Patent Application
20120274539
The present invention relates to a display apparatus that can be attached to and detached from a main body of an image forming apparatus etc. and displays an operation screen etc. used to control the main body, a method for controlling the display apparatus, and a storage medium.
Heretofore, there have been devices that achieve enhanced operability by making an operating panel equipped with a display apparatus used for controlling the main body of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the main body) detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus and thereby allowing for operations to be performed by looking at the operating panel removed from the main body. In addition, there are display devices effecting display by adaptively switching the direction of display in accordance with orientations produced by rotating the display apparatus in the portrait and landscape directions (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-30969).
While the display direction of an operating panel that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus is fixed, for an operator, its operability might be further enhanced if it were possible to implement a display matching its operational direction. An image forming apparatus having a copying feature and a facsimile feature, etc., requires various setup operations. For this reason, this operating panel usually has a large rectangular touch panel and liquid crystal cells.
By contrast, the detachable display apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-30969 has a square-shaped shared first display area capable of display both in a portrait and landscape display modes and a second display area, in which the display mode varies between a portrait mode and a landscape display mode, with its operability shared in the portrait and landscape directions. However, since the arrangement of the objects in the second display area differs between the portrait and landscape display modes, display data has to be prepared respectively for the portrait and landscape display modes. In addition, there is the problem that for the user the panel is difficult to operate because of the difference in the arrangement of the items displayed in the second display area when the operating panel is used in the portrait display mode and when it is used in the landscape display mode.
The present invention enables realization of a technology, whereby images can be displayed at the same operability level in each display direction, i.e. in the portrait direction and in the landscape direction, without holding separate sets of display data corresponding to the display directions.
One aspect of the present invention provides a display apparatus displaying a screen, comprising: detection means for detecting an orientation of the display apparatus, and display control means for controlling a display unit to display, in a case where the detection means have detected that the orientation of the display apparatus is a first orientation, the first screen and the second screen side by side without overlapping based on first display data and second display data, and to display, in a case where the detection means have detected that the orientation of the display apparatus is a second orientation, the first screen and the second screen such that at least a portion thereof overlap based on the first display data and the second display data.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling a display apparatus displaying a screen, comprising: detecting an orientation of the display apparatus; and controlling a display unit to display, in a case where it is detected in the detection step that the orientation of the display apparatus is a first orientation, display a second display screen are used to display the first screen and the second screen side by side without overlapping based on first display data and second display data, and to display, in a case where it is detected in the detection step that the orientation of the display apparatus is a second orientation, the first screen and the second screen such that at least a portion thereof overlap based on the first display data and the second display data.
Still another aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program used to execute, on a computer, a method for controlling a display apparatus displaying a screen, the program comprising: detecting an orientation of the display apparatus; and controlling to display, in a case where it is detected in the detection step that the orientation of the display apparatus is a first orientation, a second display screen are used to display the first screen and the second screen side by side without overlapping based on first display data and second display data, and to display, in a case where it is detected in the detection step that the orientation of the display apparatus is a second orientation, the first screen and the second screen such that at least a portion thereof overlap based on first display data and second display data.
Further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the relative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention unless it is specifically stated otherwise.
Although the present embodiment uses an image forming apparatus (image processing apparatus) as an example, the present invention is not limited thereto.
The image forming apparatus (image processing apparatus) of the present embodiment is an apparatus generally known as a print-on-demand (POD) system, which responds to requests for colored printing and bookbinding by combining various options that enable saddle-stitched binding, trimming, folding, etc.
The image forming apparatus (image processing apparatus) of
In addition, in
As shown in
The controller board 1100 has a CPU 1101, a flash ROM 1102, a RAM 1103, a network interface card (NIC) 1104, a main channel controller 1105, and a sub-channel controller 1106. Furthermore, it is equipped with a disk controller (DKC) 1107, a scanner interface (SIF) 1108, and a printer interface (PIF) 1109. Each one of these devices 1101-1109 is connected to the CPU 1101 through a bus 1110.
