Abstract:
A device having a display unit for displaying a first screen for changing a display language and a second screen having an optional item for displaying a language change screen wherein the optional item is displayed in a predetermined language.

Description:
This application is based on the Japanese Patent Applications No. 11-035719 filed on Feb. 15, 1999, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a device and a method for arbitrarily setting up a display language from a list of a plurality of languages available for displaying various optional items. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Various types of display devices have been in use on various types of equipment throughout the world in recent years. These typical display devices incorporate a display unit such as a LCD (liquid crystal display) and a CRT (cathode ray tube) and are used for setting up various parameters and/or inputting operational instructions. Such devices can be divided primarily into two types, i.e., the separate type and the touch panel type. 
   A separate type device consists of a display unit that includes a screen where optional items are displayed and a plurality of hard keys for selecting an arbitrary item from a list of optional items displayed, which are provided independently and separate from the display unit. The display unit consists of a small LCD capable of displaying a line or up to five lines of message. The selection of a particular item is executed by pressing a hard key. 
   A touch panel type device consists of a display unit, which is either a LCD or CRT with a diagonal face width of 3 to 6 inches, and a touch switch consisting of a matrix of transparent electrodes arranged on the display unit. Selection of an item is executed when the user touches the screen at a particular location. More specifically, the location where the user touched is detected based on the signal from the touch switch, and the detected location is collated with the locations of various displayed items to identify the item selected by the user. 
   The separate type device is typically used on computer peripheral devices such as printers and scanners, or relatively small copying machines and facsimile machines. On the other hand, the touch panel type device is typically used on relatively large and/or multiple functioned copying machines and facsimile machines as well as on automatic teller machines. 
   In order to make these devices usable in various countries around the world, some of these devices allow the user to set up a language of the user&#39;s choice from a list of various stored languages. 
   For example, the Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. JP-A-6-75732 discloses a printer equipped with a multiple language display device. The display allows the user a choice between English and Japanese as the display language. Moreover, the language change screen always displays both “English” and “NIHONNGO (           )” as optional items for selecting English or Japanese respectively regardless of which language is currently set up. The Japanese phrase “NIHONNGO (         )” means “Japanese.”
   However, all items on the screen which allows the user to set up the language change screen are displayed in the selected language, so that it is difficult to switch to the language change screen for a user who does not understand the language currently set up. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a device having a display unit, a first means for displaying on the display unit a first screen for changing a display language, and a second means for displaying on the display unit a second screen having an optional item for displaying a language change screen wherein the optional item is displayed in a predetermined language. 
   It is other object of the present invention to provide a device having a display unit, a first means for displaying on the display unit a language change screen for changing a display language, a second means for displaying on the display unit a plurality of setting screens for setting the device, and a switching means for switching from a setting screen displayed arbitrarily by the second means to the language change screen. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a device including a display unit, a first means for displaying on the display unit a first screen for changing a display language, a second means for displaying on the display unit a second screen having an optional item for displaying a language change screen, a third means for displaying on the display unit a plurality of setting screens for setting the device, and a switching means for switching from a setting screen displayed arbitrarily by the third means to the second screen. 
   Still a further object of the invention is to provide a display device including a display means for displaying a first screen for setting a display language and a second screen having an input area for displaying the first screen, and a control means for displaying a description in a predetermined language in the input area regardless of a language currently set up. 
   An even further object of the invention is to provide method of display having the steps of (A) displaying a language change screen for changing a display language, (B) selecting one language as a display language from a plurality of languages using the language change screen and (C) displaying a screen in a selected language while displaying in an input area intended for displaying a first screen in a predetermined language regardless of the selected language. 
   The objects, characteristics, and advantages of this invention other than those set forth above will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which refers to the annexed drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a language table stored in the printer; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of a control panel of the printer; 
       FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  are flow diagrams of assistance in explaining operating flows of the control panel set up in Japanese and English respectively; 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a language table stored in the copying machine; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of a control panel of the copying machine; 
       FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  are plan views of the control panel showing function setting screens set up in Japanese and English respectively; 
       FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  are plan views of the control panel showing language change screens set up in Japanese and English respectively; 
       FIG. 10A  through  FIG. 10C  are optional items for switching to the language change screens, showing various modifications; and 
       FIG. 11A  through  FIG. 11C  are plan views of the control panel displaying a paper selection screen, showing various modifications. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   The embodiments of this invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   Embodiment 1 
   A printer  100  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a controller  101 , a storage device  102 , a control panel  103 , a printer engine  104 , and an interface  105 . The controller  101  controls the overall operation of the printer. The storage device  102  stores data such as programs required for the operational control of the printer and a language table. The control panel  103  is used for the input of various operational data as well as to the display of various optional items and messages. The printer engine  104  prints out the image data on the paper. The interface  105  connects the printer  100  and computers, for example, computers  106  and  107 , via a network for receiving image data transmitted from the computers  106  and  107  or for transmitting the status of the printer to the computers  106  and  107 . As the basic constitution and function of the printer are the same as ordinary printers, the detail descriptions are omitted. 
