JPH01193794A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable even an unexperienced operator to quickly and easily perform the operation by controlling display of a display element corresponding to a function key to be next selected and operated out of display elements corresponding to respective function keys. CONSTITUTION:A control means 11 controls display of display elements corresponding to operatable function keys 6 respectively to inform the operator of operatable keys 6, and the operator sees display of these display elements to find that they can be operated. When he operates the key 6 which realizes a purpose out of operatable keys 6, the control means 11 controls display of the display element corresponding to the key 6 to be operated. Consequently, the operator operates the key 6 corresponding to this display element. Thus, even the unexperienced operator can quickly and easily perform the operation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to electronic equipment such as so-called office automation equipment (OA equipment), and particularly has an operation guide function to facilitate the operation of the electronic equipment. This is related to electronic equipment.

(Prior art) In recent years, facsimiles, copying machines, word processors,
2. Description of the Related Art So-called office automation devices (OA devices) such as personal computers have become widespread and are used by various people as familiar tools. With advances in microcomputer technology and semiconductor technology, the functions of such OA equipment have become increasingly sophisticated, and while they have become more convenient, they have also become more complex in operation. As a result, operations become difficult to understand and use, and many great features remain unused. Furthermore, if you are not familiar with the OA equipment, you may not be able to use it at all.

By the way, in the past, if we consider a facsimile machine, which is one type of office automation equipment, its operation panel includes a display device, such as a dot matrix liquid crystal display panel, that displays the currently set mode, etc., and a display device that performs a series of operations. It consists of operation switches such as function keys and dial keys. According to this conventional device, in order to perform various complicated operations, it is necessary to memorize a series of operating methods. In order to solve this problem, it would be possible to provide operation guidance using the display device described above, but in order to implement this, a display panel with a large display capacity is required in order to make it easier for the operator to read. Moreover, the control becomes complicated and the operation guide costs more than necessary. Furthermore, in the case of a text-based operation guide, the user must read and understand the contents, which is not only very troublesome, but also makes it difficult to accurately inform the user of what operations need to be performed. For this reason, operators who are not familiar with the system are often confused by the operation and cannot proceed as expected, and it cannot be said that the guide function is sufficiently easy to understand and easy to operate.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As described above, with the advancement of microcomputer technology and semiconductor technology, the functions of office automation equipment such as facsimiles have become remarkable, and while they have become more convenient, they have also become more complex in operation. is inviting. As a result, operations have become difficult to understand and it has become difficult to master them. Also, if you are not familiar with the OA equipment,
It may even mean that it cannot be used at all.

By the way, if we consider a conventional facsimile, its operation panel is comprised of a display device that displays the currently set mode, etc., and operation switches such as function keys and dial keys that perform a series of operations. According to this conventional device, in order to perform various complicated operations, it is necessary to memorize a series of operation methods and perform key operations in sequence. Therefore, if you forget the operating procedure, you will not be able to perform the operation. In order to solve this problem, it would be possible to provide operation guidance using the above-mentioned display device, but if this were to be implemented, a display panel with a large display capacity would be required in order to make it easier for the operator to read the information. Moreover, the control becomes complicated and the operation guide costs more than necessary. Furthermore, in the case of a text-based operation guide, the user must read and understand the contents, which is not only extremely troublesome, but also difficult to accurately inform the user of what operations to perform. For this reason, operators who are not familiar with the system are often confused by the operation and cannot proceed as expected, and it cannot be said that the guide function is sufficiently easy to understand and easy to operate.

Particularly in cases where quick operations are required, even the operation guide will be of no use.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system that does not require the use of a display device with a large character capacity, and that can provide easy-to-understand and reliable instructions for operating procedures, allowing even inexperienced operators to perform operations quickly and easily. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device having an operation guide function that allows the user to perform the following operations.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is carried out as follows. That is, in an electronic device that has a plurality of function keys that instruct specific functions, and which is configured to realize a predetermined function by operating these function keys in combination in a predetermined order, there is a function key that corresponds to each of the function keys. The display device is configured to include a display element provided therein, and a control means for controlling the display of the display element corresponding to the function key to be selected next among these display elements.

