JP6035216B2 - Operation control device, electronic apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation control apparatus, an electronic apparatus, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for receiving an operation instruction corresponding to an operation key pressed by a user.

  Conventionally, for example, an operation switch and a control device that are pressed down by a user to input an operation instruction to the control device such as a bus stop instruction or an operation start instruction of a control device that controls a factory production line are controlled by a control line. There is known a technique for connecting and enabling an operation instruction to a control device to be input remotely. However, this technique requires a labor for wiring to connect the operation switch and the control device, and causes a problem that the aesthetics are impaired by the wiring.

  Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 below describes a technique for performing communication between a switch terminal that receives an operation input and transmits the input to the control device and the control device by wireless communication. This avoids wiring between the switch terminal and the control device. The switch terminal includes a power generation unit such as a vibration power generation unit that generates power by vibration from the outside. Furthermore, this switch terminal is provided with the operation detection part and operation signal transmission part which operate | move with the electric power supplied from an electric power generation part. The operation detection unit includes a button for detecting an operation on the switch terminal from the user. The operation signal transmission unit creates an operation signal when an operation is detected by the operation detection unit, and transmits the created operation signal wirelessly.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to apply the technique described in Patent Document 1 to an electronic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus. Accordingly, it is conceivable that communication between the operation key pressed by the user to input an operation instruction for the electronic device and the control unit that receives the input operation instruction is performed by wireless communication. As a result, it is considered that complicated wiring for connecting the operation key and the control unit disposed at a position away from the operation key inside the electronic device can be simplified.

JP 2004-350019 A

  However, in this case, it is necessary to secure a space for providing the operation signal transmission unit in the vicinity of the operation key (operation detection unit) and a space for connecting the power generation unit, the operation key, and the operation signal transmission unit with a power supply line. There is. For this reason, the arrangement position of the operation keys is limited to the vicinity of a position where these spaces can be secured, and there is a possibility that the operation keys cannot be arranged in a free layout.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an operation control device, an electronic apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that can flexibly arrange an operation key pressed by a user for inputting an operation instruction. The purpose is to provide.

An operation control apparatus according to the present invention is a circuit in which an operation key pressed by a user, a vibration power generation unit that converts vibration when the operation key is pressed into electric power, and a coil and a capacitor are connected in parallel. Then, when the power is supplied from the vibration power generation unit, an antenna circuit that transmits a radio signal having a frequency determined by the inductance of the coil and the capacitance of the capacitor from the coil, and reception that receives the radio signal An antenna unit, an instruction receiving unit that receives an operation instruction associated with the radio signal in advance when the radio signal is received by the receiving antenna unit, and a reference that outputs a reference clock signal that oscillates at a predetermined frequency comprising an oscillator, a, a plurality of key unit with said operation key and the vibration power unit and the antenna circuit, before The antenna circuit provided in each of the plurality of key units transmits the radio signals having different frequencies, and the instruction receiving unit identifies the frequency of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna unit, and the identification The instruction receiving unit receives a rising edge of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna unit in synchronization with the reference clock signal output from the reference oscillator. The number of clocks of the reference clock signal from the detection until the falling edge of the radio signal is detected is counted, and the product of the counted number of clocks of the reference clock signal and the period of the reference clock signal is 2 The result of doubling is calculated as the cycle of the radio signal, and the reciprocal of the calculated cycle of the radio signal is Identifying the frequency of the line signal.

  In this configuration, the vibration power generation unit can generate electric power by vibration when the operation key is pressed. The antenna circuit is a so-called LC resonance circuit in which a coil and a capacitor are connected in parallel. For this reason, when power is supplied from the vibration power generation unit when the operation key is pressed, the antenna circuit can immediately transmit a radio signal having a so-called resonance frequency determined by the inductance of the coil and the capacitance of the capacitor from the coil. it can.

  That is, it is not necessary to separately provide a control circuit for creating a radio signal in the antenna circuit. For this reason, as described in Patent Document 1, the antenna circuit creates an operation signal to be transmitted by wireless communication when the pressing of the operation key is detected, and wirelessly transmits the created operation signal. Compared with the operation signal transmission part to transmit, it can reduce in size and can comprise. Thereby, compared with the case where the technique of the said patent document 1 is used, the space which should be ensured in the vicinity of an operation key can be reduced. As a result, the operation keys can be arranged more flexibly.