The CPU 1101 is a processor that runs control programs stored in the flash ROM 1102 and HDD 1400 and exercises overall control over the devices connected to the bus 1110. The RAM 1103 is used as a work area and a main memory for the CPU 1101. In addition, the RAM 1103 operates as a display memory used to store display data displayed on a display unit 3200. The NIC 1104 performs bidirectional data interchange between the personal computer 9000 and other image forming devices via the LAN 8000. The HDD 1400 is accessed through the DKC 1107 and is used not only for storing control programs, but also as a temporary storage location for images.
The scanner 1300 is equipped with a readout sensor, an original-conveying mechanism, etc. (none shown). The readout sensor and the original-conveying mechanism, etc., are controlled based on software run by the CPU 1101 via the SIF 1108 installed in the controller board 1100 and SIF 1301 installed in the scanner 1300. As a result, an original is read out by the readout sensor and the obtained data is transferred through the SIF 1301 and SIF 1108 to the controller board 1100.
In addition, the print engine 1200 is equipped with an electrophotographic recording unit, a recording paper cassette, a paper media-conveying unit, etc. (none shown). Print requests based on print jobs are sent from the controller board 1100 through the PIF 1109 and PIF 1201, which is installed in the print engine 1200. The recording unit and paper media-conveying unit, etc. are controlled in the same manner through the PIF 1109 and PIF 1201 based on software programs run by the CPU 1101. As a result, images corresponding to the print requests are formed on the paper media.
The main channel controller 1105 and sub-channel controller 1106 are used for interchanges between the main body 1000 and detachable operating panel 3000. This will be discussed in detail below.
The home position 2000 is described next.
As shown in
The operating panel 3000 is described next.
The detachable operating panel 3000 is mainly furnished with a main board 3100, a display unit (LCD) 3200, a touch panel 3300, a button device 3400, and a connector 3500. The main board 3100 has a CPU 3101, an IEEE 802.11b module 3102, an irDA module 3103, and a power controller 3104. In addition, it has a display controller (DISPC) 3105, a panel controller (PANELC) 3106, a flash ROM 3107, and a RAM 3108. The respective modules 3101˜3108, in the same manner as the controller board 1100, are connected with the help of a bus (not shown).
The CPU 3101 is a processor that runs control programs stored in the flash ROM 3107 along with exercising overall control over the devices connected to the bus. The RAM 3108 operates as a main memory for the CPU 3101, as a work area, and as a storage area for video data displayed on the LCD 3200. A tilt sensor 3113 is provided in order to detect the operational direction (display direction) of the operating panel 3000. As used herein, the tilt sensor 3113 is a sensor that detects whether the operating panel 3000 is oriented in the landscape direction (when the display unit 3200 is in the landscape display mode) or in the portrait direction (when the display unit 3200 is in the portrait display mode).
The display controller (DISPC) 3105 exercises control over the LCD 3200 along with transferring video images rendered in the RAM 3108 to the LCD 3200 in accordance with requests from the CPU 3101. As a result, the images are displayed on the LCD 3200. The panel controller (PANELC) 3106 controls the touch panel 3300 and button device 3400 in accordance with requests from the CPU 3101. Such control allows for press positions on the touch panel 3300, as well as key codes pressed on the button device 3400, to be sent back to the CPU 3101. The power controller 3104 is connected to the connector 3500 and receives electrical power supply from the power supply module 1500 of the main body 1000 when the connector 2200 of the home position 2000 is in a contact position. As a result, electrical power is supplied to the entire operating panel 3000 while charging a rechargeable battery 3114 connected to the power controller 3104. Electrical power from the rechargeable battery 3114 is supplied to the entire operating panel 3000 when no electrical power is supplied from the power supply module 1500.
As a result of control exercised by the CPU 3101, the IEEE802.11b module 3102 establishes wireless communication with the IEEE802.11b module 2101 in the home position 2000 and mediates communication with the main body 1000. As a result of control exercised by the CPU 3101, the irDA module 3103 establishes infrared communication with the irDA module 2102 in the home position 2000 and mediates communication with the main body 1000.
