Image processing apparatus

• US 7,515,288 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Keiichi, Fukuda, Kohki, Okamoto, Yuji, Yoshiura, Syoichiro, Nomura, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURLESON, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US10/037,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,650 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/442, 358/403, 358/401, 358/1.13, 358/1.1, 358/1.6, 358/474, 399/8, 370/466, 705/400, 702/186, 395/114, 395/195
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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

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 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

said display section of said printer unit is set to be effective in another predetermined condition,

said another 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.

6. 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 inputs on said processing of image data,

wherein said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that in response to an operation input entered by a specific user interface section, other user interface section(s) than said specific user interface section change(s) its (their) input acceptance state(s), so as to display contents corresponding to the operation input on said other user interface section(s) than said specific user interface section.

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

said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that input acceptance of said other user interface section(s) than the specific user interface section is validated in response to the operation input entered by said specific user interface section.

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

said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that in response to the operation input entered by said specific user interface section, input acceptance of said other user interface section(s) than the specific user interface section is validated and input acceptance of the specific user interface section is invalidated.

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

said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that in response to the operation input entered by said specific user interface section, an input entering right allowing for acceptance of the operation input is transferred from the specific user interface section to said other user interface section(s) than the specific user interface section.

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

said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that in response to operation input(s) entered by said other user interface section(s) than the specific user interface section, the input entering right is transferred back to the specific user interface section.

11. The image processing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 7 through 10, wherein:

said plurality of user interface sections are arranged such that while changing the input acceptance state(s) of said other user interface section(s) than the specific user interface section, a display state of at least one user interface section is changed.

12. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a first image processing section, for carrying out a processing of image data, including a first display section;

at least one second image processing section, for carrying out a processing of image data, including at least one second display section; and

a plurality of user interface sections corresponding to the first display section and the at least one second display section for entering commands on said processing of image data,

wherein (a) in a normal state, a user interface section corresponding to the first display section is non-effective while the user interface section corresponding to the at least one second display section is effective, and (b) when the normal state switches to a specific processing set state in response to entering a command to the user interface section corresponding to the second display section, the user interface section corresponding to the first display section is made effective, so that contents corresponding to the command is displayed on the first display section, the command being to select a specific processing.

13. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a printer unit equipped with a user interface section having a first display section; and

a scanner unit equipped with a user interface section having a second display section;

wherein when one of the user interface section of the printer unit and the user interface section of the scanner unit is a first interface section and the other of them is a second interface section, (a) in a normal state, the first user interface section is non-effective while the second user interface section is effective, and (b) when the normal state switches to a specific processing set state in response to entering a command to the second user interface section, the first user interface section is made effective, so that information regarding the specific processing is displayed on the first user interface section, the command being to select a specific processing.

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

when in said normal state, said first user interface section is in a non-display state and said second user interface section is in a display state; and

when in said specific processing set state, said first user interface section and said second user interface section are both in the display state.

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

when in said normal state, information regarding said printer unit and scanning unit is displayed on said second user interface section.

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

when in said specific processing set state, said first user interface section is used to enter commands regarding said specific processing.

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

when in said normal state, said second user interface section is used to enter a command to said printer unit and enter a command to said scanner unit.

18. The image processing unit as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said first user interface section is the user interface section of the printer unit, and said second user interface section is the user interface section of the scanner unit.

19. 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,

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.

20. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 19, 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.

21. 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,

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.