Patent Publication Number: US-2007097453-A1

Title: Image forming device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to an image forming device system such as a multi-function machine comprising a fax function and the like in addition to a copier function.  
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
      Image forming devices are developed, comprising a function that causes the operation image not to change even if a job interruption button or the like is mistakenly operated when displaying of an operation image that is large and easy for a user with weak vision so see (enlarged display mode). Note that this device is also known to provide operation guidance by voice if the user has selected audio guide in the enlarged display mode.  
      In the above conventional example, the job interruption button is disabled during the enlarged display mode so as not to perform work based on a mistaken operation by a user with weak vision. However, as a result, job interruption by others is prohibited during the enlarged display mode.  
      An object of this invention is to provide an image forming device capable of preventing mistaken operation, while keeping the functions inherent in the device available.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the invention as recited in Claim  1 , an image forming device provided with an audio guide mode and comprising a function for, when the audio guide mode has been set, performing audio guidance for the name or the like of an operated key, comprises: a first means for, if a key input occurs while the audio guide mode is set, determining whether or not a most recently operated key is identical to a previously operated key; a second means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is different from the previously operated key, performing audio guidance for the most recently operated key while at the same time storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to a key input standby state; a third means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is identical to the previously operated key, determining whether or not the time between when the key had been previously operated and when the key was most recently operated (hereinafter referred to as the operation interval) is within a predetermined time; a fourth means for, if the third means determines that the operation interval is not within the predetermined time, performing audio guidance for the most recently operated key while at the same time storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to the key input standby state; and a fifth means for validating the most recent key input if the third means determines that the operation interval is within the predetermined time.  
      According to the invention as recited in Claim  2 , an image forming device provided with an audio guide mode and comprising a function for, when the audio guide mode has been set, performing audio guidance for the name or the like of an operated key, comprises: a first means for, if a key input occurs while the audio guide mode is set, determining whether or not a most recently operated key is identical to a previously operated key, a second means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is different from the previously operated key, performing audio guidance for the most recently operated key while at the same time storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to a key input standby state; a third means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is identical to the previously operated key, determining whether or not the time between when the key had been previously operated and when the key was most recently operated (hereinafter referred to as the operation interval) is longer than a first predetermined time; a fourth means for, if the third means determines that the operation interval is not longer than the first predetermined time, switching to the key input standby state; a fifth means for, if the third means determines that the operation interval is longer than the first predetermined time, determining whether or not the operation interval is shorter than a second predetermined time for which a longer time than the first predetermined time has been set; a sixth means for, if the fifth means determines that the operation interval is not shorter than the second predetermined time, performing audio guidance for the most recently operated key while at the same time storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to the key input standby state; and a seventh means for validating the most recent key input if the fifth means determines that the operation interval is shorter than the second predetermined time.  
      According to the invention as recited in Claim  3 , an image forming device provided with an enlarged display mode for displaying a large and easy-to-see operation image, comprises: a first means for, if a key input occurs while the enlarged display mode is set, determining whether or not a most recently operated key is identical to a previously operated key; a second means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is different from the previously operated key, storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to a key input standby state; a third means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is identical to the previously operated key, determining whether or not the time between when the key had been previously operated and when the key was most recently operated (hereinafter referred to as the operation interval) is within a predetermined time; a fourth means for, if the third means determines that the operation interval is not within the predetermined time, storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to the key input standby state; and a fifth means for validating the most recent key input if the third means determines that the operation interval is within the predetermined time.  
      According to the invention as recited in Claim  4 , an image forming device provided with an enlarged display mode for displaying a large and easy-to-see operation image, comprises: a first means for, if a key input occurs while the enlarged display mode is set, determining whether or not a most recently operated key is identical to a previously operated key; a second means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is different from the previously operated key, storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to a key input standby state; a third means for, if the first means determines that the most recently operated key is identical to the previously operated key, determining whether or not the time between when the key had been previously operated and when the key was most recently operated (hereinafter referred to as the operation interval) is longer than a first predetermined time; a fourth means for, if the third means determines that the operation interval is not longer than the first predetermined time, switching to the key input standby state; a fifth means for, if the third means determines that the operation interval is longer than the first predetermined time, determining whether or not the operation interval is shorter than a second predetermined time for which a longer time than the first predetermined time has been set; a sixth means for, if the fifth means determines that the operation interval is not shorter than the second predetermined time, storing the most recently operated key as the previously operated key and then switching to the key input standby state; and a seventh means for validating the most recent key input if the fifth means determines that the operation interval is shorter than the second predetermined time.  
      According to this invention, it is possible to prevent a mistaken operation while keeping the functions inherent in the device available. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the constitution of a copier.  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the processing procedure when key input occurs. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, an example of this invention as applied to a copier will be described with reference to the figures.  
