Image forming device

• US 20020047815A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshioka, Tetsuya, Maeda, Tetsuya, Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,744,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00437 Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution

Abstract

An image forming device according to the present invention includes a display section 2 which can be switched between a first screen and a second screen, and allows the first screen to display functions selected by the user from among a plurality of basic functions. Functions that have not been selected by the user are displayed on the second screen or other screens. By selecting functions that the user often uses, the user can have such frequently used functions always displayed on the first screen. Accordingly, the image forming device allows easy function setting, and therefore is user-friendly.

Claims

1. An image forming device comprising:

a display section for displaying a plurality of functions that can be set according to need arising in image forming operation, the display section being capable of switching at least between a first screen and a second screen;

function selecting means for selecting a desired function from among the plurality of functions; and

display control means for making the first screen display a function thus selected from among the plurality of functions and making the second screen display a function included in the plurality of functions that has not been selected.

2. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of functions are divided into a plurality of predetermined basic functions with high frequency of use and functions other than the basic functions, and

the display control means make the first screen display a function selected from among the basic functions, and make the second screen display a function included in the basic functions that has not been selected.

3. The image forming device according to claim 2, wherein

the display control means make the second screen display a function other than the basic functions in addition to the function included in the basic functions that has not been selected.

4. The image forming device according to claim 2, wherein

the display section is capable of further switching to a third screen, and

the display control means make the third screen display all the functions.

5. An image forming device comprising:

a display section for displaying a plurality of functions that can be set according to need arising in image forming operation, the display section being capable of switching at least between a first screen and a second screen;

function execution counting means for counting the number of times that each of the plurality of functions is executed along with execution of the image forming operation; and

display control means for making the first screen display a frequently used function, which is determined based on the count of each of the functions that has been counted by the function execution counting means, and making the second screen or another screen thereafter display a function that has not been selected for the first screen.

6. The image forming device according to claim 5, wherein

the plurality of functions are divided into a plurality of predetermined basic functions with high frequency of use and functions other than the basic functions, and

the function execution counting means count the number of times that the basic functions are executed.

7. The image forming device according to claim 5, wherein

the display control means make the first screen display a frequently used function on condition that the count of the function counted by the function execution counting means exceeds a prescribed minimum count value, and make the second screen or another screen thereafter display a function that has not been selected for the first screen.

8. The image forming device according to claim 5, wherein the function execution counting means reset the count after the display control means make the first screen display a frequently used function.

9. An image forming device comprising:

a display section for displaying a direct set-value designating button for designating a set value which is previously allocated to a specific item of a specific function according to need arising in image forming operation;

set-value designation counting means for counting the number of times that the image forming operation is executed with the set value being designated by the direct set-value designating button; and

set-value control means for varying the set value to be allocated to the direct set-value designating button based on the number of times counted with the set value being designated.

10. The image forming device according to claim 9, wherein

the set-value control means vary the set value to be allocated to the direct set-value designating button on condition that the count counted by the set-value designation counting means exceeds a prescribed minimum count value.

11. The image forming device according to claim 9, wherein the set-value designation counting means reset the count after the set-value control means vary the set value to be allocated to the direct set-value designating button.