JP6054494B2 - Operating device and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operating device and an electronic apparatus including the operating device.

  In recent years, MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) having functions such as scanners, facsimiles, printers, and copiers have been used in offices and the like. A multifunction machine is often used in a situation where it is connected to an information processing terminal such as a personal computer through a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Then, it functions as an image forming device that prints image data input from the information processing terminal on paper, functions as an image reading device that acquires image data used in the information processing terminal, and searches document image data. It functions as a document management device that accumulates as possible.

  The user's instruction for the multifunction peripheral having such various functions is input through an operation device included in the multifunction peripheral, for example. As an example of such an operation device, an operation device including a touch panel is widely known. As is well known, the touch panel has a function of a display device and a function of an input device, displays operation buttons, and detects a pressed position (touch position) by a sensor or the like disposed on the display surface. On this display surface, various operation buttons corresponding to each function provided in the multifunction device can be displayed, and the user can appropriately operate various operation buttons displayed on the touch panel so that various functions of the multifunction device can be displayed. Each can be performed. In such a touch panel, since the operation buttons are arranged over a plurality of pages, it is necessary to press the operation button displayed on the display surface in order to display the desired operation button on the display surface. Since such an operation is complicated, an operation device in which an operation button (for example, a numeric keypad or a copy start key) that is frequently used is provided as a hard key on the touch panel is widely used.

  Various techniques for improving the user's convenience of use have been proposed for the above operation devices (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an operation display device that can arbitrarily change the function assignment of the operation input buttons by the user. In this operation display device, a user can arbitrarily assign a function executed by an operation button displayed on the touch panel to a function setting button configured by a hard key.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 describes that when a specific number of times (a region where frequently used operation buttons are displayed) is prevented from deteriorating on the pressing surface of the touch panel, the operation button is pressed when the number of times of pressing exceeds a predetermined number. A communication device is disclosed in which the display position of is replaced with the display position of other operation buttons. In this communication device, in order to prevent the user's convenience of use from being deteriorated due to repeated switching of display positions, the operation buttons are emphasized in a predetermined order on the touch panel whose layout has been changed. It is configured to display.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an image forming apparatus capable of changing the display position and size of each operation button arranged over a plurality of pages.

  Patent Document 4 discloses an operation input device that derives an evaluation value of each key based on a key operation history and changes the key layout according to the evaluation value when the user activates the operation of the layout changing unit. doing.

JP 2005-322026 A JP 2010-219990 A JP 2005-045370 A JP 2005-254624 A

  In recent years, multifunctionalization of multifunction devices has been progressing more and more, and the function assignment to a fixed number of hard keys as disclosed in Patent Document 1 may cause a situation where the number of assignable functions is not sufficient. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to arrange an operation button (for example, a shortcut key) assigned a function on a specific page displayed on the touch panel. By assigning functions to the soft keys in this way, it becomes possible to arrange the operation buttons to which the functions are assigned over a plurality of pages, and the number of assignable functions can be eliminated.

  From the viewpoint of improving the convenience for the user, it is preferable that the operation button to which such a function is assigned can arbitrarily and easily change the display position according to the user's preference. Although it seems that the display position on the same page can be changed by applying the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, the operation button is moved between different pages when the operation buttons are arranged over a plurality of pages. It is difficult. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, the user needs to display a list of setting items for changing the position and change a desired item, which is not an easy operation for the user.

  For example, if a configuration in which the operation button is moved by a known drag operation or the like is adopted, the user can change the position by an intuitive operation. However, even with this method, it is difficult to move the operation buttons between different pages unless special measures are taken.

  Such a problem cannot be solved even by applying the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 4 described above.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and an operation device that allows the user to easily change the display position of the operation button displayed on the display surface of the touch panel according to preference. And an electronic device.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the operating device according to the present invention employs the following technical means. That is, the operating device according to the present invention includes a touch panel, an arrangement order holding unit, an operation recognition unit, a determination unit, and an arrangement order changing unit. The touch panel displays a plurality of operation buttons on the display surface and detects a pressed position on the display surface. The arrangement order holding unit holds arrangement order information of each operation button on the display surface of the touch panel. The operation recognizing unit recognizes input content including variation information indicating variation in a series of pressing positions on the display surface of the touch panel and operation buttons corresponding to the variation in the series of pressing positions. The determination unit determines whether or not the variation information recognized by the operation recognition unit matches an operation condition registered in advance. When the determination unit determines that the arrangement order change unit matches, the arrangement order change unit determines that the determination unit matches the arrangement order information held in the arrangement order holding unit with respect to the arrangement order of the operation buttons recognized by the operation recognition unit. The order is changed to the arrangement order information in which the order change corresponding to the operating condition is performed. In the above configuration, a plurality of operation buttons are arranged over a plurality of pages, and the order change corresponding to the operation condition determined to be matched by the determination unit is the operation button recognized by the operation recognition unit. If the order is changed from the first page to which the operation button belongs to a second page different from the first page and the operation button belonging to the second page is moved to the first page, the arrangement order is changed. The unit displays a selection screen on the touch panel. The selection screen is displayed when the determination unit determines that they match, and is displayed to allow the user to select an operation button to be moved to the first page from the operation buttons belonging to the second page. In addition, when the user selects a specific operation button from the selection screen, the arrangement order changing unit changes the arrangement order information of the operation button recognized by the operation recognition unit to a state in which the operation button is moved to the second page. The arrangement order information of the selected specific operation button is changed to the state moved to the first page.