(Function) In such a configuration, in order to execute a specific function, a combination operation is performed in which related function keys including the function key instructing the specific function are operated in sequence. Since it is not known at the initial stage what kind of functions are required to be realized, the control means controls the display on the display elements corresponding to each operable function key to inform the operator which keys can be operated. . The operator knows which keys can be operated by looking at the display element where the display is being performed. Then, among the operable keys, the user operates the key that realizes the purpose. Then, the control means controls the display of the next key to be operated on the display element. Therefore, the operator operates the keys corresponding to the displayed display elements. In this way, the display elements provided for each function key are controlled to display and inform the operator of the function key to be operated, so the operator operates the displayed function key. This makes it possible to perform the desired function without erroneous key operations.

In this way, the present invention provides a display element for each function key, and controls the control means to display the display element of the function key to be operated in accordance with a procedure for instructing the function to be realized, thereby notifying the operator. It is. Therefore, the operator can know which keys are currently operable, and when one of these function keys is operated, the next key to be operated is automatically displayed.
Even if the operation involves complicated key operations, the operation for the desired function can be executed without error. In addition, the instructions for the functions to be operated are performed by display control of the display element corresponding to the key, so you can see at a glance which key to operate by looking at the display element, and it is like an operation guide with text display. Since I never said that I had to read and understand the contents, the operability improves dramatically.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is no need to use a display device with a large character capacity, and the operation procedure can be clearly and clearly instructed, so that even an inexperienced operator can perform the operation quickly and easily. It is possible to provide an electronic device having an operation guide function.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The following will be explained using a facsimile as an example, but it can also be applied to other office automation equipment such as a multi-function telephone and a copying machine.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this device.
is the operation panel. This operation panel 1 includes a display device 2 that displays mode, status, etc. in text, a line density specification switch 3 that specifies the scanning line density of facsimile, and an original mode switch 4 that specifies the original mode for documents, photos, etc. From a set switch 5 for setting, a numeric keypad 6 for dial input, a copy switch 7 for use as a copying machine, a start switch 8, a reset switch 9, and an indicator lamp group IO provided corresponding to each switch. Become. Reference numeral 11 is an operation control unit that controls these lamps and switches, and controls lighting of display lamps corresponding to the operable key switches in order to notify the operator of the operable key switches. The controller recognizes the key switch that has been pressed and performs control based on the function of that key switch, such as lighting up an indicator lamp corresponding to the key switch to be operated next. The order of the key switches to be operated is determined in advance by the operation control unit 11 according to the operation for each function.
In accordance with this, an operation guide is implemented in which only the display lamp corresponding to the key switch to be operated next is lit. Reference numeral 12 denotes a facsimile main body, which receives control information and data corresponding to the functions commanded by the operator given from the operation control unit 11 by operating the key switch, and executes various mode settings, cancellations, etc. of the facsimile function and the copy function. It is.

The operation of this apparatus having such a configuration will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. First, the operation control unit 11 causes the display device 2 to display the currently set operation mode, and the linear density designation switch 3. Display lamps a and b in the display lamp group 10 correspond to the original mode switch 4, the numeric keypad 6 for dial input, and the copy switch 7.

Turn on d and e. Therefore, the operator selects and operates the first key from among the switches whose lamps are lit (first routine). Each process performed by selecting the four lit switches is as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

That is, when the copy switch is pressed, the second routine shown in FIG. 3 is entered, and the copy operation is performed in the currently set mode. After that, the process returns to symbol 5 of the first routine.

In the first routine, when a dial input is made by operating the numeric keypad 6, a third routine shown in FIG. 4 is entered, and the lamp f of the start switch 8 is turned on to prompt the operation of the start switch 8. When the start switch 8 is pressed, communication begins. After that, the process returns to symbol 5 of the first routine.

