JPH0330009A - Operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify an operator's operation by placing a light emitting element in operating keys, respectively and turning it on selectively in accordance with an operation stage. CONSTITUTION:When an operation of an image communication equipment body part 3 is started, and a transmitting document is set, a light emission diode LED 121 integrated into an operating key 111 for designating a character size and document density is flickered. When this key operation is completed, flickering is turned off. Subsequently, a guide for urging a transmitting destination is displayed on a display part 4, and LEDs 122 of plural keys 112 for designating the destination are flickered simultaneously. When the key operation for designating the destination is completed, the LED 122 is turned off, and subsequently, a fact that the transmission can be started is brought to character display on the display part 4, and an LED 123 integrated into an operating key 113 for starting the transmitting operation is flickered. When the key 113 for starting the transmission is operated, the LED 123 is turned off. In such a way, an operator can execute the operation without being perplexed, and the operation miss can also be decreased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device used, for example, in an operating section of a facsimile machine.

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional device of this type has a plurality of operation keys 11, each of which is assigned a predetermined operation function.
1 to 113 are arranged, and a liquid crystal display (L
It has a display section 4 for displaying characters according to C and D), and is connected to the control section 2' that controls the operation of the communication device main body section 3, and is used to issue various commands or settings to the control section 2'. At the same time, an operation guide according to the situation has been displayed under the control of the control section 2' (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 159569/1983).

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with such a configuration, there is a problem in that it is not always possible to allow an inexperienced operator to operate the device without hesitation.

The above problem arises for the following reasons.

That is, even if the display section 4 displays the key to be operated next in text, an operator who is unfamiliar with the apparatus must find the specific key to which the text is displayed.

In addition, there is a limit to the number of characters that the display unit 4 can display at one time, and it is difficult to explain the key positions in detail so that even an inexperienced operator can understand them using this limited number of characters. there were.

One possible solution to the above-mentioned problem is to increase the number of characters, etc. that can be displayed at one time. However, the only way to achieve this is to increase the size of the display section 4 or to increase the display density of the display section 4 to reduce the size of the displayed characters. The former makes it difficult to miniaturize the device, and the latter makes the display difficult to read. Even if the display section 4 were to provide a display explaining the key positions in detail, it would be cumbersome to read and would actually become difficult to use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an operating device that can be operated without hesitation even by an inexperienced operator without impairing the suitability for miniaturization of the device and without making the display difficult to read. The purpose is to

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention arranges a light emitting element near each of a plurality of operation keys, and controls the light emitting element placed near the key to be operated next at the operation stage. The device is configured to selectively turn on the light depending on the situation.

Effect of the present invention With the above-described configuration, the position of the next key to be operated is determined by a light emitting element that lights up near the key.
Since instructions can be given clearly for each operation step, even an inexperienced operator can operate the device without having to explain it without compromising the device's suitability for miniaturization and making the display difficult to read.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The operating device shown in the figure is configured as an operating section of a facsimile machine, and 1 is a key matrix 11.
and an LED (light emitting diode) matrix 12, 2 is a control unit that centrally controls each part, 3 is a main unit of the image communication device as a controlled unit, and 4 is a display that displays characters using a liquid crystal display. Department.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operating section 1 and the display section 2 are centrally arranged on the same panel to form an operating panel.

In the key matrix 11 of the operation unit 1, a plurality of operation keys 111 to 113 are arranged in a substantially matrix shape, as shown in FIG. 2 as an example. Each operation key 11
Predetermined operating functions are assigned to 1 to 113, respectively. For example, 111 is a setting key for specifying the font size and original shading, and 112 is a destination key 113 for specifying a destination with a one-touch operation. A start key is for starting transmission.

In addition, light emitting elements 121 to 123 forming the LED matrix 12 are integrated into each of the operation keys 111 to 113. The light emitting states of the individual light emitting elements 111 to 113 can be visually confirmed from above each of the operation keys 111 to 113, respectively.