  In this operation device, when the user performs an operation of changing the pressed position in the pressed state on the display surface of the touch panel, the operation recognition unit recognizes the input content. The input content includes operation variation information and an operation button designated by a series of variations in the pressed position. For example, when the user draws a circle so as to surround a specific operation button on the touch panel, the operation recognition unit recognizes the circle as the variation information and the operation button surrounded by the circle as the input content. . At this time, if “circle” is registered as the operation condition, and “move to head” is registered as the order change corresponding to the operation condition, the arrangement order change unit is held in the arrangement order holding unit. In the arrangement order information, the order is changed by moving the operation button surrounded by a circle to the top. Therefore, the user can change the display position of the operation button displayed on the display surface of the touch panel according to his / her preference by a very simple operation. In addition, when there is a need to move another operation button belonging to the destination page to the source page as the specified operation button moves to another page, the user can select the other operation button according to his / her preference. Can be moved.

  In the operation device, a configuration in which the arrangement order changing unit displays the selection screen on the first page can be employed. Thereby, the user can easily specify the operation button to be moved.

  In the operation device, a configuration in which the arrangement order holding unit further holds fixed button information for specifying an operation button for fixing an arrangement position among the plurality of operation buttons can be adopted. In this configuration, the arrangement order changing unit performs the above-described order change except for the operation buttons corresponding to the fixed button information. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an operation button that the user does not want to move according to the movement of the designated operation button.

  On the other hand, in another aspect, the present invention can provide an electronic device including the above-described operation device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the user can change easily the display position of the operation button displayed on the display surface of a touch panel according to liking.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an operation panel of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows an example of the operation button arrangement | positioning order change procedure which the multifunctional machine in one Embodiment of this invention implements The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the button arrangement | positioning order table which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention hold | maintains The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the order change table which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention hold | maintains The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the button arrangement | positioning order table which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention hold | maintains The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the button arrangement | positioning order table which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention hold | maintains The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the selection screen which the multifunctional machine in one Embodiment of this invention displays The figure which shows an example of the button arrangement | positioning order table which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention hold | maintains The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the button arrangement | positioning order table which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention hold | maintains The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays. The figure which shows an example of the user menu page which the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention displays.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the present invention is embodied as a digital multifunction machine.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a main body 101 including an image reading unit 120 and an image forming unit 140, and a platen cover 102 attached above the main body 101. A document table 103 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 101, and the document table 103 is opened and closed by a platen cover 102. Further, the platen cover 102 includes a document conveying device 110.

  An image reading unit 120 is provided below the document table 103. The image reading unit 120 reads an image of a document with the scanning optical system 121 and generates digital data (image data) of the image. The document can be placed on the document table 103 or the document transport device 110. The scanning optical system 121 includes a first carriage 122, a second carriage 123, and a condenser lens 124. The first carriage 122 is provided with a linear light source 131 and a mirror 132, and the second carriage 123 is provided with mirrors 133 and 134. The light source 131 illuminates the document. The mirrors 132, 133, and 134 guide reflected light from the document to the condenser lens 124, and the condenser lens 124 forms an optical image on the light receiving surface of the line image sensor 125. In the scanning optical system 121, the first carriage 122 and the second carriage 123 are provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction 135. By moving the first carriage 122 and the second carriage 123 in the sub-scanning direction 135, the image of the document placed on the document table 103 can be read by the image sensor 125. When reading an image of a document set on the document conveying device 110, the image reading unit 120 temporarily fixes the first carriage 122 and the second carriage 123 according to the image reading position, and passes the image reading position. Are read by the image sensor 125. The image sensor 125 generates image data of a document corresponding to, for example, each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) from the light image incident on the light receiving surface. The generated image data can be printed on paper in the image forming unit 140. Further, the data can be transmitted to other devices (not shown) through the network 162 by the network interface 161.

  The image forming unit 140 prints image data obtained by the image reading unit 120 or image data received from another device connected to the network 162 on a sheet. The image forming unit 140 includes a photosensitive drum 141. The photosensitive drum 141 rotates in one direction at a constant speed. Around the photosensitive drum 141, a charger 142, an exposure unit 143, a developing unit 144, and an intermediate transfer belt 145 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the rotation direction. The charger 142 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 141. The exposure device 143 irradiates the surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor drum 141 with light according to the image data, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 141. The developing device 144 attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image and forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 141. The intermediate transfer belt 145 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 141 onto a sheet. When the image data is a color image, the intermediate transfer belt 145 transfers each color toner image onto the same sheet. The RGB color image is converted into C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) format image data, and the image data of each color is input to the exposure unit 143.