   The language table stored in the storage device  102  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   The language table has a plurality of sets of characters. Each character set includes data such as optional items and messages, which are generally described by means of a specific language or display language. The number of character sets to constitute the language table is not limited. 
   The language table shown here has a Japanese set and an English set for accommodating Japanese and English. However, it is possible to accommodate more languages by preparing more character sets such as a French set and a German set in the language table. 
   The display language of the optional items for switching to a language change screen is uniformly English. Thus, the optional item “LANGUAGE” for switching to the language change screen exists in the Japanese set as well. Conversely, the Japanese phrase “NIHONNGO (           )” that means “Japanese” exists in the English set as an optional item for selecting Japanese.
   Next, the constitution of the control panel  103  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
   The control panel  103  includes an LCD (liquid crystal display)  201 , a menu key  202 , an execution key  203 , a cancel key  204 , an up key  205 , a down key  206 , a left key  207 , a right key  208 , a ready lamp  209 , and an error lamp  210 . The LCD  201  displays data such as various messages and optional items. The menu key  202  is used for displaying optional items to set up various functions of the printer on the LCD  201 . The up key  205 , the down key  206 , the left key  207  and the right key  208  are used for selecting a specific item from optional items displayed on the LCD  201 . The execution key  203  is used for executing the specific operation corresponding to the selected item on the printer  100 . The ready lamp  209  which is an indication lamp for displaying the current status of the printer  100  indicates that it is ready for printing, or in the print ready condition. The cancel key  204  is used for restoring the printer  100  from the function setting condition to the print ready condition. The error lamp  210  is used to advise the user that an error has occurred. The control panel  103  may have other keys and indication lamps in addition to the above as needed. 
   Next, the basic operation of the control panel  103  will be described below. 
   When the printer  100  is in the print ready condition and the menu key  202  is not pressed, the ready lamp  209  lights up and “READY” is displayed on the screen of the LCD  201 . As the printer  100  receives data from a connected computer, e.g., the computer  106  or the computer  107 , it prints out the received data in sequence. When the paper jam or out of paper occurs, the error lamp  210  lights up and the error content is displayed as a message on the LCD  201 . 
   On the other hand, if the printer  100  is in the print ready condition and the menu key  202  is pressed, the ready lamp  209  lights off and the printer  100  moves to the function setting condition and displays optional items for setting various settings on the LCD  201 . When the cancel key  204  is pressed in the function setting condition, the printer  100  returns to the print ready condition. Data such as messages and optional items displayed on the LCD  201  will be displayed in the language currently set up. 
   Next, the operation for displaying optional items will be described below with reference to  FIG. 4A  using a case where the currently set up language is Japanese. 
   When the printer  100  is in the print ready condition and the menu key  202  is not pressed, the controller  101  reads “REDEI (           )” from the Japanese set stored in the storage device  102 , and displays “REDEI (         )” as an optional item on the LCD  201  (Step S 301 ). The Japanese phrase “REDEI (         )” means “READY”.” When the menu key  202  is pressed, the controller  101  detects the key input from the control panel  103 , reads “SETTEI (         )” from the Japanese set, and displays “SETTEI (         )” as an optional item on the LCD  201  (Step S 310 ). The Japanese phrase “SETTEI (         )” means “SETTING.”
   If the up key  205  or the down key  206  is pressed while “SETTEI (           )” is displayed, the controller  101  changes the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  in correspondence with the pressed key. For example, “TESUTO PURINTO (         )” will be read from the Japanese set and the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  will change from “SETTEI (         )” to “TESUTO PURINTO (         )” (Step S 311 ). The Japanese phrase “TESUTO PURINTO (         )” means “TEST PRINT.”
