JP5488378B2 - Image forming apparatus and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that displays an operation screen and a computer program executed in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a printer, a copier, and an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral).

  Recent multifunctional image forming apparatuses include a touch panel as a man-machine interface for operation. The touch panel here is an apparatus that combines a display capable of screen display and a touch-type pointing device. The front surface of the touch panel serves as both a display surface and a touch input surface. The contents displayed on the touch panel are switched according to the operation by the user.

  One method for switching display contents is pop-up. Pop-up is a display technique in which an operation screen (called a window) smaller than the display surface is opened on the display surface in a state where some operation screen is already displayed. For example, in an operation screen having a plurality of keys (also called buttons) for selecting operation setting items, when a user operates one of the keys, a window for detailed setting of the corresponding item opens. It is. Patent Document 1 describes a display example in which three windows are opened in order. 10 to 13 of the same document, a detailed display area as a first window is displayed so as to overlap the upper part of the job screen, and a detailed display area as a second window is displayed in response to an operation in the first window. The first window is displayed side by side with the first window. Then, an enlarged display area as a third window for enlarging the preview image in the second window is displayed so as to be partially overlapped on both the first and second windows. These first, second, and third windows are closed when a “close button” provided on each of them is touched.

  On the other hand, in an information processing apparatus typified by a personal computer, multi-window screen display is performed. A window manager, which is a program that controls the display of windows, opens a new window each time the user starts an application, for example. The window manager moves the window clicked by the user with the mouse operation to the forefront (uppermost layer) when a plurality of windows partially overlap. However, there is a window in which such back-and-forth movement (overlapping order switching) is prohibited. For example, when a window for print settings (child window) is opened in response to a print instruction in a window (parent window) of an application having a print mode, the window manager remains the parent even if the user clicks on the parent window. Do not change the stacking order of the window and its child windows.

JP 2007-221731 A

  In a conventional image forming apparatus, after a window opens so as to partially overlap the operation screen, the user can confirm the display contents of the area hidden by the window on the operation screen by closing the window. You have to go back to the state before the window opened. For this reason, for example, when the operation screen has a preview area in which the setting in the window is reflected and this preview area is hidden in the window, it is troublesome for the user to perform the setting while checking the preview. The user had to perform an inefficient operation of “open and set the window, close the window, check the preview, and open the window again”.

  As a measure for improving the operability of the image forming apparatus, a multi-window display method in a personal computer is applied, and an operation screen in which the overlapping order is second or higher with the forefront as the first position (this is referred to as a “lower layer operation screen”). Can be moved to the forefront in response to the touch operation. However, if the touch operation is unconditionally responded, a useless display change in which a lower-layer operation screen that is not useful for the operation in the foreground window moves to the foreground can occur. In addition, when there are a plurality of lower layer operation screens, there may be a situation where the user accidentally touches a lower layer operation screen that is not a desired lower layer operation screen, and is confused by an unintended display change caused by the touch. For simple display control in which the overlapping order is always changed if there is a touch operation, the operability may be impaired.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to improve the operability of an operation in a state where a plurality of operation screens are displayed so as to partially overlap on an operation panel.

  An image forming apparatus that achieves the above object is an image forming apparatus having an operation panel capable of touch input, and a screen display unit that displays two or more operation screens on the operation panel according to an operation on the operation panel; The lower layer operation touched when a lower layer operation screen other than the foremost operation screen among the plurality of operation screens displayed so as to partially overlap each other on the touch input surface of the operation panel is touched A determination unit that determines whether a screen corresponds to a reference permission screen that is predetermined with respect to the frontmost operation screen, and a determination unit that determines that the touched lower layer operation screen corresponds to the reference permission screen. If it is determined, a display change that causes the screen display unit to change the overlapping order of moving the touched lower layer operation screen to the front side of the foremost operation screen. It has a request unit.

