JP2002202694A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use the picture recording conditions by preventing repetition of setting operation of complicated and complex picture recording conditions, simplifying the setting operation, and selecting desired picture recording conditions from registered picture recording conditions. SOLUTION: An executing condition storage means stores executing conditions grouped by combining the conditions for a plurality of functions; an executing condition retrieval means retrieves at least one function as a retrieval key and thereby retrieves an executing condition including the function stored in the executing condition storage means and adopted as the retrieval key; and an executing condition editing means changes the setting of at least one function included in the executing condition retrieved by the executing condition retrieval means and edits new executing conditions. Thus, the executing conditions can effectively be utilized by preventing repetition of the setting operation of the complicated and complex executing conditions, also simplifying the setting operation, and selecting the desired executing condition from the registered executing conditions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device,
The present invention relates to a display device that is provided in an image recording device such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and performs various operations such as selecting functions of the image recording device and setting execution conditions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art While various types of image recording apparatuses such as copiers, facsimile machines, and printers have become increasingly sophisticated and multifunctional,
There is a tendency that the operation for setting the image recording condition by the user is complicated and the procedure of the operation is increased. Therefore, in such an image recording apparatus, when a user sets an image recording condition in which a plurality of functions are combined in order to execute a desired process, a function necessary for a display device included in the image recording apparatus is set. To display a menu screen for setting the functions, close the menu screen, and then display a menu screen for setting the next necessary function. This procedure usually increases as the number of functions to be combined increases, and the setting operation takes time.

[0003] Even when such a setting operation is performed and a process is executed in accordance with a desired image recording condition, a different process is executed after the execution of the process, or after the auto-clear function is activated, the past operation is performed. The information about the image recording conditions set in is lost. Therefore, when the processing is performed once and the processing is performed again under the same image recording condition, the setting operation must be performed again. If you are forced to repeat the setting operation in this way, for example,
When performing processing under image recording conditions consisting of multiple functions such as reduction, N-up, and copying of multiple copies, and then performing additional processing under the same image recording conditions due to lack of copies, etc. Setting is complicated and time-consuming.

There is an image recording apparatus having a so-called image recording condition registration function in which the setting of an image recording condition including a plurality of functions is registered in advance in order to eliminate such repetition of the setting. In addition, when registering the image recording conditions, there is a type in which an appropriate name is added to the image recording conditions and registered, and the names are displayed in a list on a display device (see FIG. 9). Furthermore, in order to effectively use the image recording condition registration function, it is also required to register various image recording conditions regardless of the frequency of use. There is also proposed an image recording apparatus having a function of displaying a list of image recording conditions and displaying a list of functions included in the image recording conditions at the time of this display (see FIG. 10).

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional image recording apparatus, particularly, an image recording apparatus having an image recording condition registration function, the image recording condition registration processing must be performed in advance, and the image recording condition registration processing is frequently performed in advance. Although there is no problem with image recording conditions that are clearly used, it is troublesome to register all image recording conditions for processes for which it is unclear whether or not to use them again. On the other hand, such image recording conditions must be registered. For example, there is a problem that the setting operation may be repeatedly performed.

On the other hand, in an image recording apparatus having a function of automatically registering image recording conditions that have been set once, each time the image recording conditions are set, the conditions are sequentially registered. Is registered. Therefore, although the trouble of registering the image recording conditions can be saved, it is difficult to select a desired image recording condition from a large number of registered and displayed image recording conditions. Even if an image recording condition is registered with an appropriate name, it is difficult to set the name as a name from which the registered content can be easily inferred. Is difficult.