  The image forming unit 140 feeds paper from the manual feed tray 151, the paper feed cassettes 152, 153, and 154 to the transfer unit between the intermediate transfer belt 145 and the transfer roller 146. Various sizes of paper can be placed or stored in the manual feed tray 151 and the paper feed cassettes 152, 153, and 154. The image forming unit 140 selects a sheet specified by the user or a sheet corresponding to the automatically detected document size, and feeds the selected sheet from the manual feed tray 151 or the cassettes 152, 153, and 154 by the feeding roller 155. . The fed paper is transported to the transfer section by transport rollers 156 and registration rollers 157. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 148 by the conveyance belt 147. The fixing device 148 has a fixing roller 158 and a pressure roller 159 with a built-in heater, and fixes the toner image on the sheet by heat and pressing force. The image forming unit 140 discharges the sheet that has passed through the fixing device 148 to the discharge tray 149.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of an operation panel included in the multifunction peripheral. The user can use the operation panel 200 to give the MFP 100 a start of copying and other instructions, and to confirm the status and settings of the MFP 100. On the operation panel 200, a display 201 with a touch panel and operation keys 203 are arranged. The display 201 includes a display surface including a liquid crystal display that displays operation buttons, messages, and the like, and a sensor that detects a pressed position on the display surface. The detection method of a press position is not specifically limited. Any method such as a resistance film method, a capacitance method, a surface acoustic wave method, and an electromagnetic wave method can be employed. The user can input through the display 201 using his / her finger or the touch pen 202.

  The display 201 displays an operation screen having a button display unit 204, a message display unit 205, and a status display unit 206. A plurality of tabs 208 are prepared in the button display unit 204, and operation buttons corresponding to the tab category are arranged on each tab. The “easy setting” tab has operation buttons used for basic setting. In the example of FIG. 2, operation buttons for setting paper size, copy magnification, density, printing surface, page aggregation, and post-processing are arranged. For example, when the user performs an operation of pressing the “density” button 207, a pop-up screen having selection buttons such as “light”, “normal”, and “dark” for selecting the density is displayed over the operation button. The density is set by the user's selection (pressing). In the example of FIG. 2, in addition to the “easy setting” tab, a “document / paper / finish” tab, a “color / image quality” tab, a “layout / edit” tab, and an “application / others” tab are also provided. The user can switch to the display of these tabs by performing an operation of selecting the tab button 208. While one tab is selected, other tabs and their elements are hidden on the operation screen.

  The message display unit 205 displays a message notifying the user of settings such as whether copying is possible and the number of copies. Note that the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform user authentication processing (login processing) for confirming the user (operator) usage qualification when the MFP 100 is used. FIG. 2 shows a state before the user authentication processing is performed, and a message “Please enter authentication information” requesting input of user authentication information is displayed on the message display unit 205. . Here, the user inputs user authentication information using the software keyboard displayed on the display 201 by selecting (pressing) the software keyboard display button 209.

  The status display unit 206 displays device status information as necessary. In this display, detection results of various sensors included in the multifunction peripheral 100 are reflected. The device status information means a message that notifies the user of a warning that prompts the user to respond to an abnormality although the device is in an operable state. For example, the fact that the remaining amount of paper is low, the document platen 103 is dirty, and the facsimile document is stored in the memory when the facsimile memory reception is set is included. Further, the device status information may include out-of-paper, conveyance jam, and the like.

  The operation keys 203 include a numeric keypad 210, a start key 211, a clear key 212, a LogOut key 213, a main power key 214, and the like. For example, the numeric keypad 210 can be used for specifying the number of copies and setting the copy magnification. When the user makes these settings, the multi-function device 100 displays a message such as “Can be copied (with settings)” on the message display unit 205 to notify the user that the settings have been made. The start key 211 is used for a start instruction for copying or image printing. The user operates the clear key 212 when canceling the setting made by the user. Since whether or not the machine accepts the setting by the user can be determined by the above-described message, the clear key 212 may be operated if the setting becomes unnecessary. The main power key 214 is used to switch the main power supply of the multifunction peripheral 100 on and off. Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the operation through the operation panel 200 is prohibited except for the input of information related to the authentication until the user's use qualification is confirmed by the user authentication process described above. . When the authenticated user presses the LogOut key 213 after using the multifunction peripheral, or when the operation of the operation panel 200 and the operation of the image reading unit 120 and the image forming unit 140 are not performed for a predetermined time after the authentication, the multifunction peripheral 100 It is configured to return to the state before the authentication process is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control system in the multifunction machine. The multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 302, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 303, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 304, an original transport device 110, and an image reading unit 120. A driver 305 corresponding to each drive unit in the image forming unit 140 is connected via an internal bus 306. The ROM 303, the HDD 304, and the like store programs, and the CPU 301 controls the multifunction peripheral 100 in accordance with the instructions of the control program. For example, the CPU 301 uses the RAM 302 as a work area, and controls the operation of each driving unit by exchanging data and commands with the driver 305. The HDD 304 is also used to store image data obtained by the image reading unit 120 and image data received from other devices through the network interface 161.

