JPH0272987A - Operating part of printer with liquid-crystal display switch and driving method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an operating part of a printer having favorable operability and capable of coping with a complicated printing menu by a construction wherein a switch group for setting or inputting a printing menu comprises liquid-crystal display switches having a liquid-crystal display device and a transparent touch panel superposed on each other, and the function and display of each of the display switches can be changed. CONSTITUTION:A transparent touch panel 11 comprises six switches 12-17, of which the switches 12-15 are disposed to cover an LCD 10, and each of these switches has two kinds of inputting functions, i.e., a function at the time of a normal mode and a function at the time of a menu mode for setting and inputting a printing menu. A printed indication 'NORMAL' is provided beneath the switch 17, and the normal mode is specified when the switch 17 is depressed. A printed indication 'MODE' is provided beneath the switch 16, and the menu mode is specified when the switch 16 is depressed. After a changeover to the menu mode, a group retrieval operation for the printing menu is effected by a depressing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an operating section of a printer having a group of switches for inputting settings for a print menu, and a method for driving the same.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the printer, in which the operating section 1 is provided at the front of the device.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a first conventional example of the operating section l.

In the figure, 1' is an operating section, and 2 to 5 are four switches installed on the operating section 1'.

Switches 2 to 4 each have a function in normal mode,
It has two types of input functions: a menu mode function for inputting print menu settings; For the sake of explanation, the functions in menu mode are shown near the switches in the figure.

That is, in the normal mode, the SEL switch 2 serves as a selection switch for using the printer online (SELECT) or offline (DESELECT), and is controlled to switch each time it is pressed. Moreover, this SEL switch 2 becomes a selection switch for a group (GROUP) of the print menu in the menu mode.

Switch 3 feeds the paper one line in normal mode (
↓jNE FEED) operation switch, and when pressed, a line feed is performed for one line of paper.

Further, this switch 3 serves as a selection switch for an item (ITEM) of the print menu in the menu mode.

Switch 4 is used to change the paper page feed (FO) in normal mode.
RM FEED), and when pressed, the line feed of the paper is performed to the top position of the next paper. This switch 4 serves as a selection (SET) switch in the menu mode.

The switch 5 is used to alternately switch between the above-mentioned normal mode and menu mode when pressed, and has only one function.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED), which is turned on in an online state and turned off in an offline state.

7 is a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED), which is turned on in menu mode and turned off in normal mode.

Table 1 shows an example of a print menu.

Group item (1) Pitch 10 CPl 12 CPl 15 CPI (2) Nay rate (3) Print mode l-Tity letter Qualitinier letter Quality (4) Line spacing LPI LPI Table 1 In menu mode, press switch 2 repeatedly Then,
The print head of the printer has a pitch → baud rate →
Print Mode → Line Spacing →
Again, the items currently set in the group are printed on the paper in the order of pitch...

Also, in menu mode, if you press switch 3 repeatedly after selecting a predetermined group and printing the current item, the print head of the printer will print if the item in that group is, for example, a pitch group, 10CPI→
12cpt → 15cPI → 10CPI again ・
They are printed in the order of...

After printing a desired item, pressing the switch 4 sets the item as the current item.

The operation of the first conventional example with the above configuration is as follows.

Normal mode Press switch 5 to enter normal mode.

At this time, the LED 7 is turned off.

At this time, if the device is in the online state, the LED 6 is lit, and if it is in the offline state, the LED 6 is off. Each time the switch 2 is pressed, the online state and offline state are switched, and the LED 6 is switched on and off accordingly.

If you want to advance the paper by one line, press switch 3, and if you want to change the page of the paper, press switch 4.

<Menu mode> If you need to set the print menu, press switch 5.
Press to enter menu mode. At this time, LED7
lights up.

The procedure for setting the print mode to near-letter quality (slightly good print quality) will be explained below using FIG. 8 as an example.