In the first routine, when the linear density designation switch 3 is pressed, the fourth routine shown in FIG. Turn on only lamp C of No. 5. When the set switch 5 is pressed, only the display lamps b, d, and e corresponding to the original mode switch 4, numeric keypad 6, and copy switch 7 are lit, and the operator is asked to select and operate one of these switches. Encourage them to do so.

Here, if the operator presses the copy switch 7, the second routine enters in the set linear density mode, and if the operator makes a dial input using the numeric keypad 6, the third routine enters and each operation is performed. Execute. Further, if the operator operates the original mode switch 4, only the lamp C corresponding to the set switch 5 is lit again, prompting the operator to set the original mode, and after the setting is completed, the lamp C corresponding to the numeric keypad 6 and copy switch 7 is turned on. Only the display lamps d and e are turned on to prompt the user to operate either the numeric keypad 6 or the copy switch 7. When either one of the switches is pressed, the second and third routines are entered with new document modes set respectively.

When the original mode switch 4 is pressed, the sixth and seventh routines are entered. Here, first, only the display lamp C of the set switch 5 is lit to prompt the user to operate the set switch 5. Then, when the set switch 5 is operated, the lamp a in the display lamp group 10 is turned on.

Only d and e are turned on to prompt the user to operate any one of the linear density designation switch 3, the numeric keypad 6 for dial input, and the copy switch 7. When the copy switch 7 is operated, the routine of symbol 1, that is, the second routine explained in FIG. The program enters the third routine described in , and performs the same processing as described above.

In the sixth routine, when the linear density specifying switch 3 is operated, only the display lamp C corresponding to the set switch 5 is lit to prompt the operator to operate the set switch 5. Then, if the set switch 5 is operated, the next indicator lamp group l
Only the O lamps d and e are turned on to prompt the user to operate the copy switch 7 or dial input using the numeric keypad 6.

When the copy switch 7 is operated, the routine of symbol 1, that is, the second routine explained in FIG. The third point explained in
The routine will be entered and the same processing as described above will be performed.

In this way, the operator knows which switch to operate next using the indicator lamps and operates accordingly.
A series of operations can be performed.

Note that the reset switch 9 returns to the first routine from any state.

As mentioned above, in this device, when any switch is operated, only the indicator lamp corresponding to the valid switch to be operated next is lit to prompt the next operation.
Operators can perform the correct operations by following the directions, and can therefore master the operations without having to learn complex operations.Furthermore, since the guide is based on lamps, it is similar to the guide using text displays. It is possible to avoid problems such as increasing the capacity of the display device, increasing the size of its control drive system, and increasing costs. Moreover, it is possible to avoid problems such as increasing the capacity of the display device, increasing the size of its control drive system, and increasing costs. Since it can be understood at a glance, it is easy to operate even if you are unfamiliar with the operation, and there are advantages such as being able to perform the operation quickly and without errors.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can of course be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the gist thereof. Similarly, the present invention can be applied to other electronic devices that realize various functions by operating combinations of function keys. Is it an LED as an indicator lamp? In addition to light emitting elements such as IS bulbs and neon lamps, character display elements, etc.
The key force to be operated next (-) Any display element may be used as long as it can be visually recognized.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is no need to use a display device with a large character capacity, and the operation procedure can be clearly and clearly instructed, allowing even inexperienced operators to perform operations quickly and easily. It is possible to provide an electronic device having an operation guide function that allows the user to perform the following operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are flow charts for explaining the operation of the apparatus of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Operation panel, 2...Display device, 3...Cotton density specification switch, 4...Original mode switch, 5...
- Set switch, 6... Numeric keypad, 7... Copy switch, 8... Start switch, 9... Reset switch, 10... Display lamp group, 11... Operation control section. 12...Facsimile body, a, ~f...Display lamp. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue No. 1 Cause No. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an electronic device that has a plurality of function keys for instructing specific functions, and is configured to realize a predetermined function by operating these function keys in combination in a predetermined order, a plurality of function keys are provided corresponding to each of the function keys. 1. An electronic device comprising: a display element; and a control means for controlling the display of a display element corresponding to a function key to be selected next among these display elements.