Further, among the registered image recording conditions, none of the registered image recording conditions completely coincide with the desired image recording conditions, but there may be ones which are close to or similar to the desired image recording conditions. In such a case, there is also a demand for reusing ones that are close to or similar to the already registered desired image recording conditions. That is, for example, by simply changing the settings of some functions included in these image recording conditions, the image recording condition setting operation is simplified, and the time required for the operation is shortened. There is a request to do so.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and prevents a complicated and complicated setting operation of an image recording condition from being repeated, simplifies the setting operation, and makes it possible to obtain a desired image recording condition. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device of an image recording apparatus capable of selecting an image recording condition and effectively using the image recording condition.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for displaying a function of a device, selecting the function, and designating a desired condition to execute the condition of the device. A display device capable of performing the settings described above, wherein execution condition storage means for storing execution conditions grouped by combining the conditions of a plurality of functions, and searching by using at least one function as a search key, An execution condition search unit for searching for an execution condition including the function serving as the search key stored in the execution condition storage unit, and changing a setting of at least one function included in the execution condition searched by the execution condition search unit And an execution condition editing means for editing a new execution condition.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the execution condition storage means stores execution conditions obtained by combining a plurality of function conditions into groups, and the execution condition search means searches for at least one function as a search key. Searching for an execution condition including the function as the search key stored in the execution condition storage means, and setting at least one function included in the execution condition searched by the execution condition search means by the execution condition editing means And edit the new execution condition. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a complicated and complicated execution condition setting operation from being repeated, simplify the setting operation, select a desired execution condition from the registered execution conditions, and effectively use the execution condition.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the display device of the first aspect, the execution condition comparing means for comparing the execution condition edited by the editing means with the execution condition stored in the execution condition storage means. Further, when the edited execution condition and the stored execution condition do not match as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit, the edited execution condition is stored in the storage unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the display device of the first aspect, the execution condition edited by the editing means and stored in the execution condition storage means by the execution condition comparing means. If the edited execution condition and the stored execution condition do not match, the edited execution condition is stored in the storage unit. Duplicate registration of conditions is prevented, unnecessary search and display of execution conditions can be prevented, and desired execution conditions can be selected more easily.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the display device according to the first or second aspect, the function of the device is displayed as an object consisting of an image of a character or a figure indicating the function, and contact with the object Alternatively, the touch panel is characterized in that a function corresponding to the object is set and the setting is changed by releasing the contact.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the display device of the first or second aspect, the function of the device is displayed as an object consisting of a character or graphic image indicating the function, By providing a touch panel on which a function corresponding to the object can be set or the setting can be changed by touching or releasing the touch on the object, the setting operation becomes clearer and easier.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the display device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the device is an image recording device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the display device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the function of the image recording device can be set and operated by the display device. The setting operation of the user using the image recording apparatus can be easily performed, and the time required for the setting operation can be reduced.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel type display device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a user interface unit 12, a display control unit 18 for controlling display of the user interface unit 12, and an image recording condition. It includes an image recording condition storage unit 20 as an execution condition storage unit for storing, and an image recording condition management unit 22 for managing the image recording conditions stored in the image recording condition storage unit 20.

The user interface unit 12 includes a display unit 14 as a display unit and an input unit 16.
The display unit 14 is a so-called touch panel, and displays buttons as objects composed of images of characters and graphics indicating functions of the image recording apparatus to which the operation panel type display device 10 is connected, and the user's finger is put on these buttons. The user can perform various operations such as establishment of the function or cancellation of designation, setting of image recording conditions, and the like. Also, the designated function, the contents of the set image recording conditions, and the like are displayed.

The input unit 16 manages input and output to and from buttons displayed on the display unit 14. When a button indicating a function / item is touched by a user's finger or the like, the input unit 16 designates or designates the function. Display control unit 18 outputs a signal for canceling
Send to

The display control unit 18 includes the image recording condition management unit 2
2 and the image recording condition management unit 22
In accordance with the signal transmitted from the input unit 16, an instruction to search and select necessary image recording conditions and information on the image recording conditions is prompted. The display control unit 18 is connected to the device control unit 24 of the image recording apparatus, and transmits to the device control unit 24 the setting information on the image recording conditions transmitted from the image recording condition management unit 22. In the image recording condition storage unit 20,
Image recording conditions for processes that have already been performed are sequentially stored, and image recording conditions that are expected to be frequently used can be set and stored in advance.

The image recording condition management unit 22 includes a display control unit 1
8, that is, information on predetermined image recording conditions and information on image recording conditions from each image recording condition stored in the image recording condition storage unit 20 in accordance with a signal from the input unit 16 received via the display control unit 18. As shown in FIG. 2, an image recording condition search unit 30 as an execution condition search unit, an image recording condition editing unit 32 as an execution condition editing unit, and an image recording condition acquisition unit as shown in FIG. 34, an image recording condition setting unit 36, and an image recording condition comparison registration unit 38 as execution condition comparison means.

More specifically, the image recording condition search unit 30
Is used to search for a predetermined image recording condition. For example, an image recording including a function set as a search key from an image recording condition stored in the image recording condition storage unit 20 using a designated function as a search key Search for a condition. The image recording condition editing unit 32 can change the setting of a function included in the image recording condition searched by the image recording condition searching unit 30. When the function setting is changed by the user, the setting is changed. The later image recording conditions are managed.

The image recording condition acquiring section 34 acquires information on the selected image recording condition from the input section 16 and
Based on this information, a predetermined image recording condition is read from the image recording condition storage unit 20. The image recording condition setting unit 36
Based on the selected image recording condition or the newly set image recording condition, an instruction to execute various functions included in the selected or newly set image recording condition is recorded via the display control unit 18. A setting process such as transmission to the device control unit 24 of the device is performed.

