KR20050106688A - Printer able to set up a cut down key by user - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer capable of setting a shortcut key for a menu by a user, comprising: a plurality of buttons for selecting a menu composed of a plurality of levels for setting a printing state of printed matter, and a menu selected by operation of each button step by step When the display unit for displaying, the menu storage button for selecting to save the setting value of the menu selected by each button to be stored, the menu storage unit for storing the setting value of the menu selected by the menu save button, and the menu save button, And a control unit for storing the setting values of the menu selected by the operation of each button in the menu storage unit, and controlling the printing of the printed matter by setting the printing state according to the menu setting values stored in the menu storage unit. As a result, the printed matter is printed according to the setting value of the menu set by the user by a simple operation of selecting a shortcut key, and the time taken by the user to set the menu can be shortened. In addition, by changing the settings of the printer to the previous state after the printing is completed, it is possible for the convenience of the user to be used later and to reduce the occurrence of gripping.

Description

Printer which can set shortcut key of menu by user {PRINTER ABLE TO SET UP A CUT DOWN KEY BY USER}

The present invention relates to a printer capable of setting a shortcut key for a menu by a user. More particularly, the shortcut key may be stored by changing a setting value of a menu to a value desired by the user, and storing the changed menu setting value with an arbitrary shortcut key. The present invention relates to a printer capable of setting a shortcut key for a menu by a user, in which a printed matter is printed according to a menu setting set by a user by a simple operation of selecting.

In general, the printer is connected to a computer and receives the printing data created or edited on the computer, converts it into a printer control language suitable for the set printing conditions, and outputs the result on paper using colored dyes such as ink or toner. Appliance.

Printers can be divided into impact printers using physical shocks and non-impact printers using heat or laser beams, depending on the printing method. It can also be divided into a page printer that prints page by page.

Such a printer provides a menu for displaying a user's current printer status, setting a layout of a paper to be printed, or setting a resolution of a printed product, such as setting the user's function.

1 is a table displaying a menu map of a printer according to an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated, menus are classified into a plurality of levels. The top menu is divided into information, paper, layout, graphic, printer, etc., and each top menu includes a plurality of first sub menus. The lower part of the first sub menu includes a second sub menu.

The information menu includes a configuration menu indicating a printer specification, a plurality of font list menus, a menu map menu for displaying a printer menu, and the like.

The paper menu includes a tray source menu for setting a tray, a paper size menu for setting a size of paper, a paper type menu for setting the thickness or color of paper, and the like.

The Layout menu includes the Orientation menu, a double margin menu that allows you to set margins based on top, left, and binding of paper, a simple margin menu that allows you to set top and left margins of the paper, and the paper to be printed. A copy menu for setting the number of copies is included.

The graphic menu includes a resolution menu for setting the resolution of printed matter, an image enhancement menu for sharpness of an image file, a toner saving menu for saving toner, and a density menu for setting a print density.

The printer menu includes a default menu for returning the print mode changed by the user to the state in which the printer was initially supplied, and a current menu for deleting data remaining in the printer at the time of printer.

In order to set the function of the printer in a state desired by the user using such a menu, the printer includes a selection input unit 130 having a plurality of buttons for selecting a function, as shown in FIG. The display unit 115 in which items selected by the selection input unit 130 are displayed together with a state, a memory 120 in which a menu is stored in a multi-stage table form, and the memory 120 according to contents input from the selection input unit 130. A control unit 110 is provided to draw out a menu from the menu and to display the menu on the display unit 115.

As shown in FIG. 3, the selection input unit 130 includes a menu selection button 136 for displaying a menu on the display 115, a right direction button 137 and a left direction button 138 for moving the menu. ), An enter button 135 for selecting a menu and a submenu. Here, the menu selection button 136 is used to select the top button, the right direction button 137 and the left direction button 138 are used to move to another menu in the menu of the same level, enter button 135 Is used to enter sub menu.

A process for selecting a menu through the selection input unit 130 will now be described with reference to FIG. 4.

When the user presses the menu selection button 136 to select a menu in the initial state, an information menu is displayed on the display unit 115 formed of the LCD, and the paper menu, layout is sequentially made by pressing the right direction button 137. The menu, graphic menu, and printer menu are sequentially selected.

