JPH0969898A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a facsimile equipment which is excellent in a key operation without increasing the scale. SOLUTION: In a facsimile equipment 1, an operation part 11 is divided into a touch display part 40, a first key operation part 41 and a second key operation part 42. In the first key operation part 41 and the second key operation part 42, mechanical keys 21 are fixedly arranged. When a touch panel is arranged on an LCD in a touch display part 40, a key name is displayed on the LCD and the location of the touch panel corresponding to the display location of the key name is touched, the touch display part functions as a touch key means executing the key instruction function assigned to the key name. Of the keys for executing various kinds of functions provided on a facsimile equipment 1, the keys with comparatively higher use frequency are assigned to the first key operation part 41 and the second key operation part 42, and the keys with comparatively a lower use frequency are assigned to the touch display part 40. Without increasing the scale of the operation part 11, operability is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine in which the operability of key operation of an operation section is improved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile machine, in order to utilize various functions of the facsimile machine, a mechanical operation key for inputting a selection command or an operation command for these various functions is provided in an operation part thereof. It is fixedly provided, and the operation keys are conventionally the numeric keypad for inputting the destination telephone number, the start key for starting the operation, the stop key for stopping or stopping the operation, and the density of the document. Accordingly, various operation keys such as a density key for appropriately reading the image data of the document are provided.

By operating the above-mentioned operation keys, the operator uses various functions of the facsimile apparatus. For example, the operator selects transmission, inputs the telephone number of the transmission destination with the ten keys, and presses the start key. By throwing in, the facsimile transmission to the intended destination is performed.

Some of the conventional facsimile machines are equipped with a display device, and various commands, such as commands entered by the operation keys and information notified to the operator by the facsimile machine, are input to the display device. The destination phone number and the fact that it is being sent are displayed.

[0005]

However, such a conventional facsimile apparatus has a problem that the operability is poor.

That is, in recent years, with the spread of facsimile machines, their functions have become complicated with one-touch dial functions, speed dial functions, memory transmission functions, memory reception functions, confidential transmission functions, broadcast transmission functions, etc. The number and types of the operation keys of the operation unit are increasing in accordance with the diversification and the complexity and diversification of these functions.

As described above, when the number and types of mechanical operation keys fixedly provided on the operation unit increase, the operation unit becomes larger and the operator is allowed to perform a desired operation. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to select a key and operate it.
Further, in addition to these operation keys, the operation unit needs a display unit for displaying contents corresponding to complication and diversification of functions, which causes a problem that the operation unit is further increased in size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which has good operability of key operation without increasing the size of the operation section.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus having a plurality of keys for inputting various commands to an operation unit, and the keys are assigned to the keys according to the operation state of the keys. In a facsimile apparatus that executes various functions according to the command, a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of key names on the operation unit and a key name displayed on the display unit provided on the front side of the display unit A touch key means for acquiring touch information to a corresponding position; and a touch key means for processing the touch information as key operation information; and a plurality of fixed keys. According to the above, the above-mentioned object is achieved by allocating the touch key means and the fixed key.

Here, the function means various functions provided in the facsimile apparatus, and for example, a transmitting function, a receiving function, a memory transmitting function, a memory receiving function, a broadcast transmitting function,
It has a confidential function, a one-touch dial function, a speed dial function, etc., and an instruction for selecting and executing these functions is assigned to each key.

The touch key means processes the touch information when the touch panel means is touched in accordance with the display of the key name on the display means, as the key operation information corresponding to the key name. By switching the display of the key names, it is possible to perform key operation processing corresponding to various keys.

The fixed key is a mechanical key, such as a tact switch, which is fixedly provided on the operation portion in the same manner as a conventional normal operation key.

The key commands required to cause the facsimile machine to execute the above-mentioned various functions are pre-assigned to the touch key means and the fixed keys in accordance with the frequency of use of the commands of the keys. Frequently used key commands are assigned to fixed keys, and relatively infrequently used key commands are assigned to the touch key means.

According to the above construction, the touch key means and the fixed keys allocated according to the frequency of use can be used for operation without increasing the size of the operation section, and the operation of the key operation of the facsimile machine can be performed. It is possible to improve the sex.

In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the operation section corresponds to at least one or more fixed keys of the fixed keys in correspondence with the name of the fixed key or the fixed key. You may further provide the lamp means which displays an operating state.