  According to the present invention, the user of the image forming apparatus can display another operation screen related to the operation on the frontmost operation screen in a state where a plurality of operation screens are displayed so as to partially overlap on the operation panel. The user can view the contents by moving the other operation screen to the foreground just by touching.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the user can see the contents of other screens while continuing to touch, and if the touch state is canceled, the operation on the original frontmost operation screen can be resumed. it can.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the information processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation panel of the MFP. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to display of an operation screen of a control circuit provided in the MFP. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the MFP. It is a figure which shows the operation screen regarding a copy function. It is a figure which shows the operation screen in the state in which the original document was set. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of replacement | exchange of the overlapping order of an operation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of the outline emphasis showing that the touch with respect to a lower layer operation screen is validated. It is a figure which shows the example of the identification display showing that the touch with respect to a lower layer operation screen is invalidated. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of replacement | exchange of the overlapping order of an operation screen. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of replacement | exchange of the overlapping order of an operation screen. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of replacement | exchange of the overlapping order of an operation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of the preview display of an output result. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen structure by which the exchange order of the operation screen is not performed.

  An MFP is given as an example of an image forming apparatus capable of touch input operation. The MFP is an information device having many functions such as image input (scanning), facsimile communication, e-mail transmission / reception, and document storage, in addition to copying and network printing, which are functions as an image forming apparatus.

  An MFP 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is connected to a network 4 such as a corporate local area network (LAN) connected to the Internet 9, and includes a plurality of personal computers 5, 6, 7, a server 8, and other external devices such as the MFP 1b. Communicatively connected. The network 4 may be any of a wired network, a wireless network, and a network in which wired and wireless are mixed. The MFP 1 operates in response to an access from an external device including the personal computers 5, 6, and 7 and an operation by the operation panel 10. The operation panel 10 of the exemplary MFP 1 is disposed on the front side of the upper portion of the housing so that the operation surface is inclined obliquely upward and slightly forward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 10 of the MFP 1 includes a touch panel unit 10A that displays various operation screens and a key panel unit 10B on which various fixed keys are arranged. In the illustrated example, the touch panel 101 arranged in the touch panel unit 10A includes a display that displays an operation screen and a translucent touch input device that is in close contact with the display surface. The front surface of the touch panel 101 serves as both a display surface and a touch operation surface. The fixed keys of the key panel unit 10B include a numeric keypad group 30 for inputting numerical values, a start key 31 for starting job execution, and a stop key 32 for stopping job execution.

  The hardware configuration of the MFP 1 is shown in FIG. A control circuit 11 responsible for overall control of the MFP 1 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112 for storing a control program, a CPU (central processing unit) 113 as a computer for executing the control program and application, and a program execution work area. S-RAM (Static Random Access Memory) 115, battery-backed NV-RAM (nonvolatile memory) 116 for storing various settings, and an integrated circuit 118 for measuring system time.

  An ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 12 has a document table, and conveys a document sheet set on the document table to a reading position of the image scanner 13 in copying, image input, or facsimile transmission. The image scanner 13 optically reads image information recorded on a document sheet. The printer controller 14 performs various processes for printing including bitmap development of print data received from an external device. The printer engine 15 prints a monochrome or color image on one or both sides of the paper supplied from the multi-stage paper stocker 16. The finisher 17 is used for finishing the printed paper, which is folded in two or stapled. The network interface 18 connects the MFP 1 to the network 4 and enables LAN communication and facsimile communication between the MFP 1 and the outside. The storage 19 is a mass storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD). The storage 19 is provided with a memory area (so-called box) for storing various document files as well as a memory area for storing screen data for displaying an operation screen and control data including a determination table.

  FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration related to screen display by the touch panel 101 in the control circuit 11. The control circuit 11 includes a screen display unit 120, a determination unit 122, a display change request unit 124, and an identification display request unit 126. These elements are functional elements realized by the CPU 113 executing a predetermined control computer program.

  The screen display unit 120 displays at least one operation screen on the display 102 of the touch panel 101 in accordance with an operation by the user on the operation panel 10. The operation screen includes a window having a maximum size over the entire display surface of the display 102 and a window smaller than the display surface.