   On the other hand, if an execution key  203  is pressed while “SETTEI (           )” is being displayed, an optional item such as “NETTO WAAKU (         )” will be displayed in the LCD  201 . The Japanese phrase “NETTO WAAKU (         )” means “NETWORK.” Moreover, if the execution key  203  is pressed while “NETTO WAAKU (         )” is being displayed, an optional item for setting up the network such as “POOTO (         )” will be displayed (Step S 321 ). The Japanese phrase “POOTO (         )” means “PORT.”
   Moreover, if the up key  205  or the down key  206  is pressed while the optional item “NETTO WAAKU (           )” is being displayed, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  will be switched according to the key pressed. For example, if the down key  206  is pressed, the optional item “LANGUAGE” for switching to the language change screen will be read from the Japanese set, and the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  will change from the “NETTO WAAKU (         )” to “LANGUAGE” (Step S 330 ). Moreover, when the down key  206  is pressed, an optional item “YOUSHI (         )” for switching to the paper selection screen will be read from the Japanese set and the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  will change from “LANGUAGE” to “YOUSHI (         )” (Step S 340 ). The Japanese phrase “YOUSHI (         )” means “PAPER.” When the upper key  205  is pressed, the display will change in the reverse order of the case when the down key  206  is pressed.
   The optional item “LANGUAGE” for switching to the language change screen exists in the Japanese set. In other words, the optional item for switching to the language change screen is displayed as “LANGUAGE” in English characters regardless of the character set being displayed. It is easy for a user who does not understand Japanese to switch to the language change screen. 
   If the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item “LANGUAGE” is displayed, the current screen switches to the language change screen, and the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “LANGUAGE” to “ENGLISH” (Step S 331 ). When the down key  206  is pressed, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “ENGLISH” to “NIHONNGO (           ),” which means Japanese (Step S 332 ). Moreover, when the down key  206  is pressed, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “NIHONNGO (         )” to “MODORU (         )” (Step S 333 ). The Japanese phrase “MODORU (         )” which means “EXIT” is used for returning to the previous screen. Therefore, if the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item “MODORU (         )” is displayed, the current screen switches to the screen containing the optional item for switching to the language change screen at Step S 330 , and the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “MODORU (         )” to “LANGUAGE.” On the other hand, when the up key  205  is pressed, the display changes in the reverse order of the case when the down key  206  is pressed.
   If the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item “ENGLISH” is displayed at Step S 331 , the process proceeds to Step S 430  shown in  FIG. 4B . The controller  101  thereafter reads optional items and messages from the English set stored in the storage device  102  and displays them on the LCD  201 . 
   Next, the operation for displaying optional items will be described below with reference to  FIG. 4B  using a case where the currently set display language is English. Since the operation when the display language is English is essentially the same as the operation when the display language is Japanese, the description will be brief. 
   When the printer  100  is in the print ready condition and the menu key  202  is not pressed, “READY” will be displayed on the LCD  201  as the optional item (Step S 401 ). When the menu key  202  is pressed, “SETTING” will be displayed on the LCD  201  as the optional item (Step S 410 ). 
   If the up key  205  or the down key  206  is pressed while the optional item “SETTING” is displayed, the controller  101  will change the optional item displayed on the LCD  201 . For example, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “SETTING” to “TEST PRINT” (Step S 411 ). 
   On the other hand, if the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item “SETTING” is displayed, another optional item such as “NETWORK” will be displayed on the LCD  201 . Moreover, if the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item “NETWORK” is displayed, an optional item for network setting, for example, “PORT,” will be displayed (Step S 421 ). 
   When the down key  206  is pressed while the “NETWORK” is displayed, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  will change from the “NETWORK” to “LANGUAGE” (Step S 430 ). Further, when the down key  206  is pressed, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  will change from the “LANGUAGE” to “PAPER” (Step S 440 ). 
   When the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item “LANGUAGE” is displayed, the current screen switches to the language change screen, and the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “LANGUAGE” to “ENGLISH” (Step S 431 ). Moreover, if the down key  206  is pressed, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “ENGLISH” to “NIHONNGO (           )” which means Japanese (Step S 432 ). Then, when the down key  206  is pressed, the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “NIHONNGO (         )” to “EXIT” (Step S 433 ). If the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item “EXIT” is displayed, the current screen switches to the screen containing the optional item for switching to the language change screen at Step S 430  and the optional item displayed on the LCD  201  changes from “EXIT” to “LANGUAGE.”
