Multi function device

• US 20070074113A1
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ikeno, Takahiro
• Application Number:
  US11/492,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• 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 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A multi function device having a plurality of functions, which comprises: an operation key that inputs an instruction for the function; a display unit that displays information on the function; and a control unit that outputs a predetermined code signal based on an input of the operation key and controls display contents of the display unit. The operation key is disposed in a vicinity of the display unit. The display unit comprises a content display area that displays a setting for the function and a key input display area that displays the instruction to be input by the operation key. The control unit allows the instruction to be input by the operation key to be displayed in the key input display area and allows the code signal corresponding to the instruction displayed based on the input of the operation key to be output.

Claims

1. A multi function device having a plurality of functions, comprising:

an operation key that inputs an instruction for the function;

a display unit that displays information on the function; and

a control unit that outputs a predetermined code signal based on an input of the operation key and controls display contents of the display unit,

wherein the operation key is disposed in a vicinity of the display unit,

the display unit comprises a content display area that displays a setting for the function and a key input display area that displays the instruction to be input by the operation key, and

the control unit allows the instruction to be input by the operation key to be displayed in the key input display area and allows the code signal corresponding to the instruction displayed based on the input of the operation key to be output.

2. The multi function device according to claim 1, wherein the operation key comprises a plurality of operation keys that are disposed in the vicinity of the display unit, and

the control unit allows the key input display area to be divided into a plurality of sub areas that are close to the respective operation keys, allows the instructions to be input by the operation keys to be displayed, and allows the code signals corresponding to the instructions displayed close to the operation keys to be output based on the inputs of the respective operation keys.

3. The multi function device according to claim 2, wherein the operation keys are arranged on a side of the display unit in a row, and

the display unit has the key input display area at the side.

4. The multi function device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit holds the instructions to be input by the operation keys in a layered structure, allows a first display screen, which displays an instruction of a first layer to be input by a predetermined operation key in the sub area corresponding to the operation key, to be displayed on the display unit, and allows a second display screen, which displays an instruction of a second layer to be input by a predetermined operation key in the sub area corresponding to the operation key, to be displayed on the display unit, according to the input of the instruction of the first layer in the first display screen.

5. The multi function device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit allows the instruction of the first layer, which is input in the first display screen, to be displayed in an area other than the sub area of the second display screen.

6. The multi function device according to claim 4, wherein the instruction of the first layer comprises a selection instruction for selecting the function and the instruction of the second layer comprises instructions for various settings in the respective functions.

7. The multi function device according to claim 4, wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of instructions the number of which is larger than that of the operation keys,

the control unit allows a predetermined sub area to display an instruction for displaying a third display screen on the second display screen while allowing the other of sub areas to display some of the instructions of the second layer, and

when the instruction for displaying the third display screen is input, the control unit allows a predetermined sub area to display an instruction for displaying the second display screen on the third display screen while allowing the other of sub areas to display the rest of the instructions of the second layer.

8. The multi function device according to claim 2, wherein the operation keys have different colors, respectively, and the control unit allows the sub areas, which are close to the respective operation keys, to be displayed with the same colors as the operation keys, respectively.

9. The multi function device according to claim 2, wherein the operation keys are capable of being lighted up, and the control unit allows only the operation keys, which corresponds to the sub areas for displaying the instructions that can be input, to be lighted up.

10. The multi function device according to claim 1, wherein the functions comprise at least two of a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile function and a scan function.