  According to this configuration, the antenna circuits provided in each of the plurality of key units transmit radio signals having different frequencies. That is, the frequency of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna unit is different for each operation key pressed by the user. Therefore, the instruction receiving unit can identify the operation key pressed by the user by identifying the frequency of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna unit. The instruction receiving unit receives an operation instruction associated with the identified frequency in advance. That is, the instruction receiving unit can receive an operation instruction associated with the identified operation key in advance.

  According to this configuration, the period of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna unit can be identified with a simplified configuration including the reference oscillator.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the operation control device and a function execution unit that executes a function instructed by the operation instruction received by the instruction reception unit.

  According to this configuration, in the electronic device, it is possible to flexibly arrange the operation keys pressed by the user in order to input an instruction for causing the function execution unit to execute the function.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the operation control device and a function execution unit that executes a function instructed by the operation instruction received by the instruction receiving unit.

  According to this configuration, in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to flexibly arrange the operation keys pressed by the user in order to input an instruction for causing the function execution unit to execute the function.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an operation control device, an electronic apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that can flexibly arrange an operation key pressed by a user for inputting an operation instruction.

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an operation part. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of a multifunction machine. It is a schematic block diagram of a start key unit including a start key, (a) shows a state where the start key is not pressed, and (b) shows a state where the start key is pressed. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation instruction information which matches the operation key, the frequency of the radio signal transmitted when the operation key is pressed, and the operation instruction. It is a flowchart which shows the reception operation | movement of the operation instruction | indication by an instruction | indication reception part.

  Hereinafter, an operation control apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus including the operation control apparatus will be described. In this embodiment, a multifunction peripheral is described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus may be, for example, a copying machine, a printer apparatus, or a facsimile apparatus. . FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a multifunction machine 1 which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the operation unit 7. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a document reading unit 5, a document feeding unit 6, a main body unit 8, and an operation unit 7.

  The document reading unit 5 is disposed on the upper portion of the main body unit 8. The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner unit 51 including an exposure lamp, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the like, and a document table 52 and a document reading slit 53 made of a transparent member such as glass.

  The scanner unit 51 is configured to be movable by a driving unit (not shown). When reading a document placed on the document table 52, the scanner unit 51 moves along the document surface at a position facing the document table 52. Then, the scanner unit 51 outputs the image data acquired while scanning the document image to the control unit 10 described later.

  The scanner unit 51 moves to a position facing the document reading slit 53 when reading the document fed by the document feeding unit 6. Then, the scanner unit 51 acquires an image of the document in synchronization with the document transport operation by the document feeding unit 6 via the document reading slit 53, and outputs the acquired image data to the control unit 10 described later.

  The document feeding unit 6 is disposed above the document reading unit 5. The document feeding unit 6 includes a document placing unit 61 for placing a document, a document discharge unit 62 for discharging a document whose image has been read, and a document placed on the document placing unit 61. A document transport mechanism 63 that feeds out the sheets one by one and transports them to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and discharges them to the document discharge section 62 is provided.

  The main body 8 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 461, a paper feed roller 412 that feeds paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 461 or the manual feed tray 462, and conveys the image to the image forming unit 4. An image forming unit 4 to be formed, and a stack tray 47 and a discharge tray 48 from which a sheet on which an image is formed are discharged are provided.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a paper transport unit 41, an optical scanning device 42, a photosensitive drum 43, a developing unit 44, a transfer unit 45, and a fixing unit 46.

  The paper transport unit 41 includes transport rollers 413, 414, and 415. The transport roller 413 is provided in the paper transport path in the image forming unit 4. The transport roller 413 supplies the paper transported by the paper feed roller 412 to the photosensitive drum 43. The transport roller 414 transports the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 4 to the stack tray 47. The conveyance roller 415 conveys the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 4 to the discharge tray 48.