  When the user touches a lower layer operation screen other than the foremost operation screen among the plurality of operation screens displayed so as to partially overlap each other on the touch input surface of the operation panel 10, the determination unit 122 Then, it is determined whether or not the touched lower layer operation screen corresponds to a reference permission screen predetermined for the foremost operation screen. For example, when the touched lower layer operation screen has a preview area in which the operation on the foreground operation screen is reflected, the determination unit 122 determines that the lower layer operation screen corresponds to the reference permission screen. Even if the display is in a display state where three or more screens are overlapped according to a series of operations, or a prohibition relation setting that prohibits the designation of both of them is included among a plurality of screens, This is performed according to a determination rule that limits the switching of the overlapping order so that an erroneous operation such as a jumping touch operation is unlikely to occur.

  When the determination unit 114 determines that the touched lower layer operation screen corresponds to the reference permission screen, the display change request unit 124 moves the touched lower layer operation screen to the front side of the frontmost operation screen. The screen display unit 120 executes the replacement. After the overlap of the overlapping order is executed by the screen display unit 120, basically, the order after the replacement is maintained over a period in which the lower layer operation screen is touched. Then, after the user cancels the touch state, the order after the replacement is returned to the order immediately before the replacement.

  The identification display request unit 126 causes the screen display unit 120 to execute a display indicating whether or not a touch on the lower operation screen is validated. As a way to indicate whether or not touch is enabled, gray out that displays the lower layer operation screen where touch is not enabled darkly, thicken the outline of the lower operation screen where touch is enabled or make the background color stand out Highlighting and adding identification marks.

  The overall operation flow of the MFP 1 is shown in FIG. The CPU 113 of the control circuit 10 executes initialization processing in response to power-on or reset operation (S301). In the initialization process, the S-RAM 115 is cleared and the standard mode is set.

  When the initialization process is completed, the key switch group on the key panel unit 10B of the operation panel 10 and the operation on the touch panel unit 10A are accepted. It is confirmed whether any operation by the user has been performed (S303). If no operation has been performed (No in S303), the process proceeds to step S305.

  When some operation is performed by the user (Yes in S303), it is confirmed whether it is a touch operation on the lower layer operation screen (S311). If it is a touch operation on the lower layer operation screen (Yes in S311), screen switching processing is executed (S313). In the screen switching process, the CPU 113 operates as the screen display unit 120, the determination unit 122, and the display change request unit 124 described above. That is, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the touched lower layer operation screen corresponds to the reference permission screen, and moves the lower layer operation screen to the forefront by changing the overlapping order when it corresponds.

  If the operation is not a touch operation on the lower layer operation screen (No in S311), the process requested by the operation is executed (S315). Here, the required processing is, for example, processing of copying or reading a document, changing various settings stored in the RAM 263, and the like. When the process requested by the user is completed, the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S305, the CPU 113 checks whether there is any request from an external device. If any request is received by the network interface 18, the CPU 113 executes processing requested by the external device (step S321). The processes executed here are various, and there are relatively simple processes such as transmission of a response to a communication request, and relatively complicated processes such as execution of a job that responds to a print request. When the change of the operation setting is requested, the CPU 113 rewrites various setting information stored in the NV-RAM 116. When the requested processing is finished, the CPU 113 returns to step S303 and repeatedly executes the processing of steps S303 to S321 in response to the operation and external access.

  Next, a screen display form on the operation panel 10 of the MFP 1 will be described by taking an operation related to a copy function as a typical function of the MFP 1 as an example.

  An operation screen Q10 shown in FIG. 6 is an initial screen for settings related to the copy function. A screen layout that divides the display surface 1021 into three regions in the vertical direction is applied to a screen that covers almost the entire display surface 1021 of the display like the operation screen Q10. In this screen layout, the upper end portion of the display surface 1021 is a message area 41 for transmitting information such as the state of the MFP 1 and operation guidance to the user, and the center portion is substantially used for dynamically disposing operation keys according to the operation. A pop-up display area 42 that is a typical operation screen is assigned to a permanent key area 43 for selecting three functions whose lower ends are roughly classified by the use of the MFP 1.