Wireless communication used as the main channel in Embodiment 1 is described next.
As alluded to in connection with
After establishing the communicating party by means of association, the operating panel 3000 operates as a thin client effecting display on the display unit 3200 and detection of input produced by the operator using the touch panel 3300 and button device 3400 for the purpose of controlling the operation of the main body. Thus, the bulk of operations such as recording signal generation processing and status management of the main body of the apparatus is carried out by the CPU 1101 of the main body 1000. The status of the main body of the apparatus is wirelessly sent from the main body 1000 to the operating panel 3000 in accordance with a predetermined protocol.
On the other hand, the CPU 3101 of the operating panel 3000 exercises display control over the display unit 3200 in accordance with information on user operations performed on the touch panel 3300 of the operating panel 3000 and on the button device 3400. Instructions on the initiation etc. of the main body under conditions configured by the operator are wirelessly sent to the main body 1000 along with requesting required information on the main body of the apparatus corresponding to the operations of the operator from the main body 1000. Consequently the CPU 1101 of the main body 1000 exercises control over each individual operation on the basis of the passed information. As described above, the system according to the present embodiment is a system that allows for communication between the main body 1000 and the operating panel 3000.
First of all, in S1, the CPU 3101 of the operating panel 3000 determines the wireless communication state of the main channel (carries out communication state determination processing) and determines whether or not communication with the main body 1000 is in progress. If it is determined in S1 that no communication based on wireless communication on the main channel is in progress, the program advances to S2 and a request to establish main-channel communication with the main body 1000 is transmitted to the main body 1000. It should be noted that when there are multiple main bodies within the radio wave range of the main channel, the ESSIDs of the multiple communication-enabled main bodies are displayed on the operating panel 3000, the user can select one of them, and a request is sent to the main body with the selected ESSID. The program then advances to S3 and the CPU 3101 determines whether or not the main body 1000 has been detected depending on whether a response is received to the effect that communication to/from the main body 1000 is authorized, and the processing of S2 and S3 is repeated until detection of the main body 1000.
In this manner, when it is determined in S3 that the main body 1000 has been detected, the CPU 3101 establishes main-channel communication with the main body 1000 and advances processing to S4. In S4, the CPU 3101 verifies the device ID, enabled features, and other device information of the main body 1000. Specifically, the CPU 3101 transmits a verification request (a request to verify the device ID, enabled features, and other device information of the main body 1000) to the main body 1000 and advances processing to S5 upon receipt of the device information from the main body 1000. On the other hand, if it is determined in S1 that communication with the main body 1000 is in progress based on wireless communication on the main channel, the CPU 3101 advances processing to S5 without intermediate steps.
In S5, the CPU 3101 determines whether or not the operating panel 3000 has been placed in the home position 2000 of the main body 1000 and whether or not the operating panel 3000 and main body 1000 are connected. Then, if it is determined that the operating panel 3000 and main body 1000 are connected, the CPU 3101 branches to S8 and performs panel display processing only in the landscape direction. On the other hand, if it is determined in S5 that there is no communication between the operating panel 3000 and main body 1000, the CPU 3101 advances processing to S6. It should be noted that in S6 the operator detaches the operating panel 3000 from the main body 1000 and decides whether or not its operational direction is the landscape direction based on the output of the tilt sensor 3113. If based on the output of the tilt sensor 3113 it is determined that it is the landscape direction, the program advances to S8, carries out input display processing in the landscape direction, and after that advances to shared input display processing (S9). On the other hand, if based on the output of the tilt sensor 3113 it is determined that it is the portrait direction, the program advances to S7, carries out input display processing in the portrait direction, and advances to shared input display processing (S9). The processing of steps S1 to S9 is repeated as long as there is power supplied to the operating panel 3000.
Here, the screens shown in
Next, the processing of S9 in the flowchart of
First of all, the address of the origin of the display data corresponding to the display direction of the operating panel 3000 is read in S11.