     Example 1  
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrated the constitution of a digital copier.  
      The digital copier comprises a scanner unit  10 , a control unit  20 , a hard disk (HDD)  30 , an image forming unit  40 , a user operation unit  50  and an audio guide device  60 . The scanner unit  10  comprises a document feeding device (DF)  11 , a scanner  12  and an image reading CCD  13 . The control unit  20  comprises a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like.  
      The image forming unit  40  comprises a laser scan unit (LSU)  41  and an electrostatic copying mechanism comprising a photosensitive drum and the like. The user operation unit  50  comprises a key input unit  51  comprising various keys such as a numeric keypad, a start button and an interrupt button, a liquid crystal display unit  52  comprising a touch panel, and an LED display unit  53 . A speaker  61  is connected to the audio guide device  60 .  
      A document transported by the document feeding device (DF)  11  onto a contact glass, not shown, is optically scanned by the scanner  12 , and a document image is read by the image reading CCD  13 . The document image that has been read by the image reading CCD  13  is stored in the HDD  30  by way of the control unit  20 . The image data stored in the HDD  30  is sent to the LSU  41  by way of the control unit  20 . The LSU  41  generates, according to the received image data, a laser beam, which is modulated and deviated to form an electrostatic latent image pattern on the photosensitive member.  
      In this copier, if the audio guide mode has been set, when the user operates a key, guidance for the name, the function or the like, of the key is given by voice, by way of the audio guide device  60  and the speaker  61 . It should be noted, however, that this key input is not handled as a valid key input. Thereafter, if the same key is operated again within a given time period, this key input is handled as a valid key input. In other words, a process corresponding to this key input is executed.  
       FIG. 2  shows a process procedure when key input occurs.  
      If a key input occurs by operating a key (step S 1 ), whether or not the audio guide mode has been set is determined (step S 2 ). If the audio guide mode has been set, whether or not the ID of the most recently operated key (ID n ) and the ID of the previously operated key (ID n-1 ) are identical is determined (step S 3 ).  
      If the ID of the most recently operated key (ID n ) and the ID of the previously operated key (ID n-1 ) are different, audio guidance for the name, function or the like of the most recently operated key (audio guide output) is carried out (step S 4 ), while at the same time, the ID of the most recently operated key (ID n ) is stored as the ID of the previously operated key (ID n-1 ) (step S 5 ). In addition, a timer is started (step S 6 ), whereafter the process returns to step S 1  (key input standby state). In addition, when shifting to step S 6 , if the timer has already been started, the timer is first cleared before being restarted.  
      In the step S 3 , if the ID of the most recently operated key (key ID n ) and the ID of the previously operated key (key ID n-1 ) are determined to be identical, whether or not the time t measured by the timer (operation interval) is longer than a predetermined time Tb (t&gt;Tb) is determined (step S 7 ). For instance, the predetermined time Tb is set to 0.5 seconds.  
      If the time t measured by the timer is not longer than the predetermined time Tb, the process returns to step S 1 . If the time t measured by the timer is longer than the predetermined time Tb, whether or not the time t measured by the timer is shorter than a predetermined time Te (t&lt;Te) is determined (step S 8 ). For instance, the predetermined time Te is set to 10.0 seconds.  
      If the time t measured by the timer is not shorter than the predetermined time Te, the process moves on to step S 4 . If the time t measured by the timer is shorter than the predetermined time Te, that is to say, if a key is operated within a time frame that is longer than a predetermined time Tb and shorter than a predetermined time Te after the same key has been operated, a sound for informing the user that the most recent key input will be handled as the valid key input (key validation sound) is generated (step S 9 ), thereafter, the most recent key input is validated to execute a process corresponding to this key input (step S 10 ). Then, the timer is cleared, while at the same time the content stored as the ID of the previously operated key (key ID n-1 ) is cleared (step S 11 ), and then the process returns to step S 1 .  
      In the step S 2 , if the audio guide mode has not been set, the most recent key input is validated to execute a process corresponding to this key input (step S 10 ). Then, the timer is cleared, while at the same time the content stored as the ID of the previously operated key (key ID n-1 ) is cleared (step S 11 ), and then the process returns to step S 1 .  
      Note that the step S 7  may be omitted. In addition, if the audio guide mode has been set, the operation image may be displayed enlarged.  
      In addition, this invention can also be applied to a copier (image forming device) which is not provided with an audio guide mode but is provided with a mode for displaying a large and easy-to-see operation image (enlarged display mode) for a user with weak vision. In this case, in step S 2 , whether or not the enlarged display mode has been set is determined, and if the enlarged display mode has been set, the process advances to step S 3 , while if the enlarged display mode has not been set, the process advances to step S 10 . In addition, the process of step S 4  is omitted. That is to say, if NO in step S 3  or if NO in step S 8 , the process advances to step S 5 .