Sl: First, the menu mode is set as described above.

S2: Next, when switch 2 is pressed, the current pitch is printed on the paper.

SL When switch 2 is pressed again, the current baud rate is printed on the paper.

S4: When switch 2 is further pressed, the current print mode is printed on the paper. Here, the current status is assumed to be a utility (one with slightly inferior printing quality aimed at high-speed printing).

S5: Now, if you press switch 3, the next utility item, letter quality (
(high print quality) is printed.

S6: When switch 3 is pressed again, near letter quality, which is the next item after letter quality, is printed on the paper.

S7: Here, when switch 4 is pressed, near letter quality is set as the current item.

At the same time, the newly set items are printed on the paper.

This completes the set.

S8: Finally, press switch 5 to return to normal mode. At this time, the LED 7 is turned off.

The above is the configuration and operation of the first conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a second conventional example.

The second conventional example is the first conventional example with the addition of a liquid crystal display 8, and according to this, like the first conventional example, printing is performed on paper to visualize the set contents. There will be no need.

Furthermore, in the normal mode, the liquid crystal display 8 plays a role of displaying various warnings in the printer such as paper end.

The print menu setting operation is the same as in the first conventional example.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, according to the conventional technology with the above-mentioned configuration, various operations are performed while switching the functions of a plurality of switches, so the operation procedure is complicated, and there is a problem that it cannot be easily operated without an instruction manual such as an operation manual. there were.

Additionally, as printer functions increase year by year, print menus tend to become more complex, but in order to accommodate this, conventional technology has had the problem of increasing the number of switches and having to perform complex switch function switching operations. be.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a configuration in which multiple types of input can be performed using a single switch, and the meaning of each switch is visually displayed according to switch function switching.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer operation unit that can handle complicated print menus and has good operability.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, in an operation unit of a printer having a switch group for inputting settings of a print menu, a group of switches for inputting settings of the print menu;
The present invention is characterized in that it is a liquid crystal display switch in which a liquid crystal display and a transparent touch panel sensor are overlapped, and the functional contents and display contents of this liquid crystal display switch can be changed.

[For production]

According to the present invention configured as described above, when performing an input operation, the liquid crystal display switch can be selected and set to a desired function by operating the switch group of the operation section, and the liquid crystal display switch can be set to a desired function. The selected function can be displayed on the switch, allowing a small number of switches to have a large number of functions.

〔Example] Examples will be described below according to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 9 is a printer operation unit, and 10 is a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as LCD). In this embodiment, the LCD 10 displays 16 characters in one line.

11 is a transparent touch panel, and the transparent touch panel 1
1 is composed of six switches 12 to 17. Note that in the figure, the divisions between the switches 12 to 170 are shown by two-dot chain lines for convenience, but in reality there are no visual divisions.

Among the switches 12 to 17, the switches 12 to 15 are the L
It covers the CD 10, and each of these has two types of input functions: a normal mode function and a menu mode function for inputting print menu settings.

The word "Normal" is printed below the switch 17, and when pressed, the normal mode is designated.

Mode is printed below the switch 16, and when pressed, a menu mode is designated. Further, after switching to the menu mode, a group search operation for the print menu is performed by pressing the button.

The details of this operation will be described later.

Note that in this embodiment, the switches 16 and 17 were also configured with transparent touch panels similar to the other switches 12 to 15;
Since the functions of these switches are fixed, they may be used as ordinary push-button switches.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED), which lights up when the power is turned on by a switch (not shown), and turns off when the power is turned off by the same switch.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an emission diode (hereinafter referred to as LED), which lights up when various warnings are issued in the printer such as vapor end. In addition,
LCDl0 plays the role of displaying these warnings in the normal mode as in the past.

Figures 2 (a) and (b) are the LCD in normal mode.
10, in which SEL is displayed at the switch 12 position, LP is displayed at the switch 13 position, FF is displayed at the switch 14 position, and TOF is displayed at the switch 15 position.

