Operational mode setting apparatus for display screen

• US 6,075,519 A
• Filed: 08/06/1996
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Miyamoyo, Hirohisa, Okatani, Toru, Tsutsumidani, Goro
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/692,615
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/179, 345/180, 345/189, 345/156, 345/902, 345/146, 345/119, 345/120, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/356, 345/357, 355/313, 355/209, 355/200, 355/202, 341/22, 341/23, 395/156, 395/157, 395/160, 395/159
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• 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 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00437 Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections

Abstract

A mode setting apparatus selectively displays one of a plurality of mode setting screens on a display, each of which prompts a user to set a function corresponding to each mode. The mode setting apparatus displays the mode setting screen in a predetermined order in response to a first operation and a medium screen in response to a second operation on condition that any mode setting screen is displayed on the display. The mode setting apparatus changes the medium screen into the desired mode setting screen directly in response to a third operation.

Claims

1. A mode setting apparatus, comprising:

a switch device;

a plurality of mode setting screens each of which prompts a user to set a function corresponding to each mode, said mode setting screens being arranged in a hierarchical structure;

a mode list screen which lists each one of the plurality of mode setting screens, said mode list screen being independent of the hierarchical structure;

a display for displaying said mode setting screens and said mode list screen, said display displaying only one screen at a time, said one screen being a screen selected from said plurality of mode setting screens and said mode list screen; and

a display controller which displays one of said plurality of mode setting screens on the display according to the hierarchical structure in response to a first operation of the switch device, said first operation of said switch device causing said display controller to change a displayed screen from a first mode setting screen to a mode setting screen that is hierarchically adjacent to said first mode setting screen,

said display controller displaying said mode list screen on the display in response to a second operation of the switch device, said second operation of said switch device causing said display controller to chance a displayed screen to said mode setting screen without regard to the hierarchical structure,

and said display controller further displaying, when a mode setting screen is selected on the mode list screen, the specific mode setting screen selected.

2. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of mode setting screens are hierarchically divided into three strata.

3. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mode setting screen displayed by the display controller is the lowest hierarchy in response to the third operation of the switch device.

4. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of mode setting screens are divided into a plurality of groups.

5. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mode list screen indicates a list of mode setting screens which belong to at least groups other than the group to which the mode setting screen displayed prior to the second operation of the switch device belongs.

6. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the number of strata divided hierarchically varies on each of the groups.

7. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode list screen also indicates a setting condition of each mode.

8. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode list screen indicates a list of all modes available to the user.

9. A mode setting apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of mode setting screens each of which prompts a user to set a function corresponding to each mode, said mode setting screens being arranged in a hierarchical structure;

a mode list screen which lists each one of the plurality of mode setting screens, said mode list screen being independent of the hierarchical structure;

a display for displaying said mode setting screens and said mode list screen, said display displaying only one screen at a time, said one screen being selected from said plurality of mode setting screens and said mode list screen;

first displaying means for sequentially displaying one of said plurality of mode setting screens on the display according to the hierarchical structure in response to a first manual operation, said first displaying means chancing a displayed screen from a first mode setting screen to a mode setting screen that is hierarchically adjacent to said first mode setting screen in response to said first manual operation;

second displaying means for displaying the mode list screen on the display in response to a second manual operation on condition that any mode setting screen is displayed on the display, said second displaying means changing a displayed screen to said mode setting screen without regard to the hierarchical structure in response to said second manual operation;

means for selecting one of the listed mode setting screens in response to a third manual operation on said mode list screen; and

third displaying means for displaying a specific mode setting screen corresponding to the selected mode setting screen on the display.

10. A mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a touch panel key is displayed on the display and the first and second operations are carried out by touching said touch panel key.

11. A mode setting apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of mode setting screens each of which prompts a user to set a function corresponding to a respective mode, said plurality of mode setting screens being arranged in a hierarchical structure;

a mode list screen which lists all mode setting screens available to the user, said mode list screen being independent of the hierarchical structure;

a display for displaying said mode setting screens and said mode list screen, said display displaying only one screen at a time, said one screen being selected from said plurality of mode setting screens and said mode list screen; and

a display controller which displays one of said plurality of mode setting screens on the display in response to a first command, said display controller changing a displayed screen from a first mode setting to a mode setting screen that is hierarchically adjacent to said first mode setting screen in response to said first command, said display controller displaying, in response to a second command, said mode list screen on the display,

said display controller further displaying, when a mode setting screen is selected on said mode list screen, the specific mode setting screen selected.

12. The mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a second mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens including at least one mode setting screens listed on the mode list screen;

wherein the display controller further displays the second mode list screen,

and said display controller further displays said mode setting screen corresponding to a mode setting screen selected from said second mode list screen.

13. The mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a third mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens including at least one mode setting screen listed on the mode list screen and which is not included in the second mode list screen,

wherein the display controller further displays the third mode list screen,

and said display controller further displays said mode setting screen corresponding to a mode setting screen selected from said third mode list screen.