If the user wants to select a letter from the paper size menu among the submenus of the paper menu, first, the user presses the menu selection button 136 in the initial state (S405). Then, the information menu is displayed on the display 115 (S410), and when the user presses the right direction button 137 again, the paper menu is displayed on the display 115 (S415). In this state, when the user selects the enter button 135, the tray source menu, which is a submenu of the paper menu, is displayed on the lower line of the paper menu (S420), and if the right direction button 137 is pressed again, the paper size The menu is displayed on the bottom line of the paper menu (S425). When the enter button 135 is selected again, the letter mode is displayed in the lower line of the paper size menu (S430), and when the enter button 135 is pressed, the letter mode is selected (S435). In order to select the letter mode in this way, the menu selection button 136 → the right direction button 137 → the enter button 135 → the right direction button 137 → the enter button 135 → the enter button 135 → the enter button ( 135), 7 button selection should be made.

When the letter mode is selected and again, to adjust the left margin in the layout menu, first, it is necessary to select the enter button 135 to return to the initial state (S440). When the information menu is displayed on the display unit 115 by pressing the menu selection button 136 in the initial state (S445), the paper menu and the layout menu are pressed by pressing the right direction button 137 twice to select the layout menu. The display is sequentially displayed on the display 115 (S450, S455). In this state, when the enter button 135 is pressed, the paper direction menu is displayed at the bottom of the layout menu (S460), and when the right direction button 137 is pressed once, the double margin menu is displayed at the bottom of the layout menu ( S465). When the user presses the enter button 135, the upper margin menu is displayed (S470), and if the right direction button 137 is selected in this state, the left margin menu is selected (S475). When the enter button 135 is selected while the left margin menu is displayed, the size of the currently set margin, for example, 10 mm is displayed (S480), and the right direction button 137 or the left direction button 138 is displayed. Adjust the size of the margin to the desired size, for example 11mm (S485).

When the size of the desired margin is selected, press the enter button 135 to set as selected. To adjust the left margin in this way, the menu selection button 136 → right direction button 137 → right direction button 137 → Enter button 135 → enter button 135 → right direction button 137 → right direction button 137 → enter button 135 → right direction button 137 or left direction button 138 → enter button 135 ), At least 9 operations are required.

As described above, in order to set a desired printer state, at least seven to nine or more button operations are required per menu, and as described above, two or more menus are desired as desired rather than one menu. In this case, the user must press the button at least 16 times, and if the user wants to change the setting values of the four menus, there is a problem that the button should be pressed at least 30 times. In addition, this operation does not end once, but should be executed every time the user wants to set the printer state in a desired state, which not only causes great inconvenience to the user, but also requires relatively long time for menu selection. There is a problem.

In order to solve this problem, a method has been developed for assigning a unique shortcut number to each submenu so as to select each submenu. In this method, a number button from 0 to 9 is provided, the menu selection button 136 is pressed, and a menu consisting of numbers is pressed to directly move to the corresponding submenu by pressing a shortcut number corresponding to each submenu. It is trying to shorten the time.

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. When using the above method, even if the number of button presses is shortened, the button must be pressed to select at least the top menu, the first sub menu, and the bottom menu, so only the number of button presses is reduced, and the user still sets the menu. It is difficult to solve the conventional problem in that it is necessary to press the button every time.

On the other hand, if the user sets the printer once as desired, it remains set until the user sets it again. Therefore, when another user who does not know whether the setting is changed prints the printed matter, it is different from the expected printing state, so that there is a hassle of having to set up the printer again.

Accordingly, it is necessary to search for a method of presetting and storing a menu frequently used by a user, and then easily recalling the user when desired and changing a printer setting.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to change the setting value of a menu to a value desired by a user, and store the changed menu setting value by matching with an arbitrary shortcut key, so as to match the setting value of the menu set by the user with a simple operation of selecting a shortcut key. The present invention provides a printer capable of setting a shortcut key of a menu by a user who allows a printed matter to be printed.

A configuration of the present invention for achieving this object includes a plurality of buttons for selecting a menu composed of a plurality of levels for setting a printing state of a printed matter; A display unit for gradually displaying a menu selected by the operation of each button; A menu storage button for selecting to store the setting value of the menu selected by each button; A menu storage unit for storing the setting values of the menu selected by the menu storage button; A control unit for controlling to print a printed matter by storing a setting value of a menu selected by manipulation of each button when the menu storage button is selected, and setting a printing state according to the setting value of a menu stored in the menu storage unit; Characterized in that it comprises a.

