JP2006260336A - Operation input device, image processing device, and copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED To provide a new information terminal by preparing a plurality of groupings of setting items, allowing a user to select which grouping to use, and providing an operation of a similar terminal currently used or an operation close to a past operation memory Improved operability.
In an operation input device having a two-dimensional display, a menu screen having a configuration in which basic settings and detailed settings are grouped separately, a menu screen having a functional unit group configuration, means for selecting and specifying each menu screen, In addition, there is provided means for displaying on the display a menu screen that has been designated. User information input means and means for displaying on the display a menu screen associated with the input user information. Before specific information is set, the menu screen of the group structure of the functional unit is displayed. When specific information is set, the menu screen of the structure in which basic settings and detailed settings are grouped separately. Is displayed.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation input device that a user performs an input operation, and more particularly to an operation input device that displays an input item or menu on a two-dimensional display. The present invention can be used in, for example, a personal computer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer having a composite function.

JP 2004-110592 A.

  In Patent Document 1, a plurality of different operation screen programs that realize the same operation function in the display panel 301 are held in the HDD, and a desired operation screen is selectably displayed on the display panel, and is selected on the display panel. An image output system is described that displays the operation screen on the display panel by executing the operated operation screen program.

  A user who operates a new information terminal (for the first time) performs the operation by analogy with the operation of the similar terminal currently used or the past operation memory. On the other hand, information terminal devices have become multifunctional and complex in recent years, and there are a large number of items that can be set. Generally, setting items are classified into several groups.

  The classification of input items is not always optimal for users with various operation histories. Therefore, some users cannot always operate smoothly.

  In the present invention, a plurality of groupings of setting items are prepared, and the user is allowed to select which grouping is to be used, and an operation of a similar terminal currently used or an operation close to a past operation memory is provided. Therefore, the operability of the new information terminal is improved.

(1) In an operation input device including a two-dimensional display,
Menu screen with basic settings and detailed settings as separate groups, menu screen with functional unit group configuration, means for selecting and specifying each menu screen, and menu screen with selection specified in the two-dimensional display An operation input device characterized by comprising means for displaying.

  It is possible to provide an operation of a similar terminal or an operation close to a user's past operation memory, and it becomes easy to find a desired setting item, and operability can be improved.

(2) In an operation input device including a two-dimensional display,
The two-dimensional display includes a menu screen having a basic setting and a detailed setting as separate groups, a menu screen having a functional unit group configuration, user information input means, and a menu screen associated with the input user information. An operation input device comprising means for displaying on a display.

  For example, by assigning the user code of the general user to the basic / detail group, the general user does not need to see the setting menu of the detail group, and the operation can be simplified.

(3) In an operation input device including a two-dimensional display,
Menu screen with basic settings and detailed settings in separate groups, menu screen with functional group configuration, means for setting specific information, and before specific information is set, A group configuration menu screen is displayed on the two-dimensional display, and when specific information is set, a basic configuration and a detailed setting menu screen are displayed on the two-dimensional display. An operation input device comprising means.

  For example, first, after making basic settings and detailed settings in the functional unit group, switching to the basic / detailed group is possible, and it is not necessary to dare to see the setting menu of the detailed group, and the operation can be simplified.

(4 Document reading means for reading an image of a document and generating image data representing the image;
Communication means for transmitting the image data; and
An image processing apparatus comprising: the operation input device according to any one of (1) to (3), which instructs image processing for reading a document and transmitting the image data.

(5) Document reading means for reading an image of a document and generating image data representing the image;
A printer that forms an image represented by the image data on paper;
Image data processing means for converting image data generated by the original reading means into image data suitable for image formation of the printer and giving the image data to the printer; and
A copying apparatus comprising: the operation input device according to any one of (1) to (3), which instructs a copying process of reading a document and copying it with a printer.

  (6) a communication unit that transmits image data generated by the document reading unit; and the operation input device instructs image processing to read the document and transmit the image data; Copy machine.

  Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of a full-color digital multi-function copier MF1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The full-color copying machine MF1 is roughly constituted by units of an automatic document feeder (ADF) 120, an operation board 10, a color scanner 100, and a color printer 200. The operation board 10 and the color scanner 100 with the ADF 120 are units that can be separated from the printer 200. The color scanner 100 has a control board having a power device driver, sensor input, and controller, and an engine controller ( CPU 301: Communicates directly or indirectly with FIG. 2) to read the document image under timing control.

