Information input device, control method thereof and image forming apparatus

• US 9,285,741 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Mayuko, Tani, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weber, Joy M
• Application Number:
  US13/272,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/747, 715/799, 715/863, 715/708, 715/808
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• 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 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus

Abstract

An information input device includes a display device that displays an information input screen image and a touch-panel that is arranged on the display device and specifies a designated position on the information input screen image. On a function setting area, a plurality of function setting keys are displayed and, if a flick operation to the right made by the input device on the function setting area is detected, detailed setting items corresponding to each of the function setting keys are displayed on a detailed settings area. Consequently, contents of detailed settings can be displayed at one time in correspondence with each of the function setting keys. Therefore, it becomes possible for the user to easily confirm whether or not function setting is appropriate, and to smoothly select a function.

Claims

1. An information input device, comprising a display unit that displays an information input screen image allowing input of information, and an input unit that is arranged on said display unit and specifies a designated position on said information input screen image;

wherein

a plurality of function setting keys are displayed on a function setting area displayed on a part of said information input screen image;

in response to detection of a prescribed operation by said input unit on any of said function setting keys displayed in said function setting area, said display unit enters an express mode and displays setting items corresponding to each of said plurality of function setting keys as detailed setting items, emphasizing a present state of a detailed setting item displayed in a distinguishable manner corresponding to a respective function setting key, in correspondence with said function keys, on said information input screen image, while maintaining display of said plurality of function setting keys; and

said prescribed operation is a flick operation or a sliding operation different from an operation for selecting, when the position of any of said function setting keys is specified by said input unit, setting items corresponding to the function setting key.

2. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the detailed:

setting items displayed in correspondence with each of said function setting keys are setting items selected in order of frequency of use from among a plurality of setting items corresponding to each of said function setting keys.

3. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein said display unit displays a set detailed setting item in a noticeable manner, among the detailed setting items displayed in correspondence with each of said function setting keys.

4. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein ten keys for numerical input are displayed horizontally in line on said information input screen image;

and said ten keys are positioned above or below said detailed setting items.

5. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of task trigger keys for instructing an operation of an apparatus as an object of function setting are arranged horizontally in line on said information input screen image;

and said plurality of task trigger keys are positioned above or below said detailed setting items.

6. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said detailed setting items has a dialog displayed in a pull-down form on said information input screen image if position of said detailed setting item is specified by said input unit, said dialog includes further setting items corresponding to the specified detailed setting item;

and said detailed setting item having said dialog displayed is displayed at an upper portion of said information input screen image.

7. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein said display unit displays, if a position of any of said function setting keys is specified by said input unit with said detailed setting items being displayed, a sub-screen including items other than said displayed detailed setting items, among setting items related to said function setting key.

8. The information input device according to claim 7, wherein said sub-screen includes only items other than said displayed detailed setting items, among setting items related to said function setting key.

9. The information input device according to claim 7, wherein among the setting items related to said function setting key, items other than said displayed detailed setting items are displayed in more distinguishable manner than said displayed detailed setting items, in said sub-screen.

10. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

An information input device that includes;

A display unit that displays an information input screen image allowing input of information, and an input unit that is arranged on said display unit and specifies a designated position on said information input screen image;

wherein

a plurality of function setting keys are displayed on a function setting area displayed on a part of said information input screen image;

in response to detection of a prescribed operation by said input unit on any of said function setting keys displayed in said function setting area, said display unit enters an express mode and displays setting items corresponding to each of said plurality of function setting keys as detailed setting items, emphasizing a present state of a detailed setting item displayed in a distinguishable manner corresponding to a respective function setting key, in correspondence with said function keys, on said information input screen image, while maintaining display of said plurality of function setting keys; and

said prescribed operation is a flick operation or a sliding operation different from an operation for selecting, when the position of any of said function setting keys is specified by said input unit, setting items corresponding to the function setting key; and

receiving a user operation through said information input device.

11. A method of controlling an information input device that includes a display unit that displays an information input screen image allowing input of information, and an input unit that is arranged on said display unit and specifies a designated position on said information input screen image, comprising the steps of:

displaying, on a function setting area displayed on a part of said information input screen image, a plurality of function setting keys;

detecting a prescribed operation made by said input unit on any of said function setting keys displayed in said function setting area; and

in response to detection of the prescribed operation made by said input unit on any of said function setting keys displayed in said function setting area, entering an express mode and displaying setting items corresponding to each of said plurality of function setting keys as detailed setting items, emphasizing a present state of a detailed setting item displayed in a distinguishable manner corresponding to a respective function setting key, in correspondence with said function keys, on said information input screen image, while maintaining display of said plurality of function setting keys;

wherein

said prescribed operation is a flick operation or a sliding operation different from an operation for selecting, when the position of any of said function setting keys is specified by said input unit, setting items corresponding to the function setting key.

12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein the detailed setting items displayed in correspondence with each of said function setting keys are setting items selected in order of frequency of use from among a plurality of setting items corresponding to each of said function setting keys.

13. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying a set detailed setting item in a noticeable manner, among the detailed setting items displayed in correspondence with each of said function setting keys.

14. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying ten keys for numerical input horizontally in line on said information input screen image;

wherein said ten keys are positioned above or below said detailed setting items.

15. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying a plurality of task trigger keys for instructing an operation of an apparatus as an object of function setting, horizontally in line on said information input screen image;

wherein said plurality of task trigger keys are positioned above or below said detailed setting items.

16. The control method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said detailed setting items has a dialog displayed in a pull-down form on said information input screen image if the position of said detailed setting item is specified by said input unit, said dialog includes further setting items corresponding to the specified detailed setting item;

and said detailed setting item having said dialog displayed is displayed at an upper portion of said information input screen image.

17. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying, if a position of any of said function setting keys is specified by said input unit with said detailed setting items being displayed, a sub-screen including items other than said displayed detailed setting items, among setting items related to said function setting key.

18. The control method according to claim 17, wherein said sub-screen includes only items other than said displayed detailed setting items, among setting items related to said function setting key.

19. The control method according to claim 17, wherein among the setting items related to said function setting key, items other than said displayed detailed setting items are displayed in more distinguishable manner than said displayed detailed setting items, in said sub-screen.