  An operation panel 200, a network interface 161, and various sensors 307 are also connected to the internal bus 306. The operation panel 200 receives a user operation and supplies a signal based on the operation to the CPU 301. The display 201 of the operation panel 200 displays the above-described operation screen according to a control signal from the CPU 301. The sensor 307 includes various sensors such as an open / close detection sensor for the platen cover 102, a document detection sensor on the document table 103, a temperature sensor for the fixing device 148, and a detection sensor for the conveyed paper or document.

  The CPU 301 executes, for example, a program stored in the ROM 303 to realize each of the following means (functional blocks) and controls the operation of each means according to signals from these sensors.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the MFP according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment includes an arrangement order holding unit 401, an operation recognition unit 402, a determination unit 403, and an arrangement order changing unit 404. Although not particularly limited, in the following, operation buttons such as shortcut keys to which functions are assigned are arranged on a specific page (hereinafter referred to as a user menu page) displayed on the display 201, and the operation buttons are arranged on the user menu page. An example of changing the order will be described. In the following example, the shape and size of the operation buttons are fixed, and eight operation buttons per page are arranged at a predetermined position in the page on the user menu page.

  The arrangement order holding unit 401 holds arrangement order information of each operation button on the display surface of the display 201 (touch panel). Although not particularly limited, here, the arrangement order holding unit 401 holds arrangement order information as a button arrangement order table. As will be described later, the button arrangement order table stores information indicating a position where the operation button is arranged on the user menu page and information indicating a function assigned to the position in association with each other.

  The operation recognition unit 402 recognizes pressing of the operation key 203 and pressing of the display 201 on the operation panel 200, and recognizes the operation content of the user. The operation recognition unit 402 displays the above-described various operation screens including a plurality of operation buttons on the display surface of the display 201 through the display control unit 405. In the present embodiment, the coordinates of the pressed position detected by the sensor that detects the pressed position of the display 201 are input to the operation recognition unit 402, and the operation recognition unit 402 and the coordinates of the screen elements such as operation buttons held by the operation recognition unit 402 Based on the coordinates of the input pressing position, the user's operation content on the display 201 is recognized. The operation recognized by the operation recognition unit 402 is input to the authentication unit 406, the determination unit 403, or the operation control unit 407.

  In the present embodiment, the operation recognizing unit 402 includes a pressed position variation information recognizing unit 411 and a target operation button recognizing unit 412, variation information indicating a series of variation of the pressed position on the display surface of the display 201, and the series of pressed positions. An input content including an operation button corresponding to a change in position is recognized.

  A series of changes in the pressed position means an operation of changing the pressed position while maintaining the pressed state (that is, without being detached from the display surface). That is, a series of pressing position fluctuations from when pressing starts until pressing is canceled. For example, the display surface of the display 201 displays a figure or a character (hereinafter referred to as a figure or the like) that can be drawn with a single stroke such as C, U, or W while maintaining the pressed state. The drawing operation is included in a series of changes in the pressed position.

  An operation button corresponding to a series of changes in the pressed position means an operation button specified based on a figure or the like drawn by the series of changes in the pressed position. For example, an operation button that exists inside a graphic drawn while maintaining the pressed state, or an operation button that overlaps the graphic is included in the operation buttons corresponding to a series of changes in the pressed position.

  The pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 recognizes variation information of the pressing position on the display surface of the display 201 starting from a position where the user starts pressing (hereinafter referred to as a pressing start point). Also, the target operation button recognition unit 412 is based on the variation information recognized by the pressed position variation information recognition unit 411, and the coordinates of the variation information on the display 201 and the operation buttons displayed on the display surface of the display 201. Based on the coordinates on the display 201, an operation button corresponding to a series of changes in the pressed position is specified.

  The determination unit 403 determines whether or not the variation information recognized by the operation recognition unit 402 (pressed position variation information recognition unit 411) matches an operation condition registered in advance. The determination unit 403 stores the above-described graphics and the like that can be drawn with one stroke, which is an operation condition, and the order change method in association with each other. Although there is no particular limitation, here, the determination unit 403 holds these pieces of information as an order change table. As will be described later, the order change table stores a figure or the like, which is an operation condition, and an order change method such as “move to the beginning” or “move to the end” in association with each other.

  The arrangement order changing unit 404 changes the arrangement order information held in the arrangement order holding unit 401 when the determination unit 403 determines that they match. The order change is an order change according to the order change method corresponding to the operation condition determined by the determination unit 403 to match, and is stored in the arrangement order of the operation buttons recognized by the operation recognition unit 402 (positioned order holding unit 401). To the arrangement order information).

  When displaying the above-described user menu page, the display control unit 405 displays each operation button on the display surface of the display 201 according to the arrangement order information held in the arrangement order holding unit 401.