  The optical scanning device 42 outputs laser light based on the image data input to the control unit 10. The optical scanning device 42 scans the photosensitive drum 43 with this laser beam, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 43.

  The developing unit 44 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 43. The transfer unit 45 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 to a sheet. The fixing unit 46 heats the sheet on which the toner image is transferred to fix the toner image on the sheet.

  The operation unit 7 is provided on the front part of the multifunction machine 1. The operation unit 7 is provided for the user to input an operation instruction to the multifunction device 1. 2, the operation unit 7 includes a touch panel device 71, indicators 72a to 72f, input keys 73a to 73d, switches (operation keys) 74a to 74m, a start key (operation key) 75, a stop key (operation key). ) 76 and a reset key (operation key) 77 are provided.

  The touch panel device 71 includes a liquid crystal display P having a touch panel function. When the soft key displayed on the liquid crystal display P is touched by the user by the touch panel function, the touch panel device 71 receives an instruction to press the soft key.

  The indicators 72a to 72f are made of light emitting diodes or the like. The indicators 72a to 72f indicate the state of the multifunction device 1 by blinking or turning on / off. Hereinafter, the indicators 72a to 72f are collectively referred to as the indicator 72 when described.

  The input keys 73a to 73d are provided for inputting numbers and symbols and for erasing or confirming the input character string.

  The switches 74a to 74m are switches for switching the functions to be executed by the multifunction device 1. For example, as a representative example, the switch 74j is a switch that switches a function to be executed to a copy function for printing using image data read by the scanner unit 51. Hereinafter, the switches 74a to 74m will be referred to as switches 74 when collectively described.

  The start key 75 is provided to start the operation of the function to be executed. The stop key 76 is provided to stop the operation of the function being executed. The reset key 77 is provided to return various setting contents of the multifunction machine 1 to the initial state.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the document reading unit 5, the document feeding unit 6, the image forming unit 4, the operation unit 7, a communication unit 9 described later, and a control unit 10 described later are configured to be able to communicate with each other. ing.

  The communication unit 9 is connected to a telephone line and performs facsimile communication with a facsimile apparatus connected to the telephone line. For example, the communication unit 9 transmits image data read by the document reading unit 5 to another facsimile device or receives image data transmitted from another facsimile device via a telephone line.

  The communication unit 9 is connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and executes data communication with an external device such as a personal computer connected to the network. For example, the communication unit 9 transmits image data read by the document reading unit 5 to an external device or receives image data transmitted from the external device via a network.

  The operation unit 7 includes an indicator 72 (FIG. 2), a touch panel device 71 (FIG. 2), input keys 73a to 73d (FIG. 2), a switch unit 74U (key unit), a start key unit 75U (key unit), and a stop key unit. 76U (key unit) and a reset key unit 77U (key unit) are provided.

  The switch unit 74U includes a switch 74, a vibration power generation unit 741, and an antenna circuit 742. Although the switch unit 74U is omitted in FIG. 3 for convenience of explanation, it is individually provided in association with each of the switches 74a to 74m. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the operation unit 7 is provided with 13 switch units 74U in association with the switches 74a to 74m.

  The start key unit 75U includes a start key 75, a vibration power generation unit 751, and an antenna circuit 752. The stop key unit 76U includes a stop key 76, a vibration power generation unit 761, and an antenna circuit 762. The reset key unit 77U includes a reset key 77, a vibration power generation unit 771, and an antenna circuit 772.

  That is, the switch unit 74U, the start key unit 75U, the stop key unit 76U, and the reset key unit 77U have the same configuration, and each includes an operation key pressed by the user, a vibration power generation unit, and an antenna circuit. I have.

  Hereinafter, as a representative, the configuration of the start key unit 75U will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the start key unit 75U including the start key 75. FIG. 4A shows a state where the start key 75 is not pressed, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the start key 75 is pressed. It shows the state.

  In the following description, the switch unit 74U, the start key unit 75U, the stop key unit 76U, and the reset key unit 77U are collectively referred to as key units 74U to 77U. Further, when the switch 74, the start key 75, the stop key 76, and the reset key 77 are collectively described, they are indicated as operation keys 74 to 77.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the start key unit 75U includes a start key 75, a vibration power generation unit 751, and an antenna circuit 752.