   If the execution key  203  is pressed while the optional item, “NIHONNGO (           ),” which means Japanese and phonetically corresponds to “NIHONNGO,” is displayed at Step S 431 , the process proceeds to Step S 330  as shown in  FIG. 4A . From that point on, the controller  101  reads optional items and messages from the Japanese set stored in the memory  102  and displays them on the LCD  201 .
   Thus, the optional item for selecting Japanese displays Japanese characters even if the English set is currently set up. It is easy for a user who understands only Japanese will have no problem in selecting Japanese. 
   As shown in the above, the character set can be set up by pressing the execution key  203  while the optional item for selecting the display language is displayed. Data such as optional items and messages will be displayed according to the character set thus set up. 
   The optional item for switching to the language change screen can always be displayed in English which is the most well understood language in the world. Therefore, it is easy even for a user who does not understand the display language currently set up to switch to the language change screen. In the Embodiment 1, all the character sets include the optional item “LANGUAGE” for switching to the language change screen. However, it is also possible to have only one of the character sets to have the optional item “LANGUAGE” for all other character sets to use it. 
   Embodiment 2 
   The copying machine  500  shown in  FIG. 5  includes a controller  501 , a storage device  502 , a control panel  503 , a printer engine  504 , and a scanning unit  505 . The controller  501  controls the entire operations of the copying machine. The storage device  502  stores data such as programs that are necessary for controlling the operations of the copying machine and a language table. The control panel  503  is a touch panel type and is used for displaying optional items and messages as well as for entering operating data. The scanning unit  505  scans the image of the document. The printer engine  504  prints the image data on the paper. As the basic constitution and function of the printer are the same as ordinary printers, the detail descriptions are omitted. 
   Next, the language table stored in the storage device  502  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
   The language table contains the Japanese set, English set, German set, French set, Spanish set, Italian set and a common set. The common set contains characters such as “LANGUAGE,” “ENGLISH” and “JAPANESE” which are uniformly used regardless of the display language currently set up. 
   The constitution of the control panel  503  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
   The control panel  503  is provided with a touch panel  601 , a user mode key  602 , a start key  603 , a stop key  604 , and a set of ten keys  605 . The touch panel  601  has a liquid crystal display and touch switches consisting of transparent electrodes laminated on the liquid crystal display. The user mode key  602  is used for entering a mode for setting up various functions. The start key  603  and the stop key  604  are used for starting and temporarily stopping the copying operation, respectively. The set of ten keys  605  is used for entering numerical values. 
   Next, the basic operations of the copying machine will be described below. 
   When it is ready for using the copying functions, the touch panel  601  of the control panel  503  displays a message “READY FOR COPYING” as shown in  FIG. 7 . The document is placed on the scanning unit  505 . The number of copies to be made is entered using the set of ten keys  605  and other functions are set up in case of need. When the start key  503  is pressed, the scanning unit  505  starts scanning the image of the document. The printer engine  504  prints the number of copies using the scanned image data. 
   Setting of various functions of the copying machine will be described below. 
   When the controller  501  detects that the user mode key  602  on the control panel  503  is pressed, it switches the screen of the touch panel  601  to a function setting screen shown in  FIG. 8A . The function setting screen shows a case where the current display language is Japanese. More specifically, the Japanese set of the language table stored in the storage device  502  is used to display “YOUSHI SAIZU (           ),” “YOUSHI SHURUI (         ),” “NOUDO (         ),” “SHIAGE (         ),” “GENKOU (         )” and “MODORU (         )” as optional items and “SETTEI KOUMOKUWO ERANDE KUDASAI (         )” as a message for selecting functions. The Japanese phrases “YOUSHI SAIZU (         ),” “YOUSHI SHURUI (         ),” “NOUDO (         ),” “SHIAGE (         ),” and “GENKOU (         )” mean “PAPER SIZE,” “TYPE OF PAPER,” “DENSITY,” “FINISH” and “DOCUMENT,” respectively. The Japanese phrase “MODORU (         ),” which means “EXIT” is used for returning to the previous screen, languages are shown in English based on the data of the common set. However, the optional item meaning “EXIT” is displayed as “MODORU (         ),” based on the data of the Japanese set since the display language is currently set to Japanese.