  In the operation screen Q10 related to the copy function, the message area 41 displays a message text indicating that the user can cause the MFP 1 to start a copy operation, and a default number of copies.

  In the operation screen Q10, a monitor area 421 and a preview area 422 are arranged side by side in the pop-up display area 42, and item selection keys 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 related to operation settings and an item group are arranged below these areas. A switching key 56 is arranged side by side on the left and right. The five item selection keys 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 correspond to the setting items classified as basic items one by one. The item group switching key 56 is an operation key for changing the setting item corresponding to the item selection keys 51 to 55 from the basic item to the application item. The user can customize which setting items are basic items and the rest are applied items. In the illustrated example, items corresponding to the item selection keys 51 to 55 are “original image quality”, “paper (size)”, “booklet”, “magnification”, and “double-sided / single-sided”.

  In the permanent key area 43, a copy key 57, a FAX / Scan key 58, a BOX key 59, and a reset key 60 are arranged. A copy key 57 is an operation key for selecting a copy function. Since the MFP 1 automatically selects the copy function as a default function, the user may perform a touch operation of pressing the copy key 57 when using the copy function in place of other functions. A FAX / Scan key 58 is an operation key for selecting a function of reading an image from an original sheet and transmitting it by facsimile or sending it to an external device or storage 19. A BOX key 59 is an operation key for selecting a function for processing data related to a box of the storage 19. The reset key 60 is a key for canceling the setting.

  Note that the copy key 57, the FAX / Scan key 58, the BOX key 59, and the reset key 60 may be arranged in the operation panel 10 as hard keys. In that case, the permanent key area 43 may not be provided in the display surface.

  When the user sets a document sheet on the ADF 12 while the operation screen Q10 in FIG. 6 is displayed, the display is changed from the operation screen Q10 to the operation screen Q11 in FIG. A substantial change place is a monitor area 421. The monitor area 421 on the operation screen Q10 in FIG. 6 is blank, but the monitor area 421 on the operation screen Q11 in FIG. 7 has an image that schematically represents the size and set direction of the original sheet detected by the ADF 12. .

  When the user selects one of the item selection keys 51 to 55 in the state where the operation screen Q10 of FIG. 6 or the operation screen Q11 of FIG. 7 is displayed, an operation for setting the selected item is performed. A window that is the screen pops up. The touch operation is not limited to pressing with a finger, but includes a tap using a tool such as a touch pen or a stylus pen.

  For example, it is assumed that the user touches the item selection key 53 corresponding to the item “booklet” while the operation screen Q11 is displayed. Then, the operation screen Q11 is changed to the operation screen Q12 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and the operation screen as shown in FIG. 8A is obtained by a known image processing technique for combining a plurality of layers. A window Q21 is displayed so as to overlap with a portion in the pop-up display area 42 of Q12. At this time, the background color of the item selection key 53 of the selected item is changed to a color different from the background color of the other item selection keys corresponding to the non-selected items. In addition, in order to make it easy for the user to recognize the relationship with the item selection key 53, the base shape of the window Q21 is designed to be a balloon shape blown out from the item selection key 53.

  When the window Q21 is opened, a part of the operation screen Q12 located on the back side of the window Q21 is hidden in the overlapping. In the example of FIG. 8A, approximately half of the monitor area 421 and most of the preview area 422 are hidden by the window Q21. However, although not displayed to the user, the above-described screen display unit 120 reflects the content of the setting made by the user in the window Q21 in the preview area 422 in the operation screen Q12. That is, if the user changes the setting in the window Q21, the contents to be displayed in the preview area 422 are changed so as to indicate the changed setting state.