The control unit 2 is configured using a microcircuit-based general-purpose information processing device, a so-called microcombi Ichiyo, and operates according to various commands and settings input from the operation unit 1.
The operation of the image communication device main body section 3, which is a controlled section, is controlled.

In addition to the above-mentioned control function, this control section 2 has the above-mentioned L
A monitor control section 21 for controlling the ED matrix 12 and the display section 4 is incorporated. This monitor control unit 21 monitors the progress of the operation, displays an operation guide according to the stage of the operation in text on the display unit 4, and also displays an LED built into the operation key to be operated next.
121 to 123 are configured to selectively light up depending on the operating stage. In this case, the lighting mode may be continuous lighting or flickering lighting, but flickering lighting with a sense of movement is more effective in attracting the operator's attention.

The image communication device main body section 3 is provided with sensors such as a document presence/absence sensor 31 at various locations, and is configured to transmit the operating status of each section to the control section 2.

The operation of the operating device configured as above will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the main parts of the above-mentioned operating device.

When the button shown in the figure is pressed, first, the operation of the image communication device main unit 3 starts and the original for transmission is set, and a guide prompting the user to specify the font size and density of the original is displayed on the display unit 4. In addition, there is an LED built into the operation key 111 for specifying the font size and document density.
121 is made to blink (Sl, S2). This results in
The operator can clearly know which key to operate.

When the key 111 is operated to designate the character size and document density, the LED 121 of the key 111 is turned off (S3, S4).

When the key operations for specifying the font size and document density are completed, a guide prompting the specification of the transmission destination is displayed in text on the display unit 4, and a guide is incorporated into each of the numerous operation keys 112 for specifying the destination. The LEDs 122 are flashed all at once. This allows the operator to immediately know the key for specifying the destination (S
5).

When the key operation for specifying the destination is completed, the operation key 112
The LED 122 is turned off (S6, S7).

This time, the display unit 4 displays text to the effect that transmission can now be started, and an LED built into the operation key 1.13 for starting the transmission operation is displayed.
l22 is made to blink (S8).

This eliminates the need for the operator to wonder which key to operate in order to start transmission.

Here, when the operator operates the key 113 to start transmission, the L
When the ED 123 turns off, transmission to the specified destination starts (S9, SIO, S11).

In the above manner, the operator C, LED 12 to 12
When 3 flashes, the key to be operated next 111~]13
You can instantly check the position of each operation step.
In this way, you can perform the necessary operations at each stage without hesitation until the transmission is reached.

Therefore, the size of the display section 4 must be increased to reduce the device's suitability for miniaturization, or the display may be difficult to read due to complicated explanatory characters, so that even operators who are unfamiliar with the device can operate the device without hesitation. be able to. Even an operator who is familiar with the operation can reduce the number of operational errors because the blinking of the LED eliminates the possibility of misunderstanding the position of the key to be operated. Whether or not a predetermined key has been reliably operated can also be confirmed by turning off the LED.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention has a light emitting element arranged near each of a plurality of operation keys, and a light emitting element arranged near a key to be operated next, depending on the operation stage. By selectively lighting up the display, the position of the next key to be operated can be clearly indicated at each operation step, making the display easy to read without compromising the device's suitability for miniaturization. This has the effect that even inexperienced operators can operate the system without hesitation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the operating section of the device, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the main parts of the device. The flowchart in FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a conventional operating device. ■...Operation unit, 11...Key matrix, 111
~113...Operation key, 12...LED matrix, 121-123...LED, 2...Control unit, 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Monitor control section, 3... Main body of the image communication device as a controlled section, 4... Display section for displaying characters.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Operate multiple operation keys each assigned a predetermined operation function, multiple light emitting elements placed near each operation key, and light emitting elements placed near the operation key to be operated next. An operating device comprising a control means for selectively lighting or blinking according to the stage.