Here, the lamp means displays the key name and operating state by character display such as a liquid crystal display device, or lights / flashes / flashes like a light emitting diode.
The one that displays the operating state by turning off the light is used.

According to the above construction, the name of the fixed key and the operation state thereof can be easily displayed, and the convenience in using the facsimile apparatus can be improved.

Further, in this case, for example, as described in claim 3, the display means is a liquid crystal display device, and the touch panel means is formed to have a surface shape similar to that of the display means. In addition, an insulating member having a predetermined width may be provided at least on the outer peripheral portion of the touch panel means over the entire periphery thereof.

Here, as the insulating member, for example, a polyester plastic film or the like can be used, and the insulating member is arranged at least on the outer peripheral portion of the touch panel means with a predetermined width.

According to the above construction, it is possible to prevent the electrostatic discharge to the conductor on the touch panel means, for example, the finger of a person, by wrapping around the outer peripheral portion of the touch panel means from the outer edge portion of the liquid crystal display device. It is possible to prevent the display device, and eventually the facsimile device, from being broken or damaged.

Further, as described in claim 4, the display means is a liquid crystal display device having a backlight, and the facsimile device is in a predetermined standby state,
You may further provide the control means which performs the energy-saving process which makes the said backlight light-extinguish.

Here, the predetermined standby state is, for example, a state in which communication is not in progress, a state in which no key operation is performed on the operation unit, and the like, and is not limited to a specific standby state.

According to the above construction, the backlight can be turned off in the standby state, and the power consumption can be reduced.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the invention, the operation section corresponds to at least one fixed key among the fixed keys, and displays the name of the fixed key or the operating state of the fixed key. A lamp unit for displaying, the display unit is a liquid crystal display device having the backlight, the facsimile machine, in a predetermined standby state,
The lamp means and the backlight may be turned off.

According to the above construction, both the lamp means and the backlight can be turned off in the standby state, and the power consumption can be further reduced.

[0026]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. It is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise stated.

1 to 4 are views showing an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus 1 to which the embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied. Is.

In FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a communication control unit 3, a network control unit 4, a power supply unit 5, an image memory 6, a recording unit 7, a reading unit 8, a document sensor 9, a timer 10 and The operation unit 11 and the like are provided, and the operation unit 11 includes an operation control unit 20, mechanical keys 21, and L.
ED (Light Emitting Diode) 22, LCD (Liquid C)
A display 23, a backlight 24, a touch panel 25, and the like are provided.

The system control unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Pr
Ocessing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory) and R
The ROM includes an AM (Random Access Memory) and the like, and the basic processing program of the facsimile device 1 is stored in the ROM, and various kinds of energy saving processing programs and the basic processing program and the energy saving processing program described later are executed. Data, system data, etc. are stored.

The system control unit 2 has a CPU whose ROM is
While using the RAM as a work memory on the basis of the program therein, each unit of the facsimile apparatus 1 is controlled to perform basic processing and energy saving processing as the facsimile apparatus.
In particular, the facsimile device 1 is a multifunctional facsimile device having various kinds of functions such as a memory transmission function, a memory reception function, a broadcast transmission function, and a speed dial function, and the system control unit 2 includes an operation unit 11 described later. Each of these functions is executed based on the program in the ROM in response to the key operation of.

The network control unit 4 is connected to a line L, for example, a public telephone line, and operates under the control of the system control unit 2 to automatically receive an incoming call from the line L. ,
Automatic call processing to the line L is performed. The network control unit 4 outputs to the operation control unit 20 of the operation unit 11 a signal indicating whether it is in the operating state, particularly, the on-hook state or the off-hook state.

The communication control section 3 exchanges a facsimile control signal with the facsimile apparatus of the other party and executes a facsimile communication procedure. Further, the communication control unit 3 includes a modem, an encoding / decoding unit, etc., the transmission signal is modulated and the reception signal is demodulated by the modem, and the encoding / decoding unit uses a predetermined encoding method. By performing the following encoding of the image data and decoding of the encoded image data, the transmission time of the image data is shortened and the efficiency is improved, and the storage efficiency of the image data in the image memory 6 for temporary storage is improved. ing.

A power supply cord 30 is connected to the power supply unit 5, and a plug 31 inserted into a commercial power supply is connected to the tip of the power supply cord 30. The power supply unit 5
The commercial power source taken from the power cord 30 and the plug 31 is subjected to DC conversion and voltage adjustment, and is supplied to each part of the facsimile apparatus 1.

