Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
   This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/447,158, filed Feb. 12, 2003 entitled “Display Control Apparatus for Image Forming Apparatus,” which application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to operation panels of image forming apparatuses that have functions such as a copying machine function, a printer function, a fax machine function etc. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Conventionally, in a compound machine that has a copy machine function, a printer function, and a fax machine function, there has been a technique to enable another operation panel that is loaded as optional equipment to operate in conjunction with an operation panel that is included as standard equipment when such an optional operation panel is loaded. Also, there has been a technique to display detailed description of functions that are configured when various settings are set through the operation panel of a copy machine to which an information equipment that has a display function is connected. 
   However, aforementioned conventional equipment can display only items and contents that are predefined such as print menu list and detailed description of functions when another panel is loaded as extended equipment. 
   Therefore, selecting menu items can be difficult for users who do not have enough understanding of the functions of the image forming apparatus because information necessary for them may not be displayed, or, on the other hand, selecting menu items each time could be bothersome for users who often use the image forming apparatus and have a lot of knowledge on its functions because totally unnecessary information for them may be displayed. As described above, there have been various problems depending on the users&#39; level of knowledge on the operation of the image forming apparatus. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a frontal outline view of an image forming apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an operation element of the image forming apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the functional elements of an image forming apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a first standard menu display in accordance with one aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a second standard menu display in accordance another aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a professional initial screen display in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a standard display on an optional operation panel in accordance with one aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a professional initial screen display on the optional operation panel in accordance with another aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a registration number input display in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a user registration display in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and methods of the present invention. 
   This invention provides an image forming apparatus that has an operation panel suitable for various users in an image forming apparatus that has a second operation panel, and the operationally of the image forming apparatus for the users can be improved. 
   Description of the System 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a frontal outline view of an image forming apparatus  100  in accordance with the invention. As used herein, an “image forming apparatus” is a unitary electronic device which forms images into media. An image forming apparatus may be, for example, a copier, fax, printer or multi-function peripheral (MFP). The image forming apparatus may form the image on such media as paper or overhead transparencies. The image forming apparatus  100  comprises an input feeder  120 , an operation element  130  and an optional operation panel  140 . The operation element  130  is for users to operate the image forming apparatus  100 . The optional operation panel  140  can be loaded and unloaded to/from the image forming apparatus as an optional component. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the operation element  130 . The operation element  130  comprises a copy key  210 , a printer/scan key  220 , a fax key  290 , a standard operation panel  230 , a numeric keypad  250 , a start key  260 , a stop key  270  and an all clear key  280 . The copy key  210  allows the user to select the copy machine function. The printer/scan key  220  allows the user to select the printer or scan functions. The fax key  290  allows the user to select the fax machine function. The standard operation panel  230  is included as standard equipment. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a block diagram of the functional elements of the image forming apparatus  100 . The functional elements include a scanner element  320 , a fax communication element  380 , a network interface element  390 , a standard operation panel element  330 , an optional operation panel element  340 , a system controlling element  350  and a printer element  370 . 
   The scanner element  320  reads original images. 
   The fax communication element  380  receives data that is sent from external communication equipment connected through a telephone line and sends image data that is read from the scanner element  320  to external equipment. 
   The network interface element  390  receives print data from external electronic equipment such as a personal computer that is attached to a network and sends image data that is read from the scanner element  320  to external electronic equipment. 
   Users may input operations to the standard operation panel  230  for functions of the image forming apparatus  100 . 
   The system controlling element  350  controls each element of the image forming apparatus  100 . The system controlling element  350  generates print data by editing (image processing such as scaling and rotating, or editing such as double-side printing and scaling) image data read from the scanner element  320 , communication data received by the fax communication element  380 , or print data received by the network interface element  390 . The operation of the system controlling element  350  element may be determined according to the operations from the operation element  130  ( FIG. 1 ) or optional operation panel  140  ( FIG. 1 ). 
   Also, the system controlling element  350  has an operation panel detection element  360  to detect whether the optional operation panel  140  is loaded or not, or available. 
   The printer element  370  outputs print data generated by the system controlling element  350 . 
   Description of the Methods 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a flow chart of a method in accordance with the invention. References to the image forming apparatus, however, may be to  FIGS. 1-3 . Initially, the image forming apparatus is turned on (step  405 ). Next, the operation panel detection element  355  detects whether the optional operation panel  140  is available (e.g., loaded or not) (step  410 ). 
   If the optional operation panel  140  is not available, then a first standard menu display  500  shown in  FIG. 5  is displayed on the standard operation panel  230  (step  415 ). The first standard menu display  500  is a fixed display screen that is predefined and stored in the image forming apparatus  100 . Next, the image forming apparatus  100  waits for panel operation by users (step  495 ). The image forming apparatus  100  may be configured so that it selects the copy machine function by default when it is turned on, so the first standard menu display  500  of the standard operation panel  230  displays a general menu display to operate the image forming apparatus  100 . For example, MENU 1 - 4  in  FIG. 5  may comprise a button to select a scaling function (MENU 1 ), a button to specify one-sided or double-sided printing (MENU 2 ), a button to set sorting and stapling (MENU 3 ), and a button to set the density of the copied image (MENU 4 ). 
