to S907 without updating the noise level.

  In S907, the confirmation volume adjusting unit 10C determines the presence / absence of noise based on the determined noise level. If it is determined that there is noise (S907: Yes), control information for adjusting the magnitude of the confirmation sound output from the speaker 17 to be larger than the initial setting value is output to the confirmation sound generator 10E (S908). , Return to S901. In the present embodiment, since the noise level is classified into a plurality of levels, it is assumed that the volume of the confirmation sound is adjusted in a plurality of stages according to the level of the noise level.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no noise (S907: No), control information that keeps the magnitude of the confirmation sound output from the speaker 17 as the initial setting value is output to the confirmation sound generator 10E (S909). Return to S901.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, not only the presence / absence of noise assumed to occur according to the operation status of the own apparatus but also the measured value of the surrounding noise is taken into consideration. It is possible to output a confirmation sound for the operation input at an appropriate volume. For example, if your own machine is stopped but the adjacent image forming device is printing, it is difficult to hear the confirmation sound for your own operation. Generate a loud confirmation sound. As a result, regardless of the installation environment, it is possible to reduce operational mistakes such as pressing the button twice because the user cannot hear the confirmation sound, and the user can operate the device smoothly. Can do.

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1 Image forming apparatus,
10 ... Controller,
10A ... Operation status acquisition unit,
10B ... Noise judgment information table,
10C: Confirmation volume adjustment unit,
10D ... confirmation sound generator,
10E ... User operation detection unit,
11 ... Processor,
12 ... Memory,
13 ... Auxiliary storage device,
14 ... communication device,
15 ... Control panel,
16: Image forming unit,
17 ... Speaker.

Claims (2)

An operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user;
A speaker for outputting a confirmation sound for the operation input;
An image forming unit that executes an image forming process including charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing, and forms a desired image on paper;
An operation status acquisition unit for acquiring an operation status in the image forming unit;
A noise determination information table that defines a relationship between the operation status , a plurality of noise levels classified in proportion to the magnitude of the noise in the operation status, and an assumed sound volume assumed in advance for the noise level ;
A peripheral volume measuring unit for measuring the peripheral volume of the aircraft,
When the assumed volume corresponding to the noise level acquired from the noise determination information table based on the operation status acquired by the operation status acquisition unit is lower than the peripheral volume measured by the peripheral volume measurement unit, the peripheral volume A confirmation volume adjusting unit that adjusts the magnitude of the confirmation sound output from the speaker in a stepwise manner larger than the initial setting value based on the new noise level updated based on
An image forming apparatus comprising: An operation status acquisition step of acquiring an operation status in an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet by executing an image forming process including charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing;
The operation status acquisition step includes a noise determination information table defining a relationship between the operation status , a plurality of noise levels obtained by classifying noise in the operation status in proportion to the magnitude thereof, and an assumed sound volume assumed in advance for the noise level. A noise level obtaining step for obtaining the noise level with reference to the operation status obtained in
A peripheral volume measuring step for measuring the peripheral volume of the aircraft,
When the assumed sound volume corresponding to the noise level acquired in the noise level acquisition step based on the operation state is lower than the peripheral sound volume measured in the peripheral sound volume measurement step, a new updated based on the peripheral sound volume A confirmation volume adjustment step for adjusting the volume of the confirmation sound output from the speaker stepwise from the initial setting value based on the noise level ;
An operation input step for receiving an operation input from a user;
A confirmation sound generation step for generating a confirmation sound for the operation input from the speaker;
A method for generating a confirmation sound in an image forming apparatus.

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