  A controller board (400: FIG. 2) to which a scanner 100, a printer 200, and an engine (300: FIG. 2) including an image input / output device (302: FIG. 2) are connected is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) connected to a personal computer PC. Is connected, and a facsimile control unit (FCU 417: FIG. 2) is connected to a switch PBX connected to a telephone line PN (facsimile communication line).

  In this embodiment, document image reading can be performed by a flat bed method and a sheet through method. That is, the user raises the ADF 120 to place an original on the contact glass of the scanner 100, tilts the ADF 120, presses the original with a pressure plate on the lower surface of the ADF 120, performs original scanning of the flat bed method (flat bed reading), and reads the flat bed. When the process is over, the user can raise the ADF 120 and take out the document. Further, the user can mount one or several originals on the original tray of the ADF 120 and perform sheet-through reading.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image processing system of the multifunction copying machine MF1 shown in FIG. The multi-function copier MF1 includes an engine 300 that performs document image reading and color printing, a controller board 400, and an operation board 10. The engine 300 includes a CPU 301 that controls image reading and printing processes, the above-described color scanner 100, the above-described printer 200, and an image input / output processing 302 that includes an ASIC (Application Specific IC).

  The reading unit 110 of the scanner 100 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and the CPU 100 controls the entire scanner 100 by writing a program stored in the ROM and executing the program. Further, it is connected to the process control CPU 301 via a communication line, and performs an operation instructed by transmission / reception of commands and data. The CPU in the reading unit 110 performs detection and ON / OFF control of a filler sensor (document detection sensor), a base point sensor, a pressure plate switch, a cooling fan, and the like. In the reading unit 110, a scanner motor driver is driven by a PWM output from the CPU, generates an excitation pulse sequence, and drives a pulse motor for scanning a document.

  The document image is illuminated by the light output of the halogen lamp 102 (FIG. 2) energized by the lamp regulator, and the reflected light of the document, that is, the optical signal, passes through the plurality of mirrors 103 to 105 and the lens 106 to read R, G, and B. The image is formed on a CCD 107 including three line sensors. The 3-line CCD 107 outputs an analog image signal of each RGB pixel to the AFE 111. The AFE 111 is an image signal processing unit that amplifies an image signal, digitally converts it into image data, and performs shading correction.

  The controller board 400 includes a CPU 402, a document storage control 403 constituted by an ASIC, a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 401, a local memory (MEM-C) 406, a system memory (MEM-P) 409, North Bridge (hereinafter referred to as NB) 408, South Bridge (hereinafter referred to as SB) 415, NIC 410 (Network Interface Card), USB device 411, IEEE 1394 device 412, Centronics device 413 and others. The operation board 10 is connected to the document accumulation control 403 of the controller board 400. A facsimile control unit (FCU) 417 is also connected to the document storage control 403 by a PCI bus.

  The CPU 402 can transmit / receive document information to / from a personal computer PC connected to the LAN via the NIC 410 or another personal computer PC via the Internet. In addition, it is possible to communicate with a personal computer, a printer, a digital camera, or the like using the USB 411, IEEE 1394 412, and Centronics 413.

  The SB 415, the NIC 410, the USB device 411, the IEEE 1394 device 412, the Centronics device 413, and the MLB 414 are connected to the NB 408 via a PCI bus. As described above, the MLB 414 is a board connected to the engine 300 via the PCI bus. The MLB 414 converts the document data input from the outside into image data (image data), and outputs the converted image data to the engine 300.

  The local memory 406, the HDD 401, and the like are connected to the document storage control 403 of the controller board 400, and the CPU 402 and the document storage control 403 are connected via the NB 408 of the CPU chipset. The document accumulation control 403 and the NB 408 are connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port).

  The CPU 402 performs overall control of the multifunction function copying machine MF1. The NB 408 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 402, system memory 409, SB 415, and document storage control 403. A system memory 409 is a memory used as a drawing memory or the like of the multifunction copying machine MF1. The SB 415 is a bridge for connecting the NB 408 to the PCI bus and peripheral devices. The SB 415 is connected to a card IF 418 for reading and writing an external ROM and an SD memory card (hereinafter referred to as an SD card). The card IF 418 is connected to an SD card read / write device (card reader), and can read data from an SD card attached to the card reader, and can write data to the SD card.