  When the window Q21 is opened as the foremost operation screen, the user of the MFP 1 simply touches any position that is not hidden in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q12 that is the lower operation screen, as shown in FIG. The entire operation screen Q12 can be displayed as shown in B). In response to such a touch operation, the overlapping order of moving the operation screen Q12 to the front side of the window Q21 is changed by the cooperation processing of the determination unit 122, the display change request unit 124, and the screen display unit 120 described above. Because it is done. If the entire operation screen Q12 is displayed, the user can check the setting state of the booklet mode by displaying the preview area 422. The booklet mode is a mode in which a multi-page document is printed on both sides in a predetermined page order with 4 pages per sheet. In the example of FIG. 8B, an image representing the left-open booklet setting is displayed in the preview area 422.

  The state in which the operation screen Q12 becomes the foreground screen by switching the overlapping order is maintained as long as the user continues to touch. When the finger F touched by the user is released from the display surface and the touch state is released, the overlapping order of the operation screen Q12 and the window Q21 is returned to the order before the replacement. That is, the display state of FIG. 8B returns to the display state of FIG. 8A, and the operation in the window Q21 becomes possible.

  In this way, by touching the lower layer operation screen to be moved to the foreground or canceling the touch state, the user can refer to the display contents of the preview area 422 as necessary when setting in the window Q21. . In the MFP 1, unlike the conventional operation, when the operation is performed while alternately displaying the window Q21 and the lower layer hidden by the window Q21 for comparison, there is no need to perform the troublesome operation of temporarily closing and reopening the window Q21.

  In order to close the window Q21, the “ON” key is touched to confirm the current setting state, or the “OFF” key is touched to cancel the booklet mode.

  On the operation screen Q12 that is a reference permission screen for the window Q21, an identification display indicating that a touch for instructing switching of the overlapping order is valid is performed. In the examples of FIGS. 8A and 8B, an identification mark 501 indicating validity is added in the pop-up display area 42. A user who knows the meaning of the identification mark 501 can understand from the identification mark 501 that the operation screen Q12 can be displayed in the foreground in the state of FIG. In the state of B), it can be understood from the identification mark 501 that the operation screen Q12 is displayed in the foreground as a result of the touch.

  FIG. 9 shows another example of the identification display indicating that the touch on the lower layer operation screen is validated. In the operation screen Q12b of FIG. 9, the outline of the pop-up display area 42 where the touch is valid is emphasized by adding a thick frame line 502 that draws a rectangle. The user who knows the meaning of this highlighting understands that the operation screen Q12b can be displayed in the foreground, and the effective range of touch for displaying the operation screen Q12b in the foreground is displayed in a pop-up. It can be easily understood that it is inside the region 42.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of an identification display indicating that the touch on the lower layer operation screen is invalidated. The operation screen Q15 and the window Q22 in FIG. 10 are displayed, for example, when the item selection key 52 corresponding to the item “paper” is touched on the operation screen Q11 in FIG. A window Q22 displayed so as to overlap the portion in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q15 is an operation screen for setting the size of the paper used for copying. Since the paper size is not related to the display of the monitor area 421 and the preview area 422 on the operation screen Q15, the content of the operation in the window Q21 is not reflected in the display of the monitor area 421 and the preview area 422. For this reason, the operation screen Q15 is not defined as a reference permission screen for the window Q21, and is not a target for switching the overlapping order with the window Q21. Such an operation screen Q15 is provided with an identification mark 505 indicating that the touch on the operation screen Q15 in a state where the window Q21 is displayed in the foreground is invalidated.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of changing the overlapping order in the multi-layer display state where three operation screens overlap. The switching of the overlapping order in FIG. 11 is display control according to a rule in which only the operation screen of the second layer, which is the next layer on the forefront, is set as a reference permission screen.

  In FIG. 11A, the operation screen Q13, the window Q21, and the window Q31 overlap each other in order from the back side (lower layer side). In this display state, for example, the item selection key 53 corresponding to the item “booklet” on the operation screen Q10 of FIG. 6 is touched, the window Q21 is opened in response, and then the item “paper” in the window Q21 is corresponded. Appears when the item selection key 75 is touched.