  The authentication unit 406 executes the above-described user authentication by determining whether or not the user authentication information input through the operation panel 200 satisfies a pre-registered authentication condition. In the present embodiment, as described above, the user inputs user authentication information using the software keyboard displayed on the display 201. In the present embodiment, a user ID uniquely assigned to each user and a password associated with the user ID are used as user authentication information. The user ID may be any information that can identify the user, and here is configured by information including characters, symbols, and the like that can be input with the software keyboard. The password is also composed of information made up of characters, symbols, etc. that can be entered with the software keyboard.

  In the present embodiment, the authentication unit 406 has registered in advance a permitted user list in which a user ID of a user who is permitted to use the MFP 100 and a password associated with the user ID are recorded. If the user ID and password recognized by the operation recognition unit 402 are included in the authorized user list, the authentication unit 406 determines that the user authentication condition is satisfied. If the user authentication condition is satisfied, the authentication unit 406 permits the user to use the multifunction peripheral 100 (generation of image data in the image reading unit 120, printing of image data in the image forming unit 140, etc.), and user authentication. When the condition is not satisfied, the use of the multifunction device 100 by the user is prohibited. In the present embodiment, the various processes in the MFP 100 are configured to be executed by the operation control unit 407 based on a user instruction recognized by the operation recognition unit 402, and the authentication unit 406 is configured to be the operation control unit 407. Various processes are realized by removing the operation restrictions.

  The operation control unit 407 executes generation of image data in the image reading unit 120, printing of image data in the image forming unit 140, and the like based on a user instruction through the operation panel 200 recognized by the operation recognition unit 402.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for changing the operation button arrangement order performed by the multifunction peripheral 100. The procedure starts when the user authentication is performed and an operation button order change target screen (here, a user menu page) is displayed on the display 201 as a trigger. When the procedure starts, the multi-function device 100 (for example, the operation recognizing unit 402) waits for an input by the user (No in step S501 in FIG. 5). The operation button order change target screen may be configured to be displayed on the display 201 by a user operation on the operation panel 200, but here, the operation button order change target screen (user menu page) is displayed immediately after the authentication process. The display 201 is configured to be displayed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user menu page displayed by the multi-function device 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the user menu page 601 includes an operation button arrangement area 602. As described above, in this embodiment, eight operation buttons are arranged in one page. In FIG. 6, the positions where the operation buttons are arranged are indicated by broken lines. Information (position ID) indicating the position is given to each position where the operation button is arranged. Here, as shown in the rectangle of FIG. 6, “position 1”, “position 2”,.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a button arrangement order table held by the arrangement order holding unit 401, and FIG. 8 shows a user menu page corresponding to the button arrangement order table. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the button arrangement order table 701 records a position ID and information indicating a function assigned to the position in association with each other. The functions can be executed in the multifunction device 100 such as a copy function or a print function in which processing conditions for post-processing such as a 4-in-1 layout or stapling are set, a FAX transmission function in which a plurality of transmission destinations are registered, and a file transmission function. Any function can be registered. Here, for the sake of explanation, the registered functions are simply expressed as “function 1”, “function 2”,. Although it is possible to register the same function to different operation buttons, the contents of the registered functions are different from each other here.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which seven operation buttons are registered, and the functions “function 1” to “function 7” are associated with the position IDs “position 1” to “position 7”, respectively. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, operation buttons corresponding to “function 1” to “function 7” are arranged in the rectangles “position 1” to “position 7” shown in FIG.

  In this state, a user who desires to change the arrangement order of the operation buttons inputs a graphic or the like that matches an operation condition registered in the determination unit 403 in advance. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the order change table held by the determination unit 403. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the order change table 901 records graphics and the like as operation conditions in association with the order change method. In the example of FIG. 9, the operation conditions “circle” and “move to the beginning”, the operation conditions “check mark” and “move to the end”, the operation conditions “square” and “fixed position”, and the operation conditions “triangle” and “ "Position release" is associated with each. The operating condition may be only the shape, but for example, figures with different drawing directions such as “clockwise circle” and “counterclockwise circle” may be registered as different operating conditions.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that the user draws a “circle” while maintaining the pressed state on the operation button “function 6” of the display 201 on the user menu page shown in FIG. 8 (Yes in step S501 in FIG. 5). .

  In this case, the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 recognizes variation information (here, “circle”) of the pressing position starting from the pressing start point (step S502 in FIG. 5). In addition, the target operation button recognition unit 412 includes the coordinates on the display 201 of the “circle” recognized by the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 and the coordinates on the display 201 of the operation buttons displayed on the display surface of the display 201. The operation button (in this case, the operation button “function 6”) is specified based on (step S503 in FIG. 5).

  The operation recognizing unit 402 inputs the input content (variation information and operation button information) recognized by the pressed position variation information recognizing unit 411 and the target operation button recognizing unit 412 to the determining unit 403. Note that the operation recognition unit 402 inputs the recognized input content to the operation control unit 407 when, for example, an input in which the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 cannot recognize the variation information, such as a single press, is made. That is, the operation recognizing unit 402 inputs an operation for changing the arrangement order and an operation that cannot be confirmed to the operation control unit 407.