  The vibration power generation unit 751 includes a resistor R, an electret electrode Ne, and a metal electrode Nm. The electret electrode Ne is an insulator having a semi-permanent charge (-charge in the figure).

  One end of the metal electrode Nm is connected to the other end of the support member M connected to the start key 75. As shown in FIG. 4A, the metal electrode Nm is disposed so as to face the electret electrode Ne when it is stationary. As a result, when the metal electrode Nm is stationary, a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the electret electrode Ne (positive charge in FIG. 4) is induced in the metal electrode Nm by electrostatic induction.

  On the other hand, when the start key 75 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 4B, the metal electrode Nm moves to the left in FIG. 4B. As a result, part of the charge induced in the metal electrode Nm flows into the resistor R. As a result, a voltage V is generated between the resistors R. In this way, the vibration power generation unit 751 converts the vibration when the start key 75 is pressed into electric power.

  The antenna circuit 752 is a so-called LC resonance circuit in which a coil D1 and a capacitor D2 are connected in parallel. The antenna circuit 752 is connected to the vibration power generation unit 751. It is assumed that the vibration power generation unit 751 generates a voltage V between the resistors R when the user presses the start key 75. At this time, the antenna circuit 752 receives supply of the voltage V generated between the resistors R, and transmits from the coil D1 a radio signal WS having a resonance frequency determined by the inductance of the coil D1 and the capacitance of the capacitor D2.

When the resonance frequency of the antenna circuit 752, which is the frequency of the wireless signal WS, is denoted by f, the inductance of the coil D1 is denoted by L, and the capacitance of the capacitor D2 is denoted by C, the following equation is generally satisfied. Known.

  Therefore, in order to make the frequencies f of the radio signals WS output from the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 different from each other, the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 include inductances L of the coils D1 provided in the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772, respectively. And the capacitance C of the capacitor D2 are different from each other. Thus, when the operation keys 74 to 77 are pressed, a radio signal WS having a predetermined frequency f corresponding to the pressed operation keys 74 to 77 is transmitted to the reception antenna unit 12.

  The control unit 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a predetermined control program is stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which data is temporarily stored, and the like. ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), which is dedicated hardware configured to be capable of high-speed processing of predetermined processing such as image processing, storage media such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various data such as memory, image data, etc. , And peripheral circuits such as a receiving antenna unit 12 and a reference oscillator 13 described later. The control unit 10 executes various processes by executing a control program stored in a ROM or the like by the CPU, and controls the operation of each unit in the multifunction machine 1.

  The control unit 10 particularly functions as the display control unit 11, the reception antenna unit 12, the reference oscillator 13, the instruction reception unit 14, and the function execution unit 15 with respect to control for receiving input of operation instructions by the user.

  The display control unit 11 controls turning on / off of the indicator 72. In addition, the display control unit 11 performs display control of various information on the liquid crystal display P (FIG. 2) provided in the touch panel device 71.

  The reception antenna unit 12 receives the radio signal WS transmitted from the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 when the operation keys 74 to 77 are pressed. Then, the receiving antenna unit 12 outputs the received radio signal WS to the instruction receiving unit 14.

  The receiving antenna unit 12 is configured by an antenna in which a plurality of rod-shaped antennas having different lengths are integrally formed, for example. Thereby, the receiving antenna part 12 can receive all the radio signals WS of the frequency f corresponding to each of the operation keys 74 to 77. However, the receiving antenna unit 12 is not limited to this configuration, and may include a plurality of rod-shaped or coil-shaped antennas each having a different length. That is, with this configuration, the reception antenna unit 12 may individually receive the radio signal WS having the frequency f corresponding to each of the operation keys 74 to 77 by each antenna.

  The reference oscillator 13 is composed of a crystal oscillator, for example, and outputs a reference clock signal that oscillates at a predetermined frequency of about several hundred MHz.

