Operation display device and operation display method

• US 8,866,761 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Enami, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, Nan-Ying
• Application Number:
  US13/137,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• 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 1/32593 Using a plurality of controllers, e.g. for controlling different interfaces
• 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 operation display device includes: a display unit that displays an image; a touch panel that is mounted on the display unit; a detecting unit that detects a pressed position on the touch panel and detects a pressing force against the touch panel; and an execution control unit.

The execution control unit, if the pressing force is more than a predetermined threshold, executes a first function that is predetermined in accordance with the pressed position and, if the pressing force is equal to or less than the threshold, executes a second function that is predetermined in accordance with the pressed position.

Claims

1. An operation display device comprising:

a display unit configured to display at least one icon to which a predetermined function is assigned;

a touch panel that is mounted on the display unit;

a detecting unit configured to detect a pressed position on the touch panel and detect a pressing force against the touch panel; and

an execution control unit connected to the display unit, the touch panel and the detecting unit, wherein

when one of the at least one icon is selected, if the pressing force is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the execution control unit causes the display unit to delete any icons other than the selected icon and causes, under a condition in which the pressing force is kept at equal to or less than the threshold, the display unit to display, instead of the deleted icons, at least one sub-icon to which a predetermined operation corresponding to at least one function of the selected icon is assigned in a paled out state, and then if the pressing force is changed to more than the threshold, the execution control unit executes an operation of function which is assigned to the selected icon and causes the selected icon to be deleted and the paled out sub-icon to be displayed in normal colors to receive a subsequent operation.

3. The operation display device according to claim 1, wherein the icon and the sub-icon are displayed so as to be overlaid on the display unit.

4. The operation display device according to claim 1, wherein the icon comprises an image of a character, button, or key.

2. An operation display method performed by an operation display device,

the operation display device including

a display unit configured to display at least one icon to which a predetermined function is assigned;

a touch panel that is mounted on the display unit;

a detecting unit configured to detect a pressed position on the touch panel and detect a pressing force against the touch panel; and

an execution control unit connected to the display unit, the touch panel and the detecting unit,

the operation display method comprising;

displaying at least one icon to which a predetermined function is assigned;

selecting one of the at least one icon by pressing the touch panel;

detecting a pressed position on the touch panel and a pressing force with respect to the touch panel;

if the pressing force is more than a predetermined threshold, by the execution control unit, causing an operation of function which is assigned to the selected icon, and

if the pressing force is equal to or less than the threshold, by the execution control unit, causing the display unit to delete any icons other than the selected icon and causes, under a condition in which the pressing force is kept at equal to or less than the threshold, the display unit to display at least one sub-icon to which a predetermined operation corresponding to at least one function of the selected icon is assigned in a paled out state, and then if the pressing force is changed to more than the threshold, the execution control unit executes an operation of function which is assigned to the selected icon and causes the selected icon to be deleted and the paled out sub-icon to be displayed in normal colors to receive a subsequent operation.