  The determination unit 403 to which the variation information and the operation button information are input determines whether or not the input variation information matches the operation condition registered in advance (step S504 in FIG. 5). In this example, “circle” is input as the variation information, and “circle” is also registered in the operation condition of the order change table 901. Therefore, the determination unit 403 determines that they match (Yes in step S504 in FIG. 5). At this time, the determination unit 403 uses the input operation button information (here, the operation button) based on the order change method (here, “move to the top”) associated with the operation condition that matches the input variation information. “Function 6”) is input to the arrangement order changing unit 404. If it is determined in step S504 that the determination unit 403 does not match, the determination unit 403 does not do anything and waits for the next input (steps S504 No and S501 in FIG. 5).

  The arrangement order changing unit 404 to which the operation button information and the order changing method are input changes the arrangement order information held in the arrangement order holding unit 401 according to the input information (step S505 in FIG. 5). In this example, the arrangement order changing unit 404 changes the button arrangement order table 701 to a state in which the operation button “function 6” is moved to the top. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the button arrangement order table 701 changed by the arrangement order changing unit 404. As shown in FIG. 11, the operation button “function 6” is moved to the position ID “position 1”, and the other operation buttons (“function 1” to “function 5”) are moved to the position ID “position” along with the movement. 2 ”to“ position 6 ”.

  Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, at this time, the display control unit 405 displays the user menu page 601 based on the changed button arrangement order table 701. FIG. 12 shows the user menu page. As shown in FIG. 12, the operation buttons on the user menu page 601 are arranged according to the button arrangement order table 701 shown in FIG. In the user menu page 601, the display control unit 405 that has recognized the change in the button arrangement order table 701 displays an “OK” button 1201 and a “Cancel” button 1202 in the user menu page 601. When the “OK” button 1201 is selected in this state, the above-described changed button arrangement order table 701 is confirmed. On the other hand, when the “cancel” button 1202 is selected, the above-described order change is canceled and returned to the button arrangement order table 701 before the change (see FIG. 7).

  As described above, in the multifunction machine 100, the display position of the operation button displayed on the display surface of the display 201 can be changed by a very simple operation in which the user changes the pressed position while pressing the display surface of the display 201. It can be changed according to your preference.

  Here, the arrangement order change other than “move to head” will be briefly described.

  As illustrated in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the user draws a “check mark” while maintaining the pressed state on the operation button “function 2” of the display 201 in the user menu page illustrated in FIG. 8. In this case, the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 recognizes “check mark” as variation information, and the target operation button recognition unit 412 identifies the operation button “function 2”.

  The determination unit 403 displays the order change method “move to the end” associated with the operation condition that matches the input variation information “check mark” together with the input operation button information “function 2”. Input to 404.

  The arrangement order changing unit 404 changes the button arrangement order table 701 to a state in which the operation button “function 2” is moved to the end. As a result, the operation button “function 2” is moved to the position ID “position 7”, and other operation buttons (“function 3” to “function 7”) are moved to the position IDs “position 2” to “position 7”. Moved to position 6 ".

  At this time, the display control unit 405 displays the user menu page 601 based on the changed button arrangement order table 701. As shown in FIG. 14, the operation buttons on the user menu page 601 are arranged according to the changed button arrangement order table 701. As described above, when the “OK” button 1201 is selected in this state, the changed button arrangement order table 701 is confirmed.

  Next, a case where the user menu page is a plurality of pages will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a button arrangement order table when the user menu page is a plurality of pages. As shown in FIG. 15, the button arrangement order table 1501 records the position ID and information indicating the function assigned to the position in association with each page of the user menu page. In the example of FIG. 15, 15 operation buttons are registered. The functions “function 1” to “function 8” are respectively associated with the position IDs “position 1” to “position 8” on the first page, and the position IDs “position 1” to “position 8” on the second page. In addition, the functions “function 9” to “function 15” are associated with each other.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a user menu page displayed according to the button arrangement order table 1501. FIG. 16A corresponds to the first page, and FIG. 16B corresponds to the second page. As shown in FIG. 16A, operation buttons corresponding to “function 1” to “function 8” are arranged at “position 1” to “position 8” of the user menu page 1611 of the first page. Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, operation buttons corresponding to “function 9” to “function 15” are arranged at “position 1” to “position 7” of the user menu page 1612 of the second page, respectively. . As shown in FIG. 16A, a “next page” button 1601 selected to display the second user menu page 1612 is arranged on the first user menu page 1611. Also, as shown in FIG. 16B, a “previous page” button 1602 selected to display the first user menu page 1611 is arranged on the second user menu page 1612.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 17, it is assumed that the user draws a “check mark” while maintaining the pressed state on the operation button “function 2” of the user menu page 1611 of the first page. In this case, the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 recognizes “check mark” as variation information, and the target operation button recognition unit 412 identifies the operation button “function 2”.

  The determination unit 403 displays the order change method “move to the end” associated with the operation condition that matches the input variation information “check mark” together with the input operation button information “function 2”. Input to 404.