Here, in the normal mode, the switch 12 serves as a selection switch for using the printer online (SELECT) or offline (DESELECT), and is controlled to switch each time it is pressed. The display shown in a) is shown in FIG. 2, etc. in the offline state.

Switch 13 feeds the paper one line (LINEFEED)
This is an operation switch, and when pressed, a line feed is performed for one line of paper.

The switch 14 serves as a FORMFEED operation switch, and when pressed, a line feed is performed on the paper to the top position of the next paper.

The switch 15 changes the position of the paper at the time it is pressed to the first line (
This is a switch for storing data as OP OF FORM) and is used to manage one page of paper.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are plan views showing the display of the LCD 10 in the menu mode in this embodiment.

Table 2 shows an example of a print menu that can be selected in the same embodiment.

Group item 20 CPI Near Letter Quality Table 2 In the menu mode, the LCD 10 displays (a) → (b) → (C) → (
d) → (e) → (f) → (member → (
h) → (a) again, changing the display.

Of these, Table 2 (1), (21 (3), (4),
Groups (7) and (8) have four or less types of items, so Figure 3 (a), (b), (c), (
As shown in d), (g), and (h), the switches 12 to 12
Items are displayed in a list at position 15.

At this time, the cursor is located at the current item that has been set, and when the switches 12 to 15 are pressed, the cursor moves to the pressed position, which becomes the current item.

On the other hand, the groups in Table 2 (5) and (6) have five or more types of items, so they are as shown in Figure 3 (e) and (G).
, the current item is selected and displayed at the position of the switch 15, and each time the switch 15 is pressed, in the case of group (5), (e)-1 → (e)-2 → (e)-3 → (e )−4→
(e) −5→ (e) −6→ (e) −7→(e)
-8→ (e)-9→ (e) -10→ (e)-
11→ (e) −12→ Again (e) −1...
For group (6), (f)-1→(f)-2
→ ge)−3→ (f) −4→ ge)−5→
The display changes from (f)-6 to (f)-1 again.

At this time, the item displayed at the position of the switch 15 becomes the current item.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the operating section of this embodiment.

In the figure, 21 is a main control unit, 22 is a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) that stores the display data of the LCD l0 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, 23 is switches 12 to 17,
and an input/output port for the LED 20, and the main control unit 21 determines the presence or absence of input from the switches 12 to 17 while controlling the RO
The display data of LCDl0 is obtained from M22 and transmitted.

24 is an LCD driver having a built-in character generator (hereinafter referred to as CG);
converts the display data transmitted from the main control unit 21 into dot information using CG and drives the LCD 10.

Note that the light emitting diode 19 is not shown in the control block diagram above because it is not directly related to the configuration of the present application.

The operation of this embodiment with the above configuration will be explained below.

Normal mode> Press switch 17 to enter normal mode, and the LC
D10 performs the display shown in FIG.

At this time, if it is online, the position of the switch 12 will be displayed as shown in Figure 2(a), and if it is offline, the position of the switch 12 will be displayed as shown in Figure 2(b).
). Each time the switch 12 is pressed, the online state and offline state are switched, and the display of the position of the switch 12 is also switched accordingly.

If you want to advance the paper by one line, press the switch 13, and if you want to change the page, press the switch 14.

Further, when the position of the first line is to be stored in the apparatus, after aligning the paper to a regular position, the switch 15 is pressed to store this position as the first line.

<Menu mode> If you need to set the print menu, press switch 16.
Pressing enters the menu mode, and LCD10 is set to the third
The display shown in Figure (a) is performed.

The procedure for setting the print mode to near-letter quality and the subsequent procedure for setting the baud rate to 9600 will be explained below using the flowchart of FIG. 5 as an example.

It is assumed that the current items of the print menu are set as shown in Table 3 below.