The image memory 6 is composed of a hard disk, a RAM or the like, and temporarily stores the received image data and the image data read by the reading section 8. Image memory 6
The image data inside is stored as a file for each communication message, and each file is managed by the system control unit 2.

As the recording unit 7, for example, an electrophotographic recording device or the like is used, and the recording unit 7 records and outputs the received image data on a recording sheet, and is read by the reading unit 8 in the copy mode. The recorded image data is recorded and output on recording paper.

As the reading unit 8, for example, a CCD (Char
An image scanner using a ge coupled device) is used, and generally has an ADF (automatic document feeder). Multiple documents are set in the ADF.
Feeds the set originals one by one to the original reading section of the reading section 8.

The reading section 8 scans the document conveyed from the ADF, reads the image of the document at a predetermined resolution, and outputs it as image data. The reading unit 8 is provided with a document sensor 9, and the document sensor 9 is the AD of the reading unit 8.
The presence / absence of a document set on F is detected, and the detection result is output to the operation control unit 20.

The timer 10 is provided with an oscillation circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, etc., clocks the time, and outputs the clocked result to the system control unit 2.

The operation unit 11 includes the operation control unit 20 as described above, and the operation control unit 20 includes the CPU, RAM and L.
The CD 23 is provided with a kanji ROM, a character ROM, etc. for displaying characters and characters such as key names.

The operation control section (control means) 20 exchanges information with the system control section 2, detects the operation state of the mechanical key 21 provided in the operation section 11, controls the turning on / blinking / turning off of the LED 22, Various processes such as display control of the LCD 23, control of turning on / off the backlight 24, detection of touch information of the touch panel 25, detection of functions assigned to the touch area of the touch panel 25, and the like, and control processing of the operation unit 11 are performed. .

Further, the operation control unit 20 has a timer area in its RAM, and uses this timer area to perform a waiting time counting process at the time of performing an energy saving process described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation section 11 has an external appearance, and is divided into a touch display section 40, a first key operation section 41, a second key operation section 42, an operation state display section 43 and the like. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 11 has a first
The above-described mechanical keys (fixed keys) 21 are provided in the key operation unit 41 and the second key operation unit 42, and the keys are also assigned to the touch display unit 40 as described later.

That is, the facsimile machine 1 has many kinds of functions as described above, and many keys are required to execute these many kinds of functions. Many keys (key commands) are classified into three groups according to frequency of use,
A key group that is most frequently used (hereinafter referred to as a key group) and a key that is closely related to a key group of the key group and is provided in the vicinity to improve usability is the first key operation unit 41. In addition, among the three key groups, a key group that is second most frequently used and a key that is closely related to the key group and is provided near the key group to improve usability are Two
Usability is improved by being provided in the key operation unit 42 and in close proximity to the key group that is least frequently used among the above three key groups and the key of the key group. The keys are assigned to the touch display section 40, respectively.

That is, the first key operation unit 41 has a structure shown in FIG.
As the mechanical key 21, a ten-key 21a for inputting a telephone number or the like, a start key 21b for starting the processing, a stop key 21c for stopping the processing, image data read by the reading section 8 are provided as shown in FIG. Copy mode key 21d for setting a copy mode for recording and outputting in the recording unit 7, and energy saving mode key 2 for setting an energy saving mode for saving power consumption
1e, a clear key 21f for clearing a command set by various keys, an on-hook key 21g for instructing on-hook, a pause / redial key 21h for performing pause input and redial settings, and for setting a one-touch dial function One-touch No. key 21
i are provided respectively, and the second key operation unit 42 has five function keys 21j arranged in a line and a stamp for turning on / off the function of the completed stamp provided alongside the function keys 21j. Key 21
k and six switching keys 21m arranged in a line are provided.

The second key operation unit 42 is provided with a marker label 44 for clearly indicating the function key 21j and the stamp key 21k between the function key 21j and the stamp key 21k and the switching key 21m. There is.

An operation state display section 43 is provided above the second key operation section 42, and the operation state display section 4 is provided.
In No. 3, the operating state switched by the switching key 21m is printed in advance, and the LED 22 is provided at the beginning of each printed operating state display. According to the operation of the switching key 21m, LED2 is displayed.
When 2 is turned on, the current operating state is displayed.