Here, the menu storage button is preferably selected before the operation of each button and after the selection of the menu is completed by the buttons.

It is preferable to further include an execution button for changing the printing state to the set value of the menu stored in the menu storage unit.

Preferably, the control unit returns to the previous printing state when printing is completed after the printing state is changed by the execution button.

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

5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer for setting a shortcut key of a menu according to the present invention. In order to store the menu selected by the user with a shortcut key, and to change the printer's settings later by inputting the shortcut key, the printer 20 may include a memory 20, a selection input unit 30, a display unit 15, and a menu. The storage part 25 and the control part 10 are provided.

The display unit 15 displays an operation state of a menu or a printer selected by the selection input unit 30. 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 20, a menu map in which a plurality of menus are classified in a tree form as shown in FIG. 1 is stored. The menu consists of multiple levels, the top menu, the immediate submenu of the top menu, the first sub menu, the second sub menu, the third sub menu, and so on. 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.

The uppermost menu is divided into an information menu, a paper menu, a layout menu, a graphic menu, a printer menu, and the like.

The information menu includes a specification menu indicating the printer's specifications, a plurality of font list menus for displaying fonts supported for each mode such as PS3, PLC, ERSON, and KSSM, and a menu for displaying the configuration of the printer menu in a map form. Map menu and the like.

The paper menu is a menu for setting a tray for feeding paper together with the type of paper, a tray source menu for setting a tray into which paper is fed, and a paper size for setting the type of paper according to the paper size. And a paper type menu for setting the type of paper in accordance with the thickness or color of the paper. Here, in the second sub menu, which is a submenu of the tray source menu, an automatic mode for automatically selecting trays, a first tray mode and a second tray mode for selecting each tray, and preset buttons for printing are selected. There is a manual mode to allow paper from the set tray to be fed.

The Layout menu is a menu for setting the margin of paper and the orientation of the paper. The layout menu is for setting the paper vertically or horizontally, and the double margin for setting the margin according to whether the paper is top, left, or bound. A menu, a simple margin menu for setting the top and left margins of the paper, and a copy menu for setting the number of sheets of paper to be printed. Here, the copy menu is generally not applied to an application program that supports a driver to set the number of prints, and is a menu applied when a driver is not supported, such as a DOS file.

The graphics menu includes a resolution menu for setting the resolution of printouts, an image enhancement menu for sharpening image files, a toner saving menu for saving toner, and a density menu for setting the print density. This is a menu for setting the resolution and sharpness of the print state of printed matter.

The printer menu includes a default menu for returning the print mode changed by the user to the state in which the printer was initially supplied, and a current menu for deleting data remaining in the printer at the time of printer.

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, a right direction button 37 for moving the menu, and a left side as in the related art. And a menu storage button 40 for selecting a menu and a sub-menu, and an enter button 35 for selecting a menu, and a menu storing button 40 selected to match and save a menu set by a user with a shortcut key. It further includes an execution button 45 that is selected when the state of the printer is to be set according to a series of menu setting values stored in 25. Here, the menu selection button 36 is used to select the uppermost button, the right direction button 37 and the left direction button 38 are used to move to another menu in the menu of the same level, enter button 35 Is used to enter sub menu.

On the other hand, the menu save button 40 serves to display the menu to be stored after being pressed immediately before the user selects the menu to change the set value. In addition, the menu save button 40 serves to indicate that the selection of the menu is completed by being pressed again after the user completes the setting of the menu. As described above, the menu is pressed before and after the user's menu setting by one menu save button 40, but the user may play a role of designating a menu that the user wants to save. Of course, the menu selection complete button can be formed separately.

The setting values of the menu stored in the menu storage unit 25 by the operation of the menu save button 40 are executed by the input of the execute button 45, and when the execute button 45 is pressed, the menu is stored together with the shortcut key. A series of menus appears sequentially. At this time, the setting values of the shortcut keys or menus are sequentially displayed at predetermined time intervals, and when the user presses the execution button 45 once more when the desired setting values of the menu are displayed, the state of the printer is changed according to the setting values of the corresponding menus. Next, the printed matter is printed. On the other hand, when the user wants to see the contents of the shortcut key, by pressing any preset button, for example, the right direction button 37 or the left direction button 38, the user knows which menu item the shortcut key has. Can be.