  Assume that when a soft key is displayed on the liquid crystal display P, an instruction to press the soft key is accepted by the touch panel function of the liquid crystal display P. In this case, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction previously associated with the soft key. And the instruction | indication reception part 14 makes the function execution part 15 mentioned later perform the function which the received operation instruction instruct | indicates.

  In addition, when an instruction to press the input keys 73a and 73c by the user is received, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an input instruction of numbers and symbols corresponding to the input keys 73a and 73c (FIG. 2). In addition, when an instruction for pressing the input key 73b (FIG. 2) is received from the user, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to delete the input character string. In addition, when an instruction for pressing the input key 73d (FIG. 2) by the user is received, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction for determining the input character string.

  When the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an input instruction for the numbers and symbols, the display control unit 11 causes the liquid crystal display P to additionally display the numbers and symbols indicated by the input instruction. When receiving an instruction to erase the input character string, the instruction receiving unit 14 causes the display control unit 11 to hide the input character string displayed on the liquid crystal display P. When the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to confirm the input character string, the instruction receiving unit 14 stores the input character string displayed on the liquid crystal display P in a RAM or the like.

  In addition, when the reception signal is received by the reception antenna unit 12, the instruction reception unit 14 detects the rising edge and the falling edge of the wireless signal WS input from the reception antenna unit 12. Specifically, the instruction receiving unit 14 detects a rising edge when the signal level of the wireless signal WS exceeds a predetermined threshold level, and then the signal level of the wireless signal WS becomes lower than the threshold level. Sometimes it detects a falling edge. Note that the threshold level is set to a signal level (for example, 0 V) at which the amplitude of the wireless signal WS is considered to be zero.

  Further, the instruction receiving unit 14 determines the number of clocks of the reference clock signal from the detection of the rising edge to the detection of the falling edge in synchronization with the reference clock signal output from the reference oscillator 13. Count. Then, the instruction receiving unit 14 calculates the product of the counted number of clocks and the period of the reference clock signal as a time difference between the detection time of the rising edge of the wireless signal WS and the detection time of the falling edge of the wireless signal WS. .

  The measured time difference is considered to represent a half cycle of the radio signal WS received by the receiving antenna unit 12. Therefore, the instruction receiving unit 14 calculates the period of the wireless signal WS by doubling the measured time difference. In addition, the instruction receiving unit 14 calculates the reciprocal of the calculated cycle, and sets the calculated reciprocal as the frequency f of the radio signal WS. In this way, the instruction receiving unit 14 identifies the frequency f of the radio signal WS received by the receiving antenna unit 12.

  Then, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction previously associated with the identified frequency f.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of operation instruction information in which the operation keys 74 to 77, the frequency f of the wireless signal WS transmitted when the operation keys 74 to 77 are pressed, and the operation instructions are associated with each other. As shown in FIG. 5, the switches 74a to 74m, the start key 75, the stop key 76, the reset key 77, and the frequencies f74a to f74m of the radio signal WS transmitted to the receiving antenna unit 12 when the operation keys 74 to 77 are pressed. , F75, f76, f77 and operation instruction information for associating the operation instructions are stored in advance in the HDD or the like.

  The instruction receiving unit 14 reads out the operation instruction information from the HDD or the like and stores it in the RAM during the initial operation of the multifunction machine 1. When the instruction receiving unit 14 identifies the frequency f of the wireless signal WS, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction associated with the identified frequency f based on the operation instruction information.

  For example, when the identified frequency f is the frequency f74a of the radio signal WS transmitted when the switch 74a is pressed, the instruction accepting unit 14 accepts an operation instruction associated with the identified frequency f74a. That is, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to switch a function to be executed by the function execution unit 15 described later to a function (system menu function) corresponding to the switch 74a (FIG. 2).

  When the identified frequency f is the frequency f74m of the wireless signal WS transmitted when the switch 74m is pressed, the instruction accepting unit 14 accepts an operation instruction associated with the identified frequency f74m. That is, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to switch a function to be executed by the function execution unit 15 described later to a function (universal function) corresponding to the switch 74m (FIG. 2).