   When “English” is selected, the display language is set to English, and the screen of the touch panel  601  switches from the language change screen in  FIG. 9A  to the function setting screen in  FIG. 8B . Since the display language of the function setting screen is set up for English, all the optional items will be displayed in English. Therefore, the optional item that means “EXIT” also will be changed from Japanese to English. 
   When the optional item “LANGUAGE” is selected, the screen of the touch panel  601  switches from the function setting screen shown in  FIG. 8B  to the language change screen shown in  FIG. 9B . Since the display language of the language change screen is set to English, all optional items will be displayed in English. 
   As shown above, in the copying machine according to the Embodiment 2 similar to the printer according to the Embodiment 1, the optional item for switching to the language change screen can be always displayed in English, which is understood by relatively more people than any other languages i.e., the function setting screen from the language change screen without changing the display language. The Japanese sentence “SETTEI KOUMOKUWO ERANDE KUDASAI (           )”, means “PLEASE SELECT A SETTING ITEM.”
   On the other hand, the optional item for switching to the language change screen is read from the common set of the language table  510  stored in the storage device  502 , and “LANGUAGE” will be set up. In other words, the optional item for switching to the language change screen is displayed in English which is understood by more people compared to other languages. Consequently, even if the user does not understand the language currently set up, or Japanese, the user can easily move to the language change screen. 
   When the user touches the optional item “LANGUAGE” on the function setting screen, the controller  501  detects the position touched by the user by means of the signal from the touch switch. Furthermore, the controller  501  collates the obtained detection position and the position of the optional item displayed, and identifies the item touched by the user for executing the process of display screen switching. Thus, the screen of the touch panel  601  switches from the function setting screen shown in  FIG. 8A  to the language change screen shown in  FIG. 9A . 
   The six optional items indicating selectable display worldwide. Therefore, even a user who does not understand the display language currently set up can easily switch to the language change screen. 
   It is obvious that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments shown and described above but may be variously changed and modified without departing from the technical concept of this invention. 
   For example, this invention can be applied to other image forming devices such as a facsimile machine similar to the Embodiments 1 and 2. 
   Moreover, although it is described in the Embodiments 1 and 2 that the optional item for switching to the language change screen is to be displayed in English, it does not have to be limited to English. However, the optional item for switching to the language change screen is preferably displayed in a language that is understood by as many people as possible in the country or region where the device is used. Moreover, the optional item for switching to the language change screen can be displayed in a plurality of languages. For example, it is possible to display the optional item for switching to the language change screen as “LANGUAGE/GENGO SETTEI (           )” using the Japanese phrase “GENGO SETTEI (         )” which means “LANGUAGE SETTING.” As a result, even a Japanese user who does not understand English can easily maneuver to switch to the language change screen.
   The optional item for switching to the language change screen can also be displayed using an abstract mark or symbol as shown in  FIG. 10A  through  FIG. 10   c , rather than a language. In this case, it is possible for the user to intuitionally realize how to switch to the language change screen. 
   In order to change the display language, it is necessary to switch to the language change screen via the function setting screen in the Embodiments 1 and 2. However, it is possible to provide the optional item for switching to the language change screen on a screen other than the function setting screen to enable to switch directly to the language change screen. For example, the optional item “LANGUAGE” can be provided on a paper selection screen as shown in  FIG. 11A , which is a subordinate screen of the function setting screen. In addition, it is possible to use a symbol as shown in  FIG. 10A  through  FIG. 10C  instead of the English phrase “LANGUAGE.” 
   The optional item “LANGUAGE” is displayed on the touch panel  601  in the Embodiments 1 and 2. However, it is possible to place the optional item “LANGUAGE” on the outside of the screen of the touch panel  601  as shown in  FIG. 11B . Specifically, it is possible to provide a hard key  606 , such as the set of ten keys  605  or the start key  603  according to the Embodiment 2, on the control panel  503 , so that it can be used for switching to the language change screen. 
   Furthermore, the opposite to the mode of switching directly from the current screen to the language change screen is applicable. Specifically, it is possible to switch the current screen to the function setting screen, which contains the optional item for switching to the language change screen, by touching the optional item “RETURN” displayed on the touch panel  601  as shown in  FIG. 11C . It is also possible to provide a hard key that represents the optional item “RETURN” on the outside of the touch panel  601  on the control panel  503  for switching to the function setting screen from the current screen by pressing down the hard key.