  The local memory 406 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. The HDD 401 is a memory for storing image data, document data, programs, font data, forms, LUT (Look Up Table), and the like. The operation board 10 is an operation unit that receives an input operation from the user and performs display for the user.

  FIG. 2 shows a flow of image data exchanged between the scanner 100 and the printer 200 and the image input / output processing 302. The image input / output processing 302 includes scanner image processing 303 that performs reading γ correction, MTF correction, and the like for each of R, G, and B image data generated when the color original scanner 100 reads an original image. Printer image processing 304 that converts R, G, B image data into c, m, y, k recording color data (print data) that matches the image expression characteristics of the C, M, Y, K color writing of the printer 200. In addition, there is an image processing I / F (Interface circuit) 305 that outputs document read image data RGB to the document storage control 403 and supplies the image data RGB output from the document storage control 403 to the printer image processing 304.

  In the case of monochrome copying, the G image data is output from the scanner image processing 303 to the image processing I / F 305, the image processing I / F 305 outputs the G image data to the printer image processing 304, and the printer image processing 304 is the G image data. Is converted into k recording color data, and if necessary, scaling, image processing, printer γ conversion and gradation processing are performed, and the result is output to the C writing unit 212 of the printer 200. The writing unit 212 modulates or turns on / off the current supplied to the laser light emitting diode of the optical scanning unit 203 (FIG. 3) according to the k recording color data output from the image processing 304.

  For color copying, RGB image data output by the scanner image processing 303 is temporarily stored in the local memory 406 or the HDD 401 or registered in the HDD 401 and read out via the image processing I / F 305 and the image storage control 403. Used for copying or printing, or sent to the outside.

  When printing registered image data by the printer 200 or image data received from the outside, the image data is given to the printer image processing 304 via the image accumulation control 403 and the image processing I / F 305. The printer image processing 304 converts the image data into cmyk recording color data, performs scaling, image processing, printer γ conversion and gradation processing as necessary, and outputs the result to the writing unit 212.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the liquid crystal touch panel 11, the operation board 10 includes a numeric keypad 15, a clear / stop key 16, a start key 17, an initial setting key 18, a mode switching key 19, a test print key 20, and a power key. There are 21. Although not shown, on the left side of the liquid crystal touch panel 11, there is an alphabet keyboard with hiragana added for inputting, setting, and abbreviated registration for URL, mail text, file name, folder name, and the like.

  The power key 21 is an operation key for instructing switching from the energy saving mode (the sleep mode or the low power mode) to the standby mode in which image printing is possible and vice versa. If the power key 21 is pressed once when the energy saving mode is set, the energy saving mode is switched to the standby mode. When the power key 21 is pressed once in the standby mode, the standby mode is switched to the sleep mode. The test print key 20 is a key for printing only one copy regardless of the set number of print copies and confirming the print result.

  By pressing the initial setting key 18, the initial state of the machine can be arbitrarily customized. It is possible to arbitrarily set the state set when the transition time to the energy saving mode is set, the paper size stored in the machine is set, or the copy function reset key is pressed. When the initial setting key 18 is operated, an "initial value setting" function for setting various initial values, an "ID setting" function, a "copyright registration / setting" function, an "usage record output" function, etc. A selection button to specify is displayed.

  On the liquid crystal touch panel 11, various function keys and messages indicating the operation states of the engine 300 and the controller board 400 are displayed. The LCD touch panel 11 is used for selecting and executing the “copy” function, “scanner” function, “print” function, “facsimile” function, “store” function, “edit” function, “register” function, and other functions. A function selection key 14 representing is displayed. An input / output screen determined for the function designated by the function selection key 14 is displayed. For example, when the “copy” function is designated, the function keys, the number of copies, and the state of the image forming apparatus are shown as shown in FIG. Messages 12 and 13 are displayed. Among the function keys 12, print color designation keys “black (BK)”, “full color”, “automatic color selection”, “blue (C)”, “red (M)” and “yellow (Y)” designation There is a key. When the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 11, the operation board 10 reads it as an operator input, and highlights the key indicating the selected function in gray indicating that it is being designated. Further, when it is necessary to specify the details of a function (for example, the type of page printing), a detailed function setting screen is popped up by touching a key. Thus, since the liquid crystal touch panel 11 uses a dot display, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time.