  The arrangement order changing unit 404 changes the button arrangement order table 1501 to the state in which the operation button “function 2” is moved to the end. In this example, the last position is the position ID “position 7” on the second page. That is, when the other operation buttons (“function 3” to “function 15”) are moved along with the movement, it is necessary to move one operation button from the second page to the first page. Although it is possible to move the operation button at the top of the second page to the first page, in this embodiment, the operation button recognized by the target operation button recognition unit 412 (operation recognition unit 402) as described above. In addition, when it is necessary to move the operation button to another page, the user is requested to select the operation button to be moved to the other page. That is, as shown in FIG. 18, the arrangement order changing unit 404 selects a selection screen for selecting an operation button to be moved to the first page from the operation buttons “function 9” to “function 15” on the second page. 1801 is displayed on the display 201. In the example of FIG. 18, “function 12” is selected as an operation button to be moved to the first page by the user.

  In this case, the arrangement order changing unit 404 changes the button arrangement order table 1501 to the state in which the operation button “function 2” is moved to the end, and “function 12” on the second page is changed to the end of the first page. Change to the state moved to. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the operation button “function 2” is moved to the position ID “position 7” on the second page, and the operation button “function 12” is moved to the position ID “position 8” on the first page. Moved to. In addition, the other operation buttons (“function 3” to “function 8”) on the first page are moved to the position IDs “position 2” to “position 7” along with the movement, and other operations on the second page The operation buttons ("function 13" to "function 15") are moved to the position IDs "position 4" to "position 6".

  At this time, the display control unit 405 displays user menu pages 1611 and 1612 based on the changed button arrangement order table 1501. As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the operation buttons on the user menu pages 1611 and 1612 are arranged according to the changed button arrangement order table 1501. As described above, when the “OK” button 1201 is selected in this state, the changed button arrangement order table 1501 is confirmed.

  Next, fixing operation buttons that the user does not want to move will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 21, it is assumed that the user draws a “square” while maintaining the pressed state on the operation button “function 4” of the display 201 on the user menu page illustrated in FIG. 8. In this case, the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 recognizes “square” as the variation information, and the target operation button recognition unit 412 identifies the operation button “function 4”.

  The determination unit 403 inputs the order change method “fixed position” associated with the operation condition that matches the input variation information “square” to the arrangement order change unit 404 together with the input operation button information “function 4”. To do. The arrangement order changing unit 404 places the operation button “function 4” in the fixed state in the button arrangement order table 701. At this time, on the user menu page 601, as shown in FIG. 22, a position fixing mark 2201 indicating that the operation button “function 4” is in a fixed state is displayed. When the “OK” button 1201 is selected in this state, fixing of the operation button “function 4” is confirmed.

  In this state, it is assumed that the user draws a “check mark” while maintaining the pressed state on the operation button “function 2” of the display 201 as shown in FIG. In this case, the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 recognizes “check mark” as variation information, and the target operation button recognition unit 412 identifies the operation button “function 2”.

  The determination unit 403 displays the order change method “move to the end” associated with the operation condition that matches the input variation information “check mark” together with the input operation button information “function 2”. Input to 404.

  The arrangement order changing unit 404 changes the button arrangement order table 701 to a state in which the operation button “function 2” is moved to the end. At this time, as shown in FIG. 24, the operation button “function 2” is moved to the position ID “position 7”, and the other operation buttons are also moved along with the movement. However, since the operation button “function 4” is in a fixed state, “function 3” and “function 5” are moved to the position IDs “position 2” to “position 3”, and “function 6” to “function 7” are changed. The position ID is moved from “position 5” to “position 6”.

  At this time, the display control unit 405 displays the user menu page 601 based on the changed button arrangement order table 701. As shown in FIG. 25, the operation buttons on the user menu page 601 are arranged according to the changed button arrangement order table 701. As described above, when the “OK” button 1201 is selected in this state, the changed button arrangement order table 701 is confirmed.

  Note that when the user desires to release the operation button fixed as described above, in this embodiment, the user maintains the pressed state on the operation button on which the position fixing mark 2201 is displayed. "Draw." For example, when releasing the position of the operation button “function 4” in the user menu page 601 after the “OK” button 1201 is selected in the state shown in FIG. 25, as shown in FIG. 4 ”Draw a“ triangle ”while maintaining the pressed state. Accordingly, the pressing position variation information recognition unit 411 recognizes “triangle” as variation information, and the target operation button recognition unit 412 identifies the operation button “function 4”. Then, the determination unit 403 performs the order change method “position fixing release” associated with the operation condition that matches the input variation information “triangle” together with the input operation button information “function 4”. Input to 404. The arrangement order changing unit 404 releases the fixed state of the operation button “function 4” in the button arrangement order table 701. At this time, in the user menu page 601, the position fixing mark 2201 on the operation button “function 4” disappears.

  As described above, in the multifunction machine 100, the operation buttons displayed on the display surface of the display 201 by a very simple operation that the user changes the pressed position in a pressed state with respect to the display surface of the display 201. The display position of can be changed according to preference.

