Abstract:
A storing unit stores therein a plurality of different display language data that is switchable according to a use environment of a user. A selecting unit selects a display language data from the storing unit in response to display language specification information supplied from a main unit at a time of starting the electronic device. A displaying unit displays an operation screen with selected display language data. When there is no display language specification information from the main unit, the selecting unit selects a predetermined display language data according to a difference between stored display language data and display language data set in a factory setting.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present document incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese priority document, 2006-084026 filed in Japan on Mar. 24, 2006. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a technology for selecting and displaying a language according to a use environment of a user in an electronic device including an operating unit capable of selectively displaying a plurality of different languages. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, with sales areas being diversified, an operating unit of an electronic device, such as a copier, facsimile, or printer, not only supports a plurality of languages as a display language, but also, for example, includes a plurality of pieces of different language data in one device and can switch among these pieces of language data at a later time in order to provide a display language according to a use environment of a user. In this manner, such an operating unit is configured to support various use environments. 
     In such a device, to share the control load among a plurality of Central Processing Units (CPUs), the operating unit includes a dedicated CPU independently of the main unit, and various pieces data are read from the memory provided for each CPU for start control. However, if all memories for CPUs are nonvolatile memories that can retain data even after power shutdown, the cost is high. To get around this problem, a nonvolatile memory is provided for a CPU of the control unit of the main unit, and at the time of activation at power-on, various pieces of data retained in that nonvolatile memory are transferred to the operating unit (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-202105). 
     In one possible configuration of such a device, different pieces of display language data that can be switched according to the use environment of the user are provided in the operating unit, and a specification for the operating unit to select a language to be displayed is supplied from the main unit at the time of activating. 
     In this configuration, however, if an abnormality occurs to the main unit, the operating unit cannot receive any specifying information, thereby falling into a state in which it cannot be determined which language to be used for display. For example, if an abnormality occurs to the main unit while the user is installing a use language later on, the user may not be able to recognize an error message displayed on the operating unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve the problems in the conventional technology. 
     An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an operating unit including a storing unit that stores therein a plurality of different display language data that is switchable according to a use environment of a user, a selecting unit that selects a display language data from the storing unit in response to display language specification information supplied from a main unit of the electronic device at a time of starting the electronic device, and a displaying unit that displays an operation screen with the display language data selected by the selecting unit. When the display language specification information is not supplied from the main unit, the selecting unit selects a predetermined display language data according to a difference between the display language data stored in the storing unit and display language data set in a factory setting. 
     An electronic device according to another aspect of the present invention includes an operating unit including a first storing unit that stores therein a plurality of different display language data that is switchable according to a use environment of a user, a selecting unit that selects a display language data from the first storing unit in response to display language specification information supplied from a main unit of the electronic device at a time of starting the electronic device, a displaying unit that displays an operation screen with the display language data selected by the selecting unit, and a second storing unit that stores therein selected language information indicating the display language data selected by the selecting unit. When the display language specification information is not supplied from the main unit, the selecting unit selects display language data corresponding to the selected language information from the first storing unit. 
     The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a control unit of a main unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a control unit of an operating unit of the image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of an operating unit incorporated in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram for explaining stored information of a flash ROM of the operation control unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a procedure until the operation control unit determines a display language at the time of activating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a procedure until the operation control unit determines and stores a display language at the time of activating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of another procedure until the operation control unit determines and stores a display language at the time of activating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process of writing the selected display language in the flash ROM of the operation control unit on a real time basis during a language switching process of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process of writing the selected display language in the flash ROM of the operation control unit during a waiting period of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a language selecting process when specifying information of the display language cannot be received from the main-unit control unit within a defined time in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, where language data to be selected is not present on the flash ROM. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a control unit of a main unit (hereinafter, “main-unit control unit”) of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a control unit of an operating unit (hereinafter, “operation control unit”) of the image forming apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an image forming apparatus  1  includes a main-unit control unit  10  and an operation control unit  20  having a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a scanner function, and other various functions. 