  The third-layer operation screen Q13 counted from the forefront is not defined as a reference permission screen. The portion in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q13 is displayed darker than the active state (a state where the touch is enabled) by graying out in order to indicate that the touch on the operation screen Q13 is disabled. Even if the user touches a portion in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q13, the display does not change.

  The window Q21 in the second layer, which is a reference permission screen, is displayed in a predetermined color scheme indicating that the touch on it is valid. When the user touches an arbitrary position where the window Q21 is not hidden, the overlapping order of the window Q31 and the window Q21 is changed, and the window Q21 becomes the foreground screen as shown in FIG.

  Of the plurality of items that can be set in the window Q21, the item “paper” corresponding to the window Q31 is not an item that can be set exclusively, but an item that can be set in combination with other items. Therefore, it is conceivable that the user wants to operate an item selection key other than the item selection key 75 in the state of FIG. In order to meet this demand, the window Q21 may be activated instead of the window Q31 while the window Q31 is open. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 11, even after the display is switched from the state of FIG. 11A to the state of FIG. 11B, even if the user releases the finger F from the window Q21, the state of FIG. Is retained. The user can not only confirm the display of the window Q21 but also perform operations in the window Q21. In order to return from the state of FIG. 11B to the state of FIG. 11A, it is only necessary to touch an arbitrary position where the window Q31 is not hidden. However, as in the example of FIG. 8, the overlapping order may be returned to the order of FIG. 11A when the user releases the finger F from the window Q21.

  If the item corresponding to the window Q31 is an item that can be set exclusively, it is desirable not to use the window Q21 as a reference permission screen in order to prevent confusion in operation. If the screen is not a reference permission screen, the display does not change even if the user touches the window Q21 on the operation screen Q13 in the state of FIG.

  FIG. 12 shows another example of changing the overlapping order in a multilayer display state in which three operation screens overlap.

  In FIG. 12A, the operation screen Q14, the window Q23, and the window Q32 overlap each other in order from the lower layer side. In this display state, for example, the item selection key 54 associated with “overlay” instead of the item “magnification” on the operation screen Q10 in FIG. 6 is touched, and the window Q23 is opened in response to the touch. Appears when the item selection key 89 corresponding to the item “synthesis method” is touched.

  The third-layer operation screen Q14 counted from the foreground is not directly related to the operation in the foreground (first-layer) window Q32, and thus is not defined as a reference permission screen. The portion in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q14 is displayed darker than the active state by graying out in order to indicate that the touch on it is invalidated. Even if the user touches a portion in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q14, the display does not change.

  The second-layer window Q23 and the foreground window Q32 are operation screens displayed in a series of operations in which a plurality of windows are sequentially opened and settings are made for a plurality of items. That is, it is often the case that the user wants to confirm the contents of the previous opened window Q23 when operating on the window Q32 opened last. In addition, the item “synthesis method” corresponding to the item selection key 89 of the window Q23 and “color designation” which is the only other item that can be set in the window Q23 are items to be set in combination. For these reasons, the window Q23 is defined as a reference permission screen for the window Q32.

  The window Q23 in the second layer, which is a reference permission screen, is displayed in a predetermined color scheme indicating that the touch on it is valid. When the user touches an arbitrary position where the window Q23 is not hidden, the overlapping order of the window Q32 and the window Q23 is switched, and the window Q23 becomes the foreground screen as shown in FIG. When the finger F touched by the user is released from the display surface, the display state in FIG. 12B returns to the display state in FIG. 12A, and an operation in the window Q32 becomes possible. However, as in the example of FIG. 11, the overlapping order may not be restored only by releasing the touch state.