  Further, since the multifunction peripheral 100 is configured to display the selection screen 1801, when the movement of the designated operation button makes it necessary to move another operation button to another page, the user can select the other screen. The operation buttons can be moved as desired.

  Further, since the operation buttons can be fixed, it is possible to prevent the operation buttons that the user does not want to move according to the movement of the designated operation buttons.

  The above-described embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and various modifications and applications other than those already described are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operation button is moved to the head or tail, but may be moved to the head of any page or the tail of any page. In the above description, the arrangement order change is confirmed by selecting the “OK” button. However, the arrangement order change may be confirmed as it is without such confirmation. Moreover, although the structure provided with the authentication part 406 was demonstrated as the especially preferable form above, the authentication part 406 is not an essential component for this invention. For example, the same effect can be obtained as long as the user menu page can be provided for each user.

  Further, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the order of the steps can be changed as appropriate within a range where the equivalent operation is achieved. For example, the configuration may be such that the target operation button is specified when the input variation information matches the operation condition.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is embodied as a digital multi-function peripheral. However, the present invention is not limited to a digital multi-function peripheral, and is not limited to a digital multi-function peripheral, and may be any arbitrary electronic apparatus including an arbitrary image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copier. It is also possible to apply. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to any operation device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a user can change easily the display position of the operation button displayed on the display surface of a touchscreen according to liking, and it is useful as an operating device and an electronic device.

100 MFP 200 Operation Panel 201 Display (Touch Panel)
401 Arrangement Order Holding Unit 402 Operation Recognition Unit 403 Determination Unit 404 Arrangement Order Change Unit 411 Pressed Position Fluctuation Information Recognition Unit 412 Target Operation Button Recognition Unit 1801 Selection Screen 2201 Position Fixing Mark

Claims (4)

A touch panel that displays a plurality of operation buttons on the display surface and detects a pressed position on the display surface;
An arrangement order holding unit for holding arrangement order information of the operation buttons on the display surface;
An operation recognizing unit for recognizing input content including variation information indicating a variation of a series of pressing positions on the display surface and an operation button corresponding to the variation of the series of pressing positions;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the variation information recognized by the operation recognition unit matches a pre-registered operation condition;
When the determination unit determines that they match, the operation in which the determination unit determines that the arrangement order information held in the arrangement order holding unit matches the operation button arrangement order recognized by the operation recognition unit An arrangement order changing unit for changing to arrangement order information in which the order change corresponding to the condition is performed,
The plurality of operation buttons are arranged over a plurality of pages, and the operation buttons to which the order change corresponding to the operation condition determined to match by the determination unit is recognized by the operation recognition unit belong to the operation button. When the order is changed from the first page to the second page different from the first page and the operation buttons belonging to the second page are moved to the first page,
The arrangement order changing unit is a selection for allowing the user to select an operation button to be moved to the first page from among the operation buttons belonging to the second page when it is determined by the determination unit to match. A screen is displayed on the touch panel so as to overlap the first page, and when a specific operation button is selected from the selection screen by the user, the arrangement order information of the operation buttons recognized by the operation recognition unit is displayed. The operation device that changes to the state moved to the second page and changes the arrangement order information of the selected specific operation button to the state moved to the first page. A touch panel that displays a plurality of operation buttons on the display surface and detects a pressed position on the display surface;
An arrangement order holding unit for holding arrangement order information of the operation buttons on the display surface;
An operation recognizing unit for recognizing input content including variation information indicating a variation of a series of pressing positions on the display surface and an operation button corresponding to the variation of the series of pressing positions;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the variation information recognized by the operation recognition unit matches a pre-registered operation condition;
When the determination unit determines that they match, the operation in which the determination unit determines that the arrangement order information held in the arrangement order holding unit matches the operation button arrangement order recognized by the operation recognition unit An arrangement order changing unit for changing to arrangement order information in which the order change corresponding to the condition is performed,
The plurality of operation buttons are arranged over a plurality of pages, and the operation buttons to which the order change corresponding to the operation condition determined to match by the determination unit is recognized by the operation recognition unit belong to the operation button. When the order is changed from the first page to the second page different from the first page and the operation buttons belonging to the second page are moved to the first page,
The arrangement order changing unit is a selection for allowing the user to select an operation button to be moved to the first page from among the operation buttons belonging to the second page when it is determined by the determination unit to match. When the screen is displayed on the touch panel and a specific operation button is selected from the selection screen by the user, the arrangement order information of the operation button recognized by the operation recognition unit is moved to the second page And the arrangement order information of the selected specific operation button is changed to the state moved to the first page ,
The arrangement order holding unit further holds fixed button information for specifying an operation button for fixing an arrangement position among the plurality of operation buttons, and the arrangement order changing unit excludes an operation button corresponding to the fixed button information. An operating device for performing the order change . The arrangement order holding unit further holds fixed button information for specifying an operation button for fixing an arrangement position among the plurality of operation buttons, and the arrangement order changing unit excludes an operation button corresponding to the fixed button information. implementing the reordering operation apparatus according to claim 1. An electronic apparatus comprising the operating device according to claim 1.

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