IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND INPUT METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100079794A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Jung-hun
• Granted Patent: US 8,988,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00395 Arrangements for reducing operator input input arrangements for job or mode instructions or parameters H04N1/00962; intelligent menu interfaces H04N1/00437
• 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 1/00421 using drop-down menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• 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 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus and an input method thereof are provided. The input method of an image forming apparatus which includes at least one hard key and a touch screen, including displaying a screen with at least one input selection option on the touch screen, receiving a selection of the at least one hard key and a touch selection of at least one of the input selection options of the displayed screen, and performing an operation corresponding to the received hard key selection and the received touch selection. Thus, a shortcut key using a hard key and a touch screen together may be provided, thereby reducing inconvenience for a user to navigate to a menu and to input data.

Claims

1. A method of receiving input with an image forming apparatus that includes at least one hard key and a touch screen, the method comprising:

displaying a screen with at least one input selection option on the touch screen;

receiving a selection of the at least one hard key and a touch selection of at least one of the input selection options of the displayed screen; and

performing an operation corresponding to the received hard key selection and the received touch selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving the hard key selection and the touch selection simultaneously or between a predetermined time interval; and

setting a shortcut key to perform operations of both the received hard key selection and the touch selection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the same hard key performs different operations according to the displayed input screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises an input field set to receive a predetermined data, and the performing the operation comprises:

displaying a selectable list in at least a portion of the input field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the operation comprises:

displaying a direct moving menu for a predetermined function.

6. An image forming apparatus having at least one hard key and a touch screen, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a display unit to display a screen having at least one input selection option for an input to the touch screen;

a user interface having the hard key and the touch screen of the displayed screen; and

a control unit to perform an operation corresponding to a received hard key selection and a received input from the touch screen.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the user interface simultaneously receives the hard key selection and the input from the touch screen or at a predetermined time interval, and the control unit sets a shortcut key to perform operations of both the received hard key selection and the touch screen selection.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit performs a different operation that corresponds with the displayed input screen when the same hard key is selected.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the touch screen comprises an input field to receive a predetermined data, and the control unit to control the display unit to display a selectable list with respect to the input field if the hard key selection and the input from the touch screen are both received.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to display a direct moving menu for a selectable predetermined function if the hard key selection and the input from the touch screen are both received.

11. A method of receiving input with an image forming apparatus that includes at least one hard key and a touch screen, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of the at least one hard key and a touch selection of at least one input selection options displayed on the touch screen; and

setting a shortcut key to perform operations of both the received hard key selection and the touch selection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the shortcut key performs different functions according to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the touch screen is displayed corresponding to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the operation mode includes a facsimile mode, a scanning mode, a copy mode, a scan-to-e-mail mode, and an e-mail facsimile mode, or any combination thereof.

15. An image forming apparatus having at least one hard key and a touch screen, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a display unit to display a screen having at least one input selection option for an input to the touch screen;

a user interface having the hard key and the touch screen of the displayed screen; and

a control unit to set a shortcut key to perform operations of both a selected hard key and a touch selection from the touch screen of the user interface.

16. The image forming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control unit controls the shortcut key performs different functions according to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus.

17. The image forming apparatus of claim 16, wherein the touch screen is displayed corresponding to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus.

18. The image forming apparatus of claim 16, wherein the operation mode includes a facsimile mode, a scanning mode, a copy mode, a scan-to-e-mail mode, and an e-mail facsimile mode, or any combination thereof.