     The main-unit control unit  10  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  11 , a nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM)  12 , a flash read only memory (ROM)  13 , a static RAM (SRAM)  14 , a hard disk (HD)  15 , and a card slot  16 . The operation control unit  20  includes a CPU  21 , a flash ROM (nonvolatile memory)  22 , an SRAM  23 , a liquid crystal display (LCD) controller  24 , a synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM)  25 , and an LCD module  26 , a touch panel  27 , a driver  28 , and a key board  29 . The CPU  11  of the main-unit control unit  10  and the CPU  21  of the operation control unit  20  are connected together via a synchronous serial communication line  2 , allowing bidirectional data communication for rendering commands, input information, and others. 
     The flash ROM  22  of the operation control unit  20  has stored therein, for example, a control program, such as a display program, and image data. The SRAM  23  is used as a work area for the CPU  21 . Details about storage information of the flash ROM  22  will be explained further below by using  FIG. 3 . 
     The LCD controller  24  causes the LCD module  26  to display various kinds of information. The touch panel  27  is placed so as to be overlaid on the LCD module  26  and, when a position corresponding to an operation key displayed on the LCD module  26  is touched for operation, the touch operation is output to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  then recognizes the touch operation from the touch panel  27  to perform a process corresponding to the operation information. 
     The key board  29  has been provided with various switches (SW) and a light emitting diode (LED), to which the driver  28  is connected. The CPU  21  drives these various switches and LED via driver  28 , and performs backlight control of the LCD module  26 . 
     The LCD controller  24  has connected thereto the SDRAM  25  having stored therein display pixel data for display on the LCD module  26 . The CPU  21  reads and writes the display pixel data from and to the SDRAM  25  via the LCD controller  24 . 
     Furthermore, the LCD controller  24  refreshes the SDRAM  25  and transfers display data (outputs a display signal) from the SDRAM  25  to the LCD module  26 . With settings in an internal register (not shown), such an output of a display signal to the LCD module  26  can be controlled. 
     The NVRAM  12  of the main-unit control unit  10  is a nonvolatile memory capable of retaining data even if the image forming apparatus is powered off. Also, the flash ROM (nonvolatile memory)  13  has stored therein, for example, a control program for the image forming apparatus  1  and system data. The SRAM  14  is used as a work memory for the CPU  11 . The HD  15  has read image data stored therein, for example. 
     To the card slot  16 , an external storage medium having a program and data, for example, an IC card, is inserted in a removable manner. The CPU  11  reads the program and data from the external storage medium inserted in the card slot  16  or writes a program and data to that external storage medium. The main-unit control unit  10  can confirm at its input port whether an SD card is inserted in the card slot  16 . Here, instead of such a card slot, another structure may be used as long as it allows a program and data to be read therefrom. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the operating unit incorporated in the image forming apparatus  1 . This operating unit  30  is provided with an LCD display unit  31  of the LCD module  26 , a numeric keypad  32  for inputting the number of prints and a copy scaling, a start key  33  for instruction for start of a printing operation, a clear/stop key  34  for instruction for suspending the printing operation or clearing the numeric keypad input result, a reset key  35  for returning the set print mode to a default state, a warm-up key  36  for instruction for transition/cancel of a warm-up state, an interrupt mode key  37  for interrupting an ongoing print operation for another print operation, an initial setting mode key  38  for setting the image forming apparatus  1  according to usability of an administrator or user of the image forming apparatus  1 , a language switch key  39  for switching a display language on the LCD module  26  to another language, and hard keys, such as application switch-keys  40  to  43  for selecting any one of copy, facsimile, printer, and scanner, for example. The start key  33 , the warm-up key  36 , the interrupt mode key  37 , and the application switch keys  40  to  43  are provided with LEDs  33   a ,  36   a ,  37   a , and  40   a  to  43   a , respectively, each for indicating a key selection state. In particular, the LED  33   a  on the start key  33  is lit green when the image forming apparatus  1  can perform a print operation, and is lit red when the image forming apparatus cannot perform a print operation. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram for explaining stored information of the flash ROM  22  of the operation control unit  20 . In  FIG. 3 , “A” denotes stored information at the time of shipment, where a control program storage area  51  (addresses 0 to 0F0000H) has stored therein control programs, a selected-language-information storage area  52  (0F0000 to 100000H) has stored therein selected language information, a first-language-data storage area  53  (100000 to 17FFFFH) has stored therein English data as first language data, a second-language-data storage area  54  (180000 to 1FFFFFH) has stored therein Japanese data as a second language data. Also, “B” shown in  FIG. 3  denotes a state where the second language data is switched from Japanese to French according to a user&#39;s use environment. Such switching can be performed by inserting an SD card having stored therein language data in the card slot  16  of the main-unit control unit  10  to feed the language data desired by the user to the operation control unit  20  through the synchronous serial communication line  2  and then the language data is stored in the flash ROM  22  by the operation control unit  20 . Also, the selected language information is the one that corresponds to the language read from the flash ROM  13  of the main-unit control unit  10  as a language for display on the LCD module  26  from out of the first language data and the second language data and specified by display language specifying information supplied via the synchronous serial communication line  2  to the operation control unit  20 . 
     A procedure until the CPU  21  of the operation control unit  20  determines a display language for display on the LCD module  26  at the time of activating the image forming apparatus  1  configured as explained above is explained by using a flowchart of  FIG. 4 . 
     In the operation control unit  20 , a program on the flash ROM  22  is started (step S 1 ). After initialization of the SRAM  23  and the SDRAM  25  (step S 2 ) and initialization of devices, such as the LCD controller  24 , the LEDs, the touch panel  27 , and various hard keys (step S 3 ), the synchronous serial communication line  2  is opened (step S 4 ) to wait for display language specifying information to be transmitted from the main-unit control unit  10  (step S 5 ). 
     Upon reception of the display language-specifying signal from the main-unit control unit  10  (“Yes” at step S 5 ), the display language is determined according to that specification (step S 6 ). If a display language-specifying signal cannot be obtained from the main-unit control unit  10  within a defined time (“Yes” at step S 10 ), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred to the main-unit control unit  10 . Then the current language data stored in the flash ROM  22  and the language data at the time of shipment are compared to check whether language data switched according to the use environment of the user is present (steps S 11  and S 12 ). 
     The operation control unit  20  has stored therein the on-board language data at the time of shipment at a program level. By comparing this on-board language data with language data actually on board at the time of activation, it can be determined whether the language data has been switched. If such switching is present (“Yes” at step S 12 ), the language after switching is selected as a display language (step S 13 ). If no such switching is present (“No” at step S 12 ), English regarded as an international standard language is selected as a display language (step S 14 ). 
     The LCD controller  24  reads thus selected display language data from the flash ROM  22 , writes the data in the SDRAM  25  for read, thereby causing the LCD module  26  to display an operation screen with the selected language. Here, it is assumed that an abnormality has occurred to the main-unit control unit  10  and a display language is selected through step S 13  or S 14 , a message indicating that an abnormality has occurred is displayed. 
     With such a configuration, even if an abnormality has occurred to the main-unit control unit  10  and no display language specifying information is transmitted, a difference between the current display language data and the display language data at the time of shipment is used to select display language data suitable for the use environment of the user, thereby making it possible to inform the user that an abnormality has occurred to the main unit. Also, even if the switching of the display language data according to the use environment is not performed, English as an international standard language is selected as a display language, thereby increasing the possibility that the user can recognize the display language. With this, it is possible to achieve a control configuration in which the main-unit control unit  10  and the operation control unit  20  are separated from each other, thereby increasing usability. 