Next, the program advances to S12 and displays a basic screen (not shown) in accordance with the display direction of the operating panel 3000. Then, in S13, when the operator selects facsimile transmission, the program branches to S14 and switches the display from the basic screen to the facsimile screen illustrated in
In
It should be noted that, in
In addition, when the portrait display direction shown in
A case, wherein the landscape display direction shown in
When the display direction is as shown in
The Facsimile Screen displayed in S14 of
As shown in
In addition, when the screen illustrated in
In
It should be noted that after pushing the Start key 813, the CPU 3101 may exercise control such that the operational setup screen of
As explained above, according to Embodiment 1, a display corresponding to the display direction of the operating panel can be implemented using shared display data. As a result, regardless of the display direction in which the operating panel is used, the displayed images and the position of the input keys in the display area remain identical, thereby preserving the level of operability.
Because these images of Embodiment 2 can be displayed using the same display data in both the portrait display direction and landscape display direction of the operating panel 3000, they can be displayed at the same aspect ratio and, in addition, the memory space used to store the display data can be reduced size.
Therefore, since it is impossible to display two sets of display data side by side on a single screen in the case of a portrait display direction, as shown in
Thus, in Embodiment 2, multiple sets of display data can be displayed on a single screen without changing the size of each set of display data or the aspect ratio. In addition, even in the case of display data that is displayed overlapped and invisible on the screen, touching this portion brings it to the front of the screen. This makes it possible to easily verify the contents displayed in the entire set of display data.
In the above-described Embodiments 1 and 2, the direction, in which the operator operated the operating panel 3000 was detected using the tilt sensor 3113. In general, due to the fact that the tilt sensor 3113 utilizes gravity, when the operating panel 3000 is placed on a horizontal surface, it is impossible to distinguish between a portrait display direction and a landscape display direction with the help of the tilt sensor 3113.
If the operating panel 3000 is in a horizontal state and the output of the tilt sensor 3113 is small and does not permit stable detection, the program advances from S32 to S33 and the direction is detected by processing the output of the acceleration sensor 3111. In S33, the output of the tilt sensor 3113 is used as an initial value and the output of the acceleration sensor 3111 is integrated twice to compute the distance of displacement from the initial value in each three-dimensional direction and determine the direction on the horizontal surface. It should be noted that in a horizontal state, when the operating panel 3000 is powered up or when the CPU 3101 is reset, as well as when the operating panel 3000 is not in motion, the initial position becomes uncertain even if the tilt sensor 3113 is used. Therefore, in S34, it is determined whether or not tilt detection can be performed using the tilt sensor 3113, and if it is determined that detection is impossible, it is decided that the direction is the landscape display direction, and the program advances to S8.
On the one hand, if in S34 the tilt can be detected based on the output of the acceleration sensor 3111, the program advances to S35 and makes a determination as to whether the direction is a portrait display direction or a landscape display direction. Then, the program advances to S7 (portrait display direction) or S8 (landscape display direction) depending on the results of the determination.
The three-dimensional gyrosensor 3112 can mitigate the disadvantages of the above-described tilt sensor 3113 and three-dimensional acceleration sensor 3111. No matter what state the operating panel 3000 is in, its display direction can be detected in accordance with the flowchart described above with reference to
As described above, in accordance with the present embodiment, an operator can use an operating panel capable of wireless communication with a main body either in the portrait display direction or in the landscape display direction. At such time, at least two sets of display data are adaptively laid out and displayed on a single screen in accordance with the display direction detected using at least two types of display data and display direction detection means. This makes it possible to display an operation screen that corresponds to the detected display direction and enables the user to perform instruction operations based on common operations in either display direction.
Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out and executes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps of which are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For this purpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via a network or from a recording medium of various types serving as the memory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2010-267498 filed on Nov. 30, 2010 and 2011-247968 filed on Nov. 11, 2011 which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-267498 | Nov 2010 | JP | national |
| 2011-247968 | Nov 2011 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2011/077447 | 11/22/2011 | WO | 00 | 3/5/2012 |
