Display device capable of color display used in operation mode setting of image formation apparatus

• US 6,690,382 B1
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanigawa, Tatsuya, Kuno, Takatsugu, Naito, Koji, Natsume, Junko
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jorgensen, Leland R.
• Application Number:
  US09/332,369
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 345/593, 345/594, 345/595, 345/968, 345/772, 345/839
• US Class Current: 345/593
• 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 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00466 displaying finishing information, e.g. position of punch holes or staple or orientation references
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00469 with enlargement of a selected area of the displayed information
• 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 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

An electronic display device that allows the hierarchy or system to which the display screen belongs to be easily identified, without narrowing the display area of a plurality of screens constituting a director structure. In the display device, a plurality of key input screens form a director structure in association with each other. The directory structure includes first to fourth hierarchy levels. Respective key input screens are located at any of the hierarchy. Upon depression of a transition key in a basic screen belonging to the first hierarchy, the display screen is switched to one of key input screens belonging to the second hierarchy. The display device changes the display color according to the hierarchy to which the key input screen belongs in providing a display of a key input screen.

Claims

1. An image formation apparatus comprising:

a display unit to display a set screen to set an operational mode of said image formation apparatus;

switch means for switching the set screen displayed on said display unit with directions of an operator so that one of a plurality of different set screens classified into a plurality of hierarchies is selected and displayed; and

control means for controlling said display unit to display the set screen in a different color according to the hierarchies to which the set screen belongs, wherein

said plurality of hierarchies correspond to a ranking of said plurality of different set screens with respect to each other, and

only one of the plurality of different set screens is selected and displayed at a time on the display unit.

2. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each set screen is displayed in the same size.

3. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each set screen is displayed on the same area.

4. An image formation apparatus comprising:

a display unit to display a set screen to set an operational mode of said image formation apparatus;

switch means for switching the set screen displayed on said display unit with directions of an operator so that one of a plurality of set screens classified into a plurality of systems for every related function is selected and displayed, said plurality of set screens being further classified in a plurality of hierarchies; and

control means for controlling said display unit to display screens of different levels of hierarchy, but belonging to a common system, in a same color while displaying screens belonging to a common hierarchy, but belonging to a different system, a different color.

5. The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each set screen is displayed in the same size.

6. The image formation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each set screen is displayed on the same area.