JPH10327283A - Multifunction picture input and output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately visually recognize a used function and a usable function by providing a function display part displaying the forms of appearances showing the plural functions and a character display part displaying whether the functions can be used at the same time as the used function in accordance with the respective functions by characters. SOLUTION: During FAX transmission, a PA-FAX function, a scanner function and a copy function cannot be used but a printer function can simultaneously be used during FAX transmission. In such a case, the operation situations of the respective functions during FAX transmission are displayed on the operation situation display column 22a of the respective functions during FAX transmission, PRT by 'READY', FAX by 'SEND' and others by blanks. At this point, an illustration display part 22b displays a situation where an original passes through a scanner part and a situation where data flows a telephone line in such a way that they flicker and information (paper and arrow) move so as to intuitively understand it. The display of 'SEND' is flickered at the same timing as the flicker.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-function image input / output device integrally having a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a copying function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an input / output device in which a printer, a scanner, a facsimile modem and the like are integrated and used by connecting to a computer, a telephone line or the like. These components are combined to form a multifunctional image input / output device that integrates multiple functions such as a printer function, a scanner function, a copying function, a facsimile function, and a PC-FAX function.

The PC-FAX function transmits transmission data directly from a computer through a facsimile modem,
Even during reception, the received data is directly taken into the computer.

[0004] Such an image input / output device is characterized in that simultaneous processing of a plurality of functions is possible. For example, the printer function prints out data from a computer while transmitting using a facsimile function, and receives facsimile data while reading data into a personal computer using a scanner function.

[0005] Such a multifunctional image input / output device is provided with a panel section 31 as shown in FIG. 7, which includes an operation section having operation buttons 32 to 35 and the like, and a liquid crystal panel. There is provided a display device using the number 36 or the like.

The display uses a character liquid crystal panel of about two lines and transmits various information to an operator.

For example, when printing is being performed from a computer using a printer function, as shown in FIG.
PRINTING ", etc. In addition, during facsimile transmission, as shown in FIG.
X SENDING "is displayed, and the number of pages to be transmitted, the destination number, etc. are displayed at the same time, that is, the current operation content is displayed in characters.

Another conventional example is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-15284.
The configuration of the device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9 and its display unit will be described.

In another conventional example, as shown in FIG. 9, various image input / output devices 41, an ISD line 42, a hard disk device 43, and a computer 44 are connected to a controller 45 to form a multifunction device.

As shown in FIG. 10, operation panels 47 and 48 for performing various operations are provided on an operation panel 46 of the controller 45.
And a display unit 49. The display unit 49 displays an image of a connection state with each device in the form of a system diagram, and displays a functioning portion and a flow of information. For example, when the copy function is selected, the display portions of the scanner 49a and the printer 49b are turned on, the path connecting the two is indicated by a dotted line, and the dotted line moves to the information destination to display the flow of information.

[0011]

In the case of the above-mentioned conventional example, only the status of one operating function is known.
It has been difficult to understand the situation when multiple operations are performed.

In another conventional example, the flow of data between each device can be understood. However, since the system is displayed in the form of a system diagram, unless the user is sufficiently proficient in the device, the flow of data can be determined from the flow of data. It was rather difficult to correctly grasp the status of the system.

In both cases, when one or more functions are operating and a new operation is to be performed, it is difficult to immediately determine whether or not the operation can be performed. Further, as the apparatus becomes more complicated, it is also required that the location and situation at the time of occurrence of an error can be immediately confirmed.

[0014]

The multi-function image input / output apparatus according to the first aspect has a plurality of functions such as a printer, a scanner, a copy, a facsimile, and the like. In a multi-function image input / output device that can be used, a shape display unit that displays an external shape indicating the plurality of functions, an operation state of each function, and this function is used when at least one function is used. A display means is formed from a character display unit that displays whether or not the function can be used at the same time as the function in correspondence with each function.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-function image input / output apparatus comprising:
The shape display section typically displays the operating portion or signal flow when the plurality of functions are operated.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a multifunctional image input / output device according to the present invention is shown in a schematic sectional view of FIG.

The printer unit 1 is provided at the center of the apparatus main body 2 and passes from a recording paper 3 through a printer engine based on a print command, and after printing, is discharged to an upper paper discharge unit 4.

The scanner section 5 is provided on the front upper portion of the apparatus main body 2. After the scanner original 6 is placed on the original tray 7, the scanner original 6 passes through the scanner engine based on a command from the computer 8. The data is taken into the computer 8, and the scanner document 6 is discharged from the document discharge port 9.

The data is printed by the printer unit 1 while the scanner unit 5 scans the copy.