   On the other hand, when the optional operation panel  140  is available, a different second standard menu display  600  ( FIG. 6 ) may be displayed on the standard operation panel  130  (step  420 ). The second standard menu display  600  is based upon the first standard menu display  500  shown in  FIG. 5 . However, the second standard menu display  600  includes a professional mode button  610  to select the professional mode and may include a standard mode button  620  to select the standard mode. The second standard menu display  600  has at least a button to select professional mode or standard mode adding to the first standard menu display  500 . MENU 1 - 4  in the second standard menu display  600  may display the same contents as MENU 1 - 4  in the first standard menu display  500 . The optional operation panel  140 , in standard mode, may display detailed guidance such as that shown in  FIG. 8  according to the function selected by the user on the operation element  130  (step  425 ). 
   After loading the standard operation panel  230  and the optional operation panel  140 , the image forming apparatus  100  detects whether professional mode is selected (step  430 ). The system controlling element ( 350 ) may perform this step  430 . The selection may be made by the user on the second standard menu display  600  that is displayed on the standard operation panel  230 . If mode selection is not done or the standard mode is selected, both the standard operation panel  230  and optional operation panel  140  maintain the screens that were displayed in steps  420 ,  425 , and wait for panel operation by users (step  495 ). 
   On the other hand, if the professional mode is selected in step  430 , the display of the standard operation panel  230  is switched to a professional initial screen display, such as the display  700  shown in  FIG. 7  (step  435 ). The professional initial screen display  700  may comprise a pre-registered menu that corresponds to the professional mode. For example, multiple functions of MENU 1 - 4  of the standard menu display may be combined and pre-registered to MENU 5 - 8  of the display  700 . MENU 5  may be pre-registered to A4+one-sided printing+sorting. MENU 6  may be pre-registered to A4+double-side printing+sorting. MENU 7  may be pre-registered to A4+one-sided printing+sorting+stapling. MENU 8  may be pre-registered to A4+double-sided printing+sorting+stapling. 
   Also in step  435 , a professional initial screen display for the optional operation panel side  140  may displayed, such as the display  900  shown in  FIG. 9 . The professional initial screen display  900  may have a custom button  970  and a registration-calling button  980 . The professional initial screen display  900  on the optional operation panel  140  may provide additional settings, such as settings MENU 9 -MENU 13  shown in  FIG. 9 . MENU 9  may be pre-registered to A4+one-sided printing+2-in-1+sorting. MENU 10  may be pre-registered to A4+double-sided printing+2-in-1+sorting. MENU 11  may be pre-registered to A4+one-sided printing+2-in-1+sorting+stapling function. MENU 12  may be pre-registered to A4+double-sided+printing+2-in-1+sorting+stapling. MENU 13  may be pre-registered to A4+one-sided+4-in-1+sorting. 
   The custom button  970  may have a function to register a series of operations that a user actually used to operate the image forming apparatus  100  as a menu item. The user may be asked if he/she wants to register the series of functions set at that point to an empty menu item. If so, then the series of functions set at that point may be stored in an unused menu item, or may overwrite a used menu item. 
   The registration-calling button  980  may be used to load private or custom display screen data, such as that created using the custom button  970 . The private or custom display screen data may be stored on a per-user basis, and may be stored in memory in the image forming apparatus  100  or outside the image forming apparatus  100 . The private or custom display screen data may include one or more predefined often-used settings, so that a user can use the image forming apparatus to make a copy or perform another function easily without specifying complicated settings each time. 
   If the user does not desire that private or custom display screen data be used (step  440 ), then the image forming apparatus  100  waits for panel operation by users (step  495 ). 
   If the user selects the custom button  970  (step  440 ), then a registration number input display  1000  ( FIG. 10 ) may be displayed. From this display  1000 , the user may input a registration code (step  445 ). The registration code may be entered using the numeric keypad  250  ( FIG. 2 ). Next, a private or custom display screen data corresponding to the registration code may be retrieved and displayed (step  450 ). The private or custom display screens may be shown on the standard operation panel  230  and/or the optional operation panel  140 . Next, the image forming apparatus  100  waits for panel operation by users (step  495 ). 
   A custom display for the optional operation panel  140  may include settings such as settings MENU 9 ′-MENU 13 ′ shown in  FIG. 11 . Some buttons, such as MENU  12 ′ and MENU  13 ′, may be unused (i.e., not set by the user) and empty. 
   After the professional mode is selected in step  430 , if a predefined time elapses after the last operation by the user or the user pushes the standard mode button  720  ( FIG. 7 ), the display may be switched back to the second standard menu display  600  ( FIG. 6 ). 
   The MENU buttons shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  9  and  11  may be configured so that by pressing each of them the function of the image forming apparatus is changed to the settings registered to the corresponding MENU, but the settings can be changed freely until the start key  260  ( FIG. 2 ) is pressed. 
   Also, operations and operation screen display when the copy machine function of the image forming apparatus is selected is described above as an embodiment of this invention, but it is also possible to configure the image forming apparatus so that display screens for standard mode and professional mode can be switched when printer/scan function of fax machine function is selected. 
   Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: g