  According to the example of FIG. 12, a user who selects, for example, the item “Density” in the window Q32 and performs density adjustment in the range of 10 to 100% quickly confirms the color previously set in the window Q23. be able to. In addition, even if a user who has sequentially opened the window Q23 and the window Q32 from the operation screen Q14 touches the operation screen Q14 by mistake, the display switching over the hierarchy of returning from the window Q32 to the operation screen Q14 at a stroke does not occur. The touch on the operation screen Q14 is not an erroneous operation that results in confusion for the user.

  FIG. 13 shows a further example of changing the overlapping order in a multi-layer display state where three operation screens overlap.

  In FIG. 13A, the operation screen Q12b, the window Q21, and the window Q33 overlap each other in order from the lower layer side. In this display state, for example, the item selection key 53 corresponding to the item “booklet” on the operation screen Q12b of FIG. 9 is touched, and the window Q21 is opened in response, and then corresponds to the item “cover sheet” in the window Q21. Appears when the selected item selection key 76 is touched.

  The operation screen Q12b in the third layer counting from the foreground is defined as a reference permission screen even though it is not a screen directly under the foreground. This is because the display content of the preview area 422 of the operation screen Q12b varies greatly depending on the operation in the foreground window Q33. In other words, it is considered that the preview area 422 is very useful for the user confirming the correctness of the operation in the window Q33. Based on the design intent that the MFP 1 positively prompts the user to confirm the output result so that the situation of “the user makes a selection mistake and the desired copy output result cannot be obtained and the copy is performed again” does not occur. The operation screen Q12b is set as a target for switching the overlapping order with the window Q33.

  On the other hand, the window Q21 in the second layer is not defined on the reference permission screen in order to avoid the display congestion that the user is confused with. The window Q21 is displayed darker than the active state with an identification mark 505 added and grayed out to indicate that the touch on the window Q21 is invalidated.

  When the user touches an arbitrary position not hidden in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q12b, the overlapping order of the window Q33 and the operation screen Q12b is changed, and the operation screen Q12b is displayed at the forefront as shown in FIG. It becomes the screen of. When the finger F touched by the user is released from the display surface, the display state in FIG. 13B returns to the display state in FIG. 13A, and the operation in the window Q33 becomes possible again.

  Comparing FIG. 13B and FIG. 14, it can be seen that the preview changes according to the operation in the window Q33. The display of the preview area 422 in FIG. 13B schematically represents “output result without adding a cover sheet” reflecting the operation of the “no setting” key 83 in the window Q33 shown in FIG. 13A. ing. The display of the preview area 422 on the operation screen Q12c in FIG. 14 schematically represents the “output result to which a cover sheet is added” reflecting the operation of the “copy” key 87 shown in FIG. The preview shown in the drawing also expresses the fact that the sheet is folded in half and the vicinity of the crease is bound with staples in a “half-fold / saddle” mode.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of a screen configuration in which the operation screen overlap order is not changed. In FIG. 15, the operation screen Q13, the window Q21, and the window Q32b overlap each other in order from the lower layer side. In this display state, for example, the item selection key 53 corresponding to the item “booklet” is touched on the operation screen Q10 of FIG. 6, the window Q21 is opened in response, and then the item “paper” in the window Q21 is corresponded. Appears when the item selection key 75 (see FIG. 11) is touched.

  The operation screen Q13 in the third layer counted from the foreground is not directly related to the operation in the foreground window Q32b, and thus is not defined as a reference permission screen. The portion in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q13 is displayed darker than the active state by graying out in order to indicate that the touch on it is invalidated. Even if the user touches a portion in the pop-up display area 42 of the operation screen Q14, the display does not change.

  The window Q21 of the second layer is almost entirely overlapped with the foreground window Q32b and is hidden. As such a situation, for example, the items to be set in the window Q32b increase with the addition of the option mechanism, and the window Q32b is enlarged for that purpose. Since the hidden window Q21 cannot be touched, the window Q21 is not defined as a reference permission screen for the window Q32b.