  FIG. 4 shows a circuit block of the operation board 10. The main body of the electric control system of the operation board 10 communicates with the CPU 402 of the controller board 400, reads the input of the operation board 10, and controls the display on the operation board 10, and stores the control program of the CPU 1. ROM 2, RAM for temporarily storing data during control, VRAM 7 for storing drawing data of the liquid crystal touch panel 11, drawing timing control of the liquid crystal touch panel 11 connected to the VRAM 7, touch input detection, etc. There are a liquid crystal display controller (LCDC) 6, a clock IC 5 for generating time data, and the like. A liquid crystal touch panel 11 having a CFL light source as a backlight 9 is connected to the LCDC 6. The CPU 1 is further connected to an inverter 8 that drives the CFL backlight 9, a key matrix of operation key groups 15 to 21, an LED matrix of display LEDs, an LED driver that drives these LEDs, and the like. Further, a nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) 4 for storing an image processing mode is connected to the data bus to which the CPU 1 is connected.

  The CPU 1 of the operation board 10 corresponds to the user's operation on the operation board 10, reads the numeric key press, generates the input numeric data, reads the start key press, and sends a start instruction to the controller board 400. It performs normal operation reading and display output control of copiers such as transfer and reading of paper size switching input. The ROM 2 stores an operation program for the CPU 1.

FIG. 5 shows a basic screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 11 when the “facsimile” key is touched. Here, an embodiment of the present invention will be described using a simple example. Assume that the following setting items are included in the initial setting of “facsimile”. The following is a group structure of functional units.
Initial setting ・ Buzzer setting
・ Key operation sound: Sound / Do not sound ・ ・ (Basic setting)
・ Key operation volume: 1-8 [stage] ・ ・ (Detailed setting)
・ Timer setting
・ Operation timeout: ON / OFF ・ ・ (Basic setting)
・ Operation timeout: 30 to 300 [seconds] ・ ・ (Detailed setting)
...
In contrast to the above, the following is a configuration in which basic settings and detailed settings are grouped separately.
Initial settings-Basic settings-Buzzer settings
・ Key operation sound: Sound / Do not sound ・ ・ (Basic setting)
・ Timer setting
・ Operation timeout: ON / OFF ・ ・ (Basic setting)
...
・ Detailed settings ・ Buzzer settings
・ Key operation volume: 1-8 [stage] ・ ・ (Detailed setting)
・ Timer setting
・ Operation timeout: 30 to 300 [seconds] ・ ・ (Detailed setting)
...
FIG. 6 shows switching of menu display in response to a user operation from the basic screen, and FIG. 7 shows switching of menu display when the user selects functional unit group-basic / detailed group. Show. Each screen is uniquely assigned a number (screen number), and the screen can be uniquely identified. Each “key” is also uniquely assigned a code (key code), and the pressed key can be uniquely identified.

In order to realize the switching of the menu screen control of the functional unit group and the menu screen control of the basic / detail group with a simple configuration, the “screen number-classification information-display character string” table shown in FIG. (C) of FIG. 6 (or (c), (d) of FIG. 7) is generated from the “screen number-classification information-display character string” table of FIG. 9C. .
The result of selecting the functional unit group-basic / detailed group shown in FIG. 8A is stored in the “functional unit group-basic / detailed group” information shown in FIG. 9D, and then shown in FIG. Rearrangement is executed to rearrange the “screen number-classification information-display character string” table shown in FIG.
When an operation for entering the initial setting screen is performed, the “functional unit group-basic / detailed group” information shown in FIG. 9D is determined, and the screen shown in FIG. The menu screen is generated and the screen shown in FIG. 12 is generated to generate the basic / detail group menu screen.

  FIG. 6 shows switching of menu display in response to a user operation from the basic screen, and FIG. 7 shows switching of menu display when the user selects functional unit group-basic / detailed group. Show. Each screen is uniquely assigned a number (screen number), and the screen can be uniquely identified. Each “key” is also uniquely assigned a code (key code), and the pressed key can be uniquely identified. In order to easily switch between the menu screen control of the functional unit group and the menu screen control of the basic / detail group, the “screen number-classification information-display character string” table shown in FIG. 4 (c) (or (c), (d) in FIG. 7) is generated from the “screen number-category information-display character string” table in FIG. 9 (c). The information shown in FIG. 13 is rewritten, and the “functional unit group-basic / detailed group” information in FIG. 9D is rewritten from the result of the user code input, and then the rearrangement shown in FIG. 10 is executed. The “screen number-classification information-display character string” table shown in FIG. 9C is rearranged. When an operation for entering the initial setting screen is performed, the “functional unit group-basic / detailed group” information shown in FIG. 9D is determined, the drawing shown in FIG. A menu screen is generated, the drawing shown in FIG. 12 is generated, and a basic / detail group menu screen is generated.

