JPH07104903A - Controller for operation display part - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of an operation display part by controlling the indication of various keys at the operation display part. CONSTITUTION:A controller 100 for controlling a control panel 102 to perform the setting of various modes and the display of the various kinds of information is provided with an LED 102a for clearly and individually indicating the various input keys of the control panel 102 and a CPU 114 for controlling the LED 102a and clearly indicating the key to be next inputted based on the setting state of the selected mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for an operation display unit provided in a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like, and more specifically, an operation display for performing control for improving the operability of the operation display unit. Control device of a part.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus is provided with an operation display section for making various settings. An operator presses an input key while checking the display content of the operation display section. Various settings such as font selection, reduction mode selection, emulation mode selection, and printing direction selection are performed on the image forming apparatus. The display contents of the operation display unit described above are instructions to the operator according to the setting contents, and are controlled by the control device of the operation display unit.

Further, in recent years, the functional development of image forming apparatuses has been remarkable, and various functions have been added to improve convenience in accordance with various needs desired by an operator. With the addition of this function, the items that can be set on the operation display unit tend to increase, and the operator can freely set the image forming apparatus by selecting the necessary items from the settable items.

[0004]

However, according to the operation display unit in the conventional image forming apparatus, the number of input keys for setting increases as the number of items that the user can set through the operation panel increases. However, since a desired key has to be selected from a large number of input keys, there has been a problem that the setting operation becomes complicated and the operability deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to improve the operability of the operation display unit by controlling the display operation of various keys in the operation display unit.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control device for an operation display unit for controlling an operation display unit for setting various modes and displaying various information, in the operation display unit. And a display means for explicitly and individually displaying the various input keys, and a control means for controlling the display means and explicitly displaying the next enterable key based on the selected mode setting state. The present invention provides a control device for an operation display unit including the above.

Further, the control means controls the display means, and based on a mode setting command from the host device,
It is assumed that the keys that can be input after the mode setting from the host device are explicitly displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control device for an operation display unit that controls an operation display unit that sets various modes and displays various information, and various input keys of the operation display unit. Is displayed individually and individually, display mode changing means for changing the display mode of the display means, the display means and the display mode changing means are controlled, and the selected mode setting key is specified. And a control means for displaying the next enterable key in a display mode different from that of the selected mode setting key based on the selected mode setting state. It is provided.

Further, the display mode changing means displays by changing the color of light, the intensity of light, the lighting state or blinking state of the light, and / or the lighting position. The mode shall be changed.

[0010]

The control device for the operation display unit according to the present invention explicitly displays the next input key among the various input keys of the operation display unit based on the selected mode setting state.

Further, the control device of the operation display unit according to the present invention explicitly displays the input keys that can be input after the mode is set by the host device based on the mode setting command from the host device.

Further, the control device of the operation display unit according to the present invention explicitly displays the selected mode setting key among the various input keys of the operation display unit, and based on the selected mode setting state, The input key that can be input next is different from the display mode of the selected mode setting key, that is, the color of light is different, the intensity of light is different, the state of lighting or blinking of light is different, or ( And) Display in a display mode in which the shining position is different.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A control device for an operation display unit according to the present invention will be described in detail below in the order of [First Embodiment], [Second Embodiment], and [Third Embodiment] with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 100 is a controller for controlling the entire image forming apparatus, 101 is an engine for actual printing, and 102 is an engine. Displays a current printer status to the operator and serves as an input panel for the operator to give a mode instruction.
3 is a host device which is a higher-level device of the printer, 104
Indicates a disk device such as a floppy disk device or a hard disk device for storing various data such as font data, programs, print data, and the like. Reference numeral 102a is an LED for explicitly displaying various input keys of the operation panel 102. In this embodiment, the display of each input key on the operation panel 102 is controlled.
That is, the operability of the operation panel 102 is improved by controlling the operation of the LED 102a.

Here, the configuration of the controller 100 described above will be described. The controller 100 includes a work memory for control operation, an input buffer for input data,
A RAM 105 used as a page buffer for print data, a memory for downloaded fonts, etc., a font ROM 106 for storing font pattern data, etc., a program ROM 107 for storing a control program of the controller 100, and a mode from the operation panel 102. Commands and statuses are stored between the NVRAM 108, which is a non-volatile storage device for storing the contents of instructions, pattern data of font data, an IC card 109 for externally supplying a program, and the engine 101. And an engine I that communicates print data
/ F (interface) 110 and operation panel 102
An operation panel I / F 111 that communicates commands and statuses with the
Using the S232C, the host device I / F 112 that communicates with the host device 103, and the disk device 1
04 disk device I / F 113 for communicating with
It is composed of a control program of the program ROM 107, a mode instruction from the operation panel 102, and a CPU 114 which controls each of the above units according to a command from the host device 103.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the operation panel 102, which is composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display device) 201 and various input key groups 202. Each input key of the operation panel 102 is configured to be explicitly and individually displayed by the LED 102a shown in FIG.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the schematic operation of the controller 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The operator operates the operation panel 102
When various mode instructions are given to the NVRAM 10 via the operation panel I / F 111.
8 is stored. After that, when a command and print data are sent from the host device 103 via the host device I / F 112, the CPU 114 causes the NVRAM 108 to operate.
On the basis of the mode contents stored in, the command sent from the host device 103, and the control program stored in the program ROM 107, each unit in the controller 100 is controlled to perform the following operation.