The setting value of the menu changed through the selection input unit 30 is stored in the menu storage unit 25 formed of a flash memory. In the menu storage unit 25, a shortcut key matched with a menu setting value is stored together with the menu setting value changed by the user.

On the other hand, the control unit 10, if the menu storage button 40 is pressed during the operation of the printer, the menu setting value set by the user until the menu storage button 40 is pressed again to the menu storage unit 25 Save it. At this time, the controller 10 stores the unique value of each button of the selection input unit in the menu storage unit 25 in the order selected by the user. For example, the menu selection button 36 is 0x0a, the right direction button 37 is 0x0b, the left direction button 38 is 0x0d, and the enter button 35 is 0x0c. When the selection button 36, the right direction button 37, the enter button 35, the right direction button 37, and the enter button 35 are pressed, the menu storage unit 25 has [0x0a, 0x0b, 0x0c, 0x0b. , 0x0c... The unique value of the button you select is stored.

When the unique values of the buttons selected by the user are sequentially stored in this way, the controller 10 may store the setting values of the menu together with any shortcut key, or may store only the setting values of the menu itself. When setting a shortcut key, there are two ways to set the shortcut key. One method is to allow the user to directly set the menu. After the menu save button 40 is pressed by the user, when the menu setting value is changed and the menu save button 40 is pressed again, the controller 10 is a shortcut key. A message to select is displayed on the display unit 15. Then, the user presses a predetermined button such as the right direction button 37 or the left direction button 38 to select a number or alphabet to be used as a shortcut key and presses the enter button 35 to set the shortcut key. Another method is to arbitrarily set a shortcut key in the controller 10. When the menu save button 40 is pressed by the user and the set value of the menu is changed and the menu save button 40 is pressed again, the controller 10 ) Presents a randomly selected hotkey and when the user approves the hotkey, presses the enter button 35 to complete the setting of the hotkey. If the user wants to change the shortcut key suggested by the controller 10, the user can select a desired shortcut key using the right direction button 37 or the left direction button 38, and then press the enter button 35. Complete the setting of the shortcut.

On the other hand, when the execution button 45 is pressed, the controller 10 displays a list of menu setting values stored in the menu storage unit 25 through the display unit 15, and when the user selects one menu setting value. Set the printer to the corresponding menu settings. When printing is completed in this state, the control unit 10 returns the state of the printer to the state before the pressing of the execution button 45 again.

A process of matching and storing a menu with a shortcut key in the printer having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 7 as follows.

When the user wants to store a set value for a series of menus by matching the shortcut key, first, the menu save button 40 is pressed (S710). Then, the controller 10 sequentially stores each button pressed afterwards in the menu storage unit 25 (S720).

For example, when a user selects a manual mode from a tray source menu of a paper menu and wants to set a paper direction horizontally in a layout menu, a button of a selection input unit is pressed as follows. First, when the menu selection button is pressed (S730), the information menu is displayed on the display unit 15, and when the user presses the right direction button 37, the paper menu is displayed on the display unit 15. In this state, when the enter button 35 is pressed, the tray source menu, which is the first menu among the sub menus of the paper menu, is selected and displayed on the bottom line of the paper menu of the display unit 15. When the user presses the enter button 35 again, the automatic mode, which is the first mode of the tray source menu, is displayed. When the user presses the right direction button 37 four times, the first tray mode, the MP tray mode, The manual mode is displayed on the display unit 15 via the second tray mode. Then, the user presses the enter button 35 to confirm the selection of the mode. When the enter button 35 is pressed, a message confirming the selection of the mode is displayed. When the user presses the enter button 35 again, the information menu is the highest menu. Or return to the initial state.

When returning to the information menu which is the top menu, the user presses the right direction button 37 twice to advance to the layout menu in order to set the paper direction horizontally in the layout menu. When the enter button 35 is pressed in the layout menu, the paper direction menu is displayed, and the user presses the enter button 35 again to select the paper direction menu. In this state, when the right direction button 37 is pressed once, the paper direction is selected horizontally, and the user presses the enter button 35 to complete the selection. Similarly, a message confirming the selection of the mode appears and pressing the enter button 35 again returns to the top menu or the initial state.

When the user completes the selection of the desired value of the menu (S740), presses the menu storage button 40 again (S750), the control unit 10 completes the storage of the unique value of each button that has been pressed until now. At this time, the controller 10 matches and stores a series of unique values with a shortcut key, and outputs a message through the display unit 15 to input the shortcut key to the user (S760). The user selects a desired number or alphabet by using the right direction button 37 and then presses the enter button 35 to select a shortcut key. Then, the controller 10 stores the shortcut key and the unique values of the buttons input by the user in the menu storage unit 25 (S770).