  FIG. 6 shows switching of menu display in response to a user operation from the basic screen, and FIG. 9 shows user code registration. Each screen is uniquely assigned a number (screen number), and the screen can be uniquely identified. Each “key” is also uniquely assigned a code (key code), and the pressed key can be uniquely identified. In order to easily switch between the menu screen control of the functional unit group and the menu screen control of the basic / detail group, the “screen number-classification information-display character string” table shown in FIG. 6 (c) (or (c), (d) in FIG. 7) shown in (a) of FIG. 6 is replaced with “screen number-classification information” shown in (c) of FIG. -Generate from "Display String" table. The "functional unit group-basic / detailed group" information shown in (d) of FIG. 9 is rewritten from the presence / absence of user code registration shown in (a) of FIG. 9, and then the rearrangement shown in FIG. 10 is executed. The “screen number-classification information-display character string” table shown in (c) of 9 is rearranged. When the operation for entering the initial setting screen is performed, the “functional unit group-basic / detailed group” information in FIG. 9 is determined, the screen shown in FIG. 11 is generated, and the functional unit group menu screen is displayed. Is generated, and the screen shown in FIG. 12 is generated to generate the basic / detail group menu screen.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outline of the mechanism of the multifunction copy machine MF1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system in the copying machine MF1 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of an upper surface of an operation board 10 of the copying machine MF1 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the display control system of the operation board 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 11 in response to designation of “facsimile” on the operation board 10 shown in FIG. 3. 4 is a plan view showing a menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 11 in the course of initial setting of one aspect of “facsimile”. FIG. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 11 in the process of initial setting of another mode of “facsimile”. 6 is a plan view showing an input screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 11 when there is a user code input in the initial setting process of “facsimile”. FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an input screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 11 in a process of initial setting of “facsimile” and a table registered in the NVRAM 4 shown in FIG. 4. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the rearrangement process which CPU1 shown in FIG. 4 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the menu screen production | generation process of the one aspect | mode which CPU1 shown in FIG. 4 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the menu screen production | generation process of another aspect which CPU1 shown in FIG. 4 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the menu screen rewriting process addressed to a user code which CPU1 shown in FIG. 4 performs.

Explanation of symbols

PC: PC

Claims (6)

In an operation input device having a two-dimensional display,
Menu screen with basic settings and detailed settings as separate groups, menu screen with functional unit group configuration, means for selecting and specifying each menu screen, and menu screen with selection specified in the two-dimensional display An operation input device characterized by comprising means for displaying. In an operation input device having a two-dimensional display,
The two-dimensional display includes a menu screen having a basic setting and a detailed setting as separate groups, a menu screen having a functional unit group configuration, user information input means, and a menu screen associated with the input user information. An operation input device comprising means for displaying on a display. In an operation input device having a two-dimensional display,
Menu screen with basic settings and detailed settings in separate groups, menu screen with functional group configuration, means for setting specific information, and before specific information is set, A group configuration menu screen is displayed on the two-dimensional display, and when specific information is set, a basic configuration and a detailed setting menu screen are displayed on the two-dimensional display. An operation input device comprising means. A document reading means for reading an image of a document and generating image data representing the image;
Communication means for transmitting the image data; and
An image processing apparatus comprising: the operation input device according to claim 1 that instructs image processing to read a document and transmit the image data. A document reading means for reading an image of a document and generating image data representing the image;
A printer that forms an image represented by the image data on paper;
Image data processing means for converting image data generated by the original reading means into image data suitable for image formation of the printer and giving the image data to the printer; and
A copying apparatus comprising: the operation input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which instructs a copying process in which a document is read and copied by a printer. The copying apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a communication unit that transmits image data generated by the document reading unit, wherein the operation input device instructs image processing for reading the document and transmitting the image data.

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