The image recording condition comparison / registration unit 38 has a predetermined function changed by the image recording condition editing unit 32, and the newly set image recording condition and the image recording condition storage unit 2
0 is compared with the image recording condition stored in the image recording condition storage unit 20. If none of the image recording conditions stored in the image recording condition storage unit 20 match the newly set image recording condition, The new image recording condition is stored in the image recording condition storage unit 20.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation when setting image recording conditions in the operation panel type display device 10, and FIGS. 4 to 8 show display examples on the display unit 14. Hereinafter, the operation (setting operation) of the operation panel display device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 while referring to display examples of the display unit 14 of FIGS. 4 to 8.

To set and select image recording conditions for the user to execute desired processing when the power of the image recording apparatus having the operation panel type display device 10 is turned on, first, a search key is used. Select the function that becomes That is, first, in step 100, a registered job selection screen is displayed on the display unit 14 (see FIG. 4). Next, the processing proceeds to step 102, where it is determined whether or not the function selection button 40 displayed on the registration job selection screen has been pressed. If it is determined that the function selection button 40 has been pressed, the processing proceeds to step 104. If it is determined that the button has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step 118. Whether the function selection button 40 has been pressed or not is determined, when the function selection button 40 is touched by the user's finger or the like, a signal indicating that the function selection button 40 has been touched is input to the input unit 16. This is performed by being transmitted to the display control unit 18 via the display control unit 18.

Subsequently, in step 104, step 1
When the function selection button 40 is pressed in 02, a function selection screen is displayed on the display unit 14 (see FIG. 5). The function selection screen displays a list of function buttons 50 for various functions provided in the image recording apparatus, and the displayed function can be selected by touching the function button 50. Then, in step 106, it is determined whether a desired function serving as a search key has been selected. If the desired function is selected, step 108
And the desired function is selected. If it is determined that no selection has been made, the operation of step 106 is continued. In the display example of FIG. 5, the paper size, the direction of the original, and the double-sided / single-sided function button 50 are selected.

Then, in step 110, it is determined whether or not the setting button 42 has been pressed. If it is determined that the setting button 42 has not been pressed, step 1
The operation of step 10 is continued, and if it is determined that the setting button 42 has been pressed, desired functions are set in step 112, and information on these set functions is signaled by the input unit 16 and input. It is transmitted from the unit 16 to the display control unit 18.

Further, the close button 4 in step 114
It is determined whether or not button 6 has been pressed, and the close button 4
If No. 6 has not been pressed, the operation of step 114 is repeated, and if it is determined that the close button 46 has been pressed, the flow proceeds to step 116 to redisplay the registered job selection screen on the display unit 14 ( Step 11
Move to 8.

In step 118, it is determined whether the search button 44 has been pressed. If it is determined that the search button 44 has not been pressed, step 100
And the above operation is repeated. If it is determined that the search button 44 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 120, where it is determined whether a function serving as a search key has been selected. If the result of determination in step 120 is that a function serving as a search key has not been selected, step 1
The operation of step 20 is repeated, and when the function serving as the search key is selected, the process proceeds to step 122.

In step 122, information on the function serving as the selected search key is stored in the image recording condition management unit 22.
Sent to Here, the setting of the paper size, the direction of the original, and the two-sided / one-sided function selected on the function selection screen of FIG. 5 is used as a search key. Then, based on the transmitted information, the image recording condition search unit 30 displays the function selection screen first and uses the selected function as a search key,
The image recording condition storage unit 20 retrieves an image recording condition including the function. The searched image recording conditions are transmitted to the display unit 14 via the display control unit 18, and the
Move to 4.

In step 124, the display unit 14 receives the information on the searched image recording conditions and displays the image recording conditions as the search result (see FIG. 6). Here, image recording conditions including the settings of the paper size (A4), the orientation of the document (vertical placement), and the duplex / single-sided (duplex) function, which are used as search keys on the function selection screen of FIG. I have.

Subsequently, at step 126, it is determined whether or not the function setting button 52 has been pressed. If it is determined that the function setting button 52 has not been pressed,
The operation of step 126 is repeated, and if it is determined that the function setting button 52 has been pressed, step 128
Move to. Note that, in the display example of FIG.
The second image recording condition has been selected, and the function selection button for “reduction” has been pressed.

In step 128, the function setting button 52
Is pressed, a function setting screen is displayed (see FIG. 7), and the function can be set or the setting can be changed. If it is determined in the image recording condition editing unit 32 that the function has not been set, the process proceeds to step 128.
Is repeated, and when it is determined that the function setting has been performed, the process proceeds to step 130. In the display example of FIG.
In response to the pressing of the function setting button for “reduction” in FIG. 6, a function setting screen for selecting a magnification is displayed.