14. The mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mode setting apparatus is used in a copier, and the mode list screen lists all modes of function of the copier.

15. The mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

16. A mode setting apparatus comprising:

a switch device;

a plurality of mode setting screens each of which prompts a user to set a function corresponding to each mode;

a first mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens;

a second mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens;

a display for displaying said mode setting screens and said mode list screens, said display displaying only one screen at a time, said one screen being a screen selected from said plurality of mode setting screens, said first mode list screen and said second mode list screen; and

a display controller which displays, when a mode setting screen is selected on the first or second mode list screens, a specific mode setting screen;

wherein at least one of said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said first mode list screen is also among said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said second mode list screen.

17. The mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a third mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens;

wherein at least one of said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said first mode list screen is also among said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said third mode list screen, and

wherein said display displays only one screen at a time, said one screen being a screen selected from said plurality of mode setting screens, said first mode list screen, said second mode list screen, and said third mode list screen, and wherein the display controller further displays, when a mode setting screen is selected on the third mode list screen, a specific mode setting screen.

18. The mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

19. The mode setting apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the switch device is a touch panel switch.

20. A mode setting apparatus which comprises:

a plurality of display screens that are hierarchically divided into strata, said strata including at least a first-level strata having a high-level basic screen and a low-level strata including a plurality of low-level mode setting screens;

at least one medium screen that is independent of said hierarchically divided display screens;

a display for displaying said plurality of display screens and said at least one medium screen, said display displaying only one screen at a time, said one screen being selected from said plurality of display screens and said at least one medium screen;

said plurality of low-level mode setting screens providing for setting operating modes, one low-level mode setting screen being provided for each one of a plurality of operating modes that are capable of being set;

said at least one medium screen including a mode list screen, said mode list screen listing each one of said plurality of low-level mode setting screens;

a display controller for sequentially controlling display of said plurality of display screens and said at least one medium screen;

a first means responsive to an operator input, to switch sequentially between said plurality of display screens according to the display screen hierarchical structure, said first means switching a displayed screen from a first display screen to a display screen that is hierarchically adjacent to said first display screen in response to an operator input;

a second means responsive to an operator input, to switch to a medium screen, including said mode list screen, directly from any display screen, said switch to a medium screen occurring independently of said display screen hierarchical structure; and

a third means responsive to an operator input, on condition that said mode list screen is displayed, to switch directly from said mode list screen to a selected one of any of said low-level mode setting screens so that an operating mode may be set, said third means switching a displayed screen from said mode list screen to said selected one of any of said low-level mode setting screens without regard to the hierarchical structure.

21. The mode setting apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

said mode list screen indicates a condition of each operating mode set.

22. The mode setting apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

said plurality of display screens includes a second-level strata including at least one intermediate-level screen, said second-level strata being hierarchically positioned between said first-level strata and said low-level strata.

23. The mode setting apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

a plurality of help screens, one help screen for each low-level mode screen, each of said plurality of help screens providing information about a respective one of said plurality of operating modes that are capable of being set from said low-level mode setting screens, said plurality of help screens being independent of said hierarchically divided display screens;

said at least one medium screen further including a help list screen, said help list screen listing each one of said plurality of operating modes that are capable of being set for which a corresponding help screen is provided; and

a fourth means responsive to an operator input, on condition that said help list screen is displayed, to switch directly from said help list screen to any one of the thus listed help screens;

wherein said display displays said plurality of help screens, said display displaying only one of said plurality of display screens, only one of said at least one medium screen, or only one of said plurality of help screens at a time.

24. The mode setting apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a switch device responsive to an operator input, on condition that one of said plurality of help screens is displayed, to switch directly from the thus displayed help screen to said corresponding low-level mode setting screen so that an operating mode may be set.

25. A mode setting apparatus comprising:

a display;

a switch device;

a plurality of mode setting screens each of which prompts a user to set a function corresponding to each mode, said plurality of mode setting screens being arranged according to a hierarchical structure;

a first mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens;

a second mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens, each of said first and second mode list screens being independent of the hierarchical structure of said mode setting screens; and

a display controller for changing a displayed screen in response to a command;

wherein, in response to said command, when one of said plurality of mode setting screens is displayed on said display, said display controller changing a displayed screen to a second mode setting screen that is hierarchically adjacent to said one of said plurality of mode setting screens displayed;

wherein, in response to said command, when one of said first and second mode setting screens is displayed on said display, said display controller changing a displayed screen to a specific mode setting screen selected from said one of said first and second mode setting screens displayed; and

wherein at least one of said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said first mode list screen is also among said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said second mode list screen.

26. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a display;

a plurality of mode setting screens each of which prompts a user to set an image forming condition to each mode, each mode being an operation mode of the image forming apparatus;

a first mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens;

a second mode list screen which lists a plurality of mode setting screens; and

a display controller which displays, when a mode setting screen is selected on the first or second mode list screens, a specific mode setting screen;

wherein at least one of said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said first mode list screen is also among said plurality of mode setting screens listed on said second mode list screen.