The CPU 114 temporarily stores the print data sent from the host device 103 in the input buffer of the RAM 105. Next, one line of print data is taken out from the input buffer, and if necessary, one line of print data is expanded in the line buffer in the RAM 105 using the font pattern data stored in the font ROM 106. . When the expansion of the print data for one line is completed, the CPU 114 writes the print data expanded in the line buffer into the page buffer in the RAM 105. Subsequently, the CPU 114 clears the line buffer, expands the next line, and writes it in the page buffer after the expansion is completed. After that, the printing data for one page is expanded in the page buffer by repeating until all the lines are completed.

When the print data for one page is expanded on the page buffer, the CPU 114 causes the engine I / F 1
The print data for one page, which has been expanded, is sent to the engine 101 together with the command and the status via 10. The engine 101 prints and outputs the sent print data based on the sent command and status.

When the control program and font pattern data are supplied from the IC card 109, the CPU 114 uses the print data described above based on the program and font pattern data stored in the IC card 109. The expansion operation of is performed. Similarly, when the control program and the pattern data of the font are supplied from the disk device 104, the CPU 1
Reference numeral 14 denotes the program and font pattern data input from the disk device 104 via the disk device I / F 113 and stores the program and font pattern data in the RAM 105. Based on the program and font pattern data stored in the RAM 105, the above-described printing is performed. Performs data expansion operation.

Next, the operation panel 1 which is a feature of the present invention
The display operation of 02 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The CPU 114 determines whether or not there is a key input on the various input key groups 202 of the operation panel 102 (S301). If it is determined that any key is pressed, the CPU 114 determines that the operation panel I /
The information about which key is pressed is stored in the NVRAM 108 along with the content of the instructed mode via the F111. Next, based on the panel control program installed in the program ROM 107, key input is performed by NVR.
It is taken out from the AM 108, the key input contents are analyzed based on the panel control program (S302), and it is judged whether or not the pressed key is a valid key input (S3).
03), when it is determined that the key input is valid, a display corresponding to the key input is performed on the LCD 201 via the operation panel I / F 111 (S304). After performing this display, the CPU 114 analyzes the next selectable key with respect to the previously received key (S305), LE
The D102a is controlled to explicitly display the corresponding key (the next selectable key) of the various input key groups 202 (S306).

For example, when the printing direction setting key 202a of the operation panel 102 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the display of the operation panel 102 changes as shown in FIG.
Items related to the printing direction are displayed in 1, and in this setting state, the key to be pressed next (keys indicated by diagonal lines in the figure), that is, the escape key 202c, the up arrow key 202d, the down arrow key 202e, the second step up Arrow keys 202
LED display is performed for the f, two-stage down arrow key 202g, and the execution key 202h. Therefore, the operator
It is not necessary to take into consideration the keys that are not LED-displayed, and the key to be pressed next may be selected from the keys that are LED-displayed. That is, a desired key can be easily selected from a small number of keys.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the user can explicitly confirm the selection of the next key to be pressed without being confused by a large number of keys.

[Second Embodiment] The configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and the configuration and its schematic operation will be omitted and only different parts will be described.

The operation will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. The CPU 114 is the operation panel 102.
It is determined whether or not there is a key input in the various input key group 202 (S501), and when it is determined that any key is pressed, the CPU 114 causes the operation panel I / F 111 to operate.
The information about which key is pressed is stored in the NVRAM 108 together with the contents of the instructed mode via.
Next, the CPU 114 takes out the key input from the NVRAM 108 based on the panel control program installed in the program ROM 107, and analyzes the key input content based on the panel control program (S50).
2) It is determined whether or not the pressed key is a valid key input (S503). When it is determined that the key is a valid key input, the key input is performed via the operation panel I / F 111. The displayed information is displayed on the LCD 201 (S504). After performing this display, the CPU 114 analyzes the next selectable key with respect to the previously received key (S505), L
The ED 102a is controlled to explicitly display the previously received key (S506). Next, various input key groups 20
Of the two keys, the next selectable key is explicitly displayed in a display mode different from the received key (S507).

Here, the different display mode described above is
For example, the LED 10 is made different in color.
It is conceivable to make the light intensity of 2a different, to make it different by lighting or blinking the LED 102a, and / or to make the shining position of the LED 102a different.

