Automatic termination of screen saver mode on a display of reproduction apparatus

• US 5,642,185 A
• Filed: 03/07/1995
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Commercial Copy Innovations Inc. (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Snyder, Valerie J., Altrieth, III, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S.
• Application Number:
  US08/399,866
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 355/204, 355/209, 355/206, 345/173, 345/211, 345/212, 364/707, 371/16.4
• US Class Current: 399/81
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3218 of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A reproduction apparatus having a control system which includes a plurality of hard buttons and switches for providing operator input to and control of said reproduction apparatus, a display for displaying selectable features for a reproduction run and for displaying alphanumeric and graphical information, and a touchscreen overlaying at least a part of the display and having soft buttons and areas for providing operator input to the reproduction apparatus. A method of providing control of the display includes the steps of:

operating the display in a screen saver mode when the control system determines that there has been no reproduction apparatus activity for a preselected time; and

terminating said screen saver mode of the display when the control system determines one of the following events has occurred;

a) the touchscreen has been touched;

b) a hard button has been actuated; and

c) reproduction apparatus activity other than that of a) or b) has been determined.

The reproduction apparatus activity of substep c) can be detection of a new error in said reproduction apparatus, a document sensor or a copy sheet sensor has changed, or an interlock state has changed.

Claims

1. In a reproduction apparatus having a control system which includes a plurality of hard buttons and switches for providing operator input to and control of said reproduction apparatus, a display for displaying selectable features for a reproduction run and for displaying alphanumeric and graphical information, and a touchscreen overlaying at least a part of said display and having soft buttons and areas for providing operator input to said reproduction apparatus, the method of providing control only of said display comprising the steps of:

operating said display in a screen saver mode when said control system determines that there has been no reproduction apparatus activity for a preselected time; and

terminating said screen saver mode of said display when said control system determines reproduction apparatus activity has been determined.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said reproduction apparatus activity determined is detection of a new error in said reproduction apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said reproduction apparatus activity determined is a document sensor or a copy sheet sensor has changed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said reproduction apparatus activity determined is an interlock state has changed.