In the present embodiment, the switching key 21m includes, from the left in FIG. 2, a reception mode switching key, a facsimile communication mode switching key for switching the facsimile communication mode between G4 and G3, and a reading mode by the reading unit 8. Scanning mode switch key to switch between halftone and binary mode,
A density switching key for switching the reading density by the reading unit 8, a precision switching key for switching the reading accuracy by the reading unit 8 and a direct transmission switching key for switching between memory transmission and direct transmission are set, and these switching keys 21m are assigned. In accordance with the above, the operating state is printed on the operating state display portion 43 at the upper position corresponding to each switching key 21m, and the LE is placed at the beginning of each printed operating state display.
D22 is provided.

The operation status display section 43 further displays, from the left in FIG. 2, a "received document" indicating whether or not a received document is stored in the image memory 6, an LED 22 indicating the operation status, and communication. Displaying "communication" indicating whether or not it is in progress and its operating state LED22, displaying "alarm" indicating failure and its operating state LED22, toner remaining amount display mark and its operating state LED22,
LED 2 indicating the remaining amount display mark on the recording paper and its operating state
2 and a personal computer, and a mark indicating whether or not line connection is being performed and an LED 22 indicating the operating state thereof are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the touch display section 40 is provided in a state where the LCD 23 and the touch panel 25 are laminated, and the LCD 23 and the touch panel 25 are stacked.
In the present embodiment, the surface areas are formed to have substantially the same size. LCD 23 and touch panel 25
Is connected to a harness 45, and is connected to a drive circuit (not shown) and the operation control unit 20 via the harness 45.

The LCD 23 is generally prone to electrostatic discharge between nearby conductors, so that the LCD 23
The circumference of 23 is usually shielded. However,
When the touch panel 25 is arranged on the surface of the LCD 23, when the touch panel 25 is larger than the surface area of the LCD 23 to some extent, electrostatic discharge between the touch panel 25 and a conductor such as a finger of a person touching the touch panel 25 is generated.
5 can be prevented, but if the touch panel 25 is enlarged, the price increases. Therefore, if the surface area of the touch panel 25 is formed to have the same size as the surface area of the LCD 23, the touch panel 2 is formed from the peripheral portion of the LCD 23.
There is a possibility that electrostatic discharge may occur around the touch panel 25 and a conductor such as a finger of a person who touches the touch panel 25. If this electrostatic discharge occurs, the peripheral circuits of the LCD 23, for example, the LCD drive circuit and its circuit board may be damaged.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a predetermined insulating member 46, for example, a polyester plastic film or the like is formed into a band-like ring shape so as to surround the peripheral portion of the touch panel 25, corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the touch panel 25. The LCD 23 is provided by the insulating member 46.
To prevent electrostatic discharge from the conductor on the touch panel 25. The insulating member 46 is not limited to the polyester plastic film, but the touch panel 2
Any material may be used as long as it can be easily arranged on the peripheral portion of 5 and electrostatic discharge can be appropriately prevented.

As the touch panel 25, if touch information on the touch panel 25 can be appropriately detected,
Although it may be of any type, for example, a digital touch panel can be used, and the touch panel 25 is
It has a predetermined insulating property.

Although not shown, a reflector is provided below the LCD 23 at a predetermined distance from the LCD 23, and a backlight 24 for projecting light onto the reflector is provided.
Is arranged on the right side of the LCD 23 in FIG. As the backlight 24, for example, a fluorescent lamp having a predetermined length is used, and the backlight 24 has a power cord 47.
Is connected.

The light projected from the backlight 24 onto the reflector is reflected by the reflector and illuminates the LCD 23 from the rear.

The operation control unit 20 has the touch display unit 40 in advance.
The key names of the plurality of keys assigned to are displayed and output on the LCD 23, and the touch area of the touch panel 25 at the position corresponding to the display position of the key name on the LCD 23 is recognized as the area of the key assigned to the key name. .

The touch display section 40 is assigned the key group of the least frequently used key group among the key groups classified into three groups according to the frequency of use as described above. Function keys with few numbers are assigned.

Therefore, when the touch panel 25 is touched in accordance with the display of the key name on the LCD 23, the operation control section 20 determines that the key operation corresponds to the key name corresponding to the touched position, and The key operation information of the touched key name is output to the system control unit 2.

When the key operation information is input from the operation control unit 20, the system control unit 2 executes a process corresponding to the key operation information.

Therefore, the LCD 23 and the touch panel 2
5 and the operation control unit 20 function as a touch key unit that processes touch information as key operation information.