In facsimile transmission, data is captured by the scanner unit 5 and transmitted via the telephone line 12 by the FAX modem 11 on the controller board 10, and reception is printed by the printing unit 1 as FAX reception data as print data.

FIG. 2 is a view of the apparatus main body 2 of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. The panel section 21 is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 2.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a panel including a display portion of a multi-function image input / output device having such a multi-function and capable of simultaneously using a plurality of functions.

In the center of the panel 21, there is a display unit 22 using graphics liquid crystal, and on the periphery there are arranged operation buttons 23 to 26 for performing various operations.

As shown in FIG. 4, PRT, SCAN, C
OPY, FAX, PC-FAX and characters representing each function are drawn immediately below the liquid crystal display area, and columns indicating the operation status of these five functions are arranged in the liquid crystal display area immediately above. ing.

In the center of the liquid crystal display unit, the external appearance of the multi-function image input / output device is displayed as an illustration.
The situation where the telephone line is connected is also shown in the illustration.

First, when no function is operating, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation status display section of each function displays "READY".

In this state, for example, a case in which facsimile transmission is performed will be described. During FAX transmission, the PA-FAX function, scanner function, and copy function cannot be used, but the printer function can be used simultaneously during FAX transmission.

Therefore, the operation status of each function during fax transmission is indicated by the operation status display field 22a of each function during fax transmission.
As shown in FIG. 5, PRT is "READY", FAX is "SEND", and the others are blank.

At this time, the illustration display portion 22b displays the state of the document passing through the scanner section and the state of the data flowing over the telephone line while blinking the information (paper and arrows) so as to be intuitively understood. Make it easier. In addition, the display of “SEND” also blinks at the same timing as this blinking.

The user immediately sees this display,
Although fax transmission is currently being performed, it is possible to recognize that the printer function can be used.

Next, consider the case where the printer function is used simultaneously in this state.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
For “CTIVE” and FAX, the letters “SEND” are displayed blinking, and the other columns are blank.

Therefore, the user can easily recognize that other functions cannot be used because the printer function and the FAX transmission are currently operating.

In the illustration display portion 22b, in addition to blinking display of a document passing through a scanner unit and data flowing through a telephone line, data flowing from a computer to a multi-function image input / output device. The flashing of the facsimile transmission is displayed with the flashing of the recording paper passing through the printer section at different timings.

If any error occurs, the error display function can be immediately added by blinking the relevant portion on the illustration display portion 22b.

In this embodiment, a display example using a liquid crystal panel is used. However, a similar display function can be provided by a display means such as an LED.

[0037]

In the multi-function image input / output apparatus according to the first aspect, a shape display unit for displaying an external shape showing a plurality of functions, an operation state of each function, and at least one function are used. Since the display means is formed from a character display portion that displays characters in correspondence with each function whether or not it can be used at the same time as the function being used,
Even when at least one function is used, a function that can be used at the same time as the function being used can be immediately and silently recognized, and the multi-function image input / output device can be effectively used. .

In the multi-function image input / output device according to the second aspect, since the shape display section schematically displays the operating portion or the flow of signals when the plurality of functions are operated, which function is operated. It can be easily determined whether or not it is inside.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a multifunctional image input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the multifunction image input / output device of the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the panel unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a display unit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a state in which a data flow of the apparatus and an operation state of each function are displayed during facsimile transmission on the display unit in FIG. 3;

6 is an enlarged plan view showing a state in which a data flow of the apparatus and an operation status of each function are displayed while the FAX function and the printer function are operating on the display unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a panel unit of a conventional multifunction image input / output device.

8A is an enlarged plan view showing a state during printing using a printer function in the panel unit of FIG. 7, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged plan view showing a state of facsimile transmission in the panel unit of FIG. 7; It is.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another conventional multi-function image input / output device.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing an operation panel in another conventional multifunction image input / output device.

[Description of Signs] 1 Printer section 2 Main body 4 Paper discharge section 5 Scanner section 7 Document tray 8 Computer 9 Document discharge port 21 Panel section 22 Display section 22a Operation status display field 22b Illustration display section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-function image input / output device having a plurality of functions such as a printer, a scanner, a copier, a facsimile, and capable of simultaneously using some of the plurality of functions. A shape display unit for displaying the shape of the appearance to be shown, and an operation state of each function and whether at least one function can be used at the same time as the function being used when the function is used is made to correspond to each function. A multi-function image input / output device, wherein a display means is formed from a character display unit for displaying characters. 2. The multi-function image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shape display section schematically displays an operation portion or a signal flow when said plurality of functions are operated.