Group (1) Pitch (2) Style (3) Print Mode (4) Graphics (5) Vane Length (6) Nee Rate (7) Size (8) Line Spacing Item 10 CPI Normal 1 - Tiltitieni Directional 3 “ Single LPI Table 3: First, when the menu mode is entered as described above, the display shown in FIG. 3(a)-1 is displayed.

S2: Next, when the switch 16 is pressed, the LCD 10 displays the display shown in FIG. 3(b)-1.

S3: When the switch 16 is pressed again, the LCD 10 displays the display shown in FIG. 3(C)-1.

S4: Here, when the switch 13 is pressed, the cursor moves and the LCD l0 becomes displayed as shown in FIG. 3(C)-2, and the print mode is set to near letter quality.

S5: Next, when the switch 16 is pressed, the LCD10
becomes the display shown in FIG. 3(d)-1.

S6: When the switch 16 is pressed, the LCD 10 displays the display shown in FIG. 3(e)-1.

S7: When the switch 16 is pressed, the LCD l0
The display shown in Figure)-1 will appear.

88-S11: Here, when the switch 15 is pressed four times, the LCD I/O changes to -2 as shown in FIG. 3(f) each time the switch 15 is pressed.

Change the display in order of (f)-3, (f)-4, and)-5
reach the display. Here, the baud rate is set to 9600 cents.

This completes the set.

S12: Finally, when the switch 17 is pressed, the mode returns to the normal mode, and the LCD l0 becomes the display shown in FIG.

As a result of the above, the current status of the print menu items, which were originally the current status of Table 3, becomes the status shown in Table 4 below.

Group Item (1) Pitch (2) Style (3) Print Mode (4) Graphics (5) Page Length (6) Neighborhood (7) Size (8) Line Spacing 10 CPI Normal Near Letter Quality 1 Ni Directional 3 "Single LPI Table 4 [Effects of the Invention] As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, in the operation section of the printer including a switch group for inputting the settings of the print menu, there is a switch for inputting the settings of the print menu. The switch group is a liquid crystal display switch that overlaps a liquid crystal display and a transparent touch panel sensor, and by making it possible to change the function and display content of this liquid crystal display switch, it is possible to switch the function of each switch to the desired function. At the same time, the display can be changed accordingly.

As a result, even if each switch has a variety of functions, the operator can visually check the current function of each switch, making it possible to handle complex print menus and providing easy operation. This has the effect of realizing an operation unit of a printer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2(a)
, (b) is a plan view showing the LCD display in the normal mode of the same embodiment, FIGS. 3(a) to (c) are plan views showing the LCD display in the menu mode of the same embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the printer, FIG. 7 is a front view showing the first conventional example, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conventional example, and FIG. 9 is a front view showing the second conventional example. 9 ・ ・ l O・ ・ 11 ・ ・ 12 ~ 1 18 ・ ・ 20 ・ ・ 21 ・ ・ 22 ・ ・ 23 ・ ・ 24 ・ ・ ・ Operation unit・LCD ・Transparent touch panel 7 ・ ・ ・Switch・Frame・LED ・Main Control unit/ROM/Manual output boat/LCD driver patent application Person: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Person: Patent attorney Kyoji Kanakura Perspective view of a printer imported from Japan

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an operation unit of a printer having a group of switches for setting and inputting a print menu, the group of switches for inputting settings of the print menu is a liquid crystal display switch in which a liquid crystal display and a transparent touch panel sensor are overlapped. An operation unit of a printer equipped with a liquid crystal display switch characterized by the following. 2. In a printer operation unit drive method in which the switch group for inputting print menu settings is a liquid crystal display switch that overlaps an LCD display and a transparent touch panel sensor, when performing input operations, operate the switch group of the operation unit. 1. A method for driving an operating unit of a printer equipped with a liquid crystal display switch, comprising: selecting and changing the functional content of the liquid crystal display switch, and changing the display to the selected display content.