     A procedure is explained with reference to a flowchart of  FIG. 5 , in which the CPU  21  of the operation control unit  20  determines a display language for display on the LCD module  26  at the time of activating the image forming apparatus  1  for storage in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22 . In  FIG. 5 , steps identical to those in  FIG. 4  are provided with the same reference numerals used in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , after the display language is determined according to a specifying signal from the main-unit control unit  10  through the same procedure (step S 6 ), information indicating of that display language is written in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22  (step S 7 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a procedure in which the CPU  21  of the operation control unit  20  determines a display language for display on the LCD module  26  through a procedure different from that of  FIG. 5  at the time of activating the image forming apparatus  1  for storage in the flash ROM  22 . In  FIG. 6 , steps identical to those in  FIG. 5  are provided with the same reference numerals used in  FIG. 5 . 
     In this procedure, if a specifying signal from the main-unit control unit  10  has not been able to be obtained within a defined time (“Yes” at step S 10 ), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred to the main-unit control unit  10 . Then, the selected language information retained in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22 , in other word, the selected language information written in the selected-language-information storage area  52  at the time of previous activation, is read (step S 21 ), and a language indicated by the selected language information is then determined as the display language (step S 22 ). 
     With such a process, even if an abnormality has occurred to the main-unit control unit  10  and display language specifying information is not transferred, the information indicative of the language use the last is retained in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22 . Therefore, at the time of occurrence of an abnormality in the main-unit control unit  10 , the user can be notified that an abnormality has occurred to the main unit with the display language corresponding to the retained selected language information. With this, it is possible to achieve a control configuration in which the main-unit control unit  10  and the operation control unit  20  are separated from each other, thereby increasing usability. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process of writing the selected language information in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22 . When the language switch key  39  is pressed (“Yes” at step S 31 ), display data on the SDRAM  25  is again rendered with the display language data after switching and, after the display is updated (step S 32 ), the selected language information is written in the selected-language-information storage area  52  (step S 33 ). 
     In this manner, with the configuration such that the selected language information retained in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22  is being retained again on a real-time basis, it is possible to more reliably select display language data suitable for the use environment of the user. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process of writing the selected language information in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22  of the operation control unit  20  during a waiting period in which the user does not use the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , if a state in which no hard key or touch panel is used continues for a predetermined period (“Yes” at step S 41 ), the selected language information stored in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22  is compared with the current display language (step S 42 ). If these languages are the same (“Yes” at step S 43 ), any process is not particularly performed. If these languages are not the same (“No” at step S 43 ), the selected language information indicative of the current display language data is written in the selected-language-information storage area  52  of the flash ROM  22  (step S 44 ). 
     With this configuration, the selected language information on the flash ROM  22  can be updated without hindering the user&#39;s operation. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a language selecting process when a specification of the display language cannot be received from the main-unit control unit  10  within a defined time, where language data to be selected is not present on the flash ROM. In  FIG. 9 , steps identical to those in  FIG. 6  are provided with the reference numerals used in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , after the selected language information written in the flash ROM  22  is read at the time of the previous activation (step S 21 ), it is checked whether the display language data corresponding to the read selected language information is present in the first-language-data storage area  53  or the second-language-data storage area  54  of the flash ROM  22  (step S 51 ). If the display language data is present (“Yes” at step S 51 ), the display language data is selected as a display language (step S 52 ). If it is not present (“No” at step S 52 ), English regarded as an international standard language is selected as a display language (step S 53 ). 
     With this configuration, even at the time of occurrence of an abnormality in the main-unit control unit  10  immediately after switching of the display language data, English is selected. Thus, with such a language with a high possibility of being able to be recognized by the user, the occurrence of the abnormality can be reported. 
     According to the present invention, in an electronic device including an operating unit capable of selectively causing a plurality of different languages to be displayed, the electronic device configured in a manner such that a display language specification is supplied from the device main unit to the operating unit at the time of activating the device, even if the specification is not supplied to the operating unit due to an abnormality of the device, language selection and display according to a use environment of the user can be made. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.