Image processing apparatus

• US 20020145770A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Yuji, Yoshiura, Syoichiro, Nomura, Tatsuo, Hasegawa, Keiichi, Fukuda, Kohki
• Granted Patent: US 7,515,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/505
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• 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 1/00474 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus H04N2201/0074; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015

Abstract

A digital copying machine as an example of the image processing apparatus is provided with a scanner unit and a printer unit is arranged such that a display state of a printer-side display panel of a printer-side user interface section changes its display state in response to a command entered by a scanner-side user interface. As a result, an image processing apparatus provided with a plurality of user interface sections of desirable operability can be realized.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an image processing section for carrying out a processing of image data; and

a plurality of user interface sections for displaying information regarding said processing of image data and for entering commands on said processing of image data,

wherein said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that in response to a command entered by a specific user interface section, other user interface section(s) than said specific user interface section change(s) its (their) display state(s).

2. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that when the information regarding said processing of image data is displayed in said specific user interface section, said other user interface section(s) than the specific user interface section is (are) in non-display state.

3. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that information regarding contents of the command entered by said specific user interface section displays at least in one of said other user interface section(s).

4. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a number of said plurality of user interface sections is two.

5. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a printer unit equipped with a user interface section; and

a scanner unit equipped with a user interface section,

wherein said user interface of said printer unit and said user interface section of said scanner unit are arranged such that in response to a command entered by one of these user interface sections, the other user interface section changes its display state.

6. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said user interface section of said printer unit and said user interface section of said scanner unit are arranged such that when either one of these user interface sections displays information regarding a processing of image data, the other user interface section is in non-display state.

7. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said user interface section of said scanner unit is used in displaying information regarding a processing of image data and entering commands regarding the processing of image data, for both said printer unit and said scanner unit.

8. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

in response to a command entered by said user interface section of said scanner unit, said user interface section of said printer unit changes its display state.

9. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

when a command to execute a processing to be performed by said printer unit is entered by said user interface section of said scanner unit, said user interface section of said printer unit displays information regarding contents of the command.

10. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an independently operable scanner unit equipped with a display section and a display control section;

an independently operable printer unit equipped with a display section and a display control section,

wherein said scanner unit and said printer unit are provided as separate members; and

said display control sections of said scanner unit and said printer unit cooperatively control said display sections of said scanner unit and said printer unit such that;

in an independent use of said printer unit, said display section of said printer unit is set to be effective, and

in a combined use of said printer unit and said scanner unit, said display section of said printer unit is set to be effective if a predetermined condition is satisfied, and if not, only said display section of said scanner unit is set to be effective in displaying information regarding the combined use of said printer unit and said scanner unit.

11. The image processing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said display section of said scanner unit is a large size display unit capable of displaying graphics.

12. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said printer unit includes a shielding member for shielding said display section to be invisible by a user when said display control section controls said display section of said printer unit to be ineffective.

13. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said predetermined condition is that information to be displayed in said printer unit is different from the information regarding the combined use of said printer unit and said scanner unit.

14. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said predetermined condition is that some failure has occurred in said scanner unit or in any other unit to be used in combination with said printer unit, and said display control section controls said display section of said printer unit to display a state of the failure occurred in said scanner unit or in any other unit.

15. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

an input section for said display section of said scanner unit and an input section for said display section of said printer unit,

wherein said display control section of said scanner unit permits an input operation by said input section of said scanner unit when said display section of said scanner unit is effective; and

said display control section of said printer unit permits an input operation by said input section of said printer unit when said display section of said printer unit is effective.

16. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said predetermined condition is that an input operation is performed by said input section of said printer unit, and said display control section of said printer unit controls said display section of said printer unit to display information regarding said printer unit.

17. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said predetermined condition is that a failure has occurred in said scanner unit, and said display control section of said printer unit controls said display section of said printer unit to display a state of said scanner unit.

18. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

said display control section of said printer unit controls said display section of said printer unit to display the state of said scanner unit and the state of said printer unit alternately.

19. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an independently operable scanner unit equipped with a display section;

an independently operable printer unit equipped with a display section,

wherein said scanner unit and said printer unit are provided as separate members,

said display section of said scanner unit is a large size display unit capable of displaying graphics, said display section being provided on a front surface side of said scanner unit;

said display section of said printer unit is provided on an upper surface on a back surface side of said printer unit; and

in a combined use of said printer unit and said scanner unit, said scanner unit is provided above said printer unit, and said display section of said printer unit is invisible by a user.