  If the identified frequency f is the frequency f75 of the wireless signal WS transmitted when the start key 75 is pressed, the instruction accepting unit 14 accepts an operation instruction associated with the identified frequency f75. That is, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction for causing the function execution unit 15 described later to start the operation of the function to be executed.

  When the identified frequency f is the frequency f76 of the wireless signal WS transmitted when the stop key 76 is pressed, the instruction accepting unit 14 accepts an operation instruction associated with the identified frequency f76. That is, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to stop the operation of the function being executed by the function execution unit 15 described later.

  When the identified frequency f is the frequency f77 of the wireless signal WS transmitted when the reset key 77 is pressed, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction associated with the identified frequency f77. That is, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to return the setting contents of various functions to the initial state.

  The function execution unit 15 executes a function indicated by the operation instruction received by the instruction reception unit 14.

  For example, when the instruction accepting unit 14 accepts an operation instruction corresponding to the frequency f74a, the function executing unit 15 switches the function to be executed by the function executing unit 15 to the system menu function corresponding to the switch 74a. When the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction corresponding to the frequency f74m, the function executing unit 15 switches the function to be executed by the function executing unit 15 to a universal function corresponding to the switch 74m.

  When the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction corresponding to the frequency f75, the function executing unit 15 starts the operation of the function to be executed. Further, when the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction corresponding to the frequency f76, the function executing unit 15 stops the operation of the function being executed. When the instruction accepting unit 14 accepts an operation instruction corresponding to the frequency f77, the function executing unit 15 returns the setting contents of various functions to the initial state.

  Hereinafter, the operation of receiving an operation instruction by the instruction receiving unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation instruction accepting operation by the instruction accepting unit 14.

  When any of the operation keys 74 to 77 is pressed (S1; YES), the vibration power generation units 741, 751, 761, and 771 included in the key units 74U to 77U including the pressed operation keys 74 to 77 are The voltage V is generated between the resistors R (S2).

  When step S2 is performed, the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 included in the key units 74U to 77U including the operation keys 74 to 77 pressed in step S1 supply the voltage V generated between the resistors R. The wireless signal WS having a predetermined frequency f corresponding to the pressed operation keys 74 to 77 is transmitted (S3).

  When receiving the wireless signal WS transmitted in step S3, the receiving antenna unit 12 outputs the received wireless signal WS to the instruction receiving unit 14 (S4; YES). When the wireless signal WS output in step S4 is input, the instruction receiving unit 14 identifies the frequency f of the wireless signal WS (S5).

  And the instruction | indication reception part 14 receives the operation instruction matched with the frequency f identified in step S5 based on the said operation instruction information (FIG. 5) (S6). When an operation instruction is received by the instruction receiving unit 14 in step S6, the function execution unit 15 executes a function instructed by the received operation instruction (S7).

  Thus, in the configuration of the above embodiment, the vibration power generation units 741, 751, 761, and 771 can generate electric power by vibration when the operation keys 74 to 77 are pressed. The antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 are so-called LC resonance circuits in which a coil D1 and a capacitor D2 are connected in parallel. Therefore, the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 immediately receive the inductance L and the capacitor of the coil D1 when power is supplied from the vibration power generation units 741, 751, 761, and 771 when the operation keys 74 to 77 are pressed. A radio signal WS having a frequency f determined by the capacitance C of D2 can be transmitted from the coil D1.

  That is, it is not necessary to separately provide a control circuit for generating the radio signal WS in the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772. Therefore, as described in Patent Document 1, the antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 create an operation signal to be transmitted by wireless communication when the pressing of the operation key is detected, Compared to an operation signal transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the created operation signal, it can be configured to be smaller. Thereby, compared with the case where the technique of the said patent document 1 is used, the space which should be ensured in the operation keys 74-77 vicinity can be reduced. As a result, the operation keys 74 to 77 can be arranged more flexibly.