Referring to FIG. 8, a process of printing according to a set value of a menu input to the menu storage unit 25 through this process is as follows.

If the user wants to print by setting the printer according to the setting value of the menu stored in the menu storage unit 25 in advance, press the execution button 45 (S810). Then, the control unit 10 displays the setting value of the menu selected and stored by the user through the display unit 15 by matching the shortcut key, or displays only the shortcut key or only the setting value (S820). For example, when the shortcut key 1 is input by matching the paper mode of the paper menu with the manual mode of the layout menu, the display unit 15 displays 'shortcut 1 = manual mode, paper width' or 'shortcut 1' or 'manual'. Mode, paper width 'is displayed. At this time, when only a shortcut key is displayed, such as 'shortcut key 1', when the user presses a preset right direction button 37 or left direction button 38, the set value set in the shortcut key is displayed on the display unit 15. .

When various menus are input in this manner, the contents of each shortcut key are sequentially displayed on the display unit 15 at predetermined intervals, and the user presses the enter button 35 when the desired shortcut key is displayed. Pressurize (S830). Then, the printer is set to the desired value of the menu (S840), and the printed matter can be printed in the set state (S850). When the print job is completed, the set value of the printer is returned to the previous state (S860).

In this way, the printer stores the setting values for a series of menus frequently used by the user in advance and saves them, and when necessary, sets the printer to the desired setting values and prints them by simply pressing the execute button 45. To make it possible. As a result, when creating and outputting documents in various formats in public offices and corporations, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of resetting the printer each time a document of each format is printed. The time can be shortened. In addition, by returning the printer's settings to the previous state after the printer is used, when a user who uses it later wants to print in the default printer settings, the printer prints according to the changed printer settings and prevents the occurrence of waste. .

On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment is configured by selecting a set value from each of the various menus, and matched to one shortcut key, when only one mode to match a single shortcut key when the user presses the execution button 45, It is also possible to change only the settings of the printer to the set values without additional display on the display unit 15.

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 sets the menu to a desired setting value, and stores the setting value of the set menu by matching an arbitrary shortcut key, according to the menu setting value set by the user with only a simple operation of selecting a shortcut key. It allows the printed matter to be printed and at the same time reduces the time it takes for the user to set up the menu. In addition, by changing the settings of the printer to the previous state after the printing is completed, it is possible for the convenience of the user to be used later and to reduce the occurrence of gripping.

1 is a table displaying a menu map of a printer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural block diagram of a system used to adjust the settings of the printer of FIG. 1;

3 is a plan view illustrating a selection input unit and a display unit of the printer of FIG. 2;

4 is a block diagram showing a process for setting a menu in the related art;

5 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for setting a shortcut key of a menu in the printer of the present invention;

6 is a plan view illustrating a selection input unit and a display unit of FIG. 5;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a shortcut key setting process of a menu according to the present invention;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of printing using a shortcut key set through the process of FIG. 6.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: control unit 15: display unit

20: memory 25: menu storage

30: selection input unit 35: enter button

36: Menu selection button 37: Right direction button

38: Left direction button 40: Save Menu button

45: Run button

Claims (5)

A plurality of buttons for selecting a menu composed of a plurality of levels for setting a printing state of the printed matter; A display unit for gradually displaying a menu selected by the operation of each button; A menu storage button for selecting to store the setting value of the menu selected by each button; A menu storage unit for storing the setting values of the menu selected by the menu storage button; A control unit for controlling to print a printed matter by storing a setting value of a menu selected by manipulation of each button when the menu storage button is selected, and setting a printing state according to the setting value of a menu stored in the menu storage unit; Printers that can be set by the user shortcut key menu, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 1, The menu save button is selected before the operation of each button, and after the selection of the menu is completed by the respective buttons, the printer capable of setting a shortcut key of the menu. The method of claim 1, The menu save button is selected before the operation of each button; And a menu selection complete button which is selected after the selection of the menu is completed by each of the buttons. The method of claim 1, And a running button for changing the printing state according to the setting value of the menu stored in the menu storage unit. The method of claim 4, wherein And the control unit returns to the previous printing state when the printing is completed after the printing state is changed by the execution button.