Further, for example, the operation panel 1 shown in FIG.
02, when the printing direction setting key 202a is pressed, the operation panel 102 changes as shown in FIG.
An item regarding the printing direction is displayed on the CD 201, and in this setting state, the key to be pressed next (the key shown by the slanted line in the figure), that is, the escape key 202c, the up arrow key 202d, the down arrow key 202e, the second step Arrow key 2
02f, the two-stage down arrow key 202g, and the execution key 202h are LED-displayed, and at the same time, the printing direction setting key 202a (the key shown by a dot in the figure) is different from the key shown by the diagonal line. It is lit with colored LEDs.
By properly using the LED colors as described above, it is possible to explicitly confirm which setting state is currently set, and it is possible to easily determine the key to be pressed next.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, while explicitly understanding what the currently set mode is, the selection of the key to be pressed next is made explicit without being confused by more keys. You will be able to understand.

[Third Embodiment] The configuration of the third embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and the configuration and its schematic operation will be omitted and only different parts will be described.

The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. An emulation switching command is transmitted from the host device 103 via the host device I / F 112, and the CPU 114 determines whether or not the command has been received (S701). As a result, when it is determined that the data has been received, the information indicating that the emulation switching is being performed is once provided together with the contents of the instructed mode.
Store in M108. Next, the CPU 114 performs an emulation switching operation based on the command analysis program in the program ROM 107 (S70).
2). After that, the panel control unit of the emulation after switching selects the next selectable key,
The D102a is controlled to send an LED display command so that the LEDs of these keys (selectable keys) are displayed (S703). Next, the panel control unit displays the LCD 20
An instruction to switch the display of 1 is transmitted to the panel (S704).

For example, the emulation (EMULATION) setting key 202 of the operation panel of FIG.
When b is pressed, the display on the panel changes as shown in FIG. 8, and the display according to the new emulation is performed. In addition, the reduction mode key, the print direction key, the page break key, the special print key, the font selection key, etc., which are not involved in the emulation after switching, remain unlit.
Paper feed tray selection key 202i, test print key 202j, online key 202k, and emulation (EMULATION) setting key 202, which are hatched in FIG.
b, print condition setting key 202l, paper size setting key 2
02m, program (PROGRAM) key 202n,
Memory switch (MEMORY SW) key 202o,
LED for valid key of the number of copies setting key 202p
By turning on, the user can set a situation in which it is easier to explicitly select.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the effective key that is different for each emulation is specified, so that unnecessary keys can be omitted and the mode can be set from a smaller selection technique.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above, according to the control device of the operation display unit according to the present invention, in the control device of the operation display unit for controlling the operation display unit for setting various modes and displaying various information, Display means for explicitly and individually displaying various input keys of the operation display section, and controlling the display means to explicitly display the next input key based on the selected mode setting state. It is possible to improve the operability of the operation display unit because the control means for controlling the operation display unit is provided.

Further, according to the control device of the operation display unit according to the present invention, the control means controls the display means, and after the mode is set by the host device based on the mode setting command from the host device. Since the keys that can be input are explicitly displayed, the operability of the operation display unit can be improved.

Further, according to the control device of the operation display unit according to the present invention, in the control device of the operation display unit for controlling the operation display unit for setting various modes and displaying various information, various kinds of operation display units are provided. Display means for explicitly and individually displaying the input keys, display mode changing means for changing the display mode of the display means, the display means and the display mode changing means, and the selected mode setting key Is explicitly displayed, and based on the selected mode setting state, a control means for displaying the next enterable key in a display mode different from that of the selected mode setting key is provided. Operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a display operation of the operation panel according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of an operation panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a display operation of the operation panel according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of an operation panel according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display operation of the operation panel according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of an operation panel according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 controller 102 operation panel 102a LED 103 host device 114 CPU 202 various input key groups

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A control device of an operation display unit for controlling an operation display unit for setting various modes and displaying various information, a display means for explicitly and individually displaying various input keys of the operation display unit. And a control means for controlling the display means and explicitly displaying the next inputtable key based on the selected mode setting state. 2. The control means controls the display means, and explicitly displays keys that can be input after mode setting from the host device based on a mode setting command from the host device. The control device for the operation display unit according to claim 1. 3. A control device of an operation display unit for controlling an operation display unit for setting various modes and displaying various information, wherein various input keys of the operation display unit are explicitly and
Display means for displaying individually, display mode changing means for changing the display mode of the display means, and controlling the display means and display mode changing means, explicitly displaying the selected mode setting key, and selecting Based on the mode setting status
A control device for an operation display unit, comprising: control means for displaying the next inputtable key in a display mode different from that of the selected mode setting key. 4. The display mode changing means displays by changing the color of light, the intensity of light, the lighting state or blinking state of light, and / or the lighting position. The control device for the operation display unit according to claim 3, wherein the mode is changed.