In step 130, it is determined whether or not the setting button 42 has been pressed. If it is determined that the setting button 42 has not been pressed, the operation of step 130 is repeated, and the setting button 42 is pressed. If it is determined that there is no error, the process proceeds to step 132 (see FIG. 7).
The display example of FIG. 7 shows an example in which the button for enlarging to 122% is pressed.

In step 132, upon receiving the signal of pressing the setting button 42 in step 130,
In step 8, the setting of the function is determined, and a signal indicating that the function is set is transmitted from the image recording condition editing unit 32 to the image recording condition setting unit 36, and the process proceeds to step 134. In response to the pressing of the enlargement button in FIG. 7, the function setting button in FIG. 8 is changed from reduction to enlargement.

In step 134, it is determined whether the close button 46 has been pressed. If it is determined that the close button 46 has not been pressed, the operation of step 134 is repeated, and the close button 46 is pressed. If it is determined that the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step 136.
In step 136, the setting of the image recording condition whose function setting has been changed in step 128 is determined before receiving the press of the close button 46, and the image recording condition setting unit 36 transmits the setting to the device control unit 24 via the display control unit 18. In response, an instruction to set each function of the image recording apparatus is transmitted, and the process proceeds to step 138.

In step 138, the image recording condition newly set in the image recording condition comparison / registration section 38 is
It is determined whether or not the image recording condition matches the image recording condition already registered in the image recording condition storage unit 20.

In this determination, if it is determined that the already registered image recording condition matches the newly set image recording condition, the process proceeds to step 140, and in step 140, the newly set image recording condition is set. The image recording conditions are stored and registered in the image recording condition storage unit 20, and step 142 is performed. If it is determined in the image recording condition comparison / registration section 38 that the newly set image recording condition matches the already registered image recording condition, the newly set image recording condition is registered. The process proceeds to step 142 without performing. In step 142, the registration job selection screen is displayed again, and this routine ends.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the setting and registration of a new execution condition is performed by selecting the execution condition registered in advance and easily changing a part of the functions included in the execution condition. Can be easily performed. Therefore, the execution conditions already registered can be effectively used, and even if a user who is not accustomed to the setting operation, such as not knowing the function setting menu, can easily set the execution conditions, The time required for setting can be reduced.

Further, when the processing is executed by changing a part of the selected execution condition, the new execution condition is compared with the already registered execution condition and only when there is no match. Since registration is performed, duplicate registration of execution conditions is suppressed. Therefore, search and display of unnecessary execution conditions can be prevented, and desired execution conditions can be selected more easily.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, a complicated and complicated execution condition setting operation is prevented from being repeated, the setting operation is simplified, and a desired execution condition is selected from the registered execution conditions. Thus, there is an excellent effect that the execution conditions can be used effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation panel type display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image recording condition management unit of the operation panel display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation when setting an image recording condition in the operation panel display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of the operation panel display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of the operation panel display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display on a display unit of the operation panel display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of the operation panel display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of the operation panel display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of a conventional operation panel type display device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of a conventional operation panel type display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 operation panel type display device 12 user interface unit 14 display unit 16 input unit 18 display control unit 20 image recording condition storage unit 22 image recording condition management unit 30 image recording condition search unit 32 image recording condition editing unit 34 image recording condition acquisition unit 36 Image recording condition setting section 38 Image recording condition comparison registration section 40 Function selection button 42 Setting button 44 Search button 46 Close button 50 Function button 52 Function setting button

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Tose 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. On-site F term (reference) 2H027 EE08 FA35 FC03 GA08 GA20 GA28 GA32 GA45 GA47 GA52 GA54 GA56 GB14 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB20 AB23 AB40 AC02 AC05 AC22 AC51 AE15 BA00 5E501 AA06 AC33 AC37 BA05 CA02 CB05 DA15 EA10 EB23 FA23

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A display device capable of displaying a function of a device, setting the execution condition of the device by selecting the function, and designating a desired condition. An execution condition storage unit that stores execution conditions grouped by combining conditions, and an execution including the function set as the search key stored in the execution condition storage unit by searching at least one function as a search key. Execution condition searching means for searching for a condition, and execution condition editing means for changing a setting of at least one function included in the execution condition searched by the execution condition searching means and editing a new execution condition. A display device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. An execution condition comparison unit for comparing an execution condition edited by the editing unit with an execution condition stored in the execution condition storage unit, wherein the result of the comparison by the comparison unit is the edited 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein when the executed execution condition does not match the stored execution condition, the edited execution condition is stored in the storage unit. 3. The function of the device is displayed as an object composed of an image of a character or a graphic indicating the function, and setting or changing of the function corresponding to the object is performed by touching or releasing the object. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is a touch panel. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the device is an image recording device.