KR20050073825A - Image forming apparatus and menu displaying method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which at least one or more functions of a printer, a fax, a copying machine, and a scanner are combined, and a menu displaying method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes: a memory for storing a menu table in which the menu symbols representing each menu are classified into multiple levels together with a plurality of menus related to the operation and setting of a printer, a fax, a copy machine, and a scanner; A selection table formed of a plurality of buttons formed for the selection of a menu, a menu selected by the selection input section, and a display section for displaying the operation status of the printer, fax, copier, scanner, and menu menu according to the menu symbol selected by the selection input section. A menu reorganization unit for reconfiguring and adjusting a menu displayed on the display unit, and when a menu symbol is selected by the selection input unit, the menu reorganization unit is operated to reconfigure the menu so that a menu corresponding to the menu symbol selected by the selection input unit is displayed on the display unit. It includes a control unit for controlling to. As a result, the user can easily execute a desired function only by selecting the first letter of the top menu and each submenu. Therefore, the number of times of pressing of the button for menu selection and its operation time are reduced, and the user's convenience can be reduced. Can be.

Description

Image forming apparatus and menu displaying method

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a menu display method thereof, and more particularly, to reconfigure a menu according to a user's input so that a menu selected by the user is displayed directly on the display unit, thereby repressing the number of button presses for selecting the menu. And an image forming apparatus and a menu displaying method thereof for shortening a menu selection time for user convenience.

With the recent widespread use of office-automation devices such as printers, scanners, and facsimile, the development of high-performance products has been accelerated. As a result, the production cost of the product is increased to not only increase the economic burden on the consumer, but also have the disadvantage that a relatively large place is required to provide each device. This has led to the emergence of a complex device (hereinafter referred to as an image forming device) that integrates each device used independently.

Such an image forming apparatus is provided with information transmitting means such as a modem together with printing means and scanning means, and functions as a printer and a facsimile, as well as a scanner and a copy machine. It can be implemented in a complex way, and it has a built-in PC-interface function that works with the PC.

The image forming apparatus needs to separately designate each key for selecting each function in order to execute a function provided by each device as many devices having different functions are combined. For example, you need keys to specify specific emulations, form feeds, online or other functions with the host, and keys to specify the number of copies, etc. when the image forming apparatus is used as a copier function.

In order to select various functions, the image forming apparatus includes a selection input unit 130 having a plurality of buttons for selecting a function as shown in FIG. 1, and a selection input unit 130 together with an operation state of the device. Selected by the display unit 115, the menu is stored in a multi-stage table form, the memory 125, and the menu from the memory 125 in accordance with the contents input from the selection input unit 130 to display the display unit ( The controller 110 is provided to display the menu at 115.

As shown in FIG. 2, the selection input unit 130 may include a menu selection button 136 for displaying a menu on the display 115, an UP button 137, and a DOWN button 138 for moving the menu up and down. ), A first button unit 135 including a confirmation button 139 for selection of a menu and a submenu, a number button 145, a button 141, and a #button 143 of numbers 0 to 9; It consists of a second button unit 140 including.

In general, the first button unit 135 is mainly used for setting a printing job and a scanning job during the operation of a printer or a scanner, and the second button unit 140 selects the number of copies or transmits a fax when the copier or fax machine is used. It is mainly used to input the other party's phone number.

A process for selecting a menu through the selection input unit 130 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.

When the user presses the menu selection button 136 of the first button unit 135 to select a menu (S310), the display unit 115 formed of an LED or an LCD displays a menu having a pre-programmed sequence (S320). ). That is, when the menus are set in alphabetical order, when the user presses the menu selection button 136, the display 115 displays a menu starting with A. FIG. When the menu is displayed in this way, the user moves the menu up and down until the desired menu appears by using the UP button 137 and the DOWN button 138 (S330). When the desired menu is displayed on the display 115 (P340), the user presses the confirmation button (139) (P350), at this time, usually a submenu of the selected menu appears (S360). The user again finds a desired submenu using the UP button 137 and the DOWN button 138 (S370), repeats the steps P360 and P370 until the desired submenu is displayed on the display 115, When the desired submenu is displayed, the confirmation button 139 is pressed to finally select the menu (S380).

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the menu selection button 136 is pressed to select a menu, and then the UP button 137 and the DOWN button 138 are operated to find a desired menu, and the lower portion of the selected menu is selected. In order to select the menu, the UP button 137 and the DOWN button 138 must be operated again. Therefore, there is a problem that not only has to press the button for too many times for the menu selection, but also the time required for the menu selection is relatively long.