  The antenna circuits 742, 752, 762, and 772 transmit radio signals WS having different frequencies f. That is, the frequency f of the radio signal WS received by the receiving antenna unit 12 is different for each of the operation keys 74 to 77 pressed by the user. Therefore, the instruction receiving unit 14 can identify the operation keys 74 to 77 pressed by the user by identifying the frequency f of the radio signal WS received by the receiving antenna unit 12. Then, the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an operation instruction previously associated with the identified frequency f. That is, the instruction receiving unit 14 can receive an operation instruction associated with the identified operation keys 74 to 77 in advance.

  In addition, with the simplified configuration including the reference oscillator 13, the period f of the radio signal WS received by the receiving antenna unit 12 can be identified.

  Further, in the multifunction device 1, the operation keys 74 to 77 pressed by the user in order to input an instruction for causing the function execution unit 15 to execute the function can be flexibly arranged.

  That is, the operation control apparatus according to the present invention includes the control unit 10 and the key units 74U to 77U.

  1 to 6 in the above embodiment is merely an example of the embodiment according to the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to the above embodiment.

  For example, an input key unit including each key of the input key 73a (FIG. 2) may be configured in the same manner as the key units 74 to 77. Moreover, you may comprise the input key unit containing each input key 73b-73d (FIG. 2) similarly to the key units 74-77.

  A part of the operation keys 74 to 77 may be connected to the control unit 10 by a control bus or the like. In this case, when the part of the operation keys is pressed by the user, a signal indicating that the part of the operation keys is pressed is transmitted to the control unit 10 via the control bus or the like. In addition, when receiving a signal indicating that the part of the operation keys is pressed, the instruction reception unit 14 receives an operation instruction corresponding to the part of the operation keys.

  The operation control apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the one mounted on the image forming apparatus such as the multifunction machine 1, and other electronic apparatuses such as a scanner apparatus, a personal computer, a mobile phone, a microwave oven, and a washing machine. It can be applied to all electronic devices such as car navigation devices and game machines.

1 MFP (image forming device, electronic equipment)
10 Control unit (operation control device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Reception antenna part 13 Reference | standard oscillator 14 Instruction reception part 15 Function execution part 74, 74a-74m Switch (operation key)
741 Vibration power generation unit 742 Antenna circuit 74U Switch unit (key unit)
75 Start key (operation key)
751 Vibration power generation unit 752 Antenna circuit 75U Start key unit (key unit)
76 Stop key (operation key)
761 Vibration power generation unit 762 Antenna circuit 76U Stop key unit (key unit)
77 Reset key (operation key)
771 Vibration power generation unit 772 Antenna circuit 77U Reset key unit (key unit)
C Capacitance D1 Coil D2 Capacitor L Inductance WS Radio signal f Frequency

Claims (3)

Operation keys pressed by the user;
A vibration power generation unit that converts vibration when the operation key is pressed into electric power;
A circuit in which a coil and a capacitor are connected in parallel, and when the power is supplied from the vibration power generation unit, a radio signal having a frequency determined by the inductance of the coil and the capacitance of the capacitor is transmitted from the coil. An antenna circuit to transmit;
A receiving antenna unit for receiving the radio signal;
An instruction receiving unit that receives an operation instruction previously associated with the radio signal when the radio signal is received by the receiving antenna unit;
A reference oscillator that outputs a reference clock signal that oscillates at a predetermined frequency;
Equipped with a,
A plurality of key units including the operation key, the vibration power generation unit, and the antenna circuit;
The antenna circuit provided in each of the plurality of key units transmits the radio signals having different frequencies,
The instruction receiving unit identifies a frequency of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna unit, receives an operation instruction previously associated with the identified frequency ,
The instruction receiving unit detects a rising edge of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna unit in synchronization with the reference clock signal output from the reference oscillator, and then detects a falling edge of the radio signal. The number of clocks of the reference clock signal until detection is counted, and the result of doubling the product of the counted number of clocks of the reference clock signal and the period of the reference clock signal is calculated as the period of the radio signal An operation control device that identifies the reciprocal of the calculated cycle of the radio signal as the frequency of the radio signal . The operation control device according to claim 1 ;
A function execution unit for executing a function indicated by the operation instruction received by the instruction reception unit;
Electronic equipment comprising. The operation control device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A function execution unit for executing a function indicated by the operation instruction received by the instruction reception unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images