  In the example of FIG. 15, as a result, the screens of the second layer and the third layer are uniformly overlapped and excluded from the order change. Similarly, in the multi-layer display state of three or more layers, if touching any one of the second and lower screens is not possible, regardless of the relationship with the frontmost screen The screens on the second layer and lower layers may be uniformly overlapped and excluded from the order change. By doing so, no matter where the user touches, the display will not change as before, so that the user will not be confused by touching around to see hidden windows.

  According to the above-described embodiment, for example, when a user wants to add a watermark at the time of printing, the user can efficiently perform an operation of adjusting the printing position of the watermark while confirming the result sequentially in the preview.

  In the above-described embodiment, the touch at an arbitrary position that is not hidden on the reference permission screen is validated. However, the position where the touch for validating the replacement of the overlapping order is valid is the arrangement position of the identification mark 501 indicating that the touch is valid. You may limit to. That is, it is possible to perform display control for changing the overlapping order when the identification mark 501 is touched.

  In the above-described embodiment, when an item to be set on the lowermost operation screen includes an item that prohibits setting of an item to be set in the foreground window, the user can check the prohibition of the operation. Therefore, the lower layer operation screen may be set as a reference permission screen.

1 MFP (image forming device)
10 Operation panel 101 Touch panel 102 Display Q10, Q11, Q12, Q12b, Q12c Operation screen Q13, Q14, Q14b, Q15 Operation screen Q21, Q22, Q23 Window (operation screen)
Q31, Q32, Q32b Window (operation screen)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 Screen display part 122 Judgment part 124 Display change request | requirement part 126 Identification display request | requirement part 501 and 502 Identification mark 505 Frame line (contour)

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus having an operation panel capable of touch input,
A screen display unit that displays two or more operation screens on the operation panel in response to an operation on the operation panel;
Touched lower layer operation screen when a lower layer operation screen other than the foremost operation screen among the plurality of operation screens displayed so as to partially overlap each other on the touch input surface of the operation panel is touched A determination unit that determines whether or not corresponds to a predetermined reference permission screen for the frontmost operation screen;
When the determination unit determines that the touched lower layer operation screen corresponds to the reference permission screen, the overlapping order is changed to move the touched lower layer operation screen to the front side of the foremost operation screen. An image forming apparatus comprising: a display change request unit that is executed by a screen display unit. The screen display unit holds the order after replacement over a period during which the lower layer operation screen is touched after performing the replacement of the overlapping order, and the order after the replacement in response to the user releasing the touch state The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order is returned to the order immediately before the replacement. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an identification display request unit that causes the screen display unit to execute a display indicating whether or not a touch on the lower layer operation screen is valid. The determination unit determines that the lower layer operation screen corresponds to the reference permission screen when the touched lower layer operation screen has a preview area in which an operation on the foremost operation screen is reflected. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 3 to 3. The screen display unit represents that the touch on the lower layer operation screen is not enabled by making the brightness of the lower layer operation screen darker than the brightness when the touch on the lower layer operation screen is enabled. The image forming apparatus described. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the screen display unit represents that the touch on the lower layer operation screen is enabled by highlighting an outline of an area in which the touch on the lower layer operation screen is enabled. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the screen display unit represents that a touch on the lower layer operation screen is enabled by providing an identification mark on the lower layer operation screen. A computer program executed in an image forming apparatus having an operation panel capable of touch input,
When executed by a computer included in the image forming apparatus,
A screen display unit that displays two or more operation screens on the operation panel in response to an operation on the operation panel;
Touched lower layer operation screen when a lower layer operation screen other than the foremost operation screen among the plurality of operation screens displayed so as to partially overlap each other on the touch input surface of the operation panel is touched A determination unit that determines whether or not corresponds to a predetermined reference permission screen for the frontmost operation screen;
When the determination unit determines that the touched lower layer operation screen corresponds to the reference permission screen, the overlapping order is changed to move the touched lower layer operation screen to the front side of the foremost operation screen. A computer program for causing a computer to realize a display change request unit to be executed by a screen display unit.

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