On the other hand, in order to solve such a problem, a method for assigning a unique shortcut number to each submenu to select each submenu has been developed. In this method, by pressing the menu selection button 136 of the first button unit 135, and then pressing the shortcut number of the desired sub-menu using the second button unit 140 to go directly to the sub-menu, This shortens the time for menu selection.

However, in order to select and execute each submenu, there is a disadvantage in that all shortcut numbers of each submenu must be recognized. Otherwise, the manual that guides each submenu and the shortcut number must be present, so the actual utility value is lowered.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reconfigure a menu according to a user's input so that a menu selected by the user is displayed immediately, thereby reducing the number of times of button selection and time for selecting a menu, thereby facilitating user convenience. A forming apparatus and a menu displaying method thereof are provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a configuration of the present invention includes a plurality of menus related to operation and setting of a printer, a fax, a copy machine, and a scanner in an image forming apparatus in which at least one or more functions of a printer, a fax, a copy machine, and a scanner are combined. And a memory storing a menu table classifying menu symbols representing each menu in multiple levels; A selection input unit formed of a plurality of buttons formed for selecting the menu; A display unit for displaying a menu selected by the selection input unit and operating states of the printer, fax, copier, and scanner; A menu reconstructing unit configured to adjust the menu displayed on the display unit by reconfiguring the menu table according to the menu symbol selected by the selection input unit; And selecting a menu symbol by the selection input unit, and operating the menu reconstruction unit to reconfigure the menu so as to display a menu corresponding to the menu symbol selected by the selection input unit. .

And a flash memory for temporarily storing a menu reconstructed by the menu reconstruction unit; The controller may store the menu reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit in the flash memory.

Preferably, the menu symbol is formed of a letter including at least the first letter of the menu.

Preferably, the menu reconstruction unit places a menu having a menu symbol selected by the selection input unit at the head of the menu table.

On the other hand, the above object, according to another field of the present invention, at least one or more functions of the printer, fax, copier, scanner are combined, and a plurality of menus related to the operation and setting of the printer, fax, copier, scanner A memory for storing the sorted menu table; A selection input unit formed of a plurality of buttons formed for selecting the menu; A menu display method of an image forming apparatus having a menu selected by the selection input unit and an operation state of the printer, fax, copier, and scanner, wherein the menu symbol symbolizes each menu using the selection input unit. Selecting at least one of; Reconfiguring a menu of the menu table according to a menu symbol selected by the selection input unit; A menu corresponding to a menu symbol selected by the selection input unit may be displayed on the display unit according to the reconstructed menu.

Here, the selecting of the menu symbol is preferably a step of inputting a character including at least the first character of the menu.

The reconfiguring of the menu may be a step of reconfiguring a menu such that a menu having the selected menu symbol is disposed at the top of the menu table.

The method may further include temporarily storing the reconstructed menu.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for menu display of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes a memory 25, a selection input unit 30, a display unit 15, a menu reconstruction unit 20, in order to reconfigure a menu according to a user input so that a menu selected by a user is displayed immediately. The flash memory 27 and the control part 10 are provided.

The display unit 15 displays an operation state of each device of the menu or image forming apparatus selected by the selection input unit 30, that is, a printer, a fax, a copier, and a scanner. The display unit 15 displays two to several lines of information according to its size, and may be formed of an LED or an LCD, but recently, the display unit 15 is generally manufactured of an LCD.

In the memory 25, a plurality of menus related to the operation and setting of devices constituting the image forming apparatus, for example, a printer, a fax, a copier, and a scanner, are classified and stored in multiple stages.

The menu is stored in a table form, and FIG. 5 illustrates a menu of a printer in the image forming apparatus as an example. As shown in FIG. 5, the menu is composed of a plurality of levels, the top menu being the top menu, the immediate submenu of the top menu being the first sub menu, the second sub menu, the third sub menu. Is named. The top menu and submenus for each submenu may or may not exist depending on the type of menu. That is, the first sub menu, the second sub menu, and the third sub menu may exist for the specific top menu, but only the first sub menu may exist for the other top menu.

In the top menu, menus for selecting an operation and a setting of a printer, a fax, a copier, and a scanner are arranged. FIG. 5 is a menu related to a printer, and therefore, the top menu is 'COPY FEATURES'.

In the first sub menu, 'ID CARD COPY' for print setting of ID card, 'EDGE ERASE' for setting not to print a part or a part of all corners, printed contents There is a 'Margin Shift' for setting which area of the paper to place.