Next, the operation will be described. As described above, the facsimile device 1 has various functions, and a plurality of keys for utilizing these various functions are classified into three key groups in advance according to the frequency of use and relatively used. Frequent key group keys are mechanical keys 2
The first key operation unit 41 and the second key operation unit 4 in which 1 is provided.
The keys of the key group assigned to No. 2 and relatively infrequently used are assigned to the touch display unit 40.

Therefore, a large number of keys for utilizing various functions are not arranged as the mechanical keys 21, and only the keys of the key group that are used relatively frequently are the first key operation portion 41 and the second key. Since the keys are assigned to the mechanical keys 21 of the operation unit 42, it is possible to easily and easily select a key of a function to be used, and to perform a mechanical key 21 without performing a preliminary operation of a function that is relatively frequently used. Can be used only by directly operating, and the usability of the facsimile apparatus 1 can be improved.

In the facsimile apparatus 1, the first key operating unit 41 among the first key operating unit 41 and the second key operating unit 42 in which the mechanical keys 21 are arranged has the most frequently used key group. Key and a key closely related to the key are assigned, and the second key operation unit 42
The key of the next most frequently used key group and the key closely related to the key are assigned.

Therefore, it is possible to more easily and easily select the key of the function to be used, and it is possible to further improve the operability of the key operation.

Furthermore, since the keys of the key group that are relatively infrequently used are assigned to the touch display unit 40,
By appropriately selecting and setting the display of the key name on the LCD 23, it is possible to display a large number of key names with a small display area, and the facsimile device 1 can be used in various ways without increasing the size of the facsimile device 1. The key can be operated appropriately.

That is, among the various functions of the facsimile apparatus 1, the keys for using the functions that are relatively infrequently used are, for example, formed into a hierarchical structure for each function, and the hierarchical structure is traced according to the key operation. If the key names are displayed on the LCD 23, a large number of key names can be efficiently displayed with a small display area.

Further, in the facsimile device 1, as shown in FIG. 3, since the ring-shaped insulating member 46 formed in the shape of a strip is arranged on the peripheral portion of the touch panel 25 over a predetermined width, the touch panel 25 has It is possible to prevent the occurrence of electrostatic discharge from the LCD 23 disposed below to the conductor on the touch panel 25, for example, a finger of a person or the like, and prevent the peripheral circuit of the LCD 23 from being broken or damaged. it can.

Further, the facsimile apparatus 1 performs the energy saving process of the operation unit 11 that turns off the backlight 24 and the LED 22 when in the standby state.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the power of the facsimile apparatus 1 is turned on (ON) (step S1), the operation control section 20 returns the backlight 24 and the LED 2 to each other.
2 is turned on, and the LED 22 is turned on in the state when the power of the facsimile apparatus 1 was turned off last time or in the preset initial state (step S2).

Next, the operation control unit 20 checks whether or not the facsimile apparatus 1 is in the standby state (step S
3) If not in the standby state, the process returns to step S2, and the backlight 24 and the LED 22 continue to be turned on (step S2).

It should be noted that, for example, the operation control unit 20 is not communicating with the network control unit 4, that is, is not off-hook, the document sensor 9 is not outputting a signal indicating that a document is present, and the system control unit 2 is It is not judged from the detection results of various sensors (not shown) that an error has occurred in the facsimile apparatus 1, and the first key operation unit 4 of the operation unit 11
Since no key operation signal is input from the first and second key operation units and the touch display unit 40, that is, the mechanical keys 21 and the touch panel 25 are not operated,
It is determined whether or not it is in the standby state.

In the step S3, when in the standby state,
The operation control unit 20 sets a predetermined waiting time (timer setting) in the timer area of the built-in RAM (step S
4) It is again checked whether it is in the standby state (step S5).

Although the waiting time is set as system data in advance, the waiting time may be set by the operator.

In step S5, in the standby state, the operation control section 20 checks whether or not the waiting time has passed, that is, whether or not the time has passed (step S6). If the time has not passed, the operation control section 20 returns to step S5. Then, it is checked whether it is in a standby state (step S5).

In step S5, key operation is performed,
When the network control unit 4 goes off hook or the like and thus is not in the standby state, the operation control unit 20 returns to step S2 to turn on the backlight 24 and turn on the LED 22 (step S2).

After the timer is set in step S4, when the waiting time is over in the standby state (steps S4 to S6), the operation control unit 20 turns off the backlight 24 (OFF) and turns off the LED 22 ( It is turned off (step S7), and it is checked whether it is in a standby state (step S8).

In step S8, in the standby state, the operation control section 20 returns to step S7 and continues to turn off the backlight 24 and the LED 22 (step S8).
7) When the standby state is removed, the process returns to step S2,
After turning on the backlight 24 and the LED 22, the same processing as above is performed.

Therefore, when in a predetermined standby state,
It is possible to turn off the backlight 24 and the LED 22, which consume a large amount of power, and reduce power consumption.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1 is provided with an energy saving mode key 21e. When the energy saving mode key 21e is pressed, the system control unit 2
Performs energy saving processing such as turning off the preheating of the fixing ratio of the recording unit 7 and others. The operation unit 11 by the operation control unit 20 is
The energy saving process may be performed in conjunction with the energy saving process of the system control unit 2 when the energy saving mode key 21e is pressed, or may be performed independently of the energy saving process of the system control unit 2.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it can be changed.

For example, in the above embodiment, the first
The mechanical key 21 is divided into a key operation unit 41 and a second key operation unit 42, and the mechanical key 21 is divided into a first key operation unit 41 and a second key operation unit 4.
2 are arranged according to the frequency of use, but are not limited to those that are divided into the first key operation unit 41 and the second key operation unit 42, and there are two or more key operation units. You may divide.

Further, in the above embodiment, the LCD 23 is used as the display means, but it is not limited to the LCD 23, and for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) can be used.
May be used.

[0083]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to operate by using the touch key means and the fixed keys which are allocated according to the frequency of use, without increasing the size of the operation section. Therefore, the operability of the key operation of the facsimile device can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the name of the fixed key and the operation state of the fixed key can be easily displayed by the lamp means, and the convenience of using the facsimile apparatus can be improved. it can.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the electrostatic discharge to the conductor on the touch panel means, for example, the finger of a person, is caused by wrapping around the outer peripheral portion of the touch panel means from the outer edge portion of the liquid crystal display device. This can be prevented by the insulating member, and the failure or damage of the liquid crystal display device and by extension, the facsimile device can be prevented in advance.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus including the liquid crystal display device having the backlight, the backlight can be turned off in the standby state, and the power consumption can be reduced. be able to.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus provided with a liquid crystal display device having a backlight and a lamp means, both the lamp means and the backlight are turned off when in a standby state. The power consumption can be further reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an operation unit of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially peeled top view of the touch display unit of the operation unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing energy saving processing by the facsimile apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile device 2 System control unit 3 Communication control unit 4 Network control unit 5 Power supply unit 6 Image memory 7 Recording unit 8 Reading unit 9 Original sensor 10 Timer 11 Operation unit 20 Operation control unit 21 Mechanical key 22 LED 23 LCD 24 Backlight 25 Touch panel 40 Touch display unit 41 First key operation unit 42 Second key operation unit 43 Operation status display unit 44 Identification label 45 Harness 46 Insulating member 47 Power cord

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising a plurality of keys for inputting various commands to an operation unit, and executing various functions according to commands assigned to the keys according to an operation state of the keys, The operation unit includes a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of key names, and a touch panel unit provided on the front surface side of the display unit for acquiring touch information to a position corresponding to the key name displayed on the display unit. A touch key means for processing the touch information as key operation information; and a plurality of fixed keys, wherein commands of the various keys are assigned to the touch key means and the fixed keys according to the frequency of use. A facsimile device characterized by the above. 2. The operation section further comprises a lamp means for displaying the name of the fixed key or the operating state of the fixed key corresponding to at least one fixed key among the fixed keys. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The display means is a liquid crystal display device, and the touch panel means is formed such that the surface shape of the touch panel means is substantially the same as that of the display means. An insulating member having a predetermined width is provided over the entire length.
Alternatively, the facsimile apparatus according to claim 2. 4. The display means is a liquid crystal display device having a backlight, and the facsimile apparatus further comprises control means for executing an energy saving process for turning off the backlight in a predetermined standby state. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 5. The operation section includes lamp means for displaying the name of the fixed key or the operating state of the fixed key in correspondence with at least one fixed key among the fixed keys, The means is a liquid crystal display device provided with the backlight, and the facsimile device turns off the lamp means and the backlight in a predetermined standby state. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of the above.