Here, 'ID CARD COPY' does not have a separate submenu, but in the second submenu which is a submenu of 'EDGE ERASE', 'OFF' is used to cancel the setting. ) "," BOOK CENTER & EDGES "which erases the rest of the printed book in the center and corners," BINDER HOLES "to delete binder holes, and deletes all sides beyond a certain boundary Including 'BORDER SURROUND'.

In the submenu of the 'MARGIN SHIFT' menu, 'OFF' to cancel the margin setting, 'AUTO CENTER' to ensure that the print is centered on the paper, and give a margin to the right 'RIGHT MARGIN', 'LEFT MARGIN' which gives a margin on the left, 'TOP MARGIN' which gives a margin on the top of the paper, and 'BOTTOM MARGIN' which gives the margin on the bottom of the paper ) 'And the like.

On the other hand, each top menu and the first and second sub-menus are assigned alphabets as menu symbols symbolizing each menu when each menu is selected. This menu symbol is not given separately, but is determined by an alphabet that is the first letter of each top menu and the first and second sub menus. That is, the menu symbol of the printer's top menu 'COPY FEATURES' becomes' C ', and the menu symbol of the first sub-menu' ID CARD COPY 'is' I', ' The menu symbol of EDGE ERASE 'is' E' and the menu symbol of 'MARGIN SHIFT' is' M '.

Similarly, the menu symbol of 'OFF', which is the second sub menu of 'EDGE ERASE', becomes 'O'. However, the first letters of 'BOOK CENTER & EDGES', 'BINDER HOLES' and 'BORDER SURROUND' all start with 'B' and are duplicated. You can set the menu symbol to two letters. In other words, the menu symbol of 'BOOK CENTER & EDGES' is 'BC', and the menu symbol of 'BINDER HOLES' is 'BH' and the 'BORDER SURROUND' The menu symbol can be set to 'BS'. On the other hand, if the first letter is duplicated, instead of making the menu symbol two letters, the first letter of the second word, for example, 'BOOK CENTER & EDGES', is 'C' and 'Binder Hall'. In case of 'BINDER HOLES', it can be set as 'H'. And 'BORDER SURROUND' is no longer duplicated with 'S' or 'BOOK CENTER & EDGES' and 'BINDER HOLES', so you can just set it to 'B'. have. The setting method of the menu symbol may be presented in various forms depending on the situation.

Meanwhile, the menu symbol of 'OFF', which is the second sub menu of 'MARGIN SHIFT', is' O ',' AUTO CENTER 'is' A', and the 'right margin ( RIGHT MARGIN) 'to' R ',' LEFT MARGIN 'to' L ',' TOP MARGIN 'to' T ', and' BOTTOM MARGIN 'to' B ' You can set the menu symbol with.

Here, the second sub-menu 'OFF' of EDGE ERASE and the second sub-menu 'OFF' of 'Set Margin' have the same command, and the menu symbol is' Same as O ', but since the first sub menu is already selected and the second sub menu belonging to the first sub menu is selected, if the menu symbols in the second sub menu are different from each other, different first sub menus are selected. The menu symbols of the second sub menu may be the same.

As shown in FIG. 6, the selection input unit 30 includes a menu selection button 36 for displaying a menu on the display unit 15, an UP button 37 and a DOWN button 38 for moving the menu up and down. ), A first button part 35 including a confirmation button 39 for selection of a menu and a submenu, a number button 45 of 0 to 9, a * button 41 and a # button 43. It consists of a second button portion 40 including.

Here, 1 to 9 of the numeric buttons 45 of the second button unit 40 are each given three letters. That is, the number button 45 of '1' is 'ABC', and the number button 45 of '2' is 'DEF'. 'YZ' is assigned to the number button 45 of '9'. After selecting the menu selection button 36 of the first button part 35, the number button 45 of the second button part 40 is selected. When selected, the menu reconstruction unit 20 to be described later recognizes the value input through the number button 45 as an alphabet, that is, a menu symbol of each top menu or first and second sub menus. Each time the number button 45 is pressed once, the alphabet assigned is sequentially selected. That is, pressing the number button 45 '1' once selects 'A', pressing twice selects 'B', and pressing three times selects 'C'. However, after a predetermined time elapses after the number button 45 is selected, when the number button 45 is pressed again, two letters arranged in sequence are selected. That is, when a predetermined time has elapsed while the number button 45 '1' is pressed once and the number 'A' is selected, the number button 45 '1' is pressed again, and 'AA' is selected instead of 'B'. .

On the other hand, the menu reconstructing unit 20, after selecting the menu selection button 36 of the first button unit 35 of the selection input unit 30 is selected by any number button 45 of the second button unit 40 In this case, the order of the menus stored in the memory 25 or the menus displayed on the display unit 15 are reconfigured according to the alphabet of the selected number button 45, that is, the menu symbol.

For example, after pressing the menu selection button 36 and pressing the number button 45 '1' three times within a predetermined time, 'C' is selected as a menu symbol. Then, the menu reconstruction unit 20 reconfigures the menu by selecting 'COPY FEATURES' corresponding to the menu symbol 'C' in the top menu. In this case, the menu reconstructing unit 20 may change the position such that the 'COPY FEATURES' top menu is positioned at the top of the menu table, and the 'COPY FEATURES' top menu is displayed on the display unit 15. Only the position of the 'COPY FEATURES' top menu can be found and provided to the control unit so as to be displayed on. Accordingly, the control unit 10 displays the uppermost end of the menu table on the display unit 15, or displays the menu of the position found by the menu reconstructing unit 20 on the display unit 15, whereby the selected menu is displayed on the display unit 15. ) Can be displayed.

When the user selects a submenu while the 'COPY FEATURES' top menu is selected, the user selects the menu symbol of the desired submenu again. For example, if the user presses the number button 45 '2' twice, the alphabet 'E' is selected, and the menu reconstruction unit 20 has the first sub-menu 'Edge Clear' having 'E' as the menu symbol. Select 'EDGE ERASE' so that 'EDGE ERASE' is at the top of the menu table. When the user presses the number button 45, '5' three times to select the sub menu again, the 'EDGE ERASE' menu is selected, the letter 'O' is selected, and the menu reconstruction unit 20 selects 'O'. Select 'OFF' with the menu symbol as the second sub menu.

In other words, the menu reconstructor 20 places the selected menu at the top of the menu table in order to display the selected menu according to the menu symbol of each menu selected by the selection input unit 30 on the display unit 15. do. Alternatively, the menu reconstruction unit 20 may inform the controller 10 of the position of the selected menu without changing the position of the menu so that the menu is displayed on the display unit 15.

The menu table reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit 20 is stored in the flash memory 27, so that when the same menu is selected, the menu table reconfigured can be provided to improve the processing speed.

On the other hand, if the menu selection button 36 is selected by the selection input unit 30, the control unit 10 operates the menu reconstruction unit 20 to reconfigure the menu, and reconstructs the menu reconstructed by the menu reconstruction unit 20. While displaying on the display unit 15, the reconstructed menu is stored in the flash memory 27.

A menu selection process of the image forming apparatus having such a configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

When the user presses the menu selection button 36 of the first button part 35 of the selection input unit 30 (S710), the controller 10 drives the menu reconstruction unit 20. In order to select the top menu, the user presses any number button 45 of the second button 40, for example, '1' three times, and selects 'C' as the menu symbol (S720). Then, the menu reconstructor 20 recognizes that 'COPY FEATURES' corresponding to the menu symbol 'C' is selected in the top menu, and moves the 'COPY FEATURES' to the top of the menu table. The menu table is reconfigured (S730), and the controller 10 displays the 'COPY FEATURES' menu moved to the top of the menu table on the display unit 15 (S740).

At this time, if the displayed menu is the final menu, the controller 10 executes the corresponding menu. Otherwise, the selection of the lower menu is continued (S750).

When the user presses the number button 45 '5' once to select the first submenu, which is a submenu, 'M' is selected as the menu symbol, and the first submenu having 'M' as the menu symbol is 'margin'. A setting 'MARGIN SHIFT' menu is selected (S760). Then, the menu reconstruction unit 20 moves the 'MARGIN SHIFT' menu to the top of the first sub menu, and reconfigures the menu table as shown in FIG. 8 (S770). A 'MARGIN SHIFT' menu is displayed on the display unit 15 (S780).

As in step S750, it is determined whether the displayed menu is the final menu, and if it is not the final menu, the selection of the submenu is continued (S790), and the cycle continues until the final menu is selected.

In order to select the second sub-menu which is the sub-menu again, the user presses the number button 45 '1' once to select the menu symbol 'A' (S800). In the menu reconstructing unit 20, the second submenu corresponding to the menu symbol 'A' is moved to the top of the second submenu, and the menu table as shown in FIG. 9 is moved. In operation S810, the controller 10 displays an “AUTO CENTER” menu on the display unit 15 (S820).

In this state, when the user selects the confirmation button 39, the control unit 10 causes the printed contents to be aligned in the center of the paper as the user selects.

As such, the image forming apparatus sets a menu symbol symbolized by an alphabet including the first letter in the top menu and each submenu, and reconfigures the top menu and each submenu step by step when selecting the menu symbol. The selected top menu and the sub menu are directly displayed on the display unit 15.

Accordingly, in the prior art, when the menu is selected, the menu is moved up and down by using the UP button 37 and the DOWN button 38, the user merely selects the first letter of the top menu and each submenu. You can easily execute the desired function. Therefore, not only the number of presses of the button for menu selection is reduced but also the time is reduced, so that the user's convenience can be achieved by the simple execution of the function.

In addition, in the present invention, since the menu symbols of the top menu and each submenu use the first letter of the English name of the top menu and each submenu, the user can easily grasp the menu symbol as long as the user recognizes a desired command. This means that by selecting a menu by assigning a number without any probability in the related art, unlike memorizing numbers one by one or requiring a manual, anyone who knows the basic commands can easily use them because they can easily use them.

As described above, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but it should be taken as exemplary, and various modifications may be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the claims below, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can simply execute the desired function by simply selecting the first letter of the top menu and each sub-menu, so that the number of times of pressing the button for menu selection is not only reduced. The time is also reduced, so that the user's convenience can be achieved.

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for displaying a menu of a conventional image forming apparatus;

2 is a plan view of a selection input unit region of FIG. 1;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional menu display process;

4 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for displaying a menu of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention;

5 is a configuration diagram of a menu table stored in the memory of FIG. 4;

6 is a plan view of a selection input unit region of FIG. 4;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a menu display process of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention;

8 is a menu table reconstructed by the menu reconstruction unit when the first sub-menu is selected by the selection input unit of FIG. 4, and

9 is a menu table reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit when the second submenu is selected by the selection input unit of FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: control unit 15: display unit

20: menu reorganization unit 25: memory

27: flash memory 30: selection input unit

35: first button 36: menu selection button

37: UP button 38: DOWN button

39: confirmation button 40: second button portion

45: Number Buttons

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus in which at least one or more of a printer, a fax, a copy machine, and a scanner are combined A memory storing a menu table in which the menu symbols representing each menu are classified into multiple levels together with a plurality of menus related to the operation and setting of the printer, fax, copier, and scanner; A selection input unit formed of a plurality of buttons formed for selecting the menu; A display unit for displaying a menu selected by the selection input unit and operating states of the printer, fax, copier, and scanner; A menu reconstructing unit configured to adjust the menu displayed on the display unit by reconfiguring the menu table according to the menu symbol selected by the selection input unit; And a controller configured to reconfigure the menu by operating the menu reconstruction unit so that a menu corresponding to the menu symbol selected by the selection input unit is displayed on the display unit when the menu symbol is selected by the selection input unit. Image forming apparatus. The method of claim 1, And a flash memory for temporarily storing a menu reconstructed by the menu reconstruction unit; And the control unit stores the menu reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit in the flash memory. The method of claim 1, And the menu symbol is formed of a character including at least the first character of the menu. The method of claim 1, And the menu reconstructing unit arranges a menu having a menu symbol selected by the selection input unit at the head of the menu table. At least one function of at least one of a printer, a fax, a copy machine, and a scanner, the memory storing a menu table classifying a plurality of menus related to the operation and setting of the printer, fax, copy machine, and scanner; A selection input unit formed of a plurality of buttons formed for selecting the menu; In the menu display method of the image forming apparatus having a menu selected by the selection input unit and a display unit for displaying the operation state of the printer, fax, copier, scanner, Selecting at least one of a menu symbol representing each menu by using the selection input unit; Reconfiguring a menu of the menu table according to a menu symbol selected by the selection input unit; And displaying a menu corresponding to a menu symbol selected by the selection input unit in accordance with the reconstructed menu, on the display unit. The method of claim 5, And selecting a menu symbol comprises inputting a character including at least the first character of the menu. The method of claim 5, The reconfiguring of the menu may include reconfiguring a menu such that a menu having the selected menu symbol is disposed at the top of the menu table. The method of claim 5, Temporarily storing the reconstructed